Pets 4 People Presentation 2-7-2020 Endangered Animals And what we can do to protect them! Prepared for Jessica Vance ROUND ROCK ISD What Is the Difference Between Threatened and Endangered Species? An endangered species is a species of wild animal or plant that is in danger of extinction throughout all or a significant portion of its range. A species is considered threatened if it is likely to become endangered within the foreseeable future. "Endangered" refers to a species that is in danger of extinction throughout all or a significant portion of its range. "Threatened" refers to a species that is likely to become endangered within the foreseeable future throughout all or a significant portion of its range. On the International Union for Conservation of Nature or IUCN Red List, "threatened" is a grouping of 3 categories: Critically Endangered - Endangered - Vulnerable How Does a Species Become Listed as Endangered? An endangered species is a type of organism that is threatened by extinction. Species become endangered for two main reasons: loss of habitat and loss of genetic variation. A loss of habitat can happen naturally - Development can eliminate habitat and native species directly Extinct (EX) - No individuals remaining. Extinct in the Wild (EW) - Known only to survive in captivity, or as a naturalized population outside its historic range. Critically Endangered (CR) - Extremely high risk of extinction in the wild. Endangered (EN) - High risk of extinction in the wild. Vulnerable (VU) - High risk of endangerment in the wild. Near Threatened (NT) - Likely to become endangered in the near future. Least Concern (LC) - Lowest risk. Does not qualify for a more at-risk category. Widespread and abundant taxa are included in this category. Data Deficient (DD) - Not enough data to assess its risk of extinction. Not Evaluated (NE) - Has not yet been evaluated against the criteria. BEST FOR You 3 ORGANICS COMPANY Our Promise to the Animals & what we can do to protect them 1) Learn about endangered species in your area: Teach your friends and family about the wonderful wildlife, birds, fish and plants that live near you. The first step to protecting endangered species is learning about how interesting and important they are. 2. Visit a national wildlife refuge, park or other open space: These protected lands provide habitat to many native wildlife, birds, fish and plants. Scientists tell us the best way to protect endangered species is to protect the places where they live. Get involved by volunteering at your local nature center or wildlife refuge. 3. Make your home wildlife friendly. Secure garbage in shelters or cans with locking lids, feed pets indoors and lock pet doors at night to avoid attracting wild animals into your home. BEST FOR You 4 ORGANICS COMPANY 4. Native plants provide food and shelter for native wildlife. Attracting native insects like bees and butterflies can help pollinate your plants. Find out what plants you can plant that will attract insects native to your area – A Nursery or Garden shop is a great place to get this info. 5. Herbicides and pesticides may keep yards looking nice but they are in fact hazardous pollutants that affect wildlife at many levels. Many herbicides and pesticides take a long time to degrade and build up in the soils or throughout the food chain. Predators such as hawks, owls and coyotes can be harmed if they eat poisoned animals. Some groups of animals such as amphibians are particularly vulnerable to these chemical pollutants and suffer greatly as a result of the high levels of herbicides and pesticides in their habitat. 6. Slow down when driving. Many animals live in developed areas! one of the biggest obstacles to wildlife living in developed areas is roads. Roads divide habitat and present a constant hazard to any animal attempting to cross from one side to the other. So when you’re out and about, slow down and keep an eye out for wildlife. 7. Recycle and buy sustainable products. Buy recycled paper, sustainable products like bamboo and Forest Stewardship Council wood products to protect forest species. Never buy furniture made from wood from rainforests. Recycle your cell phones, because a mineral used in cell phones and other electronics is mined in gorilla habitat. Minimize your use of palm oil because forests where tigers live are being cut down to plant palm plantations. 8. Never purchase products made from threatened or endangered species. Overseas trips can be exciting and fun, and everyone wants a souvenir. But sometimes the souvenirs are made from species nearing extinction. Avoid supporting the market in illegal wildlife including: tortoise-shell, ivory, coral. Also, be careful of products including fur from tigers, polar bears, sea otters and other endangered wildlife, crocodile skin, live monkeys or apes, most live birds including parrots, macaws, cockatoos and finches, some live snakes, turtles and lizards, some orchids, cacti and cycads, medicinal products made from rhinos, tiger or Asiatic black bear. 9. Harassing wildlife is cruel and illegal. Shooting, trapping, or forcing a threatened or endangered animal into captivity is also illegal and can lead to their extinction. Don’t participate in this activity, and report it as soon as you see it to your local state or federal wildlife enforcement office. You can find a list of state wildlife departments at 10. Protect wildlife habitat. Perhaps the greatest threat that faces many species is the widespread destruction of habitat. Scientists tell us the best way to protect endangered species is to protect the special places where they live. Wildlife must have places to find food, shelter and raise their young. Logging, oil and gas drilling, over-grazing and development all result habitat destruction. Endangered species habitat should be protected and these impacts minimized. BEST FOR You 5 ORGANICS COMPANY Things we can do to help our oceans and animal habitats: 1. Use Less Plastic One way to make a positive impact on the environment is to use less plastic! When thrown away, plastic eventually breaks down into smaller bits called microplastics which continue to affect the environment for decades. Single-use plastics such as plastic bags, bottles, straws, and takeout containers are some of the biggest culprits, so avoiding these in your daily life can make an impact When you do use plastic, remember to recycle. The more plastic we reuse, the less is tossed into our oceans. 2. Eat Less Seafood and Meat Seafood’s popularity has led to dangerous overfishing of the world’s seafood stocks. Limiting your intake of seafood and supporting responsible fishing practices can help. When you do purchase seafood, think purposefully about where you buy it from. 3. Support Ocean-Related Causes Many efforts are already in place to help protect oceans and marine life. Take steps towards supporting a nonprofit’s efforts and volunteering your time. BEST FOR You 6 ORGANICS COMPANY BEST FOR You 7 ORGANICS COMPANY Some animals, like koalas and kangaroos, are primarily killed directly by the fires -- for instance, by being incinerated in flames or choking on smoke. ... Wombats have also been hit hard -- they don't cope well with heat or stress, and panic at the smell of smoke. Images of burned koalas prompted people to support a Gofundme Page for Australia’s Port Macquarie Koala Hospital. The hospital has received more than $2 million in donations since September but is still struggling to treat injured koalas. BEST FOR You 8 ORGANICS COMPANY Australia’s top 10 most endangered species Australia is home to some unique critters, but it also has one of the highest extinction rates in the world. 1. Southern corroboree frog IUCN listing: Critically Endangered 2. Margaret River burrowing crayfish IUCN listing: Critically Endangered 3. Lord Howe Island phasmid IUCN listing: Critically Endangered 4. Bornemissza’s stag beetle EPBC listing: critically endangered 5. Derwent River sea star EPBC listing: critically endangered 6. Southern bent-wing bat EPBC listing: critically endangered 7. Orange-bellied parrot IUCN listing: Critically Endangered 8. Short-nosed sea snake IUCN listing: Critically Endangered 9. Red-finned blue-eye fish IUCN listing: Critically Endangered 10. Armoured mist frog IUCN listing: Critically Endangered BEST FOR You 9 ORGANICS COMPANY Animal Habitats & Diets All living things need to eat to survive, so food sources are a critical component of wildlife habitat. Plants provide food to wildlife in a wide variety of ways, from berries to nuts to nectar and even the insects they support that feed other animals. Even dead trees can provide food by attracting insects, mosses, lichens and fungi, this deadwood becomes a cafeteria for wildlife looking for a snack. Many species need different food at different stages in their life. Hummingbirds for example, need nectar and regular doses of protein from mosquitoes, spiders, thrips, gnats and other arthropods to round out their diet. Other birds only eat seeds, or fruit. BEST FOR You 10 ORGANICS COMPANY What efforts are being made to help Endangered Animals? The Endangered Species Act is the strongest law for protecting biodiversity passed by any nation. Its purpose is to prevent the extinction of our most at-risk plants and animals, increase their numbers and effect their full recovery — and eventually their removal from the endangered list. BEST FOR You 11 ORGANICS COMPANY 3 GREAT organizations that assist Endangered Animals & the Environment Defenders of Wildlife Defenders of Wildlife works tirelessly both on the ground and in the courts to protect and restore threatened wildlife. Their conservation efforts extend to the polar bear, wolves, sea turtles, sharks, panthers and manatees. They work at a policy level to ensure that endangered animals are protected, but also offer practical advice to people who have to live alongside bears! Jane Goodall Foundation In 1960, Jane Goodall ventured into the forests of Africa to be able to see wild animals living without human disturbance.