Fauna Species on the Verge of Extinction-Erakina

We have lost n numbers of animal species so far and there are still many numbers of species about to add to the list of extinction. Let’s have a glance at those species. 

Ever since life has existed, a number of incidents have happened that we haven’t witnessed. Millions of years ago an asteroid struck the earth. The impact was so hard that it forced debris into the atmosphere, it reduced the amount of heat that reached the earth’s surface. This made the dinosaurs extinct because they could not survive the cold atmosphere. That is the reason now we are not seeing them roaming around the street. Just like the dinosaurs, there were many species that existed some time in the past but got extinct due to some reasons. Species such as Wooly Mammoth, Irish Elk, Caspian Tiger, Giant Moa and many more, about whom we only can read on the internet.   

Top Most Endangered Animals

Mountain Gorilla: Mountain Gorilla is one of the subspecies of Eastern gorilla, found in Central Africa and Congo. They are declared endangered on the IUCN(International Union for Conservation of Nature) red list in 2018. According to the recent census, only 1,000 of these gorillas remain in the world. The factors making them an endangered species are loss of habitat. Disease and poaching(illegal hunting and capturing of wild animals). 

Black Rhinoceros: They are generally found in Eastern and South Africa. The species has been declared critically endangered. The factor making them endangered is ruthless poaching, where the poachers seek for their horns which are used in a variety of ways. Rhinos are very precious as they are the oldest group of mammals. In some countries like Namibia, they are a great source of  income through ecotourism.Very large area of land is required for the conservation of these rhinos which benefits other animals as well.  

Saola(Pseudoryx nghetinhensis): It was discovered in may 1992 as skeletal remains by the world wildlife fund and ministry of forestry of vietnam. It is commonly known as asian unicorn and spindle horn. It is also declared as critically endangered by IUCN. their total population is estimated around 70 to 750 and declining. The biggest threat to saola is hunting, several times they are caught up in snares. Saolas are important as they are rare, distinctive and vulnerable. 

Amur Leopard: Amur Leopards are one of the most endangered big cats, unfortunately. They are declared as critically endangered on the IUCN red list of threatened species. Census shows there are less than 70 of them in numbers. Factors responsible for making them one of the most endangered species are poaching, where their beautiful coat is seeked and their bones, used for traditional asian medicine purpose. They are also losing their habitat due to natural or man made fire. 

African Savanna Elephant:  These are the world’s largest land animal. They are longer as compared to those African Forest Elephants. They are even larger than their own relative Asian Elephants. Habitat destruction and fragmentation by humans is responsible for making them endangered species. Poaching is also one of the pitiful acts done by humans to get the ivory from their tusks.  

The list is huge, there are many more species which are declared critically endangered and are at the verge of extinction such as Polar Bear. In the last 5 decades the population of polar bears has declined  by about one third. The reasons include hunting, for sure, and melting of ice in the Arctic due to global warming. Bactrian Camel, found in mountainous regions and the desert of central Asia. They have two humps in spite of one, their furs are generally longer and darker and are more robust(strong and healthy). Poaching is the major reason for this species being critically endangered. Utilization of natural resources and mining and constructions of gas pipe lines are also some of the reasons causing their living hard. Sumatran Tiger, found in the island of sumatra, indonasia. They are in threat due to habitat destruction and poaching. Only around 400 and 500 Sumatran tigers are left in the world. Bornean and Sumatran Orangutans, both are critically endangered species of indonesia. Their habitats have been disturbing due to deforestation and other issues. Recently there are about 45,000 Bornean and 7,500 Sumatran Orangutans left in their habitat. Cases of selling of their offspring have also been recorded which is a huge and sensitive matter to keep eyes on. Other than these animals there are Giant Panda, Sloth, Black-Footed Ferret, California Condor, Purple Frog(Pig-Nose Frog), Vaquita Porpoises, Monarch Butterfly, Leatherback Turtle  and many more other species which are critically endangered because of variety of reasons.  

You must have noticed one common thing while reading the whole article, yes you are right, the illegal practices carried out by humans for fulfilling the unnecessary needs, which are causing great deal of damage to these animals. Even after formulating various laws for the conservation of the natural resources and animals, humans somehow find their ways to carry out such shameful acts which are forbidden and harmful for our ecosystem. Human activities such as development of housing, industry and agriculture are declining the habitat of the organisms. 

Besides all of this, considering an animal important for the ecosystem and trying to save them by saying that they are the oldest species or they are contributing in balancing the ecosystem is also not right. We do not need to save them just because they are rare, we do not even need to save them, we, being the most intelligent social animal, we just need to give them their land to live on and other natural resources to utilize just the way we use. They are the creation of nature as we are. They have all the rights to live on our planet as we do. 

One thing has to be remembered by all humans, humans have no right to destroy what they have not created.