According to the latest data from the World Animal Foundation, there are an estimated 2.16 million described animal species on the planet, of which more than 20% are endangered. The causes are very diverse, but the impact of human actions and the effects this has on the environment also play a major role. Poaching and animal trafficking are among the main causes of the disappearance of thousands of species worldwide. Another cause is due to the destruction of their habitats by excessive and illegal human activities. As a result, these species end up migrating to other ecosystems where they endanger their survival.
Here are some of the species in danger of extinction:
- Mandrel. In West Africa, they feed on baboon meat and use it for trade, and it is estimated that tons of meat enter West Europe illegally every day. Logging and agriculture are destroying their places of refuge.
- Polar bear. This species relies entirely on sea ice to catch its prey: seals. However, global warming and rising temperatures are causing the ice to melt at a rapid rate.
- Common chimpanzee. In the last century, three quarters of this species have disappeared because they are hunted for their meat, which is consumed in West Africa and illegally distributed abroad.
- Panda bear. Currently, there are only 2,000 panda bears living in the wild. In addition, its main food source, bamboo, has a high sensitivity to high temperatures, which means that over time bamboo will be damaged by impending climate change.
Unfortunately, there are many, many more species that are in danger of extinction due to the bad actions of human beings. We can reduce our environmental impact every time we visit a natural area to avoid endangering the survival of the species there.
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