Species that are in danger of extinction due to human activity
The concept of endangered species is not a new one and it simply refers to any animal or plant who capacity to survive has been put at risk by human actions. According to research thousands of species has faced extinction and some are at risk of being wiped off form the face of earth by humans (Krogh, 2010).Although the extinction of species may sometimes be a natural process, the rate at which animals and plants are disappearing form the face of earth is an alarming one. This proves that human beings also have a hand in the disappearance of these species. According to studies carried out by scientists, natural habitats are loosing many species every day.
Environmental programs have in the past produced data of endangered animals and plant species which has clearly reflected the weight of the matter. The main cause of species loss is the destruction of habitats by human activity. For instance, the air, land and water are being polluted by human beings. Species are therefore finding it quite hard to adapt in this polluted environment hence they end up perishing. When human beings destroy forests, direct industrial waste in water and produce harmful substances to the environment, wild life has absolutely no place. The clearing of forests by human beings has made species to move out their natural habitats.
It is significant to understand that pollution has affected the climate greatly which in turn has also impacted negatively on the species. The Rhinoceros are among the many animals that are at risk of being extinct as a result of human activities. The animals are among the largest species when compared to others according to scientists and in the current day they are very rare in the wild. To be specific, the black rhino has been dangerous exposed to risk by human beings who are ever hunting for valuable animal parts in the wild. The black rhino is quite active despite its large size according to studies.
The black rhino has unique features for instance it has a very high sense of smell and can locate its young ones from, a very far distance. This acute sense of smell again assists these animals to identify the location of the rest. The female species experiences a conception period of around sixteen months with which it only bears one calf. Despite these animals having unique and attractive aspects, they are still under serious distinction. The black rhino does not necessarily have to posses this color. This particular animal can sometimes have a grey coloring that may appear red or even white (Krogh, 2010).
It is interesting to note that the black rhino enjoys wallowing in dark soil which in turn gives its skin a dark complexion. This animal can develop up to three thousand pounds and can be up to five fit tall. However these animals have a poor sight and at times they find it hard differentiating between objects. It is again to note that these animals have very impressive horns which have greatly attracted poachers. These horns are on high demand because they can be used in many different ways. First and foremost dagger handle can be made out of them and these tools cost thousands of dollars.
Research has also revealed that the ground horns can be medicinal such that they can be used as a nerve tonic and relaxer. The ground horns can again be used to treat heart and liver problems respectively as well as curing headaches. In other parts of the world for instance Asia, the urine and rhino blood again is considered to have medicinal importance. Studies have indicated that those rhinos that grow in the wild habitat have longer horns as compared to those that those which are caged. Incase these animals lose their horns by accident or due to any other cause; they immediately begin to grow another set.
The black rhinos use their horns to dig minerals form the soil and they are mostly found in moist forests (Krogh, 2010). Despite the fact that they prefer dwelling in areas with plenty of water, they can sustain themselves for many days without visiting then stream. These animals are easy to tame because they easily adapt to new environments as compared to other species. This feature makes it easier for humans to take it from the wild. The rhinos can mate any time of the year and their calf’s can also be born during any season. Originally, the black rhino used to reside in some parts of Africa.
Currently, these animals have been moved to different habitats and their range continues to reduce rapidly. Most of the rhino deaths occur as a result of poaching in search of the precious horn. The reduction of this species is continuing to increase in thousands and the current population has been estimated to be just less than there hundred thousand. Despite the fact restrictions have been put forward by the governments to help stop the cruel habit of poaching, humans have insisted on using all means to get the valuable horn. The disappointing part is that the rest of the rhino is normally abandoned to rot.
There are several efforts that have been put in place by governments, conservatisms and environmentalist to help prevent species extinction. For the case of the black rhino for instance, it is better that they continue to be relocated to safer places just as it was done in the past. This method has seemed to work for the past few years in some areas across the globe. Social entities and organizations such as the media also have to come in handy to support the government on this crucial mission. This can be done through educating public members on the importance of these species.
Environmental scientists predict that if human activities are not controlled, over a million species could become extinct before the end of the century (Krogh, 2010).It has been observer that wild species are not the only ones which are at risk of becoming extinct. Domestic animals in particular are also becoming endangered all because of human activity. This happens when domestic animals are exported from developing regions to advanced areas of the world. This has resulted into replacement or cross breeding. Such animals also find it hard to cope with the new environment hence they are at risk of perishing.
Individuals can again take it upon themselves to assist bin controlling the extinction rates of endangered species. It has been noted that pollution has contributed a great deal in increasing the rate of species extinction. The first step that can be done is to minimize the use of pesticides and herbicides. It is true that pesticides make the yards look beautiful but in real sense they are hazardous to wildlife. These chemicals take a very long time to degrade and thus they accumulate in the soils. Animal species such as amphibians are normally vulnerable to these chemicals and suffer immensely due to these pollutants.
The second step that human beings ought to undertake is to protect wildlife habitat. It is clear that the widespread destruction of wild life habitats id the main problem that many species are experiencing. Aspects such as overgrazing, deforestation, urbanization and even farming have resulted into changes that are hard to reverse. These changes which include factors such as soil erosion affect the soil or the land in general and the atmosphere as well. The normal climatic condition is altered which in turn lead to the elimination of wild life habitats. Extinction is normally fast in regions where uncommon species are present.
When a habitat is protected, the entire species that resides in this particular place is sheltered as well. In turn less conservative measures are necessary or required to ensure the survival of these species. Areas such as national parks and museums are the only places that have been left undestroyed by human activity. In the current world, the extinction of species is not directly related to food shortage as one would expect (Freeman, 2005).It is rather due to the actions of human beings who cause injuries in the tropic sequence. Numerous debates have been conducted in an effort to address the magnitude of this situation but no firm solution has been found.
Laws have been created by governments and environmental programs with the aim of regulating hunting activities and to protect the species especially in the mating season. Alternative reserves for wildlife have also been created and just as noted above positive results have been realized but on a minimal scale. This therefore means that these control measures seem not to be enough and hence massive efforts are required in order to maximally tackle the problem. Human beings should understand that the world biodiversity supports life in general and without these species then it might just be difficult to survive.
It ought to be understood that human beings depend not only on themselves for their well being but also on other organisms as well. Basic needs such as food, shelter, medicine and several others are all derived from living things. Even the source of the world’s power is derived from organisms that existed millions of years ago. As the human population continues to grow, the needs also increase and if the source of these needs is destroyed, then people would greatly suffer in the world. Understanding the importance of world species requires a close relationship with them.
The aspect of endangered species remains crucial especially when human survival is affected. World species exist in a unique way that adds aesthetic value to the whole world. It is hard to imagine the planet earth would look like without any animal or plant. All economies of the world need these species and therefore human activities that compromise the survival of these organisms ought to be stopped by all means.
Reference
Krogh,D.(2010).Biology: A Guide To The Natural World: New York: Pearson Education, Limited, Fifth Edition
Freeman,S.(2005). Biological science. New York: Pearson Prentice Hall, Volume 2
