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Essay on Endangered Animals – 10 Lines, 100 to 1500 Words

Essay on Endangered Animals: Endangered animals are a critical issue facing our planet today. From majestic tigers to adorable sea turtles, these creatures are at risk of disappearing forever due to factors such as habitat destruction, poaching, and climate change. In this essay, we will explore the importance of protecting endangered animals, the reasons behind their decline, and what can be done to save them from extinction. Join us as we delve into the world of these vulnerable species and learn how we can make a difference in their survival.

Table of Contents

Endangered Animals Essay Writing Tips

1. Start by choosing a specific endangered animal to focus on. Research the animal’s habitat, population status, threats, and conservation efforts.

2. Begin your essay with an engaging introduction that provides background information on the animal and why it is endangered. This will help to capture the reader’s attention and set the tone for the rest of the essay.

3. Use statistics and facts to support your arguments about the importance of protecting endangered animals. This can help to make your essay more persuasive and informative.

4. Discuss the main threats facing the animal, such as habitat loss, poaching, climate change, and pollution. Explain how these factors are contributing to the decline in the animal’s population.

5. Highlight the importance of biodiversity and the role that endangered animals play in maintaining a healthy ecosystem. Explain how the loss of a single species can have far-reaching consequences for other plants and animals.

6. Describe the conservation efforts that are currently in place to protect the endangered animal. This can include government regulations, habitat restoration projects, captive breeding programs, and public awareness campaigns.

7. Offer suggestions for how individuals can help to protect endangered animals, such as supporting conservation organizations, reducing their carbon footprint, and spreading awareness about the issue.

8. Conclude your essay by summarizing the main points you have made and emphasizing the importance of taking action to protect endangered animals. Encourage readers to get involved in conservation efforts and make a difference in the fight to save these species.

9. Proofread and edit your essay to ensure that it is well-organized, coherent, and free of errors. Consider asking a friend or teacher to review your work and provide feedback before submitting it.

10. Remember to cite your sources properly if you have used any external information in your essay. This will help to give credibility to your arguments and avoid plagiarism.

Essay on Endangered Animals in 10 Lines – Examples

1. Endangered animals are species that are at risk of becoming extinct due to various factors such as habitat loss, poaching, and climate change. 2. The decline in population of endangered animals can have a negative impact on the ecosystem as they play a crucial role in maintaining the balance of nature. 3. Some well-known endangered animals include the giant panda, black rhinoceros, and Sumatran tiger. 4. Conservation efforts are being made to protect these animals and their habitats, such as establishing protected areas and breeding programs. 5. Illegal wildlife trade is a major threat to many endangered animals, as they are often hunted for their fur, horns, or other body parts. 6. Climate change is also a significant factor contributing to the decline of endangered animals, as it alters their natural habitats and food sources. 7. Education and awareness campaigns are important in raising public support for the conservation of endangered animals. 8. Endangered animals are often listed on the IUCN Red List, which assesses the conservation status of species worldwide. 9. It is crucial for governments, organizations, and individuals to work together to protect endangered animals and prevent their extinction. 10. By taking action to conserve endangered animals, we can help ensure the survival of these species for future generations to enjoy.

Sample Essay on Endangered Animals in 100-180 Words

Endangered animals are species that are at risk of becoming extinct due to various factors such as habitat loss, poaching, climate change, and pollution. These animals play a crucial role in maintaining the balance of ecosystems and their extinction could have detrimental effects on the environment.

One example of an endangered animal is the giant panda, which is native to China. Due to deforestation and poaching, the giant panda population has drastically declined over the years. Conservation efforts such as establishing protected areas and breeding programs have been implemented to help save this iconic species from extinction.

It is important for us to take action to protect endangered animals and their habitats to ensure their survival for future generations. By raising awareness, supporting conservation efforts, and advocating for stronger environmental policies, we can help prevent the loss of these precious species.

Short Essay on Endangered Animals in 200-500 Words

Endangered animals are species that are at risk of becoming extinct due to various factors such as habitat loss, poaching, climate change, and pollution. The decline in their population poses a threat to the overall biodiversity of our planet and can have far-reaching consequences for ecosystems and human societies.

One of the main reasons for the decline in endangered animal populations is habitat loss. As human populations continue to grow, natural habitats are being destroyed to make way for agriculture, urban development, and infrastructure projects. This loss of habitat disrupts the delicate balance of ecosystems and can lead to the extinction of species that rely on specific habitats for survival.

Poaching is another significant threat to endangered animals. Many species are targeted by poachers for their fur, horns, tusks, or other body parts that are highly valued in illegal wildlife trade. The demand for these products drives poaching activities, putting already vulnerable species at even greater risk of extinction.

Climate change is also a major factor contributing to the decline of endangered animals. Rising temperatures, changing weather patterns, and extreme weather events can disrupt ecosystems and alter the habitats of many species. Some animals may not be able to adapt to these changes quickly enough, leading to a decline in their populations.

Pollution is another threat to endangered animals. Chemical pollutants, plastic waste, and other forms of pollution can contaminate water sources, soil, and air, affecting the health and survival of animals. Pollution can also disrupt food chains and ecosystems, leading to a decline in populations of endangered species.

The loss of endangered animals can have serious consequences for ecosystems and human societies. Many species play important roles in maintaining the balance of ecosystems, such as pollinating plants, controlling pest populations, and recycling nutrients. The loss of these species can disrupt these vital ecosystem services, leading to cascading effects on other species and the environment.

Furthermore, the loss of endangered animals can have economic impacts on human societies. Many communities rely on wildlife for tourism, recreation, and cultural practices. The decline of endangered species can lead to a loss of these economic opportunities, affecting the livelihoods of local communities and economies.

In conclusion, the decline of endangered animals is a pressing issue that requires urgent action. Conservation efforts, habitat protection, anti-poaching measures, and sustainable development practices are essential to protect endangered species and preserve biodiversity. By working together to address the threats facing endangered animals, we can ensure a sustainable future for both wildlife and human societies.

Essay on Endangered Animals in 1000-1500 Words

Endangered Animals: The Urgent Need for Conservation

Introduction

The Earth is home to a vast array of species, each playing a unique role in the delicate balance of the ecosystem. However, due to human activities such as deforestation, poaching, and climate change, many of these species are facing the threat of extinction. These endangered animals are not just a statistic; they are living beings that deserve our protection and care. In this essay, we will explore the causes of endangerment, the impact of their loss on the environment, and the urgent need for conservation efforts to save these precious creatures.

Causes of Endangerment

There are several factors that contribute to the endangerment of species, with human activities being the primary cause. One of the main reasons for the decline in animal populations is habitat destruction. Deforestation, urbanization, and agriculture have led to the loss of natural habitats for many species, forcing them to compete for resources or adapt to new environments that may not be suitable for their survival.

Poaching is another significant threat to endangered animals. The illegal trade in wildlife products, such as ivory, rhino horns, and exotic pets, has decimated populations of many species, pushing them closer to extinction. Despite international efforts to combat poaching, the demand for these products continues to drive the illegal trade, putting even more pressure on already vulnerable populations.

Climate change is also a major factor contributing to the endangerment of species. Rising temperatures, changing weather patterns, and sea level rise are altering habitats and disrupting ecosystems, making it difficult for many species to survive. Polar bears, for example, are losing their sea ice habitat due to melting ice caps, while coral reefs are bleaching and dying due to ocean acidification.

The Impact of Endangered Animals on the Environment

The loss of endangered animals has far-reaching consequences for the environment. Each species plays a unique role in the ecosystem, and their disappearance can disrupt the delicate balance of nature. For example, predators help control the population of prey species, preventing overgrazing and habitat destruction. Pollinators such as bees and butterflies are essential for the reproduction of plants, including many crops that humans rely on for food.

Furthermore, many endangered animals are keystone species, meaning that they have a disproportionately large impact on their environment relative to their abundance. For example, elephants are known as ecosystem engineers because they shape their habitats by knocking down trees, creating open spaces for other species to thrive. If elephants were to go extinct, the entire ecosystem would be affected, leading to a cascade of negative consequences for other species.

Conservation Efforts to Save Endangered Animals

Despite the challenges facing endangered animals, there is hope for their survival through conservation efforts. Governments, non-profit organizations, and individuals are working together to protect and restore habitats, combat poaching, and raise awareness about the importance of biodiversity conservation. One of the most effective ways to save endangered animals is through the establishment of protected areas, such as national parks and wildlife reserves, where species can thrive without the threat of human interference.

Another key conservation strategy is captive breeding and reintroduction programs, where endangered animals are bred in captivity and then released into the wild to boost wild populations. This has been successful for species such as the California condor and the black-footed ferret, which were on the brink of extinction but have since made a remarkable recovery thanks to these efforts.

Education and outreach are also crucial for raising awareness about the plight of endangered animals and inspiring people to take action. By teaching the public about the importance of biodiversity and the role that each species plays in the ecosystem, we can foster a culture of conservation and encourage sustainable practices that benefit both wildlife and humans.

In conclusion, the endangerment of species is a pressing issue that requires immediate attention and action. The loss of endangered animals not only threatens the biodiversity of our planet but also has far-reaching consequences for the environment and human society. By addressing the root causes of endangerment, implementing conservation measures, and raising awareness about the importance of protecting wildlife, we can ensure a future where endangered animals can thrive and coexist with humans in harmony. It is our responsibility to act now before it is too late and ensure that future generations can enjoy the beauty and diversity of our natural world.

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Essay on Endangered Species

Introduction to Endangered Species

“Endangered species” refers to organisms at risk of extinction due to declining populations and severe threats to their survival.

In the grand theater of Earth’s biodiversity , a cast of characters is so rare and precious that their presence adds a mystical allure to our planet’s narrative. From the elusive vaquita, the world’s smallest porpoise, to the majestic snow leopard, these creatures captivate our imaginations with their beauty and resilience. Yet, beneath their enchanting facade, a stark reality lies – their populations are dwindling at an alarming rate, making them endangered. As stewards of this magnificent stage, it is our solemn duty to protect these species, for their loss would not only dim the brilliance of our world but unravel the intricate threads of life itself.

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World’s Most Endangered Animals

Here’s a list represents a snapshot of some of the most critically endangered animals facing extinction,

The Significance of Endangered Species

Endangered species, in particular, hold immense significance for both the natural world and human society. Understanding their importance is essential for recognizing the urgency of conservation efforts. Here are several key reasons why endangered species matter:

• Biodiversity Maintenance: Endangered species represent the culmination of millions of years of evolution, each finely tuned to its specific ecological niche. They contribute to the rich tapestry of biodiversity, ensuring ecosystem balance and functionality. Losing even a single species can disrupt intricate food webs, leading to cascading effects on other organisms.
• Ecological Services: Endangered species often provide invaluable ecological services for human well-being. For example, pollinators like bees and butterflies help plants reproduce, which is important for many human foods. Predators help regulate prey populations, preventing overgrazing and maintaining ecosystem health.
• Genetic Diversity: Endangered species harbor unique genetic traits and adaptations that may be key to future medicine, agriculture , and industry innovations. By conserving genetic diversity within species, we preserve the potential for future scientific discoveries and technological advancements.
• Cultural and Aesthetic Value: Many endangered species hold cultural significance for indigenous communities and societies worldwide. They feature prominently in folklore, rituals, and traditions, embodying spiritual connections to the natural world. Additionally, their beauty and uniqueness inspire awe and wonder, enriching human experiences and fostering a sense of stewardship for the natural world.
• Economic Benefits: Endangered species contribute to local and global economies through ecotourism, recreational activities, and bioprospecting. Protected areas that harbor rare and endangered species attract visitors, generating revenue for local communities and supporting conservation efforts. Furthermore, natural products derived from endangered species, such as medicinal plants, have economic value and potential for sustainable use.

Causes of Endangerment

The plight of endangered species is often a result of various anthropogenic and natural factors that undermine their survival. Understanding these causes is paramount to formulating effective conservation strategies. Here are some of the primary contributors to the endangerment of species:

• Habitat Loss and Degradation: The relentless expansion of human activities, including agriculture, urbanization, logging, and infrastructure development, has led to widespread destruction and fragmentation of natural habitats. As habitats shrink, species lose crucial resources such as food, shelter, and breeding grounds, pushing them toward extinction.
• Exploitation and Overharvesting: Unsustainable exploitation of natural resources , including hunting, fishing, and logging, has decimated many species’ populations. The poaching of famous animals like tigers , rhinos, and elephants for the illicit wildlife trade is still a serious threat to their survival. Similarly, overfishing has depleted marine species, disrupting marine ecosystems.
• Climate Change: The biodiversity is facing an existential threat due to the swift rate of climate change . Rising temperatures, altered precipitation patterns, and extreme weather events disrupt ecosystems and alter species distribution and abundance. Numerous species experience population decreases and local extinctions because they cannot travel or adapt to suitable environments.
• Pollution: Pollution in various forms, including habitat contamination, chemical runoff, and air and water pollution , poses a significant threat to wildlife. Pesticides, heavy metals, plastics , and other pollutants accumulate in ecosystems, poisoning species and disrupting their physiology, reproduction, and behavior.
• Invasive Species: Introducing non-native species into ecosystems, intentionally or unintentionally, can have devastating consequences for native flora and fauna. Invasive species outcompete native species for resources, prey upon them, or introduce diseases, leading to population declines and ecosystem degradation.
• Disease: Emerging infectious diseases, exacerbated by habitat destruction, climate change, and wildlife trade, pose a significant threat to vulnerable species. Diseases like chytridiomycosis in amphibians and white-nose syndrome in bats have caused widespread declines and extinctions in affected populations.
• Human-Wildlife Conflict: Conflicts between humans and wildlife escalate as human populations expand into wildlife habitats. Competition for resources, livestock depredation, and retaliatory killings of problem animals exacerbate the threats faced by endangered species, huge carnivores, and conflict-prone species.

Impacts of Endangered Species Loss

The loss of endangered species reverberates through ecosystems, economies , and societies, triggering a cascade of far-reaching impacts that underscore the interconnectedness of life on Earth. Exploring these impacts in detail reveals the profound consequences of species extinction:

1. Ecological Disruption

• Food Web Imbalance: Endangered species often occupy unique ecological niches, playing critical roles in maintaining the balance of food webs. Their disappearance can lead to population explosions of prey species or unchecked growth of invasive species, disrupting ecosystem dynamics.
• Habitat Degradation: Many endangered species are habitat specialists, relying on specific environments for survival. Their decline or extinction can signal habitat degradation or loss, exacerbating ecosystem fragmentation and reducing overall biodiversity.

2. Loss of Ecosystem Services

• Pollination and Seed Dispersal: Endangered pollinators and seed dispersers are essential for the reproduction of plant species and the regeneration of forests. Their decline threatens agricultural productivity, food security, and the resilience of natural ecosystems.
• Carbon Sequestration: Endangered species, including trees and marine organisms, play a vital role in carbon sequestration by using photosynthesis and storing carbon in biomass and soil. Their loss diminishes the capacity of ecosystems to mitigate climate change and adapt to rising carbon dioxide levels.

3. Economic Repercussions

• Decline in Tourism Revenue: Endangered species are often flagship species, attracting tourists and wildlife enthusiasts to ecotourism destinations. Their disappearance can lead to declining tourism revenue, negatively impacting local economies dependent on nature-based tourism.
• Loss of Ecosystem Services: Ecosystem services provided by endangered species, such as water purification, soil stabilization, and flood regulation, have tangible economic value. Their loss may necessitate costly human interventions to replicate these services artificially.

4. Human Health Implications

• Medicinal Resources: Endangered species are potential novel pharmaceutical compounds and substance sources. Their extinction would result in the loss of possible cures for diseases and ailments, hindering medical research and drug discovery efforts.
• Ecological Resilience: Healthy ecosystems, sustained by diverse and abundant species, provide critical ecosystem services that support human health and well-being. The loss of endangered species diminishes ecosystem resilience, increasing vulnerability to environmental stressors and disease outbreaks.

5. Ethical and Cultural Considerations

• Moral Responsibility: Humans, as planet stewards, have a moral obligation to safeguard and preserve biodiversity for future generations. Allowing endangered species to go extinct represents a failure to uphold this responsibility and a disregard for the intrinsic value of life.
• Cultural Heritage: Endangered species hold cultural significance for indigenous communities. They symbolize cultural identity, traditional knowledge, and a spiritual connection to the natural world. Their loss erodes cultural diversity and threatens traditional ways of life.

Challenges and Obstacles

Addressing the conservation of endangered species is fraught with numerous challenges and obstacles stemming from diverse sources ranging from human activities to systemic limitations. Having a thorough understanding of these obstacles is essential to coming up with workable solutions:

• Habitat Loss and Fragmentation: Rapid urbanization , agricultural expansion, and industrial development continue encroaching upon natural habitats, fragmenting ecosystems and reducing the available habitat for endangered species. Deforestation, land conversion, and infrastructure projects further exacerbate habitat loss, making establishing and maintaining viable populations of endangered species increasingly challenging.
• Human-Wildlife Conflict: Conflicts between humans and endangered species escalate as human populations expand and encroach upon wildlife habitats. Crop raiding, property damage, and livestock depredation fuel negative attitudes toward conservation efforts. Mitigating human-wildlife conflict requires innovative strategies such as habitat restoration, conflict resolution programs, and community-based conservation initiatives that balance the needs of both humans and wildlife.
• Poaching and Illegal Trade: Poachers and wildlife traffickers target endangered species for their valuable parts, including tusks, horns, fur, and organs. The illegal trade in wildlife items seriously threatens numerous species, pushing them into extinction. Strengthening law enforcement, enhancing anti-poaching measures, and reducing consumer demand for wildlife products are essential to combating poaching and illegal trade.
• Climate Change: Climate change increases the risks that already confront endangered species by disrupting ecosystems, altering habitats, and increasing the frequency and severity of extreme weather events. Species with limited mobility or specialized habitat requirements are particularly vulnerable. Adaptation strategies, habitat restoration, and landscape connectivity initiatives can help endangered species cope with climate change’s impacts, but concerted global efforts to mitigate greenhouse gas emissions are essential for long-term conservation success.
• Limited Resources and Funding: Inadequate funding, limited resources, and competing priorities often hamper conservation efforts. Conservation organizations and government agencies face challenges in securing sufficient financial support for conservation projects and initiatives. Innovative financing mechanisms, public-private partnerships, and philanthropic investments can help bridge funding gaps and leverage resources for endangered species conservation.
• Lack of Political Will and Policy Implementation: Despite international agreements and conservation policies, enforcing and implementing regulations to protect endangered species are often inadequate. Political will and commitment to conservation may vary among governments, hindering effective conservation action. Advocacy efforts, public pressure, and diplomatic engagement are essential for holding governments accountable and enforcing conservation laws and policies.
• Inadequate Scientific Knowledge and Data: Limited scientific knowledge and data gaps hinder conservation efforts by impeding our understanding of species biology, population dynamics, and ecological requirements. Incomplete information may lead to ineffective management strategies and conservation interventions. Investing in scientific research, monitoring programs, and data collection initiatives is essential for improving our understanding of endangered species and informing evidence-based conservation decision-making.

The Role of Individuals

Individuals play a pivotal role in conserving endangered species and catalyzing positive change at the grassroots level. By recognizing their capacity to make a difference and taking action in various ways, individuals can contribute significantly to efforts aimed at safeguarding biodiversity. Here are several key roles individuals can play in endangered species conservation:

• Raising Awareness: Individuals can raise awareness about the plight of endangered species by sharing information with their communities, networks, and social media platforms. By educating others about the importance of biodiversity and the threats facing endangered species, individuals can inspire collective action and foster a culture of conservation.
• Supporting Conservation Organizations: Individuals can financially support conservation organizations through donations, memberships, and fundraising events. By contributing to reputable conservation groups protecting endangered species, they can help fund vital research, habitat restoration projects, and on-the-ground conservation efforts.
• Advocacy and Policy Engagement: Individuals can advocate for stronger environmental policies and legislation to protect endangered species and their habitats. Individuals can amplify their voices and influence local, national, and international decision-making processes by writing letters to policymakers, signing petitions, and participating in advocacy campaigns.
• Promoting Sustainable Practices: Individuals can adopt sustainable lifestyle choices and encourage others to do the same. By reducing their ecological footprint, practicing responsible consumption, and supporting sustainable businesses, individuals can help minimize habitat destruction, pollution, and other threats to endangered species and their habitats.
• Participating in Citizen Science: Individuals can contribute valuable data to conservation efforts through citizen science initiatives. By participating in wildlife surveys, monitoring programs, and habitat restoration projects, individuals can provide scientists and conservationists with useful information to better understand and protect endangered species.
• Engaging in Ecotourism and Responsible Travel: Individuals can support conservation efforts through ecotourism and responsible travel practices. By visiting protected areas, wildlife reserves, and eco-friendly destinations, individuals can generate revenue for local communities and conservation initiatives while promoting the conservation of endangered species and their habitats.
• Inspiring Future Generations: Individuals can inspire and educate future generations about the importance of endangered species conservation. By engaging children and young people in outdoor activities, environmental education programs, and conservation initiatives, individuals can instill a lifelong appreciation for nature and a sense of stewardship for the planet.

Success Stories in Endangered Species Recovery

Despite the daunting challenges facing endangered species, notable success stories have demonstrated the effectiveness of conservation efforts. These stories provide hope and inspiration, highlighting nature’s resilience and the positive outcomes achievable through dedicated conservation initiatives. Here are several success stories in endangered species recovery:

1. California Condor Recovery Program

• Background: In the late 20th century, the California condor (Gymnogyps californianus) was threatened with extinction due to habitat degradation, lead poisoning, and poaching. By the 1980s, the population had plummeted to just 22 individuals, prompting a collaborative effort to save the species from extinction.
• Conservation Strategies: The California Condor Recovery Program, a partnership between government agencies, conservation organizations, and zoos, implemented a comprehensive conservation strategy. This included captive breeding, habitat protection, lead poisoning mitigation, and public education initiatives.
• Key Achievements: The California condor population has rebounded significantly through decades of dedicated conservation efforts. As of [latest year], there are over 500 condors, with approximately half living in the wild across California, Arizona, Utah, and Baja California, Mexico. Successful captive breeding programs have increased population numbers and genetic diversity.
• Lessons Learned: The California condor recovery program underscores the importance of collaborative partnerships, adaptive management strategies, and long-term commitment to species recovery. It also highlights the effectiveness of captive breeding as a conservation tool for critically endangered species facing imminent extinction threats.

2. Black-footed Ferret Reintroduction Program

• Background: By the late 20th century, habitat loss and the decline of its primary prey, prairie dogs, led to the belief that the black-footed ferret (Mustela nigripes) had become extinct in the wild. The discovery of a small ferret population in Wyoming in 1981 led to intense conservation efforts to preserve the species.
• Conservation Strategies: The Black-footed Ferret Reintroduction Program, led by federal and state agencies, conservation organizations, and private landowners, focused on captive breeding, habitat restoration, and reintroduction efforts. Conservationists worked to establish viable populations of black-footed ferrets in their historic range across the Great Plains.
• Key Achievements: Through coordinated efforts, multiple stakeholders have successfully reintroduced black-footed ferret populations to several sites across North America. As of [latest year], over 1,000 black-footed ferrets live in the wild, and efforts are ongoing to expand their range and ensure genetic diversity.
• Lessons Learned: The black-footed ferret recovery program highlights the importance of adaptive management, landscape-scale conservation planning, and collaboration with landowners and stakeholders. It also emphasizes the value of engaging local communities in conservation efforts and addressing the underlying threats to species recovery, such as habitat loss and fragmentation.

3. Giant Panda Conservation Efforts

• Background: The giant panda (Ailuropoda melanoleuca) is an iconic symbol of wildlife conservation , facing threats from habitat loss, fragmentation, and poaching. By the late 20th century, the wild population had dwindled to a few hundred individuals, prompting international conservation efforts to save the species.
• Conservation Strategies: Giant panda conservation efforts have focused on habitat protection, captive breeding, and community-based conservation initiatives. Local communities, governmental entities, and conservation groups have created protected areas, replanted bamboo forests, and launched public awareness and education initiatives.
• Key Achievements: The giant panda population has rebounded thanks to decades of concerted conservation efforts, with the latest estimates indicating over 1,800 individuals in the wild. Captive breeding programs have also been successful, with pandas reintroduced to the wild in select areas. As a result of the giant panda’s recovery, the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) reduced the species’ status from “endangered” to “vulnerable” in 2016.
• Lessons Learned: The giant panda conservation success story highlights the importance of integrated conservation approaches, long-term commitment, and international collaboration. It also demonstrates the value of flagship species in raising awareness and mobilizing support for broader conservation efforts aimed at protecting entire ecosystems and biodiversity hotspots.

Preserving endangered species is not merely a conservation imperative but a moral responsibility to safeguard biodiversity. We can ensure that these amazing animals and their ecosystems survive by addressing the underlying issues and implementing effective conservation measures. Each success story in species recovery serves as a beacon of hope, demonstrating the potential for positive change when individuals, communities, and governments unite in the cause of conservation. As stewards of the planet, we must protect and cherish these vulnerable species, ensuring a future where all life thrives in harmony with nature.

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Essay on How Can We Protect Endangered Animals

Students are often asked to write an essay on How Can We Protect Endangered Animals in their schools and colleges. And if you’re also looking for the same, we have created 100-word, 250-word, and 500-word essays on the topic.

Let’s take a look…

100 Words Essay on How Can We Protect Endangered Animals

Understanding endangered animals.

Endangered animals are species at risk of becoming extinct. We need to protect them to maintain balance in nature.

How to Protect Them?

We can protect endangered animals by preserving their habitats. This means not cutting down forests or polluting rivers.

Role of Laws

Laws should be made to protect these animals. Hunting, poaching, and illegal trade of endangered species should be strictly punished.

Importance of Education

Educating people about the importance of these animals and the need to protect them can also help in their conservation.

250 Words Essay on How Can We Protect Endangered Animals

Understanding the plight of endangered species.

Endangered animals are those species that are at risk of extinction, primarily due to human activities. The loss of these species can significantly disrupt ecosystems, leading to environmental imbalance.

Legal Measures for Protection

One of the most potent ways to protect endangered animals is through legislation. Laws like the Endangered Species Act in the U.S. have been instrumental in saving numerous species from extinction. These laws prohibit activities that may harm endangered species and their habitats, and enforce penalties for violations.

Conservation Efforts

Conservation efforts such as creating wildlife sanctuaries and national parks provide a safe haven for endangered species. These protected areas restrict human activities, allowing animals to thrive in their natural habitats. Captive breeding programs also play a significant role in the preservation of endangered species, especially for those with dwindling populations.

Public Awareness and Education

Public awareness is a crucial tool in the fight against animal extinction. By educating people about the importance of biodiversity and the consequences of species loss, we can foster a sense of responsibility and encourage proactive conservation efforts.

Protecting endangered animals is a collective responsibility that requires concerted efforts from all stakeholders. Through legal measures, conservation efforts, and public education, we can ensure the survival of these species and maintain the balance of our ecosystems. The preservation of endangered animals is not just about saving individual species; it’s about preserving the intricate web of life on Earth.

500 Words Essay on How Can We Protect Endangered Animals

Introduction, legislation and enforcement.

One of the most effective ways to protect endangered species is through legislation. Laws like the Endangered Species Act in the United States and the Wildlife Protection Act in India aim to protect threatened species and their habitats. However, laws are only effective if they are enforced. Therefore, governments should invest in training and equipping law enforcement agencies to tackle wildlife crimes.

Conservation Education and Public Awareness

Education is a powerful tool in the fight against species extinction. By raising public awareness about the plight of endangered animals and the importance of biodiversity, we can foster a culture of conservation. Schools, universities, and media platforms can play a significant role in this regard.

Habitat Protection and Restoration

Scientific research and breeding programs, international cooperation.

Wildlife conservation is a global issue that transcends national boundaries. International cooperation is crucial for the protection of migratory species and combating wildlife trafficking. Treaties like the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES) and the Convention on Migratory Species (CMS) facilitate such cooperation.

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Endangered Species

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.

Biology, Ecology, Geography, Conservation

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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 . Loss of Habitat A loss of habitat can happen naturally. Nonavian dinosaurs , for instance, lost their habitat about 65 million years ago. The hot, dry climate of the Cretaceous period changed very quickly, most likely because of an asteroid striking Earth. The impact of the asteroid forced debris into the atmosphere , reducing the amount of heat and light that reached Earth’s surface. The dinosaurs were unable to adapt to this new, cooler habitat. Nonavian dinosaurs became endangered, then extinct . Human activity can also contribute to a loss of habitat. Development for housing, industry , and agriculture reduces the habitat of native organisms. This can happen in a number of different ways. Development can eliminate habitat and native species directly. In the Amazon rainforest of South America, developers have cleared hundreds of thousands of acres. To “clear” a piece of land is to remove all trees and vegetation from it. The Amazon rainforest is cleared for cattle ranches , logging , and ur ban use. Development can also endanger species indirectly. Some species, such as fig trees of the rainforest, may provide habitat for other species. As trees are destroyed, species that depend on that tree habitat may also become endangered. Tree crowns provide habitat in the canopy , or top layer, of a rainforest . Plants such as vines, fungi such as mushrooms, and insects such as butterflies live in the rainforest canopy. So do hundreds of species of tropical birds and mammals such as monkeys. As trees are cut down, this habitat is lost. Species have less room to live and reproduce . Loss of habitat may happen as development takes place in a species range . Many animals have a range of hundreds of square kilometers. The mountain lion ( Puma concolor ) of North America, for instance, has a range of up to 1,000 square kilometers (386 square miles). To successfully live and reproduce, a single mountain lion patrols this much territory. Urban areas , such as Los Angeles, California, U.S.A., and Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada, grew rapidly during the 20th century. As these areas expanded into the wilderness, the mountain lion’s habitat became smaller. That means the habitat can support fewer mountain lions. Because enormous parts of the Sierra Nevada, Rocky, and Cascade mountain ranges remain undeveloped, however, mountain lions are not endangered. Loss of habitat can also lead to increased encounters between wild species and people. As development brings people deeper into a species range, they may have more exposure to wild species. Poisonous plants and fungi may grow closer to homes and schools. Wild animals are also spotted more frequently . These animals are simply patrolling their range, but interaction with people can be deadly. Polar bears ( Ursus maritimus ), mountain lions, and alligators are all predators brought into close contact with people as they lose their habitat to homes, farms , and businesses. As people kill these wild animals, through pesticides , accidents such as collisions with cars, or hunting, native species may become endangered.

Loss of Genetic Variation Genetic variation is the diversity found within a species. It’s why human beings may have blond, red, brown, or black hair. Genetic variation allows species to adapt to changes in the environment. Usually, the greater the population of a species, the greater its genetic variation. Inbreeding is reproduction with close family members. Groups of species that have a tendency to inbreed usually have little genetic variation, because no new genetic information is introduced to the group. Disease is much more common, and much more deadly, among inbred groups. Inbred species do not have the genetic variation to develop resistance to the disease. For this reason, fewer offspring of inbred groups survive to maturity. Loss of genetic variation can occur naturally. Cheetahs ( Acinonyx jubatus ) are a threatened species native to Africa and Asia. These big cats have very little genetic variation. Biologists say that during the last Ice Age , cheetahs went through a long period of inbreeding. As a result, there are very few genetic differences between cheetahs. They cannot adapt to changes in the environment as quickly as other animals, and fewer cheetahs survive to maturity. Cheetahs are also much more difficult to breed in captivity than other big cats, such as lions ( Panthera leo ). Human activity can also lead to a loss of genetic variation. Overhunting and overfishing have reduced the populations of many animals. Reduced population means there are fewer breeding pairs . A breeding pair is made up of two mature members of the species that are not closely related and can produce healthy offspring. With fewer breeding pairs, genetic variation shrinks. Monoculture , the agricultural method of growing a single crop , can also reduce genetic variation. Modern agribusiness relies on monocultures. Almost all potatoes cultivated , sold, and consumed, for instance, are from a single species, the Russet Burbank ( Solanum tuberosum ). Potatoes, native to the Andes Mountains of South America, have dozens of natural varieties. The genetic variation of wild potatoes allows them to adapt to climate change and disease. For Russet Burbanks, however, farmers must use fertilizers and pesticides to ensure healthy crops because the plant has almost no genetic variation. Plant breeders often go back to wild varieties to collect genes that will help cultivated plants resist pests and drought, and adapt to climate change. However, climate change is also threatening wild varieties. That means domesticated plants may lose an important source of traits that help them overcome new threats. The Red List The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) keeps a “Red List of Threatened Species.” The Red List de fines the severity and specific causes of a species’ threat of extinction. The Red List has seven levels of conservation: least concern , near threatened , vulnerable, endangered, critically endangered , extinct in the wild , and extinct. Each category represents a different threat level. Species that are not threatened by extinction are placed within the first two categories—least concern and near-threatened. Those that are most threatened are placed within the next three categories, known as the threatened categories —vulnerable, endangered, and critically endangered. Those species that are extinct in some form are placed within the last two categories—extinct in the wild and extinct. Classifying a species as endangered has to do with its range and habitat, as well as its actual population. For this reason, a species can be of least concern in one area and endangered in another. The gray whale ( Eschrichtius robustus ), for instance, has a healthy population in the eastern Pacific Ocean, along the coast of North and South America. The population in the western Pacific, however, is critically endangered.

Least Concern Least concern is the lowest level of conservation . A species of least concern is one that has a widespread and abundant population. Human beings are a species of least concern, along with most domestic animals , such as dogs ( Canis familiaris ) and cats ( Felis catus ). Many wild animals, such as pigeons and houseflies ( Musca domestica ), are also classified as least concern. Near Threatened A near threatened species is one that is likely to qualify for a threatened category in the near future. Many species of violets , native to tropical jungles in South America and Africa, are near threatened, for instance. They have healthy populations, but their rainforest habitat is disappearing at a fast pace. People are cutting down huge areas of rainforest for development and timber . Many violet species are likely to become threatened. Vulnerable Species The definitions of the three threatened categories (vulnerable, endangered, and critically endangered) are based on five criteria: population reduction rate , geographic range, population size, population restrictions , and probability of extinction . Threatened categories have different thresholds for these criteria. As the population and range of the species decreases, the species becomes more threatened. 1) Population reduction rate A species is classified as vulnerable if its population has declined between 30 and 50 percent. This decline is measured over 10 years or three generations of the species, whichever is longer. A generation is the period of time between the birth of an animal and the time it is able to reproduce. Mice are able to reproduce when they are about one month old. Mouse populations are mostly tracked over 10-year periods. An elephant's generation lasts about 15 years. So, elephant populations are measured over 45-year periods. A species is vulnerable if its population has declined at least 50 percent and the cause of the decline is known. Habitat loss is the leading known cause of population decline. A species is also classified as vulnerable if its population has declined at least 30 percent and the cause of the decline is not known. A new, unknown virus , for example, could kill hundreds or even thousands of individuals before being identified. 2) Geographic range A species is vulnerable if its “ extent of occurrence ” is estimated to be less than 20,000 square kilometers (7,722 square miles). An extent of occurrence is the smallest area that could contain all sites of a species’ population. If all members of a species could survive in a single area, the size of that area is the species’ extent of occurrence. A species is also classified as vulnerable if its “ area of occupancy ” is estimated to be less than 2,000 square kilometers (772 square miles). An area of occupancy is where a specific population of that species resides. This area is often a breeding or nesting site in a species range. 3) Population size Species with fewer than 10,000 mature individuals are vulnerable. The species is also vulnerable if that population declines by at least 10 percent within 10 years or three generations, whichever is longer. 4) Population restrictions Population restriction is a combination of population and area of occupancy. A species is vulnerable if it is restricted to less than 1,000 mature individuals or an area of occupancy of less than 20 square kilometers (8 square miles). 5) Probability of extinction in the wild is at least 10 percent within 100 years. Biologists, anthropologists, meteorologists , and other scientists have developed complex ways to determine a species’ probability of extinction. These formulas calculate the chances a species can survive, without human protection, in the wild. Vulnerable Species: Ethiopian Banana Frog The Ethiopian banana frog ( Afrixalus enseticola ) is a small frog native to high- altitude areas of southern Ethiopia. It is a vulnerable species because its area of occupancy is less than 2,000 square kilometers (772 square miles). The extent and quality of its forest habitat are in decline. Threats to this habitat include forest clearance, mostly for housing and agriculture. Vulnerable Species: Snaggletooth Shark The snaggletooth shark ( Hemipristis elongatus ) is found in the tropical, coastal waters of the Indian and Pacific Oceans. Its area of occupancy is enormous, from Southeast Africa to the Philippines, and from China to Australia. However, the snaggletooth shark is a vulnerable species because of a severe population reduction rate. Its population has fallen more than 10 percent over 10 years. The number of these sharks is declining due to fisheries, especially in the Java Sea and Gulf of Thailand. The snaggletooth shark’s flesh, fins, and liver are considered high-quality foods. They are sold in commercial fish markets, as well as restaurants. Vulnerable Species: Galapagos Kelp Galapagos kelp ( Eisenia galapagensis ) is a type of seaweed only found near the Galapagos Islands in the Pacific Ocean. Galapagos kelp is classified as vulnerable because its population has declined more than 10 percent over 10 years. Climate change is the leading cause of decline among Galapagos kelp. El Niño, the natural weather pattern that brings unusually warm water to the Galapagos, is the leading agent of climate change in this area. Galapagos kelp is a cold-water species and does not adapt quickly to changes in water temperature.

Endangered Species 1) Population reduction rate A species is classified as endangered when its population has declined between 50 and 70 percent. This decline is measured over 10 years or three generations of the species, whichever is longer. A species is classified as endangered when its population has declined at least 70 percent and the cause of the decline is known. A species is also classified as endangered when its population has declined at least 50 percent and the cause of the decline is not known. 2) Geographic range An endangered species’ extent of occurrence is less than 5,000 square kilometers (1,930 square miles). An endangered species’ area of occupancy is less than 500 square kilometers (193 square miles). 3) Population size A species is classified as endangered when there are fewer than 2,500 mature individuals. When a species population declines by at least 20 percent within five years or two generations, it is also classified as endangered. 4) Population restrictions A species is classified as endangered when its population is restricted to less than 250 mature individuals. When a species’ population is this low, its area of occupancy is not considered. 5) Probability of extinction in the wild is at least 20 percent within 20 years or five generations, whichever is longer.

Endangered Species: Scimitar -horned Oryx The scimitar-horned oryx ( Oryx dammah ) is a species of antelope with long horns. Its range extends across northern Africa. Previously, the scimitar-horned oryx was listed as extinct in the wild because the last confirmed sighting of one was in 1988. However, the first group of scimitar-horned oryx was released back into the wild in Chad, in August 2016, and the population is growing. Overhunting and habitat loss, including competition with domestic livestock , are the main reasons for the decline of the oryx’s wild population. Captive herds are now kept in protected areas of Tunisia, Senegal, and Morocco. Scimitar-horned oryxes are also found in many zoos . Critically Endangered Species 1) Population reduction rate A critically endangered species’ population has declined between 80 and 90 percent. This decline is measured over 10 years or three generations of the species, whichever is longer. A species is classified as critically endangered when its population has declined at least 90 percent and the cause of the decline is known. A species is also classified as endangered when its population has declined at least 80 percent and the cause of the decline is not known. 2) Geographic range A critically endangered species’ extent of occurrence is less than 100 square kilometers (39 square miles). A critically endangered species’ area of occupancy is estimated to be less than 10 square kilometers (4 square miles). 3) Population size A species is classified as critically endangered when there are fewer than 250 mature individuals. A species is also classified as critically endangered when the number of mature individuals declines by at least 25 percent within three years or one generation, whichever is longer. 4) Population restrictions A species is classified as critically endangered when its population is restricted to less than 50 mature individuals. When a species’ population is this low, its area of occupancy is not considered. 5) Probability of extinction in the wild is at least 50 percent within 10 years or three generations, whichever is longer. Critically Endangered Species: Bolivian Chinchilla Rat The Bolivian chinchilla rat ( Abrocoma boliviensis ) is a rodent found in a small section of the Santa Cruz region of Bolivia. It is critically endangered because its extent of occurrence is less than 100 square kilometers (39 square miles). The major threat to this species is loss of its cloud forest habitat. People are clearing forests to create cattle pastures .

Critically Endangered Species: Transcaucasian Racerunner The Transcaucasian racerunner ( Eremias pleskei ) is a lizard found on the Armenian Plateau , located in Armenia, Azerbaijan, Iran, and Turkey. The Transcaucasian racerunner is a critically endangered species because of a huge population decline, estimated at more than 80 percent during the past 10 years. Threats to this species include the salination , or increased saltiness, of soil . Fertilizers used for agricultural development seep into the soil, increasing its saltiness. Racerunners live in and among the rocks and soil, and cannot adapt to the increased salt in their food and shelter. The racerunner is also losing habitat as people create trash dumps on their area of occupancy. Critically Endangered Species: White Ferula Mushroom The white ferula mushroom ( Pleurotus nebrodensis ) is a critically endangered species of fungus. The mushroom is critically endangered because its extent of occurrence is less than 100 square kilometers (39 square miles). It is only found in the northern part of the Italian island of Sicily, in the Mediterranean Sea. The leading threats to white ferula mushrooms are loss of habitat and overharvesting. White ferula mushrooms are a gourmet food item. Farmers and amateur mushroom hunters harvest the fungus for food and profit. The mushrooms can be sold for up to $100 per kilogram (2.2 pounds). Extinct in the Wild A species is extinct in the wild when it only survives in cultivation (plants), in captivity (animals), or as a population well outside its established range. A species may be listed as extinct in the wild only after years of surveys have failed to record an individual in its native or expected habitat.

Extinct in the Wild: Monut Kaala Cyanea The Mount Kaala cyanea ( Cyanea superba ) is a large, flowering tree native to the island of Oahu, in the U.S. state of Hawai‘i. The Mount Kaala cyanea has large, broad leaves and fleshy fruit. The tree is extinct in the wild largely because of invasive species. Non-native plants crowded the cyanea out of its habitat, and non-native animals such as pigs, rats, and slugs ate its fruit more quickly than it could reproduce. Mount Kaala cyanea trees survive in tropical nurseries and botanical gardens . Many botanists and conservationists look forward to establishing a new population in the wild. Extinct A species is extinct when there is no reasonable doubt that the last remaining individual of that species has died. Extinct: Cuban Macaw The Cuban macaw ( Ara tricolor ) was a tropical parrot native to Cuba and a small Cuban island, Isla de la Juventud. Hunting and collecting the birds for pets led to the bird’s extinction. The last specimen of the Cuban macaw was collected in 1864. Extinct: Ridley’s Stick Insect Ridley’s stick insect ( Pseudobactricia ridleyi ) was native to the tropical jungle of the island of Singapore. This insect, whose long, segmented body resembled a tree limb, is only known through a single specimen, collected more than 100 years ago. During the 20th century, Singapore experienced rapid development. Almost the entire jungle was cleared, depriving the insect of its habitat.

Endangered Species and People When a species is classified as endangered, governments and international organizations can work to protect it. Laws may limit hunting and destruction of the species’ habitat. Individuals and organizations that break these laws may face huge fines. Because of such actions, many species have recovered from their endangered status. The brown pelican ( Pelecanus occidentalis ) was taken off the endangered species list in 2009, for instance. This seabird is native to the coasts of North America and South America, as well as the islands of the Caribbean Sea. It is the state bird of the U.S. state of Louisiana. In 1970, the number of brown pelicans in the wild was estimated at 10,000. The bird was classified as vulnerable. During the 1970s and 1980s, governments and conservation groups worked to help the brown pelican recover. Young chicks were reared in hatching sites, then released into the wild. Human access to nesting sites was severely restricted. The pesticide DDT , which damaged the eggs of the brown pelican, was banned. During the 1980s, the number of brown pelicans soared. In 1988, the IUCN “delisted” the brown pelican. The bird, whose population is now in the hundreds of thousands, is now in the category of least concern.

Convention on Biological Diversity The Convention on Biological Diversity is an international treaty to sustain and protect the diversity of life on Earth. This includes conservation, sustainability, and sharing the benefits of genetic research and resources. The Convention on Biological Diversity has adopted the IUCN Red List of endangered species in order to monitor and research species' population and habitats. Three nations have not ratified the Convention on Biological Diversity: Andorra, the Holy See (Vatican), and the United States.

Lonesome George Lonesome George was the only living member of the Pinta Island tortoise ( Chelonoidis abingdoni ) known to exist. The Pinta Island tortoise was only found on Pinta, one of the Galapagos Islands. The Charles Darwin Research Station, a scientific facility in the Galapagos, offered a $10,000 reward to any zoo or individual for locating a single Pinta Island tortoise female. On June 25, 2012, Lonesome George died, leaving one more extinct species in the world.

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Endangered and Threatened Species of the Platte River (2005)

Chapter: 8 conclusions and recommendations, 8 conclusions and recommendatons.

I n the previous chapters, the Committee on Endangered and Threatened Species in the Platte River Basin has explored science and its application for policy on the central and lower Platte River. The committee presents here its responses to the series of questions (reviewed in Box 1-2 ) included in its charge. In this chapter, for each question, we state our conclusions and the primary sources of evidence leading to them.

To reach its conclusions, the committee considered the extent of the data available for each question and whether the data was generated according to standard scientific methods that included, where feasible, empirical testing. The committee also considered whether those methods were sufficiently documented and whether and to what extent they had been replicated, whether either the data or the methods used had been published and subject to public comment or been formally peer-reviewed, whether the data were consistent with accepted understanding of how the systems function, and whether they were explained by a coherent theory or model of the system. To assess the scientific validity of the methods used to develop instream-flow recommendations, the committee applied the criteria listed above, but focused more directly on the methods. For example, the committee considered whether the methods used were in wide use or generally accepted in the relevant field and whether sources of potential error in the methods have been or can be identified and the extent of potential error estimated. The committee acknowledges that no one of the above criteria is decisive, but taken together they provide a good sense of the extent to

which any conclusion or decision is supported by science. Because some of the decisions in question were made many years ago, the committee felt that it was important to ask whether they were supported by the existing science at the time they were made. For that purpose, the committee asked, in addition to the questions above, whether the decision makers had access to and made use of state-of-the-art knowledge at the time of the decision.

The population viability analysis (PVA) developed by the committee was constrained by the short study period. It did not include systematic sensitivity analyses and did not base stochastic processes and environmental variation on data from the Platte River region. A more thorough representation of environmental variation in the Platte River could be developed from regional records of climate, hydrology, disturbance events, and other stochastic environmental factors. Where records on the Platte River basin itself are not adequate, longer records on adjacent basins could be correlated with records on the Platte to develop a defensible assessment of environmental variation and stochastic processes. In addition, a sensitivity analysis could demonstrate the effects of wide ranges of environmental variation on the outcomes of PVAs. In its analysis, the committee did not consider methods and techniques that are under development by researchers such as the new SEDVEG model. SEDVEG is being developed, but is not yet completed or tested, by USBR to evaluate the interactions among hydrology, river hydraulics, sediment transport, and vegetation for application on the Platte River. The committee did not consider USGS’s in-progress evaluation of the models and data used by USFWS to set flow recommendations for whooping cranes. The committee did not consider any aspects of the Environmental Impact Statement that was being drafted by U.S. Department of the Interior (DOI) agencies related to species recovery, because it was released after the committee finished its deliberations. The Central Platte River recovery implementation program proposed in the cooperative agreement by the Governance Committee also was not evaluated, because it was specifically excluded from the committee’s charge.

The committee’s experience with data, models, and explanations led us to the identification of three common threads throughout the issues related to threatened and endangered species. First, change across space and through time is pervasive in all natural and human systems in the central and lower Platte River. Change implies that unforeseen events may affect the survival or recovery of federally listed species. Land-use and water-use changes are likely in the central and lower Platte River region in response to market conditions, changing lifestyles, shifts in the local human population, and climate change; such changes will bring about pressures on wildlife populations that are different from those observed today. For example, riparian vegetation on the central Platte River has changed because of both natural and anthropogenic impacts. Regardless of its condition and

distribution before European settlement in the middle 1800s, the riparian forest of the central Platte River was geographically limited from the middle 1800s to the first decades of the 1900s. At the time of the first aerial photography of the river in 1938, extensive sandbars, beaches, and braided channels without extensive forest cover were common in many reaches of the central Platte. Between the late 1930s and the middle to late 1960s, woodland covered increasing portions of the areas that had previously been without trees. By the late 1990s, clearing of woodlands had become a major habitat-management strategy to benefit whooping cranes that desire open roosting areas with long sight lines. Whooping cranes have used the newly cleared areas, but the overall effects of clearing on the crane population and on the structure of the river are not completely known. As with most habitat-management strategies in the central Platte River, there has been no specific monitoring to assess the success of clearing. Unintended effects remain to be investigated.

From a planning and management perspective, stable conditions are desirable so that prediction of outcomes of decisions can be simplified; but stability is rare, especially in the Platte River Basin. Explanations of existing hydrological, geomorphologic, and biological conditions and predictions of future conditions that fail to discern and accommodate change are not likely to be successful. Science can inform decision makers about expected outcomes of various choices, but prediction of the outcomes is likely to be imprecise because of ecosystem variability. Management choices therefore must include some flexibility to deal with the inevitable variability and must be adaptive, continually monitoring and adjusting. The conditions our parents would have seen in these ecosystems a half-century ago were not the conditions we see now, and present conditions are not likely to be the ones our children or grandchildren will see.

A second thread identified by the committee is that one’s view of an ecosystem depends on the temporal and spatial scales on which it is examined. The variability in scale of processes in smaller drainage basins nested within larger ones is obvious, but most natural systems have a similar nested hierarchical structure. The groups of birds and fish that use the Platte River Basin are a fraction of the larger, more widely distributed population, so conditions along the river affect only a portion of each population at any time. Loss of the subpopulations that use the Platte River might not damage the entire population if there were no losses elsewhere—something that Platte River managers cannot assume. The concentration of listed species along the central Platte indicates the importance of the river, despite the fact that the birds can be found elsewhere in Nebraska during migration or nesting periods. The river is important from a management perspective because it contains all the habitat features that are included in the regulatory definitions of critical habitat.

The river supplies the needs of an assemblage of species in addition to serving the needs of single species.

Climate also operates on a series of hierarchical scales. Regional climate in the central and northern Great Plains evinces a variety of changes that depend on the time scale used for analysis. Over a period of 5 or even 10 years, we do not see the complete range of temperature and rainfall conditions likely to be experienced over a century. Decades-long drought or wet periods are likely to be important in species survival and recovery, so short-term observations of less than a few years cannot illuminate the expected conditions that a recovery effort must face.

The various scales of scientific analysis with respect to threatened and endangered species in the Platte River Basin imply that decisions based on science should also recognize scale. Decisions concerning the Platte River Basin that are based on short-term multiyear data and a local perspective are not likely to benefit the long-term (multidecadal) viability of a species that operates on a continental or intercontinental scale. The costs of efforts to recover threatened or endangered species are often most obvious on a local scale, but the benefits are much more widely distributed.

The third thread is that water links the needs of human, wildlife, and habitat more than any other ecological process. Many of the risks to threatened and endangered species, and all the comprehensive solutions to the problem of recovery, require a refined understanding of hydrological processes. The hydrological system of the Platte River is highly interconnected, so solutions to the species issues that attempt to protect commodity values of water must also be interconnected, particularly between surface water and groundwater. Climatic changes create a changing backdrop for the more important human-induced changes in the hydrology of the basin. The committee is firmly convinced that upstream storage, diversion, and distribution of the river’s flow are the most important drivers of change that adversely affect species habitat along the Platte River.

COMMITTEE’S FINDINGS

1. Do current central Platte habitat conditions affect the likelihood of survival of the whooping crane? Do they limit (adversely affect) its recovery?

Conclusions: The committee concluded that, given available knowledge, current central Platte habitat conditions adversely affect the likelihood of survival of the whooping crane, but to an unknown degree. The Platte River is important to whooping cranes: about 7% of the total whooping crane population stop on the central Platte River in any one year, and many, if not all, cranes stop over on the central Platte at some point in their lifetimes. Population viability analyses show that if mortality were to

increase by only 3%, the general population would likely become unstable. Thus, if the cranes using the Platte River were eliminated, population-wide effects would be likely. Resources acquired by whooping cranes during migratory stopovers contribute substantially to meeting nutrient needs and probably to ensuring survival and reproductive success. Because as much as 80% of crane mortality appears to occur during migration, and because the Platte River is in a central location for the birds’ migration, the river takes on considerable importance. The committee concluded that current habitat conditions depend on river management in the central Platte River, but the population also depends on events in other areas along the migratory corridor. If habitat conditions on the central Platte River—that is, the physical circumstances and food resources required by cranes—decline substantially, recovery could be slowed or reversed. The Platte River is a consistent source of relatively well-watered habitat for whooping cranes, with its water source in distant mountain watersheds that are not subject to drought cycles that are as severe as those of the Northern Plains. There are no equally useful habitats for whooping cranes nearby: the Rainwater Basin dries completely about once a decade, and the Sandhills are inconsistent as crane habitat, while the Niobrara and other local streams are subject to the same variability as the surrounding plains. Future climatic changes may exacerbate conflicts between habitat availability and management and human land use. If the quality or quantity of other important habitats becomes less available to whooping cranes, the importance of the central Platte River could increase.

Primary Sources of Scientific Information: The basis of the above conclusion is published documents that were available to other researchers and the public including the original listing document and recovery plan for the species and a review of knowledge about the cranes by the Interstate Task Force on Endangered Species (EA Engineering, Science and Technology, Inc. 1985). Other important contributions to knowledge include Allen (1952) and Austin and Richert (2001). The committee also reviewed and discussed critical comments presented in open sessions and written testimony exemplified by Lingle (G. Lingle, unpublished material, March 22, 2000) and Czaplewski et al. (M.M. Czaplewski et al., Central Platte Natural Resource District, unpublished material, August 22, 2003) that was critical of the research conducted by DOI agencies.

2. Is the current designation of central Platte River habitat as “critical habitat” for the whooping crane supported by existing science?

Conclusions: An estimated 7% of the wild, migratory whooping crane population now uses the central Platte River on an annual basis and many, if not all, cranes stop over on the central Platte at some point in their

lifetimes. The proportion of whooping cranes that use the central Platte River and the amount of time that they use it are increasing (with expected inter-annual variation). The designation of central Platte River migratory stopover habitat as critical to the species is therefore supported because the birds have specific requirements for roosting areas that include open grassy or sandy areas with few trees, separation from predators by water, and proximity to foraging areas such as wetlands or agricultural areas. The Platte River critical habitat area is the only area in Nebraska that satisfies these needs on a consistent basis. However, some habitats designated as critical in 1978 appear to be largely unused by whooping cranes in recent years, and the birds are using adjacent habitats that are not so designated (Stehn 2003).

Habitat selection (to the extent that it can be measured) on multiple geographic scales strongly suggests that Nebraska provides important habitat for whooping cranes during their spring migration. Riverine, palustrine, and wetland habitats serve as important foraging and roosting sites for whooping cranes that stop over on the central Platte River. Whooping cranes appear to be using parts of the central Platte River that have little woodland and long, open vistas, including such areas outside the zone classified as critical habitat. In some cases the cranes appear to be using areas that have been cleared of riparian woodland, perhaps partly explaining their distribution outside the critical habitat area.

Primary Sources of Scientific Information: The basis of the committee’s conclusion is published documents that were available to other researchers and the public including the original listing document, recovery plan, and declaration of critical habitat; and information in Howe (1989) and Austin and Richert (2001). The committee also considered commentary that was critical of the research conducted by DOI agencies exemplified by open sessions and written testimony presented by Lingle (G. Lingle, unpublished material, March 22, 2000), EA Engineering, Science and Technology, Inc. (1985) and Czaplewski et al. (M.M. Czaplewski et al., Central Platte Natural Resources District, unpublished material, August 22, 2003).

3. Do current central Platte habitat conditions affect the likelihood of survival of the piping plover? Do they limit (adversely affect) its recovery?

Conclusions: Reliable data indicate that the northern Great Plains population of the piping plover declined by 15% from 1991 to 2001. The census population in Nebraska declined by 25% during the same period. Resident piping plovers have been virtually eliminated from natural riverine habitat on the central Platte River. No recruitment (addition of new individuals to the population by reproduction) has occurred there since 1999. The

disappearance of the piping plover on the central Platte can be attributed to harassment caused by human activities, increased predation of nests, and losses of suitable habitat due to the encroachment of vegetation on previously unvegetated shorelines and gravel bars.

The committee concluded that current central Platte River habitat conditions adversely affect the likelihood of survival of the piping plover, and, on the basis of available understanding, those conditions have adversely affected the recovery of the piping plover. Changes in habitat along the river—including reductions in open, sandy areas that are not subject to flooding during crucial nesting periods—have been documented through aerial photography since the late 1930s and probably have adversely affected populations of the piping plover. Sandpits and reservoir edges with beaches may, under some circumstances, mitigate the reduction in riverine habitat areas. Because piping plovers are mobile and able to find alternative nesting sites, changes in habitat may not be as severe as they would be otherwise, but no studies have been conducted to support or reject this hypothesis.

Primary Sources of Scientific Information: Corn and Armbruster (1993) demonstrated differences (including higher river invertebrate densities and catch rates) in foraging habitat between the river and sand pit sites; this suggests that riverine habitat areas are superior to the sand mines and reservoir beaches for the piping plover. Basic information sources include the listing document and recovery plan. Higgins and Brashier (1993) provide additional information on habitat conditions, survival, and recovery. The committee also considered commentary presented in open sessions and written testimony exemplified by Lingle (G. Lingle, unpublished material, March 22, 2000) and Czaplewski et al . (M.M. Czaplewski et al., Central Platte Natural Resources District, unpublished material, August 22, 2003) that was critical of the research conducted by DOI agencies.

4. Is the current designation of central Platte River habitat as “critical habitat” for the piping plover supported by the existing science?

Conclusions: The designation of central Platte habitat as critical habitat for the piping plover is scientifically supportable. Until the last several years, the central Platte supported substantial suitable habitat for the piping plover, including all “primary constituent elements” required for successful reproduction by the species. Accordingly, the central Platte River contributed an average of more than 2 dozen nesting pairs of plovers to the average of more than 100 pairs that nested each year in the Platte River Basin during the 1980s and 1990s. The critical habitat designation for the species explicitly recognizes that not all areas so designated will provide all neces-

sary resources in all years and be continuously suitable for the species. It is also now understood that off-stream sand mines and reservoir beaches are not an adequate substitute for natural riverine habitat.

Primary Sources of Scientific Information: Data generated according to standard scientific methods in well-defined and well-executed scientific investigations support the critical habitat designation for the piping plover—including work by Ziewitz et al. (1992), Ducey (1983), and Faanes (1983)—as does the designation in the Federal Register (67:57638 [2002]). The committee also considered commentary presented in open sessions and written testimony exemplified by Lingle (G. Lingle, unpublished material, March 22, 2000) and Czaplewski et al. (M.M. Czaplewski et al., Central Platte Natural Resources District, unpublished materials, August 10, 2001, and August 22, 2003) that was critical of the research conducted by DOI agencies.

5. Do current central Platte habitat conditions affect the likelihood of survival of the interior least tern? Do they limit (adversely affect) its recovery?

Conclusions: The committee concluded that current habitat conditions on the central Platte River adversely affect the likelihood of survival of the interior least tern—in much the same fashion as they affect the likelihood of survival of the piping plover—and that on the basis of available information, current habitat conditions on the central Platte River adversely affect the likelihood of recovery of the interior least tern. Reliable population estimates indicate that the total (regional) population of interior least terns was at the recovery goal of 7,000 in 1995, but some breeding areas, including the central Platte River, were not at identified recovery levels. The central Platte subpopulation of least terns declined from 1991 to 2001. The number of terns using the Platte River is about two-thirds of the number needed to reach the interior least tern recovery goal for the Platte. The interior tern is nesting in substantial numbers on the adjacent lower Platte River, but numbers continue to decline on the central Platte, reflecting declining habitat conditions there. The decline in the tern population on the central Platte River has been coincidental with the loss of numerous bare sandbars and beaches along the river. Control of flows and diversion of water from the channel are the causes of these geomorphic changes. Woodland vegetation, unsuitable as tern habitat, has colonized some parts of the central Platte River. Alternative habitats, such as abandoned sand mines or sandy shores of Lake McConaughy, are not suitable substitutes for Platte River habitat because they are susceptible to disturbance by humans and natural predators. The shores of Lake McConaughy are available only at lower stages of the reservoir, and they disappear at high stages.

Primary Sources of Scientific Information: The scientific underpinnings of these conclusions are extensive and substantial, including work by Smith and Renken (1990), Sidle and Kirsch (1993), Ziewitz et al. (1992), and Higgins and Brashier (1993), all of whom used sound, widely accepted, standard scientific methods. The committee also considered commentary presented in open sessions and written testimony exemplified by Lingle (G. Lingle, unpublished material, March 22, 2000) and Czaplewski et al. (M.M. Czaplewski et al., Central Platte Natural Resources District, unpublished material, August 22, 2003) that was critical of the research conducted by DOI agencies.

6. Do current habitat conditions in the lower Platte (below the mouth of the Elkhorn River) affect the likelihood of survival of the pallid sturgeon? Do they limit (adversely affect) its recovery?

Conclusions: Current habitat conditions on the lower Platte River (downstream of the mouth of the Elkhorn River) do not adversely affect the likelihood of survival and recovery of the pallid sturgeon because that reach of the river appears to retain several habitat characteristics apparently preferred by the species: a braided channel of shifting sandbars and islands; a sandy substrate; relatively warm, turbid waters; and a flow regime that is similar to conditions that were found in the upper Missouri River and its tributaries before the installation of large dams on the Missouri. Alterations of discharge patterns or channel features that modify those characteristics might irreparably alter this habitat for pallid sturgeon use. In addition, the lower Platte River is connected with a long undammed reach of the Missouri River, which allows access of the pallid sturgeon in the Platte River to other segments of the existing population. Channelization and damming of the Missouri River have depleted pallid sturgeon habitats throughout its former range, so the lower Platte may be even more important for its survival and recovery. The population of pallid sturgeon is so low in numbers, and habitat such as the lower Platte River that replicates the original undisturbed habitat of the species is so rare that the lower Platte River is pivotal in the management and recovery of the species.

Primary Sources of Scientific Information: Scientific studies supporting those conclusions are reported in numerous peer-reviewed publications, as exemplified by general research on the habitat of hatchery-derived pallid sturgeon in the lower Platte River by Snook (2001) and Snook et al. (2002). Carlson et al. (1985) and Kallemeyn (1983) provided useful background information. Additional investigations in the Missouri River system by Bramblett (1996) and Bramblett and White (2001) have results that are applicable to the lower Platte River. The committee also considered com-

mentary presented in open sessions and written testimony exemplified by Czaplewski et al. (M.M. Czaplewski et al., Central Platte Natural Resources District, unpublished material, August 22, 2003) that was critical of the research conducted by DOI agencies.

7. Were the processes and methodologies used by the USFWS in developing its central Platte River instream-flow recommendations (i.e., species, annual pulse flows, and peak flows) scientifically valid?

Conclusions: The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) used methods described in an extensive body of scientific and engineering literature. Reports of interagency working groups that addressed instream-flow recommendations cite more than 80 references that were in wide use and generally accepted in the river science and engineering community. The committee reviewed that information, as well as oral and written testimony critical of the research conducted by DOI agencies, and it concluded that the methods used during the calculations in the early 1990s were the most widely accepted at that time. Revisions were made as improved knowledge became available. Although the Instream Flow Incremental Method (IFIM) and Physical Habitat Simulation System (PHABSIM) were the best available science when DOI agencies reached their recommendations regarding instream flows, there are newer developments and approaches, and they should be internalized in DOI’s decision processes for determining instream flows. The new approaches, centered on the river as an ecosystem rather than focused on individual species, are embodied in the concepts of the normative flow regime. Continued credibility of DOI instream-flow recommendations will depend on including the new approach.

The instream-flow recommendations rely on empirical and model-based approaches. Surveyed cross sections along the river provided DOI investigators with specific information on the morphology of the river and vegetation associated with the river’s landforms. The portions of the cross sections likely to be inundated by flows of various depths were directly observed. Model calculations to simulate the dynamic interaction of water, geomorphology, and vegetation that formed habitat for species were handled with the prevailing standard software PHABSIM, which has seen wide use in other cases and has been accepted by the scientific community. The software was used by DOI researchers in a specific standard method, IFIM, which permits observations of the results as flow depths are incrementally increased.

The continuing DOI model developments, including the emerging SEDVEG model, are needed because of the braided, complex nature of the Platte River—a configuration that is unlike other streams to which existing models are often applied. The committee did not assess the newer models,

because they have not yet been completed or tested, but it recommends that they be explored for their ability to improve decision making.

The committee also recognizes that there has been no substantial testing of the predictions resulting from DOI’s previous modeling work, 1 and it recommends that calibration of the models be improved. Monitoring of the effects of recommended flows should be built into a continuing program of adaptive management to help to determine whether the recommendations are valid and to indicate further adjustments to the recommendations based on observations.

Primary Sources of Scientific Information: The literature used to support USFWS’s methods ranged from basic textbook sources, such as Dunne and Leopold (1978) and Darby and Simon (1999), to specific applications exemplified by Simons & Associates, Inc. (2000) and Schumm (1998). The committee also considered the interagency working reports (Hydrology Work Group 1989; M. Zallen, DOI, unpublished memo, August 11, 1994) and oral and written testimony exemplified by Parsons (2003), Payne (1995; T.R. Payne and Associates, pers. comm., June 19, 2003), Woodward (2003), and Lewis (2003).

8. Are the characteristics described in the USFWS habitat suitability guidelines for the central Platte River supported by the existing science and are they (i.e., the habitat characteristics) essential to the survival of the listed avian species? To the recovery of those species? Are there other Platte River habitats that provide the same values that are essential to the survival of the listed avian species and their recovery?

Conclusions: The committee concluded that the habitat characteristics described in USFWS’s habitat suitability guidelines for the central Platte River were supported by the science of the time of the original habitat description during the 1970s and 1980s and were consistent with accepted understanding of how the systems function. New ecological knowledge has since been developed. The new knowledge, largely from information gathered over the last 20 years, has not been systematically applied to the processes of designating or revising critical habitat, and the committee recommends that it be done.

The committee also concluded that suitable habitat characteristics along the central Platte River are essential to the survival and recovery of the piping plover and the interior least tern. No alternative habitat exists in the

central Platte that provides the same values essential to the survival and recovery of piping plovers and least terns. Although both species use artificial habitat (such as shoreline areas of Lake McConaughy and sandpits), the quality and availability of sites are unpredictable from year to year. The committee further concluded that suitable habitat for the whooping crane along the central Platte River is essential for its survival and recovery because such alternatives as the Rainwater Basin and other, smaller rivers are used only intermittently, are not dependable from one year to the next, and appear to be inferior to habitats offered by the central Platte River.

Primary Sources of Scientific Information: The committee relied on the following sources in reaching its conclusions: for whooping cranes, the original listing document, recovery plan, and declaration of critical habitat and Howe (1989), EA Engineering, Science and Technology, Inc. (1985), Austin and Richert (2001), and Lutey (2002); for interior least terns and piping plovers, the original listing documents, recovery plans, and declaration of critical habitat for the piping plover (Fed. Regist. 67 (176): 57638 [2002]), Smith and Renken (1990), Sidle and Kirsch (1993), Ziewitz et al. (1992), Ducey (1983), Faanes (1983), Higgins and Brashier (1993), Corn and Armbruster (1993), and Kirsch and Sidle (1999). The committee also considered commentary presented in open sessions and written testimony exemplified by Lingle (G. Lingle, unpublished material, March 22, 2000) and Czaplewski et al. (M.M. Czaplewski et al., Central Platte Natural Resources District, unpublished material, August 22, 2003) that was critical of the research conducted by DOI agencies.

9. Are the conclusions of the Department of the Interior about the interrelationships of sediment, flow, vegetation, and channel morphology in the central Platte River supported by the existing science?

Conclusions: The committee concluded that DOI conclusions about the interrelationships among sediment, flow, vegetation, and channel morphology in the central Platte River were supported by scientific theory, engineering practice, and data available at the time of those decisions. By the early 1990s, when DOI was reaching its conclusions, the community of geomorphologists concerned with dryland rivers had a general understanding of the role of fluctuating discharges in arranging the land forms of the channel, and DOI included this understanding in its conclusions about the river. In the early 1990s, engineering practice, combined with geomorphology and hydrology, commonly used IFIM and PHABSIM to make predictions and recommendations for flow patterns that shaped channels, and this resulted in adjustments in vegetation and habitat. In fact, despite some criticisms, IFIM and PHABSIM are still widely used in the professional

community of river restorationists in 2004. In applying scientific theory and engineering practice, the DOI agencies used the most current data and made additional measurements to bolster the calculations and recommendations. Since the early 1990s, more data have become available, and the USBR has conducted considerable cutting-edge research on a new model (SEDVEG) that should update earlier calculations but is not yet in full operation (and was not reviewed by this committee).

Primary Sources of Scientific Information: Murphy et al. (2001) outline the basic understanding of sediment and vegetation dynamics. Sediment data are obtained by sampling sediment concentrations and multiplying the concentrations by discharges and duration. For flow, gaging records on the Platte River are 50 years in duration or longer, and they are in greater density than on many American rivers; the gages provide quality data on water discharge for the Platte River. Murphy and Randle (2003) review the analyses and other sources of knowledge about the flows that provide a sound basis for DOI decisions. In addition to the review by Murphy et al. (2001) concerning vegetation, several studies over the last 20 years have provided an explanation of vegetation dynamics that the committee found to be correct and that is the basis of DOI decisions. Early work by USFWS (1981a) and Currier (1982) set the stage for an evolution of understanding of vegetation change on the river that was later expanded by Johnson (1994). For channel morphology, there is a long history of widely respected research to draw on, including early geomorphologic investigations by Williams (1978) and Eschner et al. (1983), continuing with the reviews by Simons and Associates (2000), and culminating in recent work by Murphy and Randle (2003). The committee also considered commentary presented in open sessions and written testimony exemplified by Parsons (2003) and Lewis (2003) that was critical of the research conducted by DOI agencies.

10. What were the key information and data gaps that the NAS identified in the review?

Conclusions: The committee reached its conclusions for the preceding nine questions with reasonable confidence based on the scientific evidence available. However, the committee identified the following gaps in key information related to threatened and endangered species on the central and lower Platte River, and it recommends that they be addressed to provide improved scientific support for decision making.

A multiple-species perspective is missing from research and management of threatened and endangered species on the central and lower Platte River. The interactions of the protected species with each other and with

unprotected species are poorly known. Efforts to enhance one species may be detrimental to another species, but these connections remain largely unknown because research has been focused on single species. One approach is to shift from the focus on single species to an ecosystem perspective that emphasizes the integration of biotic and abiotic processes supporting a natural assemblage of species and habitats.

There is no systemwide, integrated operation plan or data-collection plan for the combined hydrological system in the North Platte, South Platte, and central Platte Rivers that can inform researchers and managers on issues that underlie threatened and endangered species conservation. Natural and engineered variations in flows in one part of the basin have unknown effects on other parts of the basin, especially with respect to reservoir storage, groundwater storage, and river flows.

A lack of a full understanding of the geographic extent of the populations of imperiled species that inhabit the central Platte River and a lack of reliable information on their population sizes and dynamics limit our ability to use demographic models to predict accurately their fates under different land-management and water-use scenarios. Detailed population viability analyses using the most recent data would improve understanding of the dynamics of the populations of at-risk species and would allow managers to explore a variety of options to learn about the probable outcomes of decisions. Continuation of population monitoring of at-risk bird species using the best available techniques, including color-banding of prefledged chicks and application of new telemetry techniques, is recommended.

There is no larger regional context for the central and lower Platte River in research and management. Most of the research and decision making regarding threatened and endangered species in the Platte River Basin have restricted analysis to the basin itself, as though species used its habitats in isolation from other habitats outside the basin. There are substantial gaps in integrative scientific understanding of the connections between species that use the habitats of the central and lower Platte River and adjacent habitat areas, such as the Rainwater Basin of southern Nebraska and the Loup, Elkhorn, and Niobrara Rivers and other smaller northern Great Plains rivers.

The committee is confident that the central Platte River and lower Platte River are essential for the survival and recovery of the listed bird species and pallid sturgeon. However, in light of the habitat it provides and the perilously low numbers of the species, there is not enough information to assess the exact degree to which the Platte contributes to their survival and recovery.

Water-quality data are not integrated into knowledge about species responses to reservoir and groundwater management and are not integrated

into habitat suitability guidelines. Different waters are not necessarily equal, either from a human or a wildlife perspective, but there is little integration of water-quality data with physical or biological understanding of the habitats along the Platte River.

The cost effectiveness of conservation actions related to threatened and endangered species on the central and lower Platte River is not well known. Neither the cost effectiveness nor the equitable allocation of measures for the benefit of Platte River species has been evaluated. The ESA does not impose or allow the implementing agencies to impose a cost-benefit test. Listed species must be protected no matter what the cost, unless the Endangered Species Committee grants an exemption. Cost effectiveness, however, is another matter. The ESA permits consideration of relative costs and benefits when choosing recovery actions, for example. USFWS has adopted a policy that calls for minimizing the social and economic costs of recovery actions, that is, of choosing actions that will provide the greatest benefit to the species at the lowest societal cost (Fed. Regist. 59:3472 [1994]). In addition, persons asked to make economic sacrifices for the sake of listed species understandably want assurances that their efforts will provide some tangible benefit. In the Platte, the direct economic costs of measures taken for the benefit of species appear reasonably well understood. The biological benefits are another matter. For example, the costs of channel-clearing and other river-restoration measures are readily estimated. Their precise value for cranes is more difficult to estimate, although their general use is fairly well established.

The allocation of conservation costs and responsibility also has not been systematically evaluated. USFWS has concentrated its efforts to protect listed species in the Platte system on federal actions, such as the operation of federal water projects. That focus is understandable. Water projects with a federal nexus account for a large and highly visible proportion of diversions from the system. In addition, those actions may be more readily susceptible to regulatory control than others because they are subject to ESA Section 7 consultation. But some nonfederal actions also affect the species. Water users that depend on irrigation water from the federal projects may well feel that they are being asked to bear an inordinate proportion of the costs of recovering the system. A systematic inventory of all actions contributing to the decline of the species could help the parties to the cooperative agreement channel their recovery efforts efficiently and equitably. The National Research Council committee charged with evaluating ESA actions in the Klamath River Basin recently reached a similar conclusion (NRC 2004a).

The effects of prescribed flows on river morphology and riparian vegetation have not been assessed. Adaptive-management principles require that the outcomes of a management strategy be assessed and monitored and

that the strategy be adjusted accordingly, but there has been no reporting of the outcomes of the 2002 prescribed flow, no analysis of vegetation effects of managed flows, no measurement of their geomorphic effects, and no assessment of their economic costs or benefits.

The connections between surface water and groundwater are not well accounted for in research or decision making for the central and lower Platte River. The dynamics of and connections between surface water and groundwater remain poorly known, but they are important for understanding river behavior and economic development that uses the groundwater resource. The effects of groundwater pumping, recently accelerated, are unknown but important for understanding river flows.

Some of the basic facts of issues regarding threatened and endangered species in the central and lower Platte River are in dispute because of unequal access to research sites. Free access to all data sources is a basic tenet of sound science, but DOI agencies and Nebraska corporations managing water and electric power do not enter discussions about threatened and endangered species on the central and lower Platte River with the same datasets for species and physical environmental characteristics. USFWS personnel are not permitted to collect data on some privately owned lands. As a result, there are substantial gaps between data used by DOI and data used by the companies, and resolution is impossible without improved cooperation and equal access to measurement sites.

Important environmental factors are not being monitored. Monitoring, consistent from time to time and place to place, supports good science and good decision making, but monitoring of many aspects of the issues regarding threatened and endangered species on the central and lower Platte River remains haphazard or absent. Important gaps in knowledge result from a lack of adequate monitoring of sediment mobility, the pallid sturgeon population, and movement of listed birds. Responses of channel morphology and vegetation communities to prescribed flows and vegetation removal remain poorly known because the same set of river cross sections is not sampled repeatedly. Groundwater may play an important role in flows, but groundwater pumping is not monitored.

Long-term (multidecadal) analysis of climatic influences has not been used to generate a basis for interpretation of short-term change (change over just a few years). The exact interactions between climate and the system are poorly known because only short-term analyses of climate factors have been accomplished so far. In addition, the relative importance of human and climatic controls remains to be explicitly defined by researchers, even though such knowledge is important in planning river restoration for habitat purposes.

Direct human influences are likely to be much more important than climate in determining conditions for the threatened and endangered species

of the central and lower Platte River. Potentially important localized controls on habitat for threatened and endangered species on the central and lower Platte River are likely to be related to urbanization, particularly near freeway exits and small cities and towns where housing is replacing other land uses more useful to the species. Off-road vehicle use threatens the nesting sites of piping plovers and interior least terns in many of the sandy reaches of the river. Sandy beaches and bars are inviting to both birds and recreationists. Illegal harvesting has unknown effects on the small remaining population of pallid sturgeon. In each of those cases, additional data are required to define the threats to the listed species.

USFWS faces extraordinary challenges in trying to identify the habitat needs and the critical habitat for listed species on the central and lower Platte River. Lack of data, pressures of tight deadlines for research, lack of a well-defined adaptive-management strategy with effective monitoring, and competing uses for the river’s water and landscape resources complicate decision making. Despite those challenges, the science that explains forms and processes of the ecosystems along the central and lower Platte River of Nebraska is sufficient to support many decisions about the management of threatened and endangered species that use the river’s habitats. In all cases, enough is known about the physical environmental processes that control habitat change to make informed decisions for the survival of the whooping crane, piping plover, interior least tern, and pallid sturgeon. Our scientific knowledge is not yet adequate to contribute to decisions regarding the exact role of the central and lower Platte River in the recovery of the whooping crane and pallid sturgeon. Valid science supports critical habitat designations for the piping plover, but the scientific support of critical habitat designation for the whooping crane is weak. Valid science and engineering related to hydrology, geomorphology, sediment transport, and riparian ecology support the DOI instream-flow recommendations and explanations for the river-channel and vegetation changes. The committee found numerous gaps in knowledge that could inform management of threatened and endangered species along the central and lower Platte River, mostly focused on problems of scientific integration, overrestricted scales of analysis, lack of systemwide connections, and lack of standardized procedures for data collection.

Land, water, and life in the region surrounding the 100th meridian on the Platte River are highly changeable and precariously balanced. Human manipulations of hydrological conditions and land cover have far-reaching consequences for wildlife populations. Policy based on a desired constant, stable, and predictable set of environmental circumstances is unlikely to be

successful. Policy that relies on scientific knowledge about change through time and over geographic space is the most likely avenue to success in the search for accommodation between economic vitality and diverse and sustainable populations of wildlife that are neither threatened nor endangered.

The tension between wildlife protection under the Endangered Species Act and water management in the Platte River Basin has existed for more than 25 years. The Platte River provides important habitat for migratory and breeding birds, including three endangered or threatened species: the whooping crane, the northern Great Plains population of the piping plover, and the interior least tern. The leading factors attributed to the decline of the cranes are historical overhunting and widespread habitat destruction and, for the plovers and terns, human interference during nesting and the loss of riverine nesting sites in open sandy areas that have been replaced with woodlands, sand and gravel mines, housing, and roadways. Extensive damming has disrupted passage of the endangered pallid sturgeon and resulted in less suitable habitat conditions such as cooler stream flows, less turbid waters, and inconsistent flow regimes. Commercial harvesting, now illegal, also contributed to the decline of the sturgeon.

Endangered and Threatened Species of the Platte River addresses the habitat requirements for these federally protected species. The book further examines the scientific aspects of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service's instream-flow recommendations and habitat suitability guidelines and assesses the science concerning the connections among the physical systems of the river as they relate to species' habitats.

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Endangered Species Essay Sample and Writing Guide

Have you ever thought that in the technological age people have almost forgotten about nature and the importance of protecting the natural environment? Unfortunately, it is a sad reality, but that is the truth we have to face. People do not really care that somewhere, far away from their comfortable homes, species of animals and plants are disappearing from our planet forever. And it is good that teachers at colleges and schools ask their students to write an endangered species essay. In this way they will make our youth aware of this problem. But, of course, the task of writing an endangered species essay is not an easy one. Here are some guidelines to help you with the task.

Endangered Species Essay: What to Write about

First of all, your task is to define what endangered species are.

You may say that these are organisms in the wild which once had a big population, but now their numbers are diminished and they are categorized as endangered species. The organisms which do not exist anymore on the planet are considered extinct. We need to do everything possible to prevent endangered species from becoming extinct.

Secondly, you may write about specific examples of endangered species. Here you can mention tigers, giant pandas, snow leopards, the komodo dragons, and others. For more endangered species look through the Internet websites –there is a lot of information on the topic.

It will be useful to talk about the reasons why animals and plants become endangered. For instance, one of the reasons is poaching. Poaching is a process of illegally killing rare animals for commercial benefits. As it is a criminal activity the animals can only be sold only on the Black Market. Nevertheless, this problem exists; governments and NGO’s have to do everything to stop this poaching.

The second reason is the loss of natural habitat. Every year new buildings encroach more and more on the animal’s wilderness territory, that’s why the forests are cut down; grasslands are being destroyed because of new highways and such. In these circumstances the wild animal species simply have no place to go. And even when they have somewhere to go, they cannot always resettle in a new habitat. As a result, they do not survive. The same applies to endangered plants. They are often stolen and sold or are destroyed when humans need more farm land. As this second reason is also caused by humans only we can do something to help nature. A paragraph dealing with some solutions would be appropriate here.

In your conclusion it would be great to emphasize people’s role in causing and solving the problem of endangered species.

Endangered Species Essay Sample

What Are the Natural Reasons for Endangered Species Disappearing?

The Earth has already witnessed five mass extinctions and is about to experience one more. More than 99 percent of total species, amounting to over five billion species that ever existed on Earth are estimated to be extinct (Gaston and Kunin). But why does it happen? What are natural reasons for the species to disappear? Usually, it is linked to habitat fragmentation and climate change. But there also are other hidden reasons underneath them.

There is one latent reason that lies in the bottom of animal and plant extinction and poses the single greatest threat to the biological diversity of our planet. Habitat fragmentation is destructive change to landscapes and environment that is caused either by natural phenomena, such as floods, hurricanes, and volcanic eruptions, or human activities, such as deforestation, construction, artificial land drainage, and changing land use for agriculture. Despite the process, the natural environment of a species becomes diminished in total area size, broken up into several smaller patches or destroyed (Suzán et al.). If the habitat is reduced in size or divided into smaller pieces, it tends to support smaller populations of species, which poses an increased risk of a genetic diversity that influences long-term survival of the species. If the environment is demolished it forces inhabitants to flee from the territory, they adapted to for hundreds of years and migrated to a different environment. Such an intrusion into other species’ habitat often has disastrous consequences for local biota and leads to the arising of conflicts between local and migratory species (Suzán et al.). If they are not able to adapt to changes, one of them will be pushed towards extinction.planet.

Another cause of the extinction is climate change, which is the change in the distribution of average weather patterns, which can last for an extended period of time, like millions of years. Basically, the climate is the equilibrium of the energy our planet receives from the Sun, the density of the ozone layer which protects us from Sun’s ultraviolet radiation and concentration of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere. Greenhouse gases, such as carbon dioxide, methane, and nitrous oxide, absorb and emit solar radiation within thermal infrared range, thus keeping the Earth warmer (“Climate Change Indicators: Greenhouse Gases”). In the last 650,000 years, Earth’s climate changed for seven times with the sudden end of the last ice age about 7,000 years ago, that marked the modern climate era. Most of the factors that can change climate are variation in solar radiation, change in Earth’s orbit, depletion of the ozone layer and changes in greenhouse gas concentrations. While the energy output of the Sun and rotation of our planet are unabated, the density of the ozone shield and greenhouse gas concentration are in limits of reach and humanity fails to maintain it. The depletion of the ozone layer is only caused by human-made chemicals, such as chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) and other halogenated ozone depleting substances and enables more UV to come through. The power of UV radiation affects the way plants form, timing the growth and development, metabolism, and distribution of plant nutrient, which important implications for plant competitive balance, animals that feed on these plants, plant diseases, and biogeochemical cycles. The power of higher UV radiation levels affects the natural balance of gases and greenhouse gases in the biosphere, like carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide, and carbonyl sulfide (“Climate Change Indicators: Greenhouse Gases”). What is more, certain human activities, such as combustion of fossil fuels, oil, natural gas, and principally coal, along with animal agriculture, deforestation, and soil erosion produce an enormous amount of carbon dioxide (“Climate Change Indicators: Greenhouse Gases”). All this cause heat of the atmosphere, resulting in global warming that causes the world’s oceans to warm, as they absorb 80 percent of the additional heat, changes the global sea level.

Rising temperatures of the oceans directly affect the metabolism, behavior and life cycle of marine species. For various species, temperature serves as a signal for reproduction. Changes in sea temperature could have an impact on their successful breeding. For instance, the number of male and female offspring is determined by temperature for marine turtles, as well as some fish and copepods (“Climate Impacts On Ecosystems”). Changing climate could, therefore, skew sex proportions and threaten population survival. Rising temperatures in the oceans will also affect the development and population of the plankton which forms the basis of marine food chains and fixes about half the carbon dioxide that gets released into the atmosphere. As the oceans become warmer, the location of the ideal water temperature may shift for many species, thus forcing them to migrate (“Climate Impacts On Ecosystems”).

Sea level has been growing over the past century, and the rate has risen in recent decades. The increase of the sea level is usually linked to two primary factors: the thermal expansion of seawater and the added water from melting ice sheets and glaciers both as a result of the global temperature rise (“Climate Impacts On Coastal Areas”).

Increasing sea levels due to climate change may have a great influence on the coral reef ecosystem. The coral reef ecosystem is evolved to thrive within specific temperature and sea level range (“Climate Impacts On Ecosystems”). They live in a symbiotic association with photosynthetic zooxanthellae. Zooxanthellae needs the sunlight to produce the nutrients necessary for the coral. Rising sea levels may cause a decrease in solar radiation at the sea surface level, impairing the ability of photosynthetic zooxanthellae to synthesize nutrients for the coral, whereas, a sudden exposure of the coral reef to the atmosphere may cause coral bleaching due to a low tide event (“Climate Impacts On Ecosystems”).

The melting of the glaciers and ice sheets contributes to increasing the levels of the world’s oceans. It is affecting certain animal species at the North pole. One such species are the polar bears. They usually rely on the ice sheets that swarm on the Arctic sea to find their prey. Global warming is making the ice sheets to melt earlier every year, affecting the survival of the polar bears (Ma). Scientists have predicted that the polar bears will not survive an entire loss of sea-ice cover during the summer. They also estimated that the population of the polar bears is of a little more than 20,000 and that this number could decrease by the year 2050 (Ma).

It has been shown that the primary natural causes of the animal extinction are habitat fragmentation and climate change which include rising of the sea levels and melting ice sheets and glaciers. Despite the reason why the endangered species become extinct, it looks like it is somehow triggered by the human activities which we need to rethink to save our planet.

Works Cited

Gaston, Kevin, and William E. Kunin. The Biology of Rarity. Chapman and Hall, 1997. Suzán, Gerardo et al. “The Effect of Habitat Fragmentation and Species Diversity Loss on Hantavirus Prevalence in Panama.” Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences, vol. 1149, no. 1, 2008, pp. 80-83. Wiley-Blackwell, doi:10.1196/annals.1428.063. “Climate Change Indicators: Greenhouse Gases.” US EPA, 2017, https://www.epa.gov/climate-indicators/greenhouse-gases. “Climate Impacts on Coastal Areas.” EPA, Environmental Protection Agency, 6 Oct. 2016, www.19january2017snapshot.epa.gov/climate-impacts/climate-impacts-coastal-areas_.html. “Climate Impacts on Ecosystems.” EPA, Environmental Protection Agency, 22 Dec. 2016, www.19january2017snapshot.epa.gov/climate-impacts/climate-impacts-ecosystems_.html. Ma, Michelle. “Polar Bears Across the Arctic Face Shorter Sea Ice Season.” Climate Change: Vital Signs Of The Planet, 2017, www.climate.nasa.gov/news/2499/polar-bears-across-the-arctic-face-shorter-sea-ice-season/.

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Essay Service Examples Environment Endangered Species

Endangered Species Essay

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Introduction, i global status of endangered species:, 1) greater horse shoe bat (rhinolophus ferrumequinum):, 2) siberian tiger (panthera tigris):, 3) loggerhead turtle (caretta caretta):, 4) northern bald ibis (geronticus eremita) :, 5) black rhino (diceros bicornis):, 6) lion – tailed macaque (macaca silenus):, 7) mandarin duck (aix galericulata):, 8) mountain gorilla (gorilla beringei beringei):, 9) jackass penguin (spheniscus demersus):, 10) blue whale (balaenoptera musculus):, 11) banded anteater (myrmecobius fasciatus):, 12) komodo dragon (varanus komodoensis):, 13) golden lion tamarin (leontopithecus rosalia):, 14) spectacled bear (tremarctos ornatus):, 15) california condor (gymnogyps californianus):, 16) black-footed ferret (mustela nigripes):, ii national status of endangered species:, 1) indian bustard (ardeotis nigricaps):, 2) jerdon’s courser (cursorious bitorquatus):, 3) himalayan monal (lophophorus impejanus):, 4) sarus crane (grus antigone antigone) :, 5) asiatic lion (panthera leo persica):, 6) the blackbuck (antilope cervicapra):, 7) ganges river dolphin (platanista gangetica) :, 8) hoolock gibbon (hylobates hoolock):, 9) nilgiri langur (presbytis johni):, 10) indian wild ass (equus hemionus khur):, 11) lion tailed macaque (macaca silenus (linnaeus)) :, 12) olive ridley sea turtle (lepidochelys olivacea):, 13) the indian pangolin (manis crassicaudata):, 14) the nilgiri tahr (nilgiritragus hylocrius):, 15) the leopard cat (prionailurus bengalensis):, 16) asiatic lion (panthera leo persica):, 17) bengal tiger (panthera tigris tigris):, 18) snow leopard (panthera uncia):, 19) kashmiri red stag (cervus elaphus hangul):, 20) one – horned rhinoceros (rhinoceros unicornis):.

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Endangered Species Essay Project

2023 is the 50th Anniversary of the Endangered Species Act, a landmark piece of conservation legislation protecting our nation’s wildlife. In honor of this milestone, Grades 3-12 students were invited to submit essays about endangered species to a special nationwide essay collection! Students from across the country submitted informative essays about ESA-listed species and the threats they face, creative stories written from the perspective of threatened and endangered species, persuasive essays about the importance of the ESA, and more. Browse students’ submissions below!

Students’ opinions are their own and may not be shared by the Endangered Species Coalition and the ESA50 Education & Youth Committee. Students’ essays may contain grammatical or factual errors. 

FEATURED ESSAYS

The Vaquita

Author: Niko H., Grade 8

Preserving Life: The Importance of Supporting the Endangered Species Act

Author: Luna W., Grade 8.

Stop Bombing on Bombis Affinis

Author: Bridger B., Grade 8

ESSAYS About Threatened & ENDangered SPECIES

American Marten by Marlena B.

American Marten by Oliver B.

Black-Footed Ferret by Sienna F. 

Black Rhino by Haoran H.

Black Rhino by Jeremy W.

Black Spider Monkey by Evelyn X.

Canada Lynx by Caleb P.

Canada Lynx by Jackson K.

Canada Lynx by Mason G.

Canada Lynx by Michael S.

Canada Lynx by Natalie B.

Canada Lynx by Samara S.

Canada Lynx by Sylvia S.

Cheetah by Howard L.

Florida Panther by Allen H.

Florida Panther by Ohana N. F.

Giant Panda by Albert X.

Giant Panda by Aubrey S.

Giant Panda by Avery S.

Giant Panda by Ella X.

Giant Panda by Emily Q.

Giant Panda by Eric M.

Giant Panda by Hazel H.

Giant Panda by Norah F. 

Giant Panda by Selina C.

Gray Wolf by Adeline K.

Gray Wolf by Arthur S.

Gray Wolf by Chloe C.

Gray Wolf by Kyle T.

Gray Wolf by Ronin S.

Gray Wolf By Sophia K.

Jaguarundi by Kaylynn M.

Jaguarundi by Lissie M.

Mexican Wolf by Kennedy M.

Mexican Wolf By Xzayvin G.

Northern Idaho Ground Squirrel by Elizabeth H.

Northern Long-Eared Bat by Jaelyn M.

Ocelot by Destiny C.

Ocelot by Julian Z.

Ocelot by Kristi F.

Ocelot by Morgan D.

Ocelot by Ryan G.

Polar Bear by Claire B.

Polar Bear by Megan X.

Red Wolf by Ling-Rui M.

Red Wolf by Lovecloud L.

San Joaquin Kit Fox by Caitlyn O.

Snow Leopard by Lucas W.

Snow Leopard by Phoebe H.

Tiger by Harper L.

Tiger by Muya Z.

Tiger by Ragav S.

Wolves by Alina B.

Wood Bison by Joshua B.

Humpback Whale by Sloan W.

Southern Sea Otter by Linna X.

Vaquita by Kazumi H.

Vaquita by Makenzie W.

Vaquita by Niko H.

Vaquita by Priya S.

Vaquita by Ziyuan L.

White Sturgeon by Harrison M.

Abbott’s Booby by Sebastian P.

Bald Eagle by Patty H.

Mexican Spotted Owl by Yasmin A.

Northern Aplomado Falcon by Alexander S.

Piping Plover by Davis S.

Piping Plover by Sophia O.

Spotted Owl by Emily C.

Whooping Crane by David P. R.

Whooping Crane by Zia Y.

Eastern Fringed Prairie Orchid by Alice O.

Endangered Plants of Colorado by AJ M.

Uinta Basin Hookless Cactus by Yolilizatl O.

American Alligator by Aaron B.

Jamaican Iguana by Max C. 

Sea Turtles by Alivia B.

Sea Turtles by Auden S.

Sea Turtles by Avery M.

Sea Turtles by Clora H.

Sea Turtles by Nyana M.

Timber Rattlesnake by Lucas W.

Iowa Pleistocene Snail by George B.

Rusty Patched Bumblebee by Bridger B.

ESSAYS ABOUT THE ESA & WHY IT MATTERS

ESA 2023 Essay by Siyeon J.

Endangered Species Act Paper by Isabel L.

Effects of Extinction by Lily C.

Preserving Life: The Importance of Supporting the Endangered Species Act by Luna W.

Endangered Species (Poem) by Felicity M.

The Endangered Species Act is Just An Act by Cedar M.

Why is the Endangered Species Act Important? by Sophia C.

Endangered Species Act Essay by Reese J.

Roles of the ESA by Boya C.

What is the ESA and Why Should We Support It? by Moyi L.

The ESA by Emily T.

Support grassroots organizing to defend endangered species. The Endangered Species Coalition works through grassroots organizing and mobilizing to keep wildlife and wild places protected.

Stay INFORMED

Join the Endangered Species Coalition Activist Network to receive emails with actions that you can take to protect endangered and threatened species.

About the Endangered SPECIES COALITION

The Endangered Species Coalition’s mission is to stop the human-caused extinction of our nation’s at-risk species, to protect and restore their habitats, and to guide these fragile populations along the road to recovery.

• © 2024 Endangered Species Coalition
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• 240.353.2765
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Zoos for Conservation of Endangered Species Essay

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The last several decades could be characterized by the increased number of environmental problems that resulted in the alteration of climate and landscapes. These processes also had a great pernicious impact on animals living in different areas. For this reason, zoos became almost the only hope for the preservation and conservation of endangered species. If to compare with the past century, their role has altered greatly. In the 50s, zoos used to be fun centers where animals were kept just for entertainment. However, at the moment, they could be considered important scientific and research centers that investigate the current situation related to species and create conditions needed for their survival and further preservation. Moreover, zoos also perform a great educating role by providing important information about endangered species to people and teaching them how to save animals. Therefore, they are also important conservation centers as a significant number of animals could be found only here.

Nevertheless, even though zoos are crucial for the modern world, they also face some challenges that might impact the final result and make their conservation efforts less efficient. For instance, the preservation of endangered species is rather costly, and not all zoos could afford it. There is a great need for space, specific conditions, investigations, care, etc. (Keulartz, 2015). The combination of all these aspects contributes to the increased complexity of the main task and zoos might experience economic pressure from the government or sponsors. However, it is crucial to remember that their functioning is vital in the modern environment and there should be no limits related to their development (Kobilinsky, 2016). If we want to see some species, we should sponsor zoos.

Therefore, we have already stated that zoos are responsible for the preservation of animals included in the Endangered Species List. Certain criteria are used when considering the character of a certain animal, population size, peculiarities of the area, etc. Besides, the first thing that is taken into account is the number of animal units and the tendencies that are observed at the moment. Therefore, scientists also consider the way they might impact endangered species. This process is extremely important as it helps people to preserve some kinds of animals and guarantee their survival.

For instance, in the Reid Park Zoo in Arizona, we can watch elephants.

The given chart demonstrates their main activities and distribution of time. We could see that elephants are not very active, but they still have some social life (“ Zoo cams ,” n.d.). They also like bathing, playing, and, of course, eating.

Altogether, I should say that my attitude to elephants has not changed. I am sure that they are wonderful animals that should be protected by all means. Unfortunately, people are killing them for their tooth. It is a horrible practice, and it should be stopped for our children to be able to enjoy these animals.

However, I used to see these animals before. That is why my feelings were not unique. Therefore, I believe that for those who have never seen elephants it could be a great experience and have a great impact on their feelings towards wildlife and conservation. They will be able to understand that a great threat exists at the moment and all efforts should be devoted to the attempts to save them.

Keulartz, J. (2015). Captivity for conservation? Zoos at a crossroads . Web.

Kobilinsky, D. (2016). New live cam technology might help conservation . Web.

Zoo cams . (n.d.). Web.

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• Chicago (A-D)
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IvyPanda. (2020, September 17). Zoos for Conservation of Endangered Species. https://ivypanda.com/essays/zoos-for-conservation-of-endangered-species/

"Zoos for Conservation of Endangered Species." IvyPanda , 17 Sept. 2020, ivypanda.com/essays/zoos-for-conservation-of-endangered-species/.

IvyPanda . (2020) 'Zoos for Conservation of Endangered Species'. 17 September.

IvyPanda . 2020. "Zoos for Conservation of Endangered Species." September 17, 2020. https://ivypanda.com/essays/zoos-for-conservation-of-endangered-species/.

1. IvyPanda . "Zoos for Conservation of Endangered Species." September 17, 2020. https://ivypanda.com/essays/zoos-for-conservation-of-endangered-species/.

Bibliography

IvyPanda . "Zoos for Conservation of Endangered Species." September 17, 2020. https://ivypanda.com/essays/zoos-for-conservation-of-endangered-species/.

Home — Essay Samples — Environment — Endangered Species — Endangered Animals: The Causes And How To Protect

Endangered Animals: The Causes and How to Protect

• Categories: Endangered Species

About this sample

Words: 541 |

Published: Dec 16, 2021

Words: 541 | Page: 1 | 3 min read

Works Cited:

• Baumeister, R. F., Gailliot, M., DeWall, C. N., & Oaten, M. (2006). Self-regulation and personality: How interventions increase regulatory success, and how depletion moderates the effects of traits on behavior. Journal of Personality, 74(6), 1773–1801.
• Duckworth, A. L., & Seligman, M. E. P. (2005). Self-discipline outdoes IQ in predicting academic performance of adolescents. Psychological Science, 16(12), 939–944.
• Emerson, R. W. (1841). Self-Reliance. Essays: First Series. https://www.emersoncentral.com/selfreliance.htm
• Goleman, D. (2013). Focus: The Hidden Driver of Excellence. HarperCollins Publishers.
• Hagger, M. S., Wood, C., Stiff, C., & Chatzisarantis, N. L. D. (2010). Ego depletion and the strength model of self-control: A meta-analysis. Psychological Bulletin, 136(4), 495–525.
• Hofmann, W., Baumeister, R. F., Förster, G., & Vohs, K. D. (2012). Everyday temptations: An experience sampling study of desire, conflict, and self-control. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 102(6), 1318–1335.
• McGonigal, K. (2012). The Willpower Instinct: How Self-Control Works, Why It Matters, and What You Can Do to Get More of It. Avery.
• Mischel, W., Shoda, Y., & Rodriguez, M. L. (1989). Delay of gratification in children. Science, 244(4907), 933–938.
• Tangney, J. P., Baumeister, R. F., & Boone, A. L. (2004). High self‐control predicts good adjustment, less pathology, better grades, and interpersonal success. Journal of Personality, 72(2), 271–322.
• Vohs, K. D., Baumeister, R. F., & Schmeichel, B. J. (2012). Motivation, personal beliefs, and limited resources all contribute to self-control. Journal of Experimental Social Psychology, 48(4), 943–947.

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