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There are thousands of species in danger of becoming extinct forever. I am an animal lover, no matter what type, size or shape, I love them all. I hope to never see the day when these creatures are no longer endangered, but forever gone. Many different circumstances are to blame for the endangerment and possible extinction of these animals, but global warming is a huge reason for many species’ endangerment and ultimate extinction.
Polar bears are one of the number one candidates for extinction by global warming. According to Defenders of Wildlife, climate change is causing a large amount of the polar bear’s habitat to disappear, jeopardizing their survival. The shortage of the Polar bear’s habitat includes loss of sea ice causing thinner and melting ice, which then requires more energy from the animal to find food.
Fifteen years ago, 65 percent of cubs reached 12 months of age, according to Defenders of Wildlife, and only 42 percent of cubs reach that age today. This is an immense decrease in surviving bears, leaving the population of polar bears at a low of about 20,000 polar bears in the Worlds arctic region.
Although they are in a completely different climate, mountain gorillas are also being highly affected by global warming. There are four different species of gorillas, but the mountain gorilla’s population is at an all time low of 700. This is due to the higher elevated areas that they reside in, and the climate change in those areas. The only way to stop this beautiful creature from being wiped out is to stop global warming, and according to Defenders of Wildlife, they are currently working with leaders on Capitol Hill to make this happen.
One of the world’s most ancient creatures is also on the verge of extinction after 110 million years — the sea turtle. Although there are numerous species of sea turtles, according to Earth Justice, all of them are listed as threatened or endangered and 3 of them are listed as critical, under the Endangered Species Act. The sea turtle population is difficult to track because once they hatch from the egg they do not return to land, unless the turtle is female. In this case, she would only return to land to lay eggs and go directly back into the ocean.
Grizzly bears are decreasing in numbers because global warming is causing increased temperatures, bringing the pine beetle to the white bark pine seeds, one of the bear’s main sources of food. Temperatures being on the rise are forcing the pine beetle to relocate to a more sufficient area for itself, taking the bears food away from them.
With entire forests dying off due to this beetle migration, it is becoming difficult for the grizzly bears to find food to satisfy their winter diet. Not only are they losing their food, but their habitats are being ruined because of recent development, new roads being built and energy depletion.
From the snow, to the mountains, to the sea, to the forest, animals are going extinct or threatened with extinction due to the same reason: global warming. Though in completely different climates with completely different lifestyles, they all have this same thing in common. They are all being taken out by one of nature’s most forceful ways, and only we can do something to stop it by living a green lifestyle. Like the saying “imitated but never duplicated,” none of these precious animals will ever be duplicated once they are extinct unless we start doing something about it now.
