ENDANGERED WILDLIFE

Introduction

Many species of wildlife are endangered; some have become extinct due to the destruction of the
animals' habitats from agricultural, industrial, and urban developments, as well as having to
compete with humans for food. Several hundred species of animals still face the danger of
extinction. Such wildlife include the grizzly bear, the jaguar, the panda, the squirrel monkey,
the fox, the tiger, and the whale. 

Globally, habitats are being destroyed at an alarming rate, putting many wildlife species in
danger of extinction. Threatened and endangered wildlife live throughout the globe and therefore
it is our responsibility to protect endangered animals and is quint essential to think about it both
locally and globally.

Plants and animals hold medicinal, agricultural, ecological, commercial and

aesthetic/recreational value. Endangered species must be protected and saved so that future
generations can experience their presence and value.

Plant and animal species are the foundation of healthy ecosystems. Humans depend on
ecosystems such as coastal estuaries, prairie grasslands, and ancient forests to purify their air,
clean their water, and supply them with food. When species become endangered, it is an
indicator that the health of these vital ecosystems is beginning to loosen up. According to the
research, it has also been prove that losing one plant species can trigger the loss of up to 30 other
insect, plant and higher animal species.

Perhaps the greatest threat that faces many species is the widespread destruction of habitat.
Deforestation, farming, over-grazing and development all result in irreversible changes—soil
compaction, erosion, desertification, and alteration of local climatic conditions. Such land use
practices vastly alter or even eliminate wildlife habitat. In areas where rare species are present,
habitat destruction can quickly force a species to extinction. By protecting habitat, entire
communities of animals can be protected together and when communities are kept intact, less
conservation intervention is required to ensure species survival. Parks, reserves, and other
protected lands are too often the only habitats left untouched by habitat destruction.

Global Warning:

Global warming is when the earth heats up and the temperature rises.  It happens when
greenhouse gases like carbon dioxide, water vapor, nitrous oxide and methane traps heat and
light from the sun in the earth’s atmosphere, which increases the temperature.  This affects many
people, animals, and plants who in turn cannot accept the change and hence they die.

Global warming is affecting many parts of the world.  Global warming makes the sea rise, and
when the sea rises, the water covers many low land islands.  This is a big problem for many of
the plants, animals, and people on islands.  The water covers the plants and causes some of them
to die.  When they die, the animals lose a source of food, along with their habitat.  Although
animals have a better ability to adapt to what happens than plants do, they may die also.  When
the plants and animals die, people lose two sources of food, plant food and animal food.  They
may also lose their homes.  As a result, they would also have to leave the area or die.  This would
be called a break in the food chain, or a chain reaction, one thing happening that leads to another
and so on.  

The oceans are affected by global warming in other ways, as well.  Many things that are
happening to the ocean are linked to global warming.  One thing that is happening is warm
water, caused from global warming, is harming and killing algae in the ocean. This floating
green alga is food to many consumers in the ocean. Global warming is doing many things to
people as well as animals and plants.  It is killing algae, but it is also destroying many huge
forests.  The pollution that causes global warming is linked to acid rain.  Acid rain gradually
destroys almost everything it touches.  Global warming is also causing many more fires that wipe
out whole forests.  This happens because global warming can make the earth very hot.  In forests,
some plants and trees leaves can be so dry that they catch on fire. 
In our report, Global warming is considered as a construct and the following are its empirical
indicators:

1. Natural Causes
Natural causes are causes created by nature. One natural cause is a release of methane gas
from arctic tundra and wetlands. Methane is a greenhouse gas. A greenhouse gas is a gas
that traps heat in the earth's atmosphere. Another natural cause is that the earth goes
through a cycle of climate change. This climate change usually lasts about 40,000 years.

2. Greenhouse gasses

Greenhouse gasses are gasses in the earth’s atmosphere that collect heat and light from
the sun.  With too many greenhouse gasses in the air, the earth’s atmosphere will trap too
much heat and the earth will get too hot.  As a result, people, animals, and plants would
die because the heat would be too harsh.

3. CFC( Chlorofluorocarbons)

A chlorofluorocarbon (CFC) is an organic compound that contains carbon, chlorine,

and fluorine, produced as a volatile derivative of methane and ethane. This is used in
refrigerators, in fire extinguishers, which destroys the natural ozone layer. The ozone
layer is a natural barrier, which used to prevent the harmful ultra violet rays of the sun.
Without this layer, the rays fall on the earth and cause the temperature to increase.
Researchers have found an ozone hole in our atmosphere, which they say is the main
reason for the melting of glacier's in the Polar Regions.

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HABITAT DESTRUCTION:

Habitat Destruction is the process in which natural habitat is rendered functionally unable to

support the species present. In this process, the organisms, which previously used the site, are
displaced or destroyed, are reducing biodiversity.

Human activity of harvesting natural resources for industry production and urbanization destroys

the natural habitat. Other important causes of habitat destruction
include mining, logging, trawling and urban sprawl. Habitat destruction is currently ranked as the
most important cause of species extinction worldwide. It is a process of natural environmental
change that may be caused by habitat fragmentation, geological processes, climate change or by
human activities such as the introduction of invasive species, ecosystem nutrient depletion and
other human activities.

In our report, Natural habitat is considered as a construct and the following are its empirical
indicators:

1) Natural changes

A natural disaster is the effect of a natural

hazard (e.g., flood, tornado, hurricane, volcanic eruption, earthquake, or landslide) that
affects the environment, and leads to financial, environmental and/or human losses. The
resulting loss depends on the capacity of the population to support or resist the disaster,
and their resilience. Natural disasters, which occur due to the movement of plate
tectonics, are earthquakes, volcanoes, geyser eruptions and tsunami.

Earthquake: An Earthquake is a sudden shake of the Earth's crust caused by the tectonic
plates colliding. The vibrations may vary in magnitude. 

Limnic eruptions: A limnic eruption occurs when a gas, usually CO2 suddenly erupts from

deep lake water, posing the threat of suffocating wildlife, livestock, and humans. Such an
eruption may also cause tsunamis in the lake as the rising gas displaces water.
 The earth’s climate is influenced and changed through natural causes like volcanic
eruptions, ocean current, the earth’s orbital changes, and solar variations.

Volcanic eruptions: When a volcano erupts it throws out large volumes of sulphur
dioxide (SO2), water vapour, dust, and ash into the atmosphere. Large volumes of gases
and ash can influence climatic patterns for years by increasing planetary reflectivity
causing atmospheric cooling. Tiny particles called aerosols are produced by volcanoes.
Because they reflect solar energy back into space they have a cooling effect on the world.
The greenhouse gas, carbon dioxide is also produced however the CO2 produced is
insignificant when compared to emissions created by humans.

Fire: Wildfires are an uncontrolled fire burning in wild land areas. Common causes

include lightning and drought but wildfires may also be started by human negligence
or arson. They can be a threat to those in rural areas and wildlife.

2) Deforestation

Deforestation of large surface areas of the earth has resulted in significant changes in the
water and radiation balance of the planet. Trees play a vital role in the equilibrium of the
ecosystem and cutting trees to make space for pastures or for industries and households
of the ever-increasing human population has led to deforestation. Excessive cutting of
trees for urban use and other purposes is detrimental to the environmental balance. It is
needless to say that deforestation has several adverse effects on the environment.

3) Pollution

 Adverse anthropogenic impacts on climate include land-originating pollution due to

urbanization and industrialization and increases in the use of fossil fuels - the latter
releasing gases such as carbon dioxide, nitrogen oxides and methane, among others.
Pollution of the atmosphere and of the seas, destruction of the rain forests, fires burning
out of control, alterations of sensitive ecosystems, and destruction of the ozone layer.
POACHING

Poaching is the illegal killing of fish or wildlife for commercial trade or ego gratification.
Poachers have different motivations for what they do. Some kill illegally for food, others for
strictly a monetary profit. Some poach in order to secure what they consider to be valuable
trophies. In addition, a few individuals poach just for the thrill of seeing how many animals they
can kill in a given time frame in competition with others. Poaching is a growing problem that
occurs year around. Regardless of the reason, poaching is a serious crime that cannot be justified
or condoned.

In our report, Poaching is considered as a construct and the following are its empirical indicators:

1) Apparel

Poaching includes killing of protected species for body parts or for other purposes.
Crocodiles, turtles, snakes, kangaroos, ostrich, yaks, stingray, deer, camel and many more
are used to make leather bags, shoes, belts, bags, jackets, bookbinding, gloves,
upholstery, automotive products, saddles. Foxes, rabbits, minks, beavers, raccoons, seals
furs are used in plenty to make fur coats. In India cows are sacred whereas, now they are
killed for their skin, which is made into cheap leather and is sold around the world
including US and Europe.

2) Meat

Bushmeat is referred to the hunting of wild animals and is nowadays commonly used
for meat of terrestrial wild animals, killed for subsistence or commercial purposes
throughout the humid tropics of America, Asia, and Africa. People in the Congo Basin
eat as much meat as Europeans and Americans, approximately 80% of this meat is
derived from wildlife. Hunting wildlife for its meat is a greater immediate threat to
biodiversity conservation than is deforestation. The laws strictly restrict that animals
should not be killed for their meat.
3) Hobby

Hunting by many is viewed as a way to enjoy the natural habitat and get some special
outdoor experience. In fact there are many places where you can easily hunt on the public
land. Some poach for fun while others to make a name for themselves. Hunting by a lot
of people is considered as a bad thing as you are killing a living thing. In fact there are a
lot of people who have been up against arms to fight the hunting tradition and have it
banned.