An endangered species is a species of wild animal or plant that is in danger of extinction. A species is considered threatened if it is likely to become endangered within the foreseeable future.
The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species, founded in 1964, is the world’s most comprehensive inventory of the global conservation status of biological species. There are over 23,000 species threatened with extinction, according to conservationists.
The Red List says that while Iberian lynx and Guadalupe fur seal are recovering, cave crabs and the world’s rarest sea lion are at risk of dying out. The lion takes its place with the threatened species and 40 per cent of Europe’s sharks and rays face extinction, says IUCN.
There are various factors which are leading to extinction of plants and animals. The main reasons for the fast disappearance of natural abundance are:
1. Habitat destruction: It is the single greatest threat to species around the globe. Humans have altered, degraded and destroyed habitat of animals in many different ways. Agriculture has also resulted in this destruction. Housing development and human settlement has cleared large areas of natural habitat. Mining has also been crucial in this destruction. Construction of dams has altered habitat for many species. Also, large quantity of water usage by humans has dried up rivers leaving many aquatic species vulnerable.
2. Invasive species: The invasion of non-native species is another major threat to native species. Invasive species establish themselves and take over space and nutrients from native species leading them to die over time.
3. Pollution: Pollution in different forms as a result of human activity directly and indirectly causes species to become endangered. In some cases pesticides and harmful chemicals are ingested by animals. In addition, direct harm often occurs when pollutants make water uninhabitable. Agriculture and industrial production cause chemicals to reach water-ways.
4. Over-exploitation and hunting: Many species have become endangered or extinct as a result of killing by humans for fun or trade. This over exploitation is especially a threat to species that reproduce slowly, such as large mammals and some bird species.
Efforts to save these species focus on ending exploitation, stopping habitat destruction, restoring habitats and breeding populations in captivity.
Internationally, endangered species are protected from trade which depletes population in the wild through the Convention of International Trade in Endangered Species and over 140 member countries act according to this.
The first step is identifying the species in danger of extinction and adding them to the Red List of endangered species.
Identifying the factors that led them into danger and rectifying them is a major step.
Over exploitation and hunting of animals have to be stopped and strict laws to punish offenders must be in place to save animals.
A significant captive population needs to be maintained In zoos and other facilities around the world.
Special care must be taken to increase the population of species that has become extinct in the wild but exists only as captive population and also other species that are endangered.
(Contributed by Agnivesh Jyotiraditya, Class IX)
