Jimbits76
|
Endangered SpeciesSince becomming a father, I've actually taken far more interest in endangered species and the preservation of all wildlife.
I can't imagine a world where my son will only know that certain types once lived during his father's lifetime but are now gone forever.
We lose new species all of the time but to put it into perspective with common/popular animals....
Tigers...estimated less than 4000 wild animals left worldwide.
Giant Panda...estimated less than 2500 wild.
Rhinos...Three of five species are close to extinction. eg The Javan Rhino subspecies has less than 60 known surviving animals in the world.
Polar Bears....20-25000 left but their habitat is rapidly decreasing as is their food supply.
Whales. Seven out of the 13 whale species are endangered. The North Pacific Right Whale is down to numbers as low as 350 worldwide.
That's just a rough idea of a few "mainstream" species.
Isn't it sad to think of a world without polarbears, tigers and whales?
J
|
padi65
|
Re: Endangered Species | Jimbits76 wrote: | Since becomming a father, I've actually taken far more interest in endangered species and the preservation of all wildlife.
I can't imagine a world where my son will only know that certain types once lived during his father's lifetime but are now gone forever.
We lose new species all of the time but to put it into perspective with common/popular animals....
Tigers...estimated less than 4000 wild animals left worldwide.
Giant Panda...estimated less than 2500 wild.
Rhinos...Three of five species are close to extinction. eg The Javan Rhino subspecies has less than 60 known surviving animals in the world.
Polar Bears....20-25000 left but their habitat is rapidly decreasing as is their food supply.
Whales. Seven out of the 13 whale species are endangered. The North Pacific Right Whale is down to numbers as low as 350 worldwide.
That's just a rough idea of a few "mainstream" species.
Isn't it sad to think of a world without polarbears, tigers and whales?
J |
Yes Jim its very sad so many of the animal life on this planet wiped out to extinction in a few 100 years.I remember many years back in London Zoo in the bird house they had a very large mirror.And the sign on the mirror read you are now looking at the most dangerous animal on the planet man.
|
Jimbits76
|
I agree Peter.
With the whales, obviously years and years of industrialised whaling has taken it's toll on the numbers but new evidence suggests that oil drilling and the laying of gas lines etc in feeding grounds are also killing off huge numbers.
Look at the environment/global warming! I know many will try and disprove the theory but the ice caps are melting at a rapid rate...the polar bears habitat is shrinking and the numbers are already suffering from severe loss.
Whatever we do as humans...in the name of progress seems to restrict or destroy other species.
How far will we go?
J
|
padi65
|
| Jimbits76 wrote: | I agree Peter.
With the whales, obviously years and years of industrialised whaling has taken it's toll on the numbers but new evidence suggests that oil drilling and the laying of gas lines etc in feeding grounds are also killing off huge numbers.
Look at the environment/global warming! I know many will try and disprove the theory but the ice caps are melting at a rapid rate...the polar bears habitat is shrinking and the numbers are already suffering from severe loss.
Whatever we do as humans...in the name of progress seems to restrict or destroy other species.
How far will we go?
J |
Agree Jim and remember a old saying by one on my school teachers many many years ago.Well there's a law in physics which says that species/races simply cannot outlive their own intelligence. IE, once a species/race becomes too intelligent, it will inevitably use that intelligence to destruct itself.IMHO man still is the most dangerous animal today on this planet Earth unfortunately sad but afraid its the way of the world. But
now thank god waking up to the damage done to this old plannet Earth lets hope its not to late.But afraid for some species sadly its already to late they are gone the way of the DoDo.
|
padi65
|
| padi65 wrote: | | Jimbits76 wrote: | I agree Peter.
With the whales, obviously years and years of industrialised whaling has taken it's toll on the numbers but new evidence suggests that oil drilling and the laying of gas lines etc in feeding grounds are also killing off huge numbers.
Look at the environment/global warming! I know many will try and disprove the theory but the ice caps are melting at a rapid rate...the polar bears habitat is shrinking and the numbers are already suffering from severe loss.
Whatever we do as humans...in the name of progress seems to restrict or destroy other species.
How far will we go?
J |
Agree Jim and remember a old saying by one on my school teachers many many years ago.Well there's a law in physics which says that species/races simply cannot outlive their own intelligence. IE, once a species/race becomes too intelligent, it will inevitably use that intelligence to destruct itself.IMHO man still is the most dangerous animal today on this planet Earth unfortunately sad, but afraid its the way of the world. But now thank god waking up to the damage done to this old plannet Earth lets hope its not to late.But afraid for some species sadly its already to late they are gone the way of the DoDo. |
|
uncle aj
|
The birds are suffering as well, all species are down from the numbers there were. The poor old house sparrow is just an example. 
|
Letsgodiving
|
I have subscribed to National Geographic off and on over the last 30 years and recently just signed up again. I don't regret it because it's a great magazine and they devote a lot of time to this subject and general environmental issues but they do seem to paint a pretty bleak future. Everywhere you turn another animal or habitat is under stress or much worse. Many developing nations are trying to play catch up and often times animals and the environment in which they live are caught in the middle. I'm not sure what the solution is but I hope we as guardians of this planet wise up and start realizing the worth of maintaining the habitat of these amazing creatures
|
padi65
|
| uncle aj wrote: | | The birds are suffering as well, all species are down from the numbers there were. The poor old house sparrow is just an example. |
Agree Adrian and trouble is today upset the delicate balance of nature even by a large volume species like the house sparrow.And we get all sorts of repercussions in the food chain.
|
