Tigers are an endangered species, poached for their skin and bones to cater to an illegal market.

Their
body parts are used in Asian medicines and tiger claws are used in jewellery. Tiger whiskers are
considered a dreadful poison in Malaysia and a powerful aphrodisiac in Indonesia. Apart from tigers,
India is also witnessing a rise in wildlife crime against Rhinoceros. Driven by a soaring demand for
their horn, hundreds of rhinos are being killed, illegally. sophisticated poachers are using veterinary
drugs, poison, cross bows and high calibre weapons to kill rhinos. The Indian rhino could once be
found from Pakistan, all the way through India, Nepal, Bangladesh, Bhutan and Myanmar. However,
the current population of this species is dwindling and today only about 2500 survive in India and
Nepal. It is not only large mammals, but also smaller species that are under threat. Star tortoises
from South India are illegally traded in huge numbers. Due to their popularity in Feng Shui, they are
kept as pets, believed to bring prosperity and can cost as much as $500 in the illegal market.

Loss of habitat
One of the greatest causes of animal endangerment is the loss of habitat. There just isnt any place for
them to live where they are safe, can find food or can raise their young. Some of the causes of loss
habitat are human activities that destroys the natural landscape.
Activities like logging destroys habitat by removing trees that are food and shelter for many species.
Mining is another cause of habitat destruction as some mountains and valleys are totally de-vegetated.
Agriculture is another major cause of lost habitat. Not only is more land being used to grow crops all
the time, but the pesticides uses to grow these crops run off the land polluting streams and lakes.

Over-hunting
Over-hunting or over-harvesting, as it is also called, is having a devastating impact on animals and fish
all over the planet. As the human population grows, so does the demand for more food.
Hunting some species in certain areas can be beneficial because when the ratio of predator and prey
animals is out of balance; if there are many prey animals they can starve. But many animal species
are hunted or harvested in such large numbers that their species will not survive.

Pollution
Pollution if found in many forms: air pollution, water pollution and waste pollution which is mostly
plastic. Air pollution is caused by city traffic, coal burning power plants and various chemical
industries. Particles are lifted into the air causing health problems to animals and humans.
Another very serious affect of air-born pollution is when the particles attach to rain droplets or snow
and fall back to earth. This is called acid rain, and the impacts have been experienced all over the
world.

Acid rain changes the pH balance of the water and soil making it difficult for plants and animals to
survive. Fish have experienced total die-offs over industrial regions where acid rain is the worst.
Water pollution is also responsible for killing plants, animals and fish all over the world. There are many
causes of water pollution including runoff from farms that contain fertilizers, herbicides and large
amounts of animal feces.
Industries all over the world contaminate the water with chemicals and petroleum products. Municipal
water drained from cities also has many compounds and pollutants in it even though it is filtered
through large water treatment plants.
There are many substances that cannot be filtered out of the water such as certain chemicals,
prescription medicines and caffeine that human consume and then pass through their systems into the
water. All of these things cause problems for fish and wildlife o the planet.
Garbage is another major problem for animals, birds and fish. Among all the trash humans throw away
very day, plastic is the worst. It can take hundreds of years for some types of plastic to finally break
down completely.
Plastic is mistaken for food by animals, birds and fish. They eat the plastic not realizing what it is and it
fills their stomachs. These creatures die from the chemicals in the plastic or they die of starvation
when their stomachs are so full of plastic they cannot longer digest any food.

Ways to save E.S. are controlling hunting, stopping pollution, helping with breeding