10 Animals in Crisis

Click here to see the video of Baby penguins wash up in Brazil.

Hammerhead Needs Protection

The expensive delicacy-the shark fins-have put the hammerhead in the brink of extinction. They are on the list of “globally endangered”!

Hammerheads are commonly caught for finning, and the most terrible thing about this is: after the shark’s fins were removed, the rest of the shark was thrown back into the ocean to die.

Since fishing for shark in international waters is unrestricted, the IUCN has put 233 shark species on the Red List!

New Fear for Elephants’ Ivory

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On July 16th of this year, the Guardian reported the international community allowed China to purchase elephant ivory, and disappointed conservationists.

China wants to continue the ivory carving tradition, and could bid up to 108 tons of ivory, even though this sale is a one-off. In 1999, when the one-off sale was made to Japan, conservation groups claimed the sale had significantly increased in the killing of African elephants.

Turtle Smuggling Trade

These star tortoises were spotted in Jakarta, Indonesia market. It is believed that all of these turtles are taking from the wild, from their own habitat, or imported from other countries.

Since Indonesia is home to 10% of the world’s turtles, many tortoises and freshwater turtles are caught by rural workers, and then sold to third parties who supplied them to pet dealers or reptile exporters.

In 1999, officers seized 25 tons of freshwater turtles a week. However, the numbers of traded had decreased for decades since these populations are almost wiped out!

Sawfish Needs Protection

This listed as the world’s most remarkable fish, and a banned for international trade for its snouts-the spectacular rostra-had been issued in 2007, since all species of this fish are critically endangered.

It is said that artisanal fishermen can retire after catching one sawfish. The rostra are traded for curios, fins for fin soup, and meat is only consumed by local people.

Rhinos’ Horns are Pressure

Last year, at the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES) received a Traffic report of an increase in rhino horn in illegal market by five-fold. Nepal, Western and Central Africa are where the population is affected.

Cameroon, Democratic Republic of Congo, and Zimbabwe are countries where protective have broken down, and it is believed that the northern black rhino sub-species had probably been “poached to extinction.”

Tiger Skin Trade

On the streets of China, Indian tiger skins are openly bought and sold, even though the animals are under the UN protection. Conservation groups said the tiger skins were from India, and wildlife activists fear they will soon be extinct if protection is not enforced.
In the pictures above, every participant wore tiger skin skirts, and the tent is made up of 108 tiger skins!

We share this earth with all creatures, and we are all related in some way. Take care of these creatures by doing your part. You can find some helpful links below to help protect endangered species. We shouldn’t let another one extinct like the Yangtze River Dolphin did, last year!

What can you do?

• Endangered Species Day
• 10 Easy Things You can Do at Home to Protect Endangered Species
• 10 Things to Do to Help the Honeybees
• Help IUCN to Save Endangered Species