2. WILDLIFE
CONSERVATION
Causes of Endangerment
Efforts and Governmental Acts to
Protect Species
Wildlife Refuges
American Bald Eagle Conservation
Whaling
3. HABITAT
DESTRUCTION
Our planet is continually
changing, causing habitats to
be altered and modified.
Natural changes tend to occur
at a gradual pace, usually
causing only a slight impact on
individual species. However,
when changes occur at a fast
pace, there is little or no time
for individual species to react
and adjust to new
circumstances. This can create
disastrous results, and for this
reason, rapid habitat loss is
the primary cause of species
endangerment. The strongest
forces in rapid habitat loss are
human beings.
4. HABITAT DESTRUCTION
(CONT’D.)
For example, although tropical
forests may look as though they
are lush, they are actually highly
susceptible to destruction. This is
because the soils in which they
grow are lacking in nutrients. It
may take Centuries to re-grow a
forest that was cut down by
humans or destroyed by fire, and
many of the world's severely
threatened animals and plants
live in these forests. If the
current rate of forest loss
continues, huge quantities of
plant and animal species will
disappear.
5. INTRODUCTION OF EXOTIC
SPECIES
Native species are those plants and
animals that are part of a specific
geographic area, and have ordinarily
been a part of that particular biological
landscape for a lengthy period of time.
These species are introduced into new
environments by way of human
activities, either intentionally or
accidentally. These interlopers are
viewed by the native species as foreign
elements. They may cause no obvious
problems and may eventual be
considered as natural as any native
species in the habitat. However, exotic
species may also seriously disrupt
delicate ecological balances and may
produce a plethora of unintended yet
harmful consequences.
Introduced insects, rats, pigs, cats, and
other foreign species have actually
caused the endangerment and extinction
of hundreds of species during the past
five centuries. Exotic species are
certainly a factor leading to
endangerment.
6. OVEREXPLOITATION
Unrestricted whaling during the 20th
century is an example of
overexploitation, and the whaling
industry brought many species of whales
to extremely low population sizes. When
several whale species were nearly
extinct, a number of nations (including
the United States) agreed to abide by an
international moratorium on whaling.
Due to this moratorium, some whale
species, such as the grey whale, have
made remarkable comebacks, while
others remain threatened or endangered.
Animals are also deliberately hunted for
their furs and the special properties some
of their body parts have in the making of
medicines. While hunting endangered
species is illegal, it continues in many
parts of the world because of the large
sums of money these animals can bring.
There are demands for items such as
rhino horns and tiger bones in several
areas of Asia. It is here that there exists
a strong market for traditional medicines
made from these animal parts.
7. MORE FACTORS
Disease, pollution, and limited
distribution are more factors that
threaten various plant and animal
species. If a species does not have the
natural genetic protection against
particular pathogens, an introduced
disease can have severe effects on that
specie. For example, rabies and canine
distemper viruses are presently
destroying carnivore populations in East
Africa. Domestic animals often transmit
the diseases that affect wild populations,
demonstrating again how human
activities lie at the root of most causes of
endangerment. Pollution has seriously
affected multiple terrestrial and aquatic
species, and limited distributions are
frequently a consequence of other
threats; populations confined to few
small areas due to of habitat loss, for
example, may be disastrously affected by
random factors.
8. WILDLIFE REFUGES
“A haven or sanctuary for animals;
a wildlife refuge is an area of land
or of land and water set aside and
maintained, usually by government
or private organization, for the
preservation and protection of one
or more species of wildlife.”
9. WILDERNESS AREAS
A wilderness area is “land
retaining its primeval character
with the imprint of humans
minimal or unnoticeable.”
In the United States, the
Wilderness Act of 1964
established the National
Wilderness Preservation System
- 9 million acres of land in 54
different areas that provided for
the designation of new
wilderness areas.
By 1992, the total had risen to
95 million acres in 708 areas of
land.
Alaska, with 57.6 million acres,
is by far the leading repository of
wilderness in the United States.
10. WILDERNESS AREAS
(CONT’D.)
According to environmentalists,
Wilderness lands are to be
preserved in their natural condition,
wild and undeveloped.
The idea of wilderness has deep
roots in American thought and
writings:
William Penn
Henry David Thoreau
11. HOW CAN I HELP?
The easiest and most efficient way
to help is to donate to the various
organizations that are trustworthy
and have a well established
reputation.
Wildlife Conservation Network
National Wildlife Federation
12. CONCLUSION
Increased understanding about the
world’s current wildlife situation
and an increased emphasis on
education will give future
generations an opportunity to
experience nature to its fullest
extent.
