Human Effects and Involvement on Endangered and Extinct Species
Human effects and involvement on endangered and extinct species
Tiffany Tierson
Abstract
This paper was constructed to give an overview of the vast majority of species that are disappearing and have disappeared from the earth. With informative knowledge and accurate numbers the reader was introduced to the different ways that animals are becoming extinct, deforestation, overpopulation, economic prosperity, population growth, urban environment, global perspective and science and ethics. Each of these is affecting different species at different rates, but what was concluded by comparing numbers is that humans are truly responsible for their actions and the actions of causing the exaction and endangerment of animals. Humans are the underlying cause. This was not always the truth but over time like the species has evolved; human’s habits have evolved to hinder the animals. The choices that humans have made over the centuries have hindered the earth and its creatures on it.
Introduction
Man has relied on animals as far back as time can show, using them for food, shelter companionship and much more. What happens however when the reliance becomes abused and the resource begins to disappear? Over time animals have begun to disappear off the earth at a more rapid rate than what nature would suggest. Deforestation, overpopulation, science and ethics, urban expansion and global warming are just five of the main reasons humans can be to blame for the extinction and endangerment of animals. I have researched about the following species, the Philautus poppiae frog native to Sri Lanka, the Asian elephant, the Siberian tiger, giant panda and the polar bear. Each species seems to be declining at a rapid rate, but why? Some would suggest that animal endangerment and extinction is a natural process, which to some extent is true, but over the last century humans have watched as animals have become extinct in front of their faces, the most famous perhaps the dodo bird. The
Tiffany Tierson
Abstract
This paper was constructed to give an overview of the vast majority of species that are disappearing and have disappeared from the earth. With informative knowledge and accurate numbers the reader was introduced to the different ways that animals are becoming extinct, deforestation, overpopulation, economic prosperity, population growth, urban environment, global perspective and science and ethics. Each of these is affecting different species at different rates, but what was concluded by comparing numbers is that humans are truly responsible for their actions and the actions of causing the exaction and endangerment of animals. Humans are the underlying cause. This was not always the truth but over time like the species has evolved; human’s habits have evolved to hinder the animals. The choices that humans have made over the centuries have hindered the earth and its creatures on it.
Introduction
Man has relied on animals as far back as time can show, using them for food, shelter companionship and much more. What happens however when the reliance becomes abused and the resource begins to disappear? Over time animals have begun to disappear off the earth at a more rapid rate than what nature would suggest. Deforestation, overpopulation, science and ethics, urban expansion and global warming are just five of the main reasons humans can be to blame for the extinction and endangerment of animals. I have researched about the following species, the Philautus poppiae frog native to Sri Lanka, the Asian elephant, the Siberian tiger, giant panda and the polar bear. Each species seems to be declining at a rapid rate, but why? Some would suggest that animal endangerment and extinction is a natural process, which to some extent is true, but over the last century humans have watched as animals have become extinct in front of their faces, the most famous perhaps the dodo bird. The
Cited: 1.) Meegaskumbura, Madhava and Manamendra-Arachchi, Kelum 2005. DESCRIPTION OF EIGHT NEW SPECIES OF SHRUB FROGS (RANIDAE: RHACOPHORINAE: PHILAUTUS) FROM SRI LANKA 2.) Derocher, Andrew E. 2004. Polar Bears in a Warming Climate 3.) Eschberger Beverly 2001. Extinction V: Modern Extinctions 4.) Henry, Leigh A. and Williamson Douglas F. 2008. The Role of U.S. captive Tiger population in the Trade in Tiger Parts. 5.) Http://www.iucnredlist.org 6.) Cleveland, Cutler J. and Kaufmann, Robert K. Enviromental Science. Mcgraw Hill, 1st edition 2008