Endangered Species List

by Arno Meintjes Wildlife

The World Conservation Union or ICUN prepares a list that indicates which species are considered to be vulnerable and endangered or even critically endangered. If you are a lover of animals or even just interested the world eco environment you will be aware of what is known as the endangered species list. Animals and plants that appear on this list have been scientifically studied and determined to be considerably in danger of becoming extinct due to significantly low numbers in existence. Sadly not enough of us are familiar with what we could be doing to help.

Just some of the animals that appear on the endangered species list today are:

The amazing great apes- Great apes have been hunted and slaughtered to near extinction not just to feed the demand for trade in the African bush meat trade, but also sickeningly to supply the tourist trade in body parts. Introduced diseases such as Ebola have also played a part in the destruction of these beautiful animals.

The Asian Orangutan is on the endangered species list due to deforestation, and plain ignorance to the destruction of habitat for profit.

The Atlantic Salmon- Once so plentiful it was an iconic symbol of healthy rivers and water systems, today many of the active salmon runs are now null and void.

Marine turtles- The turtles, whose origins date back over 200 million years, are today appear on the endangered species list. Habitat pollution and destruction, boating collisions and hunting have almost completely erased them in our time.

Elephants, the largest animal on land, have been unceremoniously poached for decades for their ivory tusks. Again habitat destruction also plays a significant role in our devastating loss and another animal on the endangered species list.

Polar bears appear on the endangered species list as a result of climate change.

Global warming has seriously shrunken the Antarctic ice masses on which they hunt their prey. The food supply supporting the polar bear has dramatically reduced as so is the awesome animal.

The Panda, so adored, but so endangered. There are less than 1600 of Chins panda in the wild today, endangered due to poaching and deforestation.

The Rhinoceros is also on the endangered species list endangered and facing the real threat of extinction.

Many other animals also appear on the endangered species list including whales, dolphins, tigers, snow leopard and monarch butterflies. But you can make a difference. Wildlife conservation begins with you and me. We can make a difference by being environmentally aware in our everyday lives. Organic living is not just a trend, it's a lifeline. Be aware when shopping for groceries and be careful of what chemicals we allow into our environment.

Global warming is a threat that will affect generations to come. The atmosphere surrounding us that supports life is a God-given gift. It must be protected. We should be leaders in efforts to curb global warming, not resistant followers.

Erin Hunt is an avid writer and activist. She discovered that many are still unaware of the dangers of global warming and thus created a website to educate others on how they can play a role in the fight against global warming. Find out more about the effects and cause of global warming and how you can make a difference at http://www.fightagainstglobalwarming.com

By Any Other Name: Cougars Are On The List Of Endangered Animals

by Wendy Kurtz

Known by 40 different names in English alone, the American cougar is on the decline even though it has a vast natural habitat. With a range stretching from the Yukon to the Andes, these magnificent cats are believed to have traveled to the Americas about 8 million years ago, crossing over to the Southern continent nearly 5 million years later. It is estimated that the current population is about 50,000 strong.

Facing Challenges

The biggest challenge to cougar survival is habitat loss and fragmentation. Generally solitary creatures, a males territory is estimated to span anywhere from 25 to 1000 square kilometers, depending upon the study. Female territories are generally smaller, and while males may share their territory with females, they wont do so with other males.

As large as they are, cougars are not the apex predators in their range; black and brown bears beat them out more often than not and they compete directly with grey wolves when territory overlaps. In the south they compete with panthers which routinely take larger prey. When conflict arises over kills with these other predators, the cougar tends to lose more of its catches than the other species.

Misperceptions Can Cause Harm Too

Cougars rarely attack humans or livestock, but the perception is quite different in certain areas of their range. Unfortunately, even though attacks are so rare, the media does such an enthusiastic job reporting such incidents, they increase fear of these secretive and majestic creatures. Listed with a status of least concern with the World Conservation Union, cougars dont merit protection or assistance at this time.

Conservation Efforts

Only California and Florida prohibit the hunting of cougars to date. Florida is home to a subspecies of the American cougar, the Florida panther, which actually was one of the original endangered species back in the 1970s. It is estimated that only 50-100 animals remain in the state.

However, it is the extensive range and adaptability of these animals that make them of such interest to conservationists. It is hoped that by understanding how cougars manage to live in such close proximity to humans, usually successfully, other conservation programs around the world can benefit as well.

Michael Rupkalvis works with the LedBulbsandLights website. The site features a variety of different types of environmentally-friendly LED products, including 2ft LED tube lights and other LED lights bulbs.

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