Puerto Rican Parrot
Example Essay on Endangered Species
When we hear of the term species, a class of individuals having common attributes and designated by a common name comes to mind. However, when the term endangered is used in conjunction with species, this gives us a different perspective, as well as negative. Thus, an endangered species is a species threatened by extinction. The Puerto Rican Parrot falls under this category. This parrot has seen an extravagant population decrease over the last five hundred years. However, there stands a great chance for its recovery through captive breeding programs.
Before the invasion of the Columbus and other Europeans in 1493, the Puerto Rican Parrot was once a flourishing species throughout the forested regions of Puerto Rico, as well as its surrounding islands of Culebra, Vieques, and Mona (Pasquier 134). Around 1493, there were an estimated 100,000 parrots that existed (N. Snyder, et al., eds. 117). As a result to the European invasion, man hunted the Puerto Rican Parrot as food, and settled farmers shot the birds in order to protect their crops. The wild population for nestlings was in great demand. Thus, the Puerto Rican Parrot was indeed a popular pet. Above all, the most pressing factor that contributed to the decline of the Puerto Rican Parrot was the near island-wide removal of its original habitat (Pasquier 134-135).
Today, the Puerto Rican Parrot is critically endangered and is undoubtedly one of the rarest birds in the world. Efforts to prevent extinction of the Puerto Rican Parrot began when it was officially deemed endangered on March 11, 1967 (Velasquez 17).
Representative Acevedo-Vila (D-Puerto Rico) holds high regard for the Puerto Rican Parrot:
“The Puerto Rican parrot is one of the most important cultural symbols in Puerto Rico, representing our environmental and wildlife richness. Unfortunately, in 1967, the Puerto Rican parrot was placed on the list of endangered species, and since then, great efforts have been
When we hear of the term species, a class of individuals having common attributes and designated by a common name comes to mind. However, when the term endangered is used in conjunction with species, this gives us a different perspective, as well as negative. Thus, an endangered species is a species threatened by extinction. The Puerto Rican Parrot falls under this category. This parrot has seen an extravagant population decrease over the last five hundred years. However, there stands a great chance for its recovery through captive breeding programs.
Before the invasion of the Columbus and other Europeans in 1493, the Puerto Rican Parrot was once a flourishing species throughout the forested regions of Puerto Rico, as well as its surrounding islands of Culebra, Vieques, and Mona (Pasquier 134). Around 1493, there were an estimated 100,000 parrots that existed (N. Snyder, et al., eds. 117). As a result to the European invasion, man hunted the Puerto Rican Parrot as food, and settled farmers shot the birds in order to protect their crops. The wild population for nestlings was in great demand. Thus, the Puerto Rican Parrot was indeed a popular pet. Above all, the most pressing factor that contributed to the decline of the Puerto Rican Parrot was the near island-wide removal of its original habitat (Pasquier 134-135).
Today, the Puerto Rican Parrot is critically endangered and is undoubtedly one of the rarest birds in the world. Efforts to prevent extinction of the Puerto Rican Parrot began when it was officially deemed endangered on March 11, 1967 (Velasquez 17).
Representative Acevedo-Vila (D-Puerto Rico) holds high regard for the Puerto Rican Parrot:
“The Puerto Rican parrot is one of the most important cultural symbols in Puerto Rico, representing our environmental and wildlife richness. Unfortunately, in 1967, the Puerto Rican parrot was placed on the list of endangered species, and since then, great efforts have been