Endangered Species Day 2023: The day was created and founded by David Robinson and the Endangered Species Coalition in 2006 and has continued to be celebrated ever since. It is observed every year on the third Friday of May. Marking its 18th year this year, National Endangered Species Day will be celebrated on May 19. On this day, wildlife sanctuaries, zoos, aquariums, gardens, Schools, libraries, museums, community groups, nonprofit organizations, and individuals organize special programs or events for people of all ages. People from all over the world participate in these or other activities.
This day aims to raise awareness about the importance of protecting endangered species and their habitats and taking the necessary actions to protect them. Therefore, Endangered Species Day recognizes national conservation efforts to protect endangered species and their habitats.
“Living wildlife is like a library of unread books. For us to accidentally destroy them is like burning down that library without ever reading the books in it.” -John Dingell
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What is an endangered species?
Since life began on Earth, a number of organisms, due to changes in the physical and biological conditions of the environment, have appeared and disappeared or become extinct. As we know that the law of nature is that extinction will happen naturally and will continue to do so. But scientific evidence shows that the current rate of species extinction is much higher than the previous background rate. This is something we have to think about or is a matter of concern. Right?
Therefore, it can be said that endangered species are species that are at risk of extinction due to sudden rapid population decline or loss of important habitat. Species such as plants or animals that are threatened with extinction may be called endangered species.
Endangered Species Day: A History
During the 1960s and 1970s, concerns about animal health with the environment and conservation emerged. The Endangered Species Act of 1973 was signed into law on December 28 to enhance the importance of wildlife conservation and recovery efforts for all species at risk. extinction. It is said that Endangered Species Day was first established by the United States Senate in 2006.
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At that time, many efforts were made to save species and hundreds of species from extinction were saved such as the bald eagle. According to the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), over the past two decades, the list of endangered species has more than doubled.
“Endangered species are our friends.” – Dieu Minh
What qualifies a species as endangered?
Different government and local organizations have their own criteria for deciding which species are at risk of extinction or not. The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) maintains the most comprehensive list of endangered species worldwide. The Red List of Threatened Species evaluates each species according to five different criteria.
According to the IUCN, an endangered species is one that meets any one of the following criteria:
- The population decreased by 50-70% in 10 years.
- Total geographical area is less than 5,000 km2 or local population is less than 500 km2.
- Population size is less than 2,500 adults.
- A limited population of 250 adults or a statistical prediction that it will become extinct within the next 20 years.
- The IUCN Red List includes many species considered endangered.
According to IUCN, more than 31,000 species are threatened with extinction. That’s 27% of all species assessed.
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Factors leading to extinction are:
Common factors that lead to extinction are:
- Human intervention
- Loss of habitat
- Introducing alien species into the environment.
- Overhunting
- Pollution
- Sick
- Loss of genetic variation
- Deforest
- Climate change, etc
Endangered Species Day: Celebration
Some popular Endangered Species Day activities are:
- Attend an Endangered Species Day event.
- Update your Facebook cover photo.
- Share your Endangered Species Day wildlife message or story with your friends and family.
- Helps children and everyone learn about Biodiversity and Conservation.
- Do what is necessary to save plants, animals, etc
Endangered Species Day 2023: Tips
- Inform your loved ones about the beautiful animals, birds, fish and plants that exist in your area.
- Place bird feeders and other wildlife-attracting items, such as bird houses and baths.
- Use pesticides and herbicides sparingly.
- Reduce water use in your home and garden.
- Avoid spilling chemicals such as paint, oil, antifreeze and other substances that can harm both humans and wildlife and pollute water.
- Because it frequently washes into rivers, lakes and oceans, keeping trash and pet waste out of sewers.
- Buy green and recycled products.
- Never buy anything made from threatened species, such as ivory, coral or turtle shell. Only buy exotic plants and animals from trusted retailers.
- Any abuse of endangered or threatened animals must be reported.
What is biodiversity and why does it need to be protected?
Biodiversity is created by two words “biology” and “diversity”. It refers to all the diversity of life that can be found on Earth be it plants, animals, fungi and microorganisms. As well as the communities they form and the habitats in which they live.
The Convention on Biological Diversity defines biodiversity as the variety among living organisms from all sources including terrestrial, marine and other aquatic ecosystems as well as complex the ecological complex of which they are a part; this includes diversity within species, between species and ecosystems.
Note: Biodiversity is not only the sum total of all ecosystems, species and genetic material, but also represents the variation within and between them.
So, this is the time to be vigilant and we should work together to raise public awareness about the importance of wildlife, endangered species, biodiversity and conservation. . Why are endangered species on the brink of extinction? What are the reasons behind it? It is necessary to understand it. There is no doubt that extinction is a natural phenomenon of nature but for some other reasons extinction has been increasing every decade. There will be a day when we will no longer see tigers, elephants, eagles, etc
“We all have a responsibility to protect endangered species, for their benefit and for the benefit of our future generations.” – Loretta Lynch
Source: www.endangered.org
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