I read a one page article in the StarTribune (by Juliet Eilperin) called, A Bleak Future for World’s Mammals. The article discussed the rapidly declining number of animals, mostly land, because of over-harvesting and habitat destruction. A new study, which involved 1,700 experts in 130 countries, shows that 25 percent of land mammal’s species are being threatened with extinction. Marine mammals are also in danger but for different reasons. They are being affected by things like accidental killing through fishing, ship strikes and pollution. No matter what type of animal or how they are being affected, it is obvious we are hurting these creatures. “Mammals are definitely declining, and the driving factors are habitat destruction and over-harvesting, ” said the study’s lead author and the IUCN’s global mammals assessment coordinator, Jan Schipper. But the fight to save many species isn’t over, there are things we can do to improve the standing of a large number of land mammals. Conservation International President Russ Mittermeier says “It comes down to protecting habitats effectively, through protected areas, and preventing hunting and other forms of exploitation.”
This article was a real eye opener, it showed me that our actions are not only affecting our lives but they are also affecting the creatures that we share this earth with. In this day and age, where global warmin is a big issue, we have to take responsibility for our actions and understand that we are destroying the place we live.
From:
http://www.startribune.com/nation/30548144.html?elr=KArksUUUU
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