The Endangered Species International review 2013
I thought it was time to take a another look into the plight of the endangered species of our planet earth; while ploughing through a plethora of information on the subject, I found this interesting article on National Geographic’s website, which I think you will find of interest.
Endangered Species International Review – Panthera Tigris
On the Brink of Extinction: A Closer Look at Endangered Species
Posted by Jordan Carlton Schaul of Wildlife SOS on April 5, 2013Many naturalists and certainly most birding aficionados are well aware that the last passenger pigeon died in 1914 while in residence at the Cincinnati Zoo.
And I regretfully acknowledge that the last wild passenger pigeon was shot in 1900 in my home state of Ohio.
The Zoo’s passenger pigeon known as “Martha” was only presumed to be the last alive of her kind before the species was deemed to be extinct. But we haven’t seen any since.
Can you imagine looking at the last member of an entire species?
Passenger Pigeon ‘Martha’
In many ways Martha’s saga characterizes the fate of other wildlife species in North America and certainly overseas and in the oceans.
Fortunately, humans intervened in hopes of preventing loss of more wildlife, but we still managed to lose the following species of North American birds: the Carolina parakeet (a few years later), ivory billed woodpecker, Bachman’s warbler, the heath hen, and the dusky seaside sparrow.
All are gone.
Once again, I turned to my esteemed colleague Dr. Michael Hutchins, this time to discuss regulation and protection as it pertains to endangered species. Policy regarding imperiled wildlife is extensive and complicated, but usually founded on sound conservation science. Here is our 7th interview with Dr. Michael Hutchins:
The Endangered Species Act (ESA) of 1973 is the most important piece of legislation facilitating endangered species conservation in the U.S.
The Act is administered by two federal agencies, the United States Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA).
The ESA was not the first attempt by the U.S. government to protect endangered species however, it has been the most effective.
The Act mandates a continually updated list of threatened species—those experiencing a downward population trend—as well as endangered species—those facing extinction in the near-term.
Once a species is listed, the ESA mandates development of a recovery plan to increase the species’ population to a sustainable level.
In addition, powerful legal tools, including penalties and civil suit provisions, are available to aid the recovery of the species and the protection of its habitat.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Endangered_Species_Act.
Unfortunately, the illegal wildlife trade is much like the illegal drug trade—when the economic incentives are greater than the perceived risk of capture and punishment, then some people will break the law.
Often, despite the best efforts of regulators, there exists an underground trade in wildlife that is difficult to stop.
This is especially true in developing countries that often lack an effective regulatory infrastructure, or where corruption, or political and social chaos opens opportunities for poachers.
Wildlife tourism can also play a role.
Having tourists and guides in African national parks and equivalent reserves makes it difficult for poachers to operate without detection.Tourism also provides a huge economic incentive for African governments to take conservation seriously.
Jordan: Zoos have emerged as conservation breeding centers and as the former Director/William Conway Chair of Conservation and Science for the Association of Zoos and Aquariums you developed and advanced many of the breeding programs for endangered species in US zoos, programs that have been replicated around the world.
Can you talk about how these programs help save wildlife species of concern?
Michael: Although the ability of captive breeding programs to contribute to endangered species conservation is limited, there have been some important successes.
“Habitat conservation is still the most critical factor in determining the fate of threatened and endangered species.”
Jordan: What are, in your opinion, the five most significant threats to biodiversity in our contemporary world? Will the effects of climate change likely impact the classifications for many species in the near future in your opinion?
Michael: The major factors driving wildlife towards extinction vary from species to species and ecosystem to ecosystem.
In general, however, I would rank the following five factors as being the major drivers:
- Habitat loss: Wildlife cannot survive in the absence of their natural habitats. Loss of habitat is directly due to an ever-growing human population converting land to their own uses.
- Climate change: The production of greenhouse gases is warming our planet and altering weather patterns, habitats and wildlife phenology. Its impact on wildlife has already begun and is expected to be catastrophic. It will certainly impact the status of many species both in the near and distant future and will undoubtedly lead to extinctions
- Invasive species: Our movement of wildlife, domestic animals, and diseases around the world is highly problematic for native species
- Pollution: Our dumping of toxic substances and other refuse (e.g., plastic in our oceans), byproducts of our industrialized society, is threatening many species by interfering with their reproductive biology or causing significant mortality
- Nature deficit disorder and lack of funding for conservation: As humans become more and more concentrated in urban and suburban settings, they are losing their connection to nature. This will make it more difficult to make effective science-based decisions about wildlife management and conservation.
There are many other factors contributing to species endangerment (over-exploitation, emerging diseases, human-wildlife conflict), but in my opinion, the ones I have listed above are the top five.
Jordan: What are some important species that you fear may soon become extinct with or without more intensive management or other intervention?
Michael: There are many species that are already rare, have limited distribution, or that have rapidly declining populations, and thus could be considered at high risk of extinction.
Large carnivores, in particular, are having a very difficult time due to loss of habitat and conflict with humans.
Although they are doing comparatively well in India , there are only around 3,200 wild tigers left in the world.
African lion populations have been decreasing steadily; Kenyan wildlife officials recently suggested that, if current trends continue, the species may only persist for another two decades.
Elephants and rhinos are other large mammals that have recently been hammered by the illegal trade in wildlife.
The forest elephant has been particularly hard hit and may be headed toward extinction. It is estimated that over 60% of the extant population has been killed within the past decade.
The West African black rhino was recently declared extinct and rhinos throughout Africa have been experiencing heavy levels of poaching, thus placing them at greater risk.
Full article here… http://newswatch.nationalgeographic.com/2013/04/05/on-the-brink-of-extinction-a-closer-look-at-endangered-species/
Our shortened version of the endangered species international review was still quite a long read and as you can see there is a great deal to be concerned about in our world.
I hope you have found this article – Endangered Species International Review – informative, and you will share your own experiences below in the comment box and please take the time to click on the share button, many thanks; see more articles on The Daily Green Post home page.
