Opening Statement:
To raise awareness of endangered species and what we all can do, the United Nations is celebrating World Wildlife Day on March 3, marking the day the group signed the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora. What do the orangutans of Borneo, the elephants of Sumatra, and the Black Rhino all have in common? Aside from all being totally wonderful animals that we watch on YouTube, the truth about these creatures is that they’re all critically endangered species. On World Wildlife Day, the United Nations and its partners are planning to raise awareness of the importance of this dreadful situation. What I learned researching this awareness day is, an animal is only placed on the critically endangered species list if the International Union for Conservation of Nature believes the animal faces a very high risk for extinction. So, what does critically endangered look like? Current estimates put the number of living Black Rhinos at around 2,500 in the entire world. Russia’s Amur Leopard, found in the far eastern retreats of the country, is on the verge of extinction. There are only about 40 of Amur Leopards left in the world. Unfortunately, this list goes on and on.
Why World Wildlife Day Is Important
1. To put it very simply, if certain creatures were to die out, it would send our food chain far out of whack. In a strong ecosystem, if any link in the food chain breaks, it causes ripples far and wide. Without wolves, elk and deer have no fear, and stay in one place longer, eating plants down to their roots. This kills the plants, causing further ripples, and so it goes. And this is only one specific scenario of what can happen.
2. While there are certainly reasons beyond humanity’s control for a species to die off, in many cases today, it’s due to human activity. However, the good news is that if we caused it, that means we have the power to fix it. Overhunting, illegal game trade, overfishing and deforestation are all culprits, but none of these are beyond our control. By celebrating World Wildlife Day, we can send a message that these human activities can’t go unchecked.
3. Ensuring Earth remains a thriving, living, breathing planet means taking care of everything in it. Overfishing can result in disastrous economic problems for coastal communities dependent on the trade. The loss of a species can lead to changes in the local environment, which can directly affect the humans living there. Wildlife conservation is an integral part of creating a sustainable world.
How To Observe World Wildlife Day
· Share Some Amazing Facts
One of the best ways to catch the attention of your friends and spread a message at the same time — especially with animals — is to share a cool fact. Maybe it’s on social media, or maybe it’s around the office water cooler. Either way, it’s a great opportunity to share a little-known fact about an endangered animal, and hopefully spark some curiosity about conservation.
· Throw A Planet Earth Party
You would be hard pressed to find someone who vehemently says no to watching the BBC’s groundbreaking TV series Planet Earth. Now with two seasons readily available for online streaming, use World Wildlife Day as a time to watch this amazing series again, or introduce it to those who were unfortunate enough to miss it first time around.
· Get Involved
People all over the world are expected to come together on March 3 to discuss ways to discuss the biggest threats to the world’s wildlife, including habitat change, over-exploitation, and illegal tracking. Governments, natural parks leaders, citizens and lawmakers will all be holding events to raise awareness, so find one near you, and get to work.
Closing Statement:
It is essential that all humans all over the world must understand about the importance of wildlife, how it is essential for maintaining the balance of nature, and for preserving our environment for future generations. Every species on the planet plays an important role as part of the “Natural Cycle of Life,” so we must take action to conserve our wildlife. Habitat loss, climate change, and a lack of biodiversity can all make ecosystems unhealthy, putting wildlife at greater risk for disease. Every day the byproducts of our daily lives make their way via the air and water into the natural environment and become pollutants. It is just plain and simple…. Let’s Do Our Part, No Excuses!
Source of Information: Various Google Searches
Until Next Week, Stay Safe and Well!
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