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12 Things We Should All Do To Protect Endangered Species

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12 Things We Should All Do To Protect Endangered Species

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12 Things We Should All Do To Protect Endangered Species

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Huffington Post | 2017

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One thing we humans fail at is seeing the big picture. We are often blind to the interconnectedness of everything that supports life, a web so complex and interdependent, we are only beginning to understand it. The food chain, from the tiniest little microorganisms to the largest creatures on earth, keep us humans alive.

So, when we talk about the grey whale, the timber wolf, the black rhino, it's not just that we should save these endangered creatures for their own good, but it's also for ours.The current legislation and government bodies that protect wild species from extinction are both being defunded and reorganized. It will be up to ordinary citizens and environmental groups to save these important links on the food chain. Here are someways to accomplish this.

1. Educate your family about endangered species in your area. It's not just about snow leopards in Russia, it's about the ecosystem in your own backyard. Teach your friends and family about wildlife, birds, fish and plants that live near you. Just awareness of these species is a critical step. From the worms in the garden to the bats that pollinate and control the mosquitos, there are many ways that our daily habits at home affect these creatures.

2. Recycle and buy sustainable products. Much of what threatens local populations has to do with development and more and more of the natural world is plundered to product new goods. Never buy furniture made of wood from rainforests or endangered trees. Recycle your cell phones, because a mineral used in electronic production is mined in gorilla habitat. Don't use palm oil because forests where tigers live are being cut down to plant palm plantations.

3. Grow native plants. It's a no-brainer but local species rely on local plants. You are providing food and shelter for native wildlife and you can reduce your water usage at the same time. Attracting native insects like bees and butterflies can help pollinate your flowers. And conversely, invasive species compete with native species for resources and habitat, threatening biodiversity. They can even prey on native species directly, forcing native species towards extinction. For more information about native plants in your area, visit http://www.plantsocieties.org

4. Reduce your water consumption. During droughts, people get better about not watering their lawns, but we need to understand that clean water is a global problem for wild animals, so the less humans consume, the better. Never dump chemicals or pharmaceuticals down toilets, storm drains or into streams or lakes.

5. Reduce your personal footprint. Drive less, walk more. Support better public transport, use biodegradable products and eat whole food from your farmers market.

6. Do not buy plastic products. Take your bags to the store, reuse containers and properly dispose of lightweight plastics. Wild animals get tangled in these products, and they end up in the ocean being ingested by small fish and killing off beneficial microorganisms.

7. Pressure your civil servants. It cannot rest on the scientific community alone to defend the natural world, voters and consumers must take a stand. This means singing petitions, writing letters and donating.

8. Volunteer your time to protect the wildlife in your area. Wildlife refuges,parks, and other places are often underfunded and desperate for help.Volunteering at one of these places to protect the animals might mean just educating visitors, or picking up litter.

9. Do not purchase products from companies that are known polluters. Many industries pollute natural water resources and lobby hard so that they don't have to clean up their own messes. You can do your part by not giving these companies your business, and cast your vote with your dollar. Spread the word about bad business practices and when it dings their bottom lines, these companies will take notice.

10. Get in touch with your Fish and Game Department. If you hunt, keep your licenses up to date and stay in touch with your local WFG so that you know which populations of game need culling and which are under threat. Hunting,instituted properly, is a sustainable way of maintaining wild populations like deer and turkey.

11. Black out the Black Market. Sometimes when we travel, we don't realize that the souvenirs we are buying are under threat. Avoid supporting the market in illegal wildlife including: tortoise-shell, ivory, and coral.

12. Herbicides and pesticides are hazardous pollutants that affect wildlife at many levels. These chemicals take a long time to degrade and build up in the soils before disseminating throughout the food chain. Critical predators like hawks, owls and coyotes suffer if they eat poisoned animals, and it can rock whole populations. Amphibians are particularly vulnerable to these chemical pollutants and its unnecessary! For alternatives to pesticides, visit http://www.beyondpesticides.org

There is so much we can be doing to protect these animals and vulnerable species from extinction, but we must make these changes now. Our kids need to see us upgrading our own behavior and taking the issues seriously. For more on helping endangered species, visit: http://www.endangered.org

Related

Animals Sustainability Nature Endangered Species

Susie Almaneih, is an Executive Mom and Technology Marketing Professional

Do you have info to share with HuffPost reporters? Here's how.

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12 Things We Should All Do To Protect Endangered Species

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12 Things We Should All Do To Protect Endangered Species

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See the Wildlife challenge in the Earth Day Ecochallenge Event

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Wild animals fill humans with a sense of awe and wonder at the complexity and beauty of our planet. Wildlife also provides humans with ecosystem balance, food, fibers, building materials, medicines, transport, and recreation. But species biodiversity is declining at unprecedented rates around the world, and extinction rates are accelerating, with grave impacts on both native ecosystems and humans.

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EarthGames | RASHMI SHARMA iOS | Android

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EcoTrivia version 2.0 has been released. This new version included completely redone art by Rikki Parent, along with twice as many questions as before, separated into easy and hard categories. Try …

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EcoTrivia version 2.0 has been released. This new version included completely redone art by Rikki Parent, along with twice as many questions as before, separated into easy and hard categories. Try getting the high score for both! Download now on iOS and Android for free!

EcoTrivia for iOS

EcoTrivia for Android

In EcoTrivia: Save the Animals!, you are led by animal ambassadors through four different ecosystems: a toucan in the rainforest, a polar bear in the Arctic, a clownfish in a coral reef, and a pika in the mountains.  In each area you have to answer trivia questions to protect the animals from climate change and habitat destruction.

EcoTrivia: Save the Animals! was made by Rashmi Sharma, Rittwika Rudra, and Courtney Harris for their Information School MSIM capstone project, in collaboration with Dargan Frierson.  Erica Escajeda provided questions for the polar bear section, and many members of EarthGamesUW helped with testing. Version 2.0 was developed by Samuel Dassler and features all-new art by Rikki Parent, and new science questions by Sara Brostrom and Dargan Frierson.

Check out Rashmi’s project website that describes the entire development process here.

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EarthGames | iOS | Android
Teachers' Guide

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Download Life of Pika now on the App Store (iPhones and iPads) or Google Play (Android phones and tablets). It's free!

Our mountain home is getting so hot! It's becoming harder and harder to gather food and stay away from predators. You'll need to be quick to help your little pikas make it through all the levels of Life of Pika!

Life of Pika is a runner game by EarthGames in which players direct a pika (a real animal that is threatened by climate change) to collect food as they dodge predators and avoid overheating.

In addition to a full single-player campaign with a compelling story (illustrated by Ben Celsi), there is a split-screen two player mode. After you complete the story, perform challenges in infinite mode to collect all the unlockable content.

Teachers! If you are interested in using Life of Pika in your classroom, check out our useful teacher's guide!

EarthGames is an award-winning group of developers, students, and faculty at University of Washington. This is our 11th game and maybe our best yet! Thanks to all our crowdfunding campaign supporters who made this game a reality.

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Download Life of Pika now on the App Store (iPhones and iPads) or Google Play (Android phones and tablets). It's free! Our mountain home is getting so hot! It's becoming harder and harder to gather food and stay away from predators. You'll need to be quick to help your little pikas make it through all the...

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Can wildlife adapt to climate change? - Erin Eastwood

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US Global Change Research Program |

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The National Climate Assessment summarizes the impacts of climate change on the United States, now and in the future.

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Katie Free | 2020 |

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Threshold is a Peabody Award-winning public radio show and podcast that tackles one pressing environmental issue each season. We report the story where it's happening through a range of voices and perspectives. Our goal is to be a home for nuanced journalism about human relationships with the natural world. www.thresholdpodcast.org Season 1 -- "Oh Give Me a Home" Can we ever have wild, free-roaming bison again? Season 2 -- "Cold Comfort" Climate change in the Arctic through the eyes of people who live there. Season 3 -- "The Refuge" The controversy over drilling for oil in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge.

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Threshold is a Peabody Award-winning public radio show and podcast that tackles one pressing environmental issue each season. We report the story where it's happening through a range of voices and perspectives. Our goal is to be a home for nuanced journalism about human relationships with the natural world.

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From the top of the food chain down: Rewilding our world - George Monbiot

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J. Ralph & Sia - One Candle (Original Song From Racing Extinction Soundtrack)

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Mark Kurlansky | 2011 | Amazon

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Supernavigators: Exploring the Wonders of How Animals Find Their Way

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Supernavigators: Exploring the Wonders of How Animals Find Their Way

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David Barrie | 2020
Amazon

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From elephants to polar bears, WWF fights to secure a future for animals on the planet we all share. WWF helped bring back the Amur tiger and Africa's black rhinos from the edge of extinction. We are giving isolated, dwindling populations of black footed ferrets and river dolphins a second chance.

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6 animals no longer on the endangered species list - The Good Life Blog

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Good news alert – these animals are no longer on the endangered species list

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Good news alert – these animals are no longer on the endangered species list

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Trafalgar | 2019

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In May of this year, the United Nations released a report stating that over one million planet and animal species are now on the verge of extinction. Couple this with the catastrophic Amazon fires and the recent overhaul of the Endangered Species Act by the Trump administration, and it would seem that the endangered species list is a beast growing out of control.

Yet whilst this is sadly true, there is also a glimmer of hope in what has been a very gloomy few years for the environment. Through dedicated conservation and protection efforts, education and funding, a small handful of endangered animals have also come off the list.

In recognition of World Animal Day (and because we can't resist a good news story), here are 6 species whose fates have been changed for the better...

1. Southern White Rhinoceros

Not to be confused with the Northern White Rhino, of which there are only 2 females left, the Southern White Rhino is the second largest land mammal on earth. Living for the most part in South Africa, Namibia, Zimbabwe and Kenya, these beautiful beasts were thought to be extinct in the late 19th century. But in 1895, a tiny population of less than 100 rhinos was discovered in South Africa. A century of conservation and anti poaching efforts later, between 19,000 - 21,000 Southern White Rhinos now live in protected areas and private game reserves, making this the only rhino species (of five) not endangered.

2. Giant Panda

A common symbol of conservation for over 50 years (and the inspiration behind the WWF logo, no less), in 2016 the Giant Panda was officially downgraded from 'endangered' to 'vulnerable'. Forest protection and reforestation measures in China are the reasons behind this positive change, resulting in over 2,000 Giant Pandas now living wild in protected reserves across China.
Support the Giant Panda - visit the Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding & learn about rescue and protection efforts whilst travelling on Trafalgar's Best of China with Yangtze Cruise.
3. Arabian Oryx
Related Content - 7 incredible wildlife destinations for nature lovers
In the early 1970's, the antelope species know as the 'Arabian Unicorn' was thought extinct - lost forever at the hands of poachers. But in a bid to change their fate, a team called Operation Oryx was set up to try and bring this species back from the brink. Capturing the last remaining few animals and breeding them in captivity, the Oryx was slowly released back into the wild in 1982. Today the species is categorised as 'vulnerable' on the endangered species list, with over 1,220 roaming wild across the Arabian Peninsula, plus another 6,000 - 7,000 in semi captivity.

4. Gray Wolf

The Gray Wolf first received protection from the Endangered Species Act in the 1970's after population numbers dwindled due to a lack of pray and conflicts with farmers and ranchers. In the years since their numbers have steadily climbed, and today it's estimated that more than 5,600 Gray Wolves live wild in the US. However, recent announcements to delist them completely from the EDA means hunting could soon be resumed, and numbers once again threatened.
Support the Northern Brown Kiwi - visit the Rainbow Springs Nature Park in Rotorua, to try and spot New Zealand's native bird and learn about conservation efforts whilst travelling on Trafalgar's Contrasts of New Zealand.
5. Northern Brown Kiwi

A little bird synonymous with New Zealand, it was smiles all round in 2017 when the Northern Brown Kiwi (and the Rowi Kiwi) were no longer categorised as critical on the endangered species list. 25 years of conservation efforts and a whole lot of love for the national bird were to thank for this happy turn of events, with managed populations of Northern Brown Kiwi now steadily growing at a rate of 2% per year.
We at Trafalgar believe in honouring wildlife and experiencing it in nature. Through our initiatives with TreadRight and through our JoinTrafalgar program, we pledge to support wildlife across the planet, not ride animals that ought not to be ridden, nor support animal cruelty in anyway.
6. Louisiana Black Bear

There are over 16 subspecies of American Black Bear, with the Louisianan Bear found (funnily enough) only in Louisiana. Declared endangered in 1992 through loss of habitat to agricultural development, the past 17 years have seen over 700,000 acres of habitats restored in an effort to save the subspecies. The result? The bears were delisted in 2016, and today between 500 - 750 now exist in the wild.

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6 animals no longer on the endangered species list - The Good Life Blog

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In May of this year, the United Nations released a report stating that over one million planet and animal species are now on the verge of extinction. Couple this with the catastrophic Amazon fires and the recent overhaul of the Endangered Species Act by the Trump administration, and it would seem that the endangered species list is a beast growing out of control.

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Animals Affected by Climate Change | Magazine Articles | WWF

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WWF | 2015

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7 Young Stars Leading the Way for Animal Rights

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7 Young Stars Leading the Way for Animal Rights

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Last Chance for Animals | 2017

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Young people have the power to shape a more compassionate future and it is crucial that animals are included in their realm of social concern. Thankfully, many famous kids and teens are leading the way for animal rights-promoting a message of compassion to their thousands of fans and followers. These seven allstar activists are using their talent and fame to create a better world for animals.
Noah Cyrus
Noah Cyrus is an actress and singer who uses her fame to spread awareness about animal exploitation. Following her vegan older sister Miley's example, Noah started advocating for animals at an early age and began utelizing her recognition to speak out against dissection in schools, marine animal captivity, and the cruelty of horse-drawn carriages. The 17-year old star frequently urges her fans to consider the unecessary suffering of animals. Speaking about the plight of captive orcas at Seaworld Noah said:
"To think that any animal would be trapped would be so sad. It would be like living in your bedroom your entire life and never being able to go outside." Aidan Gallagher
Aidan Gallagher rose to fame through Disney Channel show Nicky, Ricky, Dicky & Dawn. He uses his celebrity status to speak up for animals and promote animal advocacy through social media. An ambassador for numerous animal protection issues, including the preservation of marinelife and the plight of animals raised for food, 14-year old Gallagher is an effective activist who never fails to take a bold stance for animal rights.
Just do the best you can. Be vegan once a week to start. Pick one day, like Meatless Monday, and then go to Tuesdays as well, but just decide you're strong enough to never eat meat on those days again. Any start is a start. Do it for your future, if not for the animals." Sadie Sink
Sadie Sink is the newest star of the Netflix sensation, Stranger Things. The 15-year old recently started following a vegan diet, inspired by actor Woody Harrelson. After educating herself through viewing Blackfish and several other documentaries, Sink became a passionate animal activist. She regards going vegan as one of the best decisions she ever made and promotes the ease and convenience of finding animal-free replacements for all of her favorite meals.
"I'm a passionate vegan. I actually was a vegetarian for about a year and when I was working with Woody Harrelson, he and his family inspired me to become vegan." Alabama Barker
Rising musician and daughter of Blink-182 bandmember Travis Barker, Alabama Barker not only takes after her father's musical inclinations, she also shares the vegan drummer's love for animals. For most of her life, 11-year old Alabama has been a vegetarian, and as her fame grows she increasingly uses her popularity to promote respect for animals. She has participated in animal rights campaigns with her father to encourage people to live a compassionate lifestyle, and cares for multiple companion animals, including an adorable pig named Chad.
"It's not fair; farm animals need the same help that your animals do. It wouldn't be nice if you lost your family, it doesn't make it right that they lose theirs." Thomas Ponce
Founder of Lobby for Animals, which advocates for the protection of animals and animal activists, 16-year old Thomas Ponce has been passionate about animal rights since the age of four. He has received multiple awards, including the Young Animal Activist Award and a $1,000 grant from The Pollination Project. His group, Lobby for Animals, provides tools and resources to assist animal advocates in lobbying efforts and taking action for animal rights issues.
"We have to remember, we are speaking up for those who can't speak up for themselves; we are the voice of the voiceless and we need to be heard!" Genesis Butler
Genesis Butler went vegan at just six years old and has been a passionate animal advocate ever since. She promotes compassion for all animals through her popular social media accounts under the title, A Vegan Childs Journey. Ten-year old Butler frequently speaks at VegFests and even delivered a TEDx speech about the environmental impact of meat consumption.
"It's time people stop eating meat made from animals! It's killing animals, the planet and people. We can survive without eating animals, so why not make the switch? Please think about going vegan! The animals and mother earth will thank you for it!" Kat Graham
Kat Graham is a 14-year old artist from California who uses her talent to help stop the use of beagles in animal research. After Kat's family rescued a beagle, she became aware of the cruelty that many beagles are subjected to in laboratories around the world. Now, she sells her paintings to benefit organizations committed to saving beagles from cruel experimentation.

"I love to paint and it's fun to paint beagles. Most importantly, it's nice to know I'm helping end laboratory testing on these wonderful dogs."

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7 Young Stars Leading the Way for Animal Rights

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Young people have the power to shape a more compassionate future and it is crucial that animals are included in their realm of social concern. Thankfully, many famous kids and teens are leading the way for animal rights-promoting a message of compassion to their thousands of fans and followers.

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13-Year-Old Vegan Climate Activist Genesis Butler Is On a Mission to Make the World a Kinder Place — Exclusive

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13-Year-Old Vegan Climate Activist Genesis Butler Is On a Mission to Make the World a Kinder Place — Exclusive

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Green Matters | SOPHIE HIRSH | 2019

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Source: Lily Beth Redwood

By Sophie Hirsh

Updated

"I've always loved animals, and I think that all kids do," 13-year-old animal rights and environmental activist Genesis Butler tells Green Matters in a recent phone call. "Some of us just get desensitized when we're younger, because we're always eating them, and some people don't really question it."

But at just 3 years old, Genesis did question it. "I felt that there was something wrong with it, so I asked my mom," Genesis recalls. "When she told me about how we had to get it from animals, I was devastated, and I decided not to eat it ever again, knowing that what I'm eating is wrong. So, that's when we went vegetarian."

When she was 6, Genesis began to wonder where dairy milk came from, so she asked her mother, who was nursing her younger sister at the time.

"She told me how we had to get it from mama cows." In the dairy industry, farmers artificially inseminate female cows; after they give birth, farmers take their calves away to prevent them from drinking their mother's milk; mother cows often cry out for their babies in despair during the days following the separation.

"Well, that's like if somebody took your milk to give to humans instead of my little sister," Genesis remembers telling her mother. "And she never really thought of it that way. That's when my whole family went vegan."

Source: Farm Sanctuary

Soon after that, Genesis began chronicling her life as a vegan child on her Instagram account (formerly titled A Vegan Child's Journey), she joined animal rights protests, she was a subject in the documentary Vegan: Everyday Stories, and she gradually built a following in the online vegan community.

Then, when Genesis was 10, TEDx approached her about giving a TEDx Talk. While preparing, Genesis learned about how farming animals for meat, dairy, and eggs impacts the environment, and so she made it the focus of her talk.

Source: Lily Beth Redwood

"I knew that there were more aspects to being vegan than just saving animals, so I did the research and I figured out there was so much information about how animal agriculture is destroying our planet," Genesis says. "This information doesn't get out there as much as it should."

And not only is animal agriculture an issue of ethical and environmental proportions, but Genesis also sees the matter as one of social justice. CAFOs are often built in communities of color (namely Black communities and Latinx communities) and low-income communities. "It's affecting people of color," Genesis says, adding that this desperately needs to change.

Factory farms often spray animal feces and urine into the air and on lawns, and as the waste decomposes, harmful gases are released, which pollute the local water and air, and can cause health conditions such as asthma, blue baby syndrome, fatigue, depression, eye, nose, and throat irritation, and more, according to the Food Empowerment Project.

Additionally, without the meat, dairy, and egg industries, many believe that we would be able to fight world hunger and feed everyone on Earth. Globally, about 40 percent of grain grown is used to feed livestock, and in the U.S., more than 50 percent of grain grown is fed to livestock, according to Cornell University. If we raised less livestock, that grain could be diverted to feed hungry people instead. "The world is producing enough food for everyone to eat, yet there are still people that are going hungry," Genesis says.

Source: Farm Sanctuary

Despite people growing more open to learning about these injustices, Genesis still hears plenty of excuses.

"There's not really any great excuse as to why you shouldn't go vegan, but the main one I've been hearing lately is that vegan food is really expensive, so if you're a low-income family you can't afford it," Genesis says. "I come from a low-income family, and it's really easy, actually, to eat vegan. During quarantine, most of the foods that [people are] eating don't have animal products in them... so I think that it's not out of the question for you to go vegan now. I think there are super easy meals that people don't realize are vegan, that we can all eat every day."

Meals like pasta with marinara sauce, rice and beans, peanut butter and jelly sandwiches, and meatless chilis are easy, affordable meals based around pantry staples that so many have been relying on during the pandemic - and they just so happen to be vegan. So while the coronavirus pandemic might seem like a stressful time to make that change, Genesis actually thinks now is the perfect moment to listen to your heart and go for it.

Source: Lily Beth Redwood

At just 13 years old, Genesis has accomplished so much - in addition to everything mentioned above, she is also a founder and organizer for Youth Climate Save, the founder of her own nonprofit Genesis for Animals, PETA's 2019 Young Animal Activist of the Year, and a star of Marvel's Disney Plus series Hero Project. But when asked what accomplishment or moment she is most proud of, Genesis immediately recounts the story of meeting actor and animal activist Joaquin Phoenix earlier this year.

Genesis and Joaquin (along with his sister Rain Phoenix) met at a pig vigil in Los Angeles organized by LA Animal Save. At animal vigils, animal activists provide water and a moment of comfort to animals in their last few minutes of life, as they are transported into slaughterhouses on packed trucks. "I wanted to meet him for so long," Genesis says of meeting her vegan role model. "It was really cool meeting him, he's super sweet."

Source: Genesis Butler, Instagram

And there's still plenty more she wants to accomplish. When she grows up, Genesis hopes to get a veterinary degree and open her own animal sanctuary so she can rescue and care for animals from the industry. "I love animals so much and I really want to run my own sanctuary, and I want to learn how to become a vet, so I won't have to pay vet bills," she says.

Genesis' activism focuses on animals and the environment, but at its core, the message she wants to spread is one of kindness.

"We're always wondering why we're in such a hateful world, but it's the food that we're putting into our bodies. We are what we eat. So I think that it's really important to be more kind to one another, and make those changes everyday, because that's how we'll be able to reverse climate change," says Genesis. "I think it's really important to start using our voice, being kinder to one another every day, and start going vegan."

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13-Year-Old Vegan Climate Activist Genesis Butler Is On a Mission to Make the World a Kinder Place - Exclusive

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By Sophie Hirsh Updated "I've always loved animals, and I think that all kids do," 13-year-old animal rights and environmental activist Genesis Butler tells Green Matters in a recent phone call. "Some of us just get desensitized when we're younger, because we're always eating them, and some people don't really question it."

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The Endangered Species Act is the last resort for many species to avoid extinction. Members of Congress are disregarding science and proposing bills to slash the Act. But, there is something powerful you can do as an individual to protect species from disappearing forever.

Text protect to 52886 to take action

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The Endangered Species Act is the last resort for many species to avoid extinction. Members of Congress are disregarding science and proposing bills to slash the Act. But, there is something powerful you can do as an individual to protect species from disappearing forever.

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How Climate Change Affects Animals (Causes and Solutions)

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How Climate Change Affects Animals (Causes and Solutions)

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Animal Wised | 2019

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How CLIMATE CHANGE Affects ANIMALS ⚠️ Causes and Solutions

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by Tom Evans (Author), Paul Kobasa (Editor) | Amazon

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The Sustainable Jungle Podcast is a mission driven show, focusing on solutions for the world's sustainability and conservation challenges. Hosts, Lyall & Joy, talk with some of the most interesting and inspiring people working to future proof our planet. Join us as we create a place to encourage and galvanize positive change.

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The Sustainable Jungle Podcast is a mission driven show, focusing on solutions for the world's sustainability and conservation challenges. Hosts, Lyall & Joy, talk with some of the most interesting and inspiring people working to future proof our planet. Join us as we create a place to encourage and galvanize positive change.

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In "Conservation Uncut", jungle researcher and hardened leech destroyer Gianluca Cerullo chats with the frontline conservationists striving to protect wildlife and the environment.

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In "Conservation Uncut", jungle researcher and hardened leech destroyer Gianluca Cerullo chats with the frontline conservationists striving to protect wildlife and the environment.

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The effects of climate change are being felt by biodiversity in every region on Earth, as is evident through the disruption of animal seasonal migrations, feeding and breeding events, alterations of habitat ranges, decreases in ecosystem functionality, interruptions of food chains, and increases in the incidence of animal parasites and diseases. However, it's not too late to slow or even stop climate change! Read AZA's position statement on climate change.

AZA-accredited zoos and aquariums are concerned about species survival and dedicated to making positive changes for their conservation. More than 180 million visitors demonstrate their interest for wildlife and conservation by going to these facilities annually, and together we have the ability and power to do something meaningful that will mitigate how climate change is impacting animals, even those in your own backyard. The Climate Change Resource page will help you learn more about the scientific basis of climate change.

Polar Bears

Polar bears have evolved for a life that includes - and relies on - sea ice to provide them access to their primary source of food: seals. However, arctic sea ice is rapidly diminishing due to a warming planet, and the summer season without sea ice has lengthened. The longer the season without sea ice, the longer polar bears are without access to seals. AZA, its Animal Programs, and its member zoos and aquariums are partnering with scientists, conservation organizations, and communities, to help make a difference for polar bears.

Let's Talk!

Educators at AZA-accredited zoos and aquariums help guests understand the complexity of climate change while inspiring people to take action. AZA, its Conservation Education Committee, and several member zoos and aquariums have developed resources that link educators to the latest regional, national, and global climate science; provide examples of successful wildlife and climate change programming and activities; and assist them as they help guests make affective connections between wildlife and climate change. Tools are also available to facilitate implementation of community-level activities that reduce CO2 emissions. Learn more about climate change education programs and partners.

Greening Our Community

AZA-accredited zoos and aquariums are stewards of the natural resources utilized in their business operations, making them partners in efforts to protect their communities and wildlife around the world from the worst impacts of climate change. Learn what these facilities are already doing on-site and explore some of the many tools available so that both individuals and facilities can do more.

What Can You Do? Take Action!

Imagine how much we could accomplish if everyone joined this effort! It doesn't take a huge amount of effort or even a financial investment. The most important thing you can do is to realize that YOU have the power to make a difference; conservation begins at home. Simple decisions made in the 5 main areas of your daily life can make a huge impact for animal conservation:

1. Social - Decisions you make and examples you set through your personal and professional social interactions

2. Home - The ways you conserve energy and reduce waste in your home

3. Dining - The kinds of foods you eat and the distance these foods are transported

4. Shopping - The things you buy and how you get them from the marketplace to your home

5. Transportation - Choices you make regarding your day-to-day modes of transportation

By making the best decisions you can in some, or all, of these areas of your life each day, you too will be a part of the community that is working to save the animals we all care about!

Pole to Pole

The Pole to Pole Campaign was a joint effort between the zoo and aquarium associations of the United States (AZA) and Europe (EAZA) that ran from 2013-2015 to communicate climate change impacts on wildlife and inspired millions of visitors to take action to reduce these impacts each year.

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The effects of climate change are being felt by biodiversity in every region on Earth, as is evident through the disruption of animal seasonal migrations, feeding and breeding events, alterations of habitat ranges, decreases in ecosystem functionality, interruptions of food chains, and increases in the incidence of animal parasites and diseases.

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With close to 1 billion acres of protected lands and waters providing habitat for thousands of species and unrivaled outdoor recreational access for millions of Americans, Defenders of Wildlife is celebrating the remarkable legacy of the National Wildlife Refuge System today as we kick off National Wildlife Refuge Week, October 8-14.

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Defenders of Wildlife works on the ground, in the courts, and on Capitol Hill to protect and restore imperiled wildlife and habitats across North America. Together, we can ensure a future for the wildlife and wild places we all love.

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Visit lastdaysofivory.com to get informed and take action. Either we come together now to make these the last days of ivory-funded terrorism or we witness the last days of elephants in the wild. Created by Director Kathryn Bigelow, Writer Scott Z. Burns and Annapurna Pictures and in collaboration with WildAid.

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Climate Change: Why are thousands of species facing extinction?

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Climate Change: Why are thousands of species facing extinction?

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BBC News | 2019

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Climate Change: Why are thousands of species facing extinction? - BBC News

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10 Easy Things You Can Do To Save Endangered Species

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10 Easy Things You Can Do To Save Endangered Species

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10 Easy Things You Can Do to Save Endangered Species - Endangered Species Coalition

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1. Learn about endangered species in your area. Teach your friends and family about the wonderful wildlife, birds, fish and plants that live near you. The first step to protecting endangered species is learning about how interesting and important they...

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Virunga Official Trailer 1 (2014) - Netflix Documentary HD

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https://www.worldwildlife.org/initiatives/wildlife-and-climate-change

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Changes in climate and extreme weather events have already begun to affect biodiversity across the globe. And climate change also worsens other threats like habitat destruction, overexploitation, and disease.

From the shrinking habitat of the polar bear to increased water scarcity driving human-wildlife conflict, these changes will become more pronounced in years to come.

WWF is working to better understand how a changing climate impacts wildlife, and developing and implementing adaptation solutions. We are assessing our priority species to determine traits that make them resilient or vulnerable to changes in climate, crowdsourcing data on climate impacts, and funding projects through our Wildlife Adaptation Innovation Fund.

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Changes in climate and extreme weather events have already begun to affect biodiversity across the globe. And climate change also worsens other threats like habitat destruction, overexploitation, and disease. From the shrinking habitat of the polar bear to increased water scarcity driving human-wildlife conflict, these changes will become more pronounced in years to come.

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The truth is, scientists don't know how many species of plants, animals, fungi, and bacteria exist on Earth. The most recent estimate put that number at 2 billion, and that will most likely change at some point.

One thing we do know: The western black rhinoceros, the Tasmanian tiger, and the woolly mammoth are among the creatures whose populations at one point dwindled to zero, and it's possible that species extinction is happening a thousand times more quickly because of humans.

Extinction happens when environmental factors or evolutionary problems cause a species to die out. The disappearance of species from Earth is ongoing, and rates have varied over time. A quarter of mammals is at risk of extinction, according to IUCN Red List estimates.

To some extent, extinction is natural. Changes to habitats and poor reproductive trends are among the factors that can make a species' death rate higher than its birth rate for long enough that eventually, none are left.

Humans also cause other species to become extinct by hunting, overharvesting, introducing invasive species to the wild, polluting, and changing wetlands and forests to croplands and urban areas. Even the rapid growth of the human population is causing extinction by ruining natural habitats.

Among the most famous species driven to extinction by humans is the dodo, a bird that primarily lived in the island nation of Mauritius and was popularized by its appearance in Lewis Carroll's book "Alice's Adventures in Wonderland." Dodos were first mentioned by Dutch sailors in the late 16th century and last seen in 1662 after having been hunted to extinction. Passenger pigeons, billions of which frequently blanketed North American skies when Europeans arrived on the continent, went extinct when the last one died at the Cincinnati Zoo in 1914.

Six mass extinctions

Fossils show that there have been five previous periods of history when an unusually high number of extinctions occurred in what are known as mass extinctions. Most of the Earth's species went extinct roughly 266 million to 252 million years ago in the Permian extinction.

Those losses, however, also paved the way for dinosaurs to evolve into existence, as mass extinctions create a chance for new species to emerge. Dinosaurs met their end about 65 million years ago in another mass extinction at the end of the Cretaceous period. A large crater off of Mexico's Yucatán Peninsula suggests that an asteroid most likely struck there. Scientists believe that volcanic eruptions in India caused global warming that also may have contributed to the mass extinction.

Scientists are debating whether Earth is now in the midst of a sixth mass extinction. If so, it may be the fastest one ever with a rate of 1,000 to 10,000 times the baseline extinction rate of one to five species per year. Humans are largely responsible for the striking trend. Scientists believe that pollution, land clearing, and overfishing might drive half of the planet's existing land and marine species to extinction by 2100.

Slowly increasing surface temperatures caused by heightened levels of greenhouse gases likely will cause many species to move toward the Earth's poles and higher up into the mountains to stay in habitats with the same climates. But not all species will be able to adapt quickly enough to stave off extinction and many are expected to perish.

What can we do about it?

Using fewer fossil fuels by lowering the thermostat, driving less frequently, and recycling is one good way to slow the rate of extinctions. Eating less meat and avoiding products, like ivory, that are made from threatened species also can make a difference. At home, securing garbage in locked cans, reducing water usage, and refraining from using herbicides and pesticides can protect local wildlife.

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The truth is, scientists don't know how many species of plants, animals, fungi, and bacteria exist on Earth. The most recent estimate put that number at 2 billion, and that will most likely change at some point.