Our world is a vast expansion of life. We have identified around 1.75 million animal species living on our planet, and many more may lay undiscovered. From
microscopic soil invertebrates, to the mighty cats of Africa, they all play an important role in our ecosystem, and now they are under serious threat. Humans now dominate the planet, and we are destroying the beauty we once had. With concrete structures replacing ancient woodlands and vast farmlands filling the space where we once had rainforests, we are living in an artifical world.
Animals are losing their homes as we start to takeover. Their habitats are shrinking and with no place to go they become trapped in small pockets surrounded by tarmac. Even those that adapt to our world and learn to live alongside us, like the stunning fox, get persecuted as a pest and driven away. Many more animals are mercilessly hunted, chimps and gorillas are killed as a tradition for bushmeat, and the leopard, slaughtered for their beautiful coats which act as a simple fashion accessory. The reality is brutal.
The tiger is another that has suffered. At one stage we had 9 sub-species of tiger, 3 of them are now extinct because of our own actions. The Bali tiger was hunted to extinction 50 years ago in the name of sport. The Javan tiger lost out to the ever growing human population, as we removed all of its habitat from the island of Java that it was found on. And the Caspian tiger, which was starved of its natural prey, the wild pig, due to our selfish greed.
Our prickly friend, the hedgehog, is another that is rapidly losing the battle. In the 1950's there were 36 million hedgehogs in Britain. Less than a million now remain. Hedgehogs are killed on the roads, painful sliced at the end of a strimmer or mower and are burnt alive in bonfires. Their greatest threat is our endless need to preen our gardens. They are losing their habitat as we attempt to keep our gardens neat and tidy, removing hedgerows and fencing them in. In 15 years time we may lose the hedgehog from Britain forever.
Not only are we losing some of our treasured species but our natural resources are also under threat. The trees of the forests absorb moisture which is continuously released as a flow throughout dry seasons. This provides fresh, clean water for farms and agriculture further down stream. Removing our rainforests will inevitable prevent our flow of fresh water and destroy the balance we once had. Without our natural resources we will suffer, no materials to build our homes, no plants to feed us, no fresh water to quench our thirst, we are slowly ruining our own planet.
We need to learn how to live alongside these animals and give them the respect they deserve. Whether thats protecting a piece of ancient woodland that is home to many animal species or teaching other countries that slaughtering animals to the brink of extinction is wrong, it all makes a difference to the future of our planet.
Here's how you can get involved...
Educate
They key to the future is to teach those around us. We can learn from our mistakes and prevent them from happening again. You can take an active role in educating the next generation so they can continue to preserve and protect our precious wildlife. We can correct the damage we have done to our environment by ensuring that we are aware for the future.
Go Green
Make a pledge to change your ways and you can help our wildlife.
Recycle your paper and help save a rainforest. Use energy efficient
bulbs and help save polar bear habitat. Give a slice of your home to nature by creating a wildlife garden. You can help!
Animals are losing their homes as we start to takeover. Their habitats are shrinking and with no place to go they become trapped in small pockets surrounded by tarmac. Even those that adapt to our world and learn to live alongside us, like the stunning fox, get persecuted as a pest and driven away. Many more animals are mercilessly hunted, chimps and gorillas are killed as a tradition for bushmeat, and the leopard, slaughtered for their beautiful coats which act as a simple fashion accessory. The reality is brutal.
Extinction
Extinction of many of our amazing animals is now almost inevitable. An example of this is the incredible and unusual Dodo. A large, flightless bird that lived on the Island of Mauritius, it knew no predators until the arrival of mankind. Its tame nature meant it was easily hunted for food. Dogs and cats that had been introduced by people killed its offspring and so by 1681 it had become extinct. Now it has become a myth in our stories, just a fantasy drawing in our books, and many more have joined them.The tiger is another that has suffered. At one stage we had 9 sub-species of tiger, 3 of them are now extinct because of our own actions. The Bali tiger was hunted to extinction 50 years ago in the name of sport. The Javan tiger lost out to the ever growing human population, as we removed all of its habitat from the island of Java that it was found on. And the Caspian tiger, which was starved of its natural prey, the wild pig, due to our selfish greed.
The dodo, a distant memory by happy via
Under threat
Many more of our animals lie on the brink of extinction, with the threat becoming greater than ever. The magnificent rhino is just one of these, as it is rapidly being poached for its horns. Made from keratin, their horns are the same as our own fingernails or hair, yet it is believed to be an ancient medicine and have aphrodisiac qualities. Even though scientisits have proved this to be false the demand for rhino horn is still increasing and now poaching has reached an all time high. Over 80% of rhino deaths are caused by humans, 17 were slaughtered in 2007, with an increase to 668 in 2012. Where will this lead to in another 5 years time?Our prickly friend, the hedgehog, is another that is rapidly losing the battle. In the 1950's there were 36 million hedgehogs in Britain. Less than a million now remain. Hedgehogs are killed on the roads, painful sliced at the end of a strimmer or mower and are burnt alive in bonfires. Their greatest threat is our endless need to preen our gardens. They are losing their habitat as we attempt to keep our gardens neat and tidy, removing hedgerows and fencing them in. In 15 years time we may lose the hedgehog from Britain forever.
Not only are we losing some of our treasured species but our natural resources are also under threat. The trees of the forests absorb moisture which is continuously released as a flow throughout dry seasons. This provides fresh, clean water for farms and agriculture further down stream. Removing our rainforests will inevitable prevent our flow of fresh water and destroy the balance we once had. Without our natural resources we will suffer, no materials to build our homes, no plants to feed us, no fresh water to quench our thirst, we are slowly ruining our own planet.
Hedgehog by FletchtheMonkey
So what can we do?
Conservation, the process of preserving and carefully managing our environment and natural resources, is key to preventing further devastation. We can help redress the balance between man and nature so that once again we can enjoy the world as it is meant to be. We can ensure that the beauty and richness of life will still be available for our future generations to enjoy. It is us that has caused this devastation, so it is us that need to correct it.We need to learn how to live alongside these animals and give them the respect they deserve. Whether thats protecting a piece of ancient woodland that is home to many animal species or teaching other countries that slaughtering animals to the brink of extinction is wrong, it all makes a difference to the future of our planet.
Here's how you can get involved...
Donate
Donations are what keep charities running, and without
them much of our wildlife would suffer. Support a charity like the WWF who help to protect crucial rainforest
habitat. Our wildlife needs them to survive and they need us to
support them. Why not put a wildlife charity in you will? You will
leave a lasting memory. You could even get fundraising, why not run a marathon in aid of a wildlife charity.
Educate
They key to the future is to teach those around us. We can learn from our mistakes and prevent them from happening again. You can take an active role in educating the next generation so they can continue to preserve and protect our precious wildlife. We can correct the damage we have done to our environment by ensuring that we are aware for the future.
Volunteer
Do you have spare time? Well why not use it wisely?
Just a few hours a day at your local wildlife charity can really help
out, whether its acting as a receptionist, walking the dogs, or feeding
an orphaned animal your support is greatly appreciated. Why not go
one step further and travel abroad? You will get to work with some of
the worlds most incredible animals and have a blast doing it!
Campaign
Make a stand for those things that matter to you. Get
out there and shout about it! Create flyers, start petitions and create
events so you can spread the word. Run a campaign dedicated to your
cause. The further the word spreads the more your cause is noticed!
Make sure you vote for a party that supports animal rights too!Go Green
