Every day the destruction of habitats, illegal trade, poaching, pollution, climate change endanger the species of our planet more and more. Thousands of animals are seriously at risk of extinction: this is the constant denunciation of the IUCN (International Union for Conservation of Nature), which every year releases the Red List of animals at risk of extinction.
Have you ever wondered about the most endangered animals and how to protect them? A species is classified as endangered when its population has declined between 50 and 70 percent and as when its population is restricted to less than 250 mature individuals. When a species’ population is this low, its area of occupancy is not considered.
There are now a total of 41,415 species on the IUCN Red List, and 16,306 of them are endangered species threatened with extinction. This is up from 16,118 compared to last year. This includes both endangered animals and endangered plants. Below you can find a list of 5 of the endangered animals and what we can do to protect them.
1. Koala
Australia has placed the koala on its endangered species list across much of its east coast. At the origin of the decision the tragic thinning of the population due to the destruction of their habitat caused by the fires that in recent years have devastated the region, by a prolonged drought and by man-made deforestation for the exploitation of the territory. The measure covers New South Wales, Queensland and the Capital Territory of Canberra. Scientists and academics have warned that the mammal, a true icon of the country, could become extinct unless the government intervenes immediately to protect the species and its habitat. According to the Australian Koala Foundation, as of 2018, around 30% of Australian koalas have been exterminated by bushfires, drought and logging. Their number is estimated to have dropped to less than 58,000 from more than 80,000 in 2018. The worst situation is that of New South Wales, where the numbers have dropped by 41%.
A vertical collapse in the population of this marsupial recorded as
"vulnerable" only in 2012. Its inclusion on the list of endangered
animals "adds priority in terms of koala conservation," Environment
Minister Sussan Ley said. Premier Scott Morrison has announced investments of $
35 million over four years for their protection.
2. Elephant
All three elephant species are at risk of extinction mainly due to habitat loss and fragmentation caused by human expansion and the consequent conversion of natural habitats into agricultural areas and settlements. Added to this are poaching for the illegal trade in tusks and the consumption of meat and conflicts with human activities which, due to the ever closer contact between animals and inhabited areas, are increasingly frequent.
Even in Asia, the extensive oil palm plantations, very attractive to elephants, lead to conflicts that often result in the death of the animals.
Despite the protection laws that elephants enjoy, the ivory trade involves the killing of many animals every year considering that ivory is sold on the black market at very high prices and that a tusk of an adult male reaches the weight of 50 kg and a length of up to 2.5 m. Since 2020, with the Covid-19 pandemic, there is an increase in poaching due to the lower presence of tourists, less surveillance and the socio-economic crisis in many countries.
One active program is MIKE, “ Monitoring Illegal Kill Elephant Program ”, supported by the WWF and other international bodies present in all the countries included in the African elephant range. The goal is to collect data on elephant mortality and reduce illegal killings, and then help local governments to resolve conflicts between economic activities and the presence of elephants.
3. Turtle
Turtles are seriously threatened by human activities, as they are susceptible to disturbance of tourism in spawning areas, pollution, especially plastic, and suffer from bycatch fishing . It is estimated that around 150,000 sea turtles end up accidentally caught by fishing gear in the Mediterranean every year and that more than 40,000 of these die.
The project LIFE EUROTURTLES is aimed at improving the status of the populations of Mediterranean sea turtles, through monitoring activities and making the nests safe. In Italy the activities concern Sicily, Calabria, Basilicata and Puglia.
4. Emperor Penguin
The population of the emperor penguin has drastically reduced in recent decades: in Pointe Géologie the population has decreased by 50% in the last 50 years, especially until the 1970s, then it seems to have stabilized. The risks for this species are posed by climate change that causes the disappearance of glaciers and ice packs. Climate change and the reduction of ice threaten the colonies, forcing the young penguins to jump into the sea when they are not yet ready to face the sea and predators.
The Antarctic crisis is also having a disruptive effect on shoals of krill, the primary food source not only for penguins, but for every Antarctic species. To combat the extinction of penguins, governments must adopt international conservation policies, promoting a network of marine protected areas.
The brown bear is included in the red list of endangered species drawn up by the IUCN; the Italian populations are in a state of greater criticality due to the small number, isolation and persistence of threats.
Despite the protection of national and international standards that it enjoys, the brown bear is still a victim of direct and indirect persecution by humans. The sum of poaching with snares, poison and firearms, combined with animals that are victims of road accidents, poses a threat to the medium and long-term survival of this species.
The brown bear needs large spaces and the presence in its range of roads, inhabited centers, railways and various other infrastructures subtract and fragment its vital space, compromising its ability to increase in number, extend its range and reach higher levels. vitality. These are the reasons why, despite the new births, the population does not increase: too many bears are dying!
It is essential to implement strategies for good coexistence, promoting and using particular measures, such as "bear-proof" low-voltage electric fences to protect domestic livestock, alternative sources of food for bears, the use of LGDs and, in general, to ensure that the resident population and tourists who frequent the areas inhabited by bears adopt conscious, respectful and correct caution behaviors.
Alessia, 4scB
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