Endangered Species

By: Jack Cudmore

Table of Contents
Introduction to Endangered Species
Chapter 1: Animals Becoming Endangered or Extinct
Chapter 2: Types of Endangered Species
Tasmanian Devil
Yellowstone Grizzly Bear
Polar Bear
Chapter 3: How You Can Help
Conclusion

Introduction To Endangered Species

Did you know that there are 41,415 endangered species in the world? Did
you know that there are about 10,000-100,000 species becoming extinct each
year? There are many endangered species in the world that need help. It is an
ongoing problem that we have to do something about. There are many
organizations that are helping endangered species and preventing animals to go
endangered or extinct by passing laws or preventing activities that could harm
or kill the animals. We should all be made aware of this and help. I am going to
show you three of the 41,415 endangered species in the world, why animals go
endangered, and some of the many ways you can help endangered species in
your area and around the world.

Animals Becoming Endangered or Extinct

Different species are going endangered or extinct because of many
different factors. The Yellowstone Grizzly Bear, a species located in Yellowstone
National Park, is officially listed as endangered for a few reasons. First, they
take up a lot of land. They also take a long time to reproduce. Lastly, they were
hunted by hunters. But when they were listed as endangered, that made it
illegal to hunt grizzly bears. In some ways it was positive because of the
protection that being listed as endangered gave them, but in some ways it was
negative because of the endangerment. Some factors that drive species toward
endangerment can't be controlled by humans, but some factors are caused by
us, which we need to limit.
Humans play a very big role in why animals become endangered. One
example is habitat destruction. Humans clear forests or other habitats to create
space, and this can leave animals without a habitat. Over the past 200 years,
humans have made big changes to natural environments all over the world. Most
of the changes have negatively affected wildlife, making more species
endangered or extinct. One example is gorilla habitat mining. We use a mineral in
cell phones that is mined in gorilla habitats. This is a big problem that can lead
to gorillas going extinct. Some species of gorilla are already endangered, due to
mining and other activities and events. We have to limit mining in the gorilla
habitat, and recycle cell phones.
Natural causes have had an affect too: competition, sudden climate
change, or catastrophic events have also driven some species towards
extinction. Many people believe that the dinosaur went extinct because of a
meteor crashing down on earth. If true, it would have been an example of a very
catastrophic event. But competition can cause endangerment too.
Approximately 42% of the species in the U.S that are threatened or endangered
are at risk due to invasive species. Invasive species can be brought to different
habitats, or accidentally released. They can cause competition for resources
within the habitat, and that can eventually lead to animals becoming
endangered or going extinct.
Pollution and global warming is another way humans have negatively
affected animals. This has made many species go endangered or extinct. Oil
spills and acid rain are especially bad for fish and birds. One factor that has
affected the sea turtle, helping to force it into endangerment, is pollution.

Plastic, thrown out fish gear, and other debris has

caused some sea turtles to die from ingestion (to
take as food) and entanglement (getting caught in
it). This is something almost completely controlled
by us, and can be very easily stopped. Just throw
out garbage, and don't throw it into species
As the population of humans
habitats.
grow, the amount of animal
extinctions does too. Much of
Animals go endangered or extinct for many
this is due to pollution, which
different reasons. Some of those reasons are caused
is caused by us when we
release greenhouse gases.
by us, humans. We have to stop making animals go
endangered and extinct. Many animals are relying on us
to stop harming the environment and letting them go
endangered or extinct. We play a big role in how the animals survive, and we
have to do a better job.

Types of Endangered Species

The Tasmanian Devil
One type of endangered specie is the Tasmanian Devil. The Tasmanian Devil
population is rapidly disappearing. It is being wiped out by a rare cancers called
devil facial tumor disease (DFTD). The Tasmanian Devil population has gone
from 150,000-20,000 from the 1990s to 2006. The Devil Facial Tumor
Disease's cause is unknown and DFTD can't be
passed to humans. Scientists are trying to
figure out what causes it. DFTD spreads like a
cold or flu from animal to animal when a
Tasmanian devil bites another. DFTD does not
allow Tasmanian Devils to eat, and they
usually die a few months after from
starvation. The disease shuts the jaw,
therefore not allowing them to eat. But if the
Tasmanian Devil goes extinct, it may affect
other species of animals also. The Tasmanian
devil is also vital to the population of foxes and
wildcats. If the Tasmanian devil goes extinct,
The DFTD is taking over the
it will affect more than the Tasmanian devils,
Tasmanian Devil population, and
it will affect ecosystems and other animals.
we need to help.

The Yellowstone Grizzly Bear

The Yellowstone Grizzly Bear is another

one of the 41,415 endangered species in the world. It has been under federal
protection for over 30 years, but is soon to be removed from the endangered
species list. Federal officials say the number of grizzly bears has tripled since it
was listed as an endangered specie in 1975. There estimated more than 600
grizzly bears now in the Yellowstone areaincluding
parts of Wyoming, Montana, and Idaho. The
Endangered Species Act (ESA) requires federal
agencies to check with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife
Service before starting projects that could hurt the
animals. The ESA makes it illegal to kill protected
animals, so removing the grizzly bears off the list
could eventually clear the way for grizzly bear
hunting, which could greatly affect the grizzly bear
population. The grizzly bears in other regions besides

Yellowstone will still continue to be protected by the ESA.

Conversation groups are split on the move of taking the grizzly bear off
the list. The National Wildlife Federation (NWF) supports removing them from
the list. But the Natural Resources Defense Council thinks it is too soon. Even
though the number of bears is healthy, some of the Bears' important food
sources are disappearing, they say. Without federal protection of the Bears'
habitat, the Bears may be forced to leave the park to find food. Louisa Wilcox,
director of a bear project for the Natural Resources Defense Council, said "The
bear is out of the emergency room, but is certainly not ready to be released
from the hospital." The grizzly bear was first declared a threatened species in
1975, because of reducing numbers and loss of habitat. They reproduce slowly
and they need a lot of land. They have made a strong comeback overtime, but
may need to continue to be protected for a little while more until they have
enough bears to survive hunting and other factors that could cause
endangerment, or a big drop in population.

The Polar Bear

Another endangered specie, the Polar Bear, was listed as "threatened" by
the United States government under the Federal Endangered Species Act (ESA)
after months of consideration. The Polar Bear's sea ice habitat has melted
dramatically over the past few decades, and sea ice is vital to Polar Bear
survival. The sea ice is melting because of warming temperatures, due to global
warming, in the Arctic region where most of the
Polar Bears live. Polar Bears depend on ice to
do many of their everyday things: They hunt
for their food, such as seals, and other animals
on the ice. They also travel, mate, and give
birth on ice. The Endangered Species Act
protects species and habitats from activities
that might harm them, causing drops in the
population of the animal. The protection of the
Polar bears is the first time the ESA has been
used to protect a species whose habitat is
disappearing because of global warming.
Global warming is caused by the increase of greenhouse gases in the
atmosphere. Greenhouse gases are released when human beings burn fossil
fuels like coal, fuel oil, and natural gas. Conversation groups and scientists think
limiting the greenhouse gases we use will stop the ice melting. If Polar bears go
extinct, it may affect seals also over time, because if there are no polar bears

to eat the slow, sick, or even normal seals, there might not be enough food to
go around for all of the seals, since none are being eaten by the polar bears. We
have to limit our greenhouse gases, because having the polar bears go
endangered or extinct can affect not only the polar bear, but other animals too.

Ways You Can Help

There are many easy ways you can help endangered species in the world.
First, don't buy any products made from endangered or threatened animals.
That means no animal skin jackets, rugs or other furniture. Also, spread the
word to family, friends, or anyone about endangered species in the area, or
anywhere. Another way you can help is to buy recycled paper and sustainable
materials instead of non-sustainable materials. Recycle your phones, because a
mineral used in cell phones is mined in a gorilla habitat. Recycling your cell
phones can help reduce the mining in gorilla habitats. Mining in the gorilla
habitat is an example of habitat destruction. Never buy furniture made from
wood from rainforests. One minor way is to slow down when driving. You should
also make your home wildlife friendly. To learn more, you can visit a national
wildlife refuge or park. Even more, volunteer at a local wildlife refuge or park to
get involved. Scientists say that the best way to protect endangered species is
to protect the places where they live. Also, try to avoid using herbicides and
pesticides in your lawn. They can be hazardous and deadly to animals. Harming
wildlife is very bad, cruel, and illegal. Don't shoot, trap, or force an endangered
or threatened animal into captivity. This can cause more animals to die, or more
species to go threatened, endangered, or extinct. So please don't purposely
harm any animals, it is not good for the animals or the environment.
You can help in other ways too. For example, you can donate money to
organizations that help endangered and threatened species such as the World
Wildlife Fund (WWF) and Endangered Species International (ESI). They are
organizations that help endangered and threatened species everywhere.
This chapter was about some of the many ways you can help threatened
and endangered species in your area and around the world. Everyone should be
made aware of this, and we should all help and take action.

Conclusion
You have just learned a lot about endangered and threatened species, and
how you can help. Here are some ways you can help:
Don't buy furniture or materials from endangered or threatened animals
Spread the word about endangered species
Recycle your cell phones
Slow down when driving, especially at night
Don't use herbicides or pesticides for your lawn
Visit a national wildlife refuge or park.
Volunteer at a local wildlife refuge or park
Donate to websites or organizations that help endangered species
There are many ways you can help endangered and threatened species in
your area and around the world. Everybody can help, whether you help in a small
way or a big way.

Sources
http://www.scholastic.com/browse/article.jsp?id=8052
http://www.scholastic.com/browse/article.jsp?id=10690
http://www.scholastic.com/browse/article.jsp?id=3749571
http://www.scholastic.com/browse/article.jsp?id=3749635
http://www.endangered.org/10-easy-things-you-can-do-to-save-endangeredspecies/

Glossary
Debris: The remains of anything broken down or thrown out
Endangered: Seriously at risk of extinction
Herbicides: A substance for killing plants or weeds
Organization: A group of people organized for some type of work. The
administrative personnel or apparatus of a business
Pesticides: a chemical preparation for destroying plants, fungal, or animal pests
Vital: Of critical importance