Get Green

Recently it came to the attention of millions, just how many endangered species exist today. But what are we doing to help these animals? The only thing we can do, stop the reasons causing endangerment. Some of these reasons include: habitat destruction, the introduction of exotic species, disease, pollution, and limited distribution. Although Kansas may not have many endangered species, we do have some.

In Kansas today there are a total of 15 endangered species. Thirteen of these being animals, two being plants. The only way to stop the causes of endangerment is to go green. We have to stop causing the loss of these animals before we can’t do anything to save them. One way that America can begin saving animals in our country would be to stop dumping waste into rivers where fish, birds, and many other animals reside. Waste in rivers and lakes is a top reason for the loss of aquatic animals in the U.S. today. Just in the United States alone there are 735 plant species, and 496 animal species on the Endangered or Threatened list. Worldwide, there is over 1,000 endangered species.

Although protected areas for endangered species have been created, this still may not be enough. As mentioned above, one reason for endangerment is limited distribution. This means that although these animals may be protected within a certain area, oftentimes when a disease or other natural disaster occurs, entire groups of animals may be wiped out. For example, in East Africa today, two diseases, rabies and canine distemper, are currently destroying carnivore populations. Being as all of the species are protected and in one area, the diseases are more susceptible to spread from one animal to another. Another cause of endangerment is the introduction of new exotic species into the environment, whether it be intentional or not. In the past five centuries, the introduction of exotic species into the environment has caused hundreds of species to become endangered, or even extinct. Oftentimes, the new species prey on the native species, which can cause a drastic decline in numbers. Lastly, the leading cause for endangerment today is habitat destruction. People may think that an area, such as a rainforest, is a luscious and amazing place, and because it is so full of trees, it’s okay to cut some down. These people, however, don’t realize that the soil that rainforests grow in lack a lot of nutrients, and because of this, it could take centuries for these plants to grow back. A rainforest is not only beautiful, but it is also the home of thousands of plants and animals. According to Lauren Kurpis, founder of EndangeredSpecie.com, if the current rate of forest loss continues, huge quantities of plant and animal species will be lost.