Happy National Wildlife Day! February 22nd is a day for celebration of the world’s most beautiful creatures. Throughout the globe, wild life animals help keep our planet healthy by contributing to their biodiverse environments. Animal species rely on the environment for their survival, but human intervention has led to taking their habitat and food sources, leaving them at risk of endangerment. Furthermore, poaching and hunting practices have impacted wildlife species existence, limiting their numbers to the point where they may soon become extinct.
In honor of National Wildlife Day, here are some species at risk of endangerment that we can help save.
Giant Panda
These charismatic creatures are essential for supporting the ecosystem. They live in temperate settings around China and can grow to over 300lbs. They have been deemed “vulnerable” to endangerment mainly due to poaching.
Whooping Crane
There once was a point in history where these cranes were so over-hunted that there were less than 20 left on the planet. Now, hundreds of whooping cranes exist but still struggle to sustain themselves without protective efforts from organizations.
Sumatran Elephants
These elephants are significant contributors to their forest habitats as they feed off plant life. They are critically endangered along with other Sumatran animal life. Without the elephants’ contribution to this region’s ecosystem, there could be intense consequences on other species.
Sunda Tiger
With less than 400 in the world, the Sunda tiger is also critically endangered. They reside in tropical forests and swamp regions, which are being torn down for city planning and other human activities. As their habitat continues being stolen and destroyed, Sunda tigers are losing their prey. Their population is dwindling by either starving or being killed by hunters. However, there are legal efforts used to penalize and cease this activity.
Hawksbill Tortoise
These animals have been swimming in the Earth’s oceans for over 100 million years. They are essential members of the tropical ocean ecosystem, feeding off anemones, jellyfish and supporting coral reef and seagrass growth.
To prevent endangerment, it’s vital to promote the conservation and preservation of their habitats. That way, these animal species can continue reproducing and regaining their population numbers with the food resources they need to survive. Without these species, our planet’s ecosystem and food chain will be thrown off-track, leaving it more vulnerable to global warming. Consider supporting conservation organizations to protect our wildlife so all creatures can survive and flourish.