Extinction occurs when the last existing species dies, and thus extinction becomes certain when there are no remaining individuals capable of reproducing and creating a new generation. A species may become functionally extinct when only a handful of individuals survive but are unable to reproduce due to poor health, age, spread over distant areas, or lack of individuals of both sexes in species that reproduce sexually or for other reasons. Human attempts to preserve endangered species are an important aspect of the current phenomenon of extinction.
But why is there extinction? Some species may become functionally extinct because they are no longer part of their natural habitat, and it is unlikely that species will be restored to the wild when possible. Modern zoological institutions attempt to preserve a pre-life group to preserve species, and the possibility of reintroducing them in the wild in the future through the use of carefully planned breeding programs، Follow this article with us from teketrek.
Causes of animal extinction
The causes that lead to animal extinction, especially mass extinctions, are catastrophic factors, such as the theory of comet strikes, or environmental factors such as volcanoes or glacial factors as in the ice ages, or it may be due to changes in the rate of oxygen or salinity in the oceans or global climate change, as there are human factors such as overhunting and causing the loss of natural habitats, and here are the most prominent causes of animal extinction:
- Extinction as a result of climate change is common through fossil studies in particular, during the collapse of the carbon rainforests, as a review was predicted in 2003 by the Center for Biodiversity Research that due to climate change, there are wild species that will be committed to extinction by 2050, including environmentally rich areas that are likely to be exposed to the greatest losses, and these areas may witness a doubling of local carbon dioxide levels and rising temperatures that could eliminate 56,000 species of plants and 3,700 species of animals.
- Extinction may be due to the process of genetic pollution, i.e. uncontrolled hybridization and genetic fusion that leads to homogeneity, or external competition from introduced species. Endemic groups can face such extinctions when new groups are imported, or spontaneously bred by people, or when habitat modification leads to previously isolated species coming into contact, and extinction, and is most likely for rare species that come into contact with more abundant species, as mating can lead to the immersion of rare genes, and the creation of hybrid species. Extinction may be due to habitat degradation through poison, which kills species very quickly by killing all living organisms through pollution or sterilization.
- Overhunting of many animals has led to the risk of extinction, as hunters are keen to chase and kill animals in order to benefit from their skins, bones, and other reasons.
- Loss of natural habitat is a major cause of threatening animals, especially those that only adapt to their qualified areas, as cutting down trees and burning forests has contributed to the animals not finding suitable areas to live in.
The most important endangered animals
There are many endangered animals, some of which become extinct due to the lack of a suitable environment for them due to human injustice on their lands and ongoing illegal hunting, and some of them due to the lack of food that provides them with nutrients. Here are the most prominent endangered animals as follows:
Panda bear
It is one of the best types of bears that humans love and its original habitat is in China in tropical areas where bamboo trees are available and it is harmless. The reason for its threat to extinction is their displacement from the areas in which they live due to China’s expansions. Also, the basic food for pandas has become difficult to find due to the cutting of many trees. It also reproduces once or twice a year and carries only one fetus, and all of this has made its species endangered.
Rhinoceros
It is a huge animal known for its strength, and its horn is used in many treatments and industries, so we find hunters chasing it everywhere in order to sell its horn for a lot of money. This poaching has exposed its life to extinction, and the bodies dedicated to protecting the environment are trying to protect this type from extinction and impose strict laws against hunters.
Red panda
It is known as the shiny cat and is a small animal threatened with extinction and lives in the southeastern regions of Asia. The number of red pandas in the world reached about 3,000 pandas in 2020, and it reproduces once a year, which made it vulnerable to rapid extinction.
Tigris tiger
It is a famous type of tiger and has become threatened with extinction due to poaching and frequent human pursuit because many people believe that the bones of the Tigris tiger are used in treatment. Also, burning trees and forests has made it migrate to areas less suitable for it and its life, as it likes to live in large green spaces, which if not available to it, this affects its reproduction.
Blue whale
Which is one of the largest animals on Earth and its number has decreased significantly due to people hunting it since the beginning of the twentieth century. Although hunting it has been banned, its number is constantly decreasing, as their number has decreased by 90%.
Asian elephant, whose number has decreased significantly due to people hunting them to use their skin and ivory in industries.
https://teketrek.net/en/torraco-bird-amazing-facts-and-interesting-information-about-the-turaco-bird/
Efforts to protect these animals
The policies of some countries provide legal protection for endangered species through the bodies responsible for environmental conservation, whether for specific species or otherwise, and the legal text is one of the most direct ways to reduce the damage to endangered species and includes some laws and agreements that are currently working to protect specific species threatened with extinction.
There are laws that stipulate this, including those related to the protection of fish, wildlife and plants listed on It is threatened with extinction, and is at risk, and stipulates adding species to the list of threatened species or removing them from it and preparing and implementing plans to restore them for cooperation between the agency to avoid taking listed species and issuing permits for otherwise prohibited activities.
Specialized organizations provide technical assistance to enhance capacities to deal with wildlife conflicts and cross-border cooperation and develop the management of protected areas, and design and implement projects and initiatives related to the protection of animal forests.
The steps through which institutions seek to preserve endangered species are to set initial goals and plans, know the causes that lead to this phenomenon and know whether there is a possibility to reduce these threats to their livelihoods such as hunting and propose some plans to protect these animals, take the opinions of biologists and finally monitor these species.
https://teketrek.net/en/the-most-important-information-and-facts-about-the-beetle/
How can individuals help?
There are individual steps (taken by individuals) that help protect creatures from extinction, which are:
- Increasing nature reserves, which are concerned with protecting these types of creatures, and contribute to protecting their places of presence. Joining these reserves is through volunteer work, and obtaining sufficient information about these extinct species.
- Raising awareness among people about the types of these animals and ways to protect them, in addition to the importance of preserving them through institutions concerned with the environment and various educational institutions. Individuals are directed to advice and guidance not to buy products made from these animals, such as leather and fur, because the demand to buy these products increases hunters’ keenness to kill them.
- Preserving the surrounding environment is a factor that protects endangered creatures, by ensuring that there is interest and protection for the environment, reducing tree cutting, not throwing waste in forests, and preserving water sources. Nature reserves must also be supported and donations made to them.
Why should we care about protecting these species?
Some of these animal species are an essential element of the ecosystem, which individually and collectively ensures the necessary conditions for life. They provide food, medicine, and raw materials, and form the basis for soil formation, water analysis and purification, pest control, and climate regulation. Therefore, they must be preserved to achieve ecological balance.
In the end, protecting animals from extinction is an important matter and an essential element for preserving the ecosystem, as some of these animals rid the environment of toxins, pollutants, and the remains of living organisms that, if accumulated, lead to a lot of environmental damage. They must also be preserved so that future generations have a share in seeing these animals, and in order to achieve balance in ecosystems. Animals can be preserved from extinction by implementing environmental laws and not causing the killing of animals and their displacement from their main areas.
