Endangered Species "Levels "

     There are not only endangered species in the world, everything starts from the bottom. On the first signs of danger, categories start to form. The categories are least concern, near threatened, conservation dependent, lower risk, vulnerable, endangered, critically endangered, extinct in the wild and extinct (www.animalinfo.org).

     Extinct. Is when  there is reasonable doubt that the last individual has died. A species is Extinct in the Wild when it is known only to survive in cultivation. A species is presumed extinct in the wild when exhaustive surveys in known  from expected habitat. (www.animalinfo.org).

   Critically Endangered when it is facing an extremely high risk of extinction in the wild in the immediate future. A species is Endangered when it is not Critically Endangered but is facing a very high risk of extinction in the wild in the near future. A species is Vulnerable when it is not Critically Endangered or Endangered but is facing a high risk of extinction in the wild future. Lower Risk when it has been evaluated and does not satisfy the criteria for any of the categories Critically Endangered, Endangered or Vulnerable(www.animalinfo.org).

We may observe the differences in categories, and by that we may think about the danger of this topic. The categories show that we need to make conscience about the species. Animals in lower risk need to be observed and taken care of before it gets even worse.

Endangered Species " The Giant Pandas"

   The Giant panda has been one of the most loved creatures of the world and it’s also considered a powerful symbol of the world (http://wwf.panda.org). Sadly it has been endangered for the past years. It would be catastrophic to lose this magnificent creature, especially of the Chinese people, since it is where the Giant Panda originates, and I can only imagine what a huge hit it will be for them.

   One of the main causes of the endangerment of the Giant panda are bamboo harvesting of the bamboos, and as we all now, the bamboos are the panda´s main source of food. Another factor, of course as always, would be the destruction of natural habitats, because of road construction, mining, hydropower plants, etc.

   

Because of China's dense and growing human population, many panda populations are isolated in narrow belts of bamboo no more than 1.2km wide — and panda habitat is continuing to disappear as settlers push higher up the mountain slopes (http://wwf.panda.org).

   There isn’t much we can do here in México to stop this, except maybe we can donate to some organizations that help the Giant Panda. Like mentioned on past blogs, about our own endangered species here in Mexico, Chinese people need to find immediate solutions for the Panda or there will be even more serious problems which will be not reversible. Like I have said before, it is better to start acting now, especially when we are talking about a very important creature specially for the Chinese people known as the Giant Panda.

WWF, Giant Panda, http://wwf.panda.org/what_we_do/endangered_species/giant_panda/

Endangered Species “In the Ocean"

    On today´s topic, I would like to discuss with you the problems of endangered species not on soil, but on the ocean. Sadly some of the species inhabiting 70 percents of the world´s space are endangered. I will focus on one specific creature on this blog, which is the humpback whale. The humpback whale is one of the largest, if not the largest species roaming the earth on present day, but their size unfortunately won’t save them from the poisonous hands of mankind. It is a magnificent animal and we cannot afford to lose it so our children can be witness of their existence.

Like most of other endangered species, the humpback whale is mostly affected by human activity. One reason is the industrial pollution caused by factories, the petroleum ships also cause a big amount of wastes in the water, either affecting the animal the whales eat, or simply affecting them directly. Another problem is when they get tangled in the fishing gear and nets causing serious injury or killing them.

The whales have shown a lot of resilience, since all the things caused by mankind, they are still trying to survive. But it is also our duty to do something about it. Remember, we must start before it is too late, or we will really regret losing this great creature in the world, since it is a sign of strength and happiness for the society. Everyone needs to start acting now!

Bibliograpghy

Threatened Species, Environmental and Social Data, Last modified: August 2, 2006, http://www.animalinfo.org/species/cetacean/meganova.htm

Read more: http://www.animalinfo.org/species/cetacean/meganova.htm#ixzz1bfQBOjkt

“The Endangered Species Worst Nightmare”

    As we all know because of my previous blogs, there are many factors that contribute to the disappearance and endangering of many beautiful species, like using them for practice shooting, taking advantage for their fur, horns, etc, and of course the destruction of their habitats. Probably the last one is the most dangerous, but what causes most of the problems of forest fires, destruction of habitats, melting of poles, is pollution. One of the main causes of pollution is the extreme use of cars, buses, trucks etc. It is the most common factor of the production of pollution and it’s the one we can most contribute so it can be stopped.

    The situation seems to get even worse as the population grows every day. That’s why this must help us make conscience that the more people, the more cars, and of course the triple of pollution produced. There are some countries in which they do make something to reduce this type of problem. One example is Germany, my brother is currently living there for a year, and he tells us that it is very common for people to use bikes instead of cars, as a matter of fact, it’s more common to see people in bikes than in cars in some parts of Germany. Sadly in Mexico it is extremely rare to see someone riding his bike than using his car.

   If we can observe that the main cause of endangered species is pollution, then that gives us more reasons to help eradicate this problem, like for example in Germany, we may also start using our bikes more often instead of our cars to arrive to our destinations.

Reference:

greenstudentu.com." Encyclopedia pollution. OTONetworks, LLC, n.d. Web. 29 Sep 2011. <http://www.greenstudentu.com/encyclopedia/pollution>.

Endangered Species “ Volcano Rabbit”

   The Volcano Rabbit is an animal that inhabits Valley of Mexico on the east and south, near Mexico City. (www.animalinfo.org/species/). It is a beautiful type of rabbit, it is harmless, to any person or animal, and it only eats grass and any other kind of plants. It would be sad that this animal will not be able to be seen by our children, that’s why we must act hastily, because this is only one of the many endangered animals belonging to our country.

Volcano Rabbit

   The cause of the Volcano Rabbit being endangered is very frustrating and annoying. One of the causes of its population decreasing is serious threats of habitat degradation and target shooting.  The habitat degradations is thanks to forest fires, development and agriculture, over-exploitation of timber and cutting of zacaton grasses which is the main food of the Volcano Rabbit.(www.animalinfo.org/species/). The other factor which is target shooting is the one which is most annoying, since it is the one easiest to be stopped, but thanks to lack of interest and ignorance of certain people they continue with this sport or hobby. There should be bigger punishments for the people who do this, especially when we are talking about an endangered animal such as the volcano rabbit.

   It is not too late to stop this chaos, but if we continue with the same attitude we have had for the last years then it will be too late. Let’s start changing now so in the future our children can enjoy of one of the endangered species in our country which is the volcano rabbit.

Reference:
"Animal Info - Volcano Rabbit." Animal Info - Endangered Animals. ,Las modified January 2, 2005 . Web. Current date22 Sep 2011. <http://www.animalinfo.org/species/romediaz.htm>.

Endangered Species " The polar bear"

Imagine the impact in our children when they notice that there once lived a great creature, that died because of humans and their lack of caring. That creature might probably be the polar bear, a wonderful mammal that requires a polar environment to survive. Unfortunately in a few years there will not be a polar climate left on earth, the poles are starting to melt, destroying the habitat of the polar bear, and making it more difficult to find food.

The impact when the polar bear disappears will be disastrous, one of the greatest creatures of the Antarctic will completely extinguish or could only be seen in some certain parks were the give shelter to endangered species, which will cause a lot of pain to society to see this marvelous animal in its final moments on this earth.

The pollution is one of the main causes of this act, the factories are one of the main problems, and the smoke they cause is damaging the ozone layer, making more ultraviolet rays to reach the surface. Maybe we cannot stop a factory from doing this but we can help from our home, recycling, and not throwing trash out of place. Let’s do what we can!

This is why we must act! If it’s already too late, then that’s a reason to speed our solutions. Let’s not wait until things get even worse. Anyone can help, even if it’s just a little, or for a while, if everyone at least does something that will create a great starting point to end this problem.

Endangered Species” Anyone can Help”

     Endangered species, as we all know is a problem growing every day, but it is also a problem that could be decreasing everyday if everyone would do something about it. There are probably the same number of solutions than same number of problems, sadly almost nobody cares about the situation that we live in so the odds are in favor of the disaster.

     On the last blog I discussed the endangered species living closely to our community. Today´s topic will be how we might assist to stop this problem. There is a close relationship between both topics, if everyone begins helping stop this madness by starting around his or her environment, that sooner or later there will make the difference.

Cerro de la Silla

     One of the main problems in Monterrey is the term of “conserving habitats”, because obviously we may notice how habitats are being destroyed, and the lack of importance shown especially in the Cerro de la Silla. It must be prohibited to build houses on the mountain. As the years pass, the houses get higher in the mountain. I wouldn’t be surprised that in a couple years the houses will reach half of the mountains height. We must take into account that our city is known well for the Cerro de la Silla, let’s try to conserve our natural habitats.

     Other methods that we might do in our home of course would be recycling, and especially avoid throwing trash in natural habitats, anything worse than not recycling would be doing that. Another method would be to plant trees. From every tree that is cut we must plant at least two. Today there are machines that cut the trees in a matter of seconds, and unfortunately it takes years for trees to grow.

    With everyone´s help we will make this world a better place, but without everyone’s interest the world we know today and the species that surround us would come to an end. Not tomorrow, let’s start today!

Reference:

Kurpis, Lauren . "Ways You Can Help Endangered Species." EndangeredSpecie.com. Lauren Kurpis, n.d. Web. 31 Aug 2011. <http://www.endangeredspecie.com/Ways_To_Help.htm>.