The Most Endangered Animals
Climate change alone could result in the extinction of 20-30% of all US plants and endangered animals, says the United States Geological Survey. According to Imperiled Species Coordinator Rachel Muir, “Federal science that is conducted across biology, geology, geographic and water sciences, the social sciences and others is essential for the United States and the world to be able to continue to protect our biological heritage.” To protect endangered species, the USGS is turning to scientific methods like tracking grizzly bear movement with DNA testing, monitoring turtle activity in Everglades National Park, raising mussels in laboratories for release into the wild and restoring Channel Islands’ habitat.
The Sumatran tiger is one of the world’s most endangered animals, particularly because they are highly coveted in the world of poaching and their habitat is rapidly being destroyed by the logging industry. The island’s nature preserve houses 100 tigers but the poachers have managed to find their way into the park to kill. Three similar breeds of tiger — the Bali, the Java and the Trinil — have already gone extinct. It is believed that there are less than 400 Sumatran tigers in the wild. Similarly, the Siberian tiger has been whittled down to less than 200 existing in the wild. The Association of Zoos and Aquariums has 1,000 tigers in their breeding programs, which has female tigers birthing several cubs each year.
The Javan rhino is another one of the most endangered animals, with as few as 60 living in the wild. This large, elusive breed of rhino lives 30-40 years in a mostly solitary existence, except to mate and parent. Since females only give birth every 1-3 years and gestation lasts up to 16 months, breeding in the wild can be difficult. The tiny populations of endangered species currently exist in Java (Ujung Kulon National Park) and in Vietnam (Cat Tien Park). Java rhinos used to thrive in China, Indonesia, Southeast Asia and India but have been driven to near-extinction by poaching for their horns, which are allegedly used in Traditional Chinese Medicine and sell for $30,000 on the black market.
“It’s sad to see in my lifetime the loss of so many species. It’s like watching the end of the world in slow motion,” said Donna Fernandes, president of the Buffalo Zoo. In Buffalo, NY there are captive breeding and resettlement programs for 28 endangered species, including the snow leopard, Indian rhino, Siberian tiger, Puerto Rican Crested Toad and Golden Lion Tamarin. “I sometimes wish I could time travel back 200 years ago, and see the world the way it was,” she sighs, referring to the numerous endangered animals who have already met their end — including the Vancouver Island wolverine, the Columbia Basin pygmy rabbit, the Dusky Seaside sparrow and the Bay Spring salamander, which have gone extinct since 1960. Fernandes adds, “I’m hoping people will realize there is hope if they take an active role in changing their behavior, and in supporting organizations trying to halt extinction.”
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