All Causes of Animal Endangerment Human Induced

When we identify the many reasons that animals on our planet face the prospect of extinction, we can almost always trace it back to human involvement. In fact, I'd say confidently that every single peril animals facing extinction endure is attributed to us in some way. Whether we're looking at habitat loss or over fishing, humans are directly involved in contributing to these perils. Let's identify some of the biggest hurdles animals face and how our actions have directly impacted these situations.

HABITAT LOSS

Animals like elephants for example, require vast amounts of space to freely roam in search of food and watering holes. When human population continues to grow, more land is needed to accommodate their existence. More land for housing districts & more land for the growing of crops and animal agriculture impede on the habitat of wild animals. When we take away land from these animals, they are forced to search for food and water in other places which can sometimes cause them to disrupt human settlements in search of food causing human-animal conflicts.

These conflicts can lead to animals being attacked or hurt in an effort to scare them away from settlements. Another example is Arctic drilling for oil. Disrupting an ecosystem that is almost untouched will undoubtedly displace thousands of arctic inhabitants including whales, seals, and other marine animals that rely on the stability of sea ice. As soon as we take it upon ourselves to start drilling, we are essentially committing to destroying the habitat of native creatures. This will undoubtedly have negative impacts that will lead to further animal endangerment and potentially extinction.

Takeaway - Habitat loss is attributed to the actions of humans. Whether it's settlement expansion, arctic disruption, or rain forest destruction, everything points to human interference.

LACK OF COMMITMENT TO
TRUE CONSERVATION

Conservation is pretty a pretty straight forward topic. Conservation means funneling money into local communities so that they can address perils animals face. Conservation is our governments' giving ESA protections to animals that are in danger of going extinct and actually working towards rehabilitating them. Conservation is working with advocacy and conservation groups across the globe collectively to address international perils animals facing extinction are up against. It all seems pretty black and white until you dig a little deeper and realize that not everyone is truly committed to saving animals from extinction.

On one hand, we hear our government announcing conservation initiatives or protections for animals while simultaneously allowing hunting trophies to come in to our country. How can we be truly committed to conservation when in the same breath we're telling people it's OK to go and spend tens of thousands of dollars to shoot and kill endangered animals for sport? We take such a hypocritical approach to true conservation that what efforts are being made to save animals are squashed by our lack of true commitment to saving animals.

TAKEAWAY - Until we commit wholeheartedly to conservation, our efforts are in vain. We are promoting the slaughter of endangered animals while simultaneously claiming to be committed to conservation. Our message is skewed by our actions.

CONTINUED SEARCH FOR RESOURCES

We are constantly on the hunt for natural resources and unfortunately, those resources come at a cost. When you look at palm oil for example, a popular oil used in a variety of products including many vegan and plant based products, we must identify the destruction that comes a long with palm oil. Rain forests are being abolished because of our salacious need for this oil, displacing many of the species that inhabit these areas. Great apes for example are watching as their habitat is destroyed around them leaving them with less space to comfortably live. We are taking everything away from them which will undoubtedly push them closer and closer to extinction.

On the other end of the world, our continued search for oil and other natural resources will have a tremendously negative impact on the arctic wildlife. Oil drilling causes a disruption in the communication of whales which leads to difficulties breeding and finding food. Increased human presence is also an issue for wildlife in the area who are not accustomed to repeated human interaction. On top of all of this, can we guarantee that an oil spill will never occur? An oil spill of any magnitude will have serious repercussions and will undoubtedly disrupt the livelihood of the species that inhabit this area.

TAKEAWAY - Our continued desire for more is going to lead to the destruction of our planet. We destroying the most sacred and untouched areas on our quest for resources and will do so at any cost.

THE BLACK MARKET
POACHING & TROPHY HUNTING

We have given unimaginable value to things that can only be obtained through slaughtering animals, most of which are already facing endangerment. Pangolin scales, bear bile, ivory, big cat blood etc., we have put such a high value on these things while simultaneously condemning the slaughter of said animals. Had we never made ivory such a prized possession, people wouldn't be risking their lives to get their hands on ivory. People wouldn't be risking their lives to slaughter endangered animals like elephants and rhinos. We did this to ourselves and now as we try to speak out against poaching these animals, the black market is thriving.

Our hypocrisy in these scenarios is outstanding. We in Canada for example, condemn the slaughter of endangered bears for their bile which is traditionally used in Asian medicines while simultaneously contributing to the legal hunts of endangered animals like elephants or rhinos. We condemn the illegal poaching of said animals but refuse to ban trophy hunting. We have literally put the nail in the coffins of so many different animals on this planet because we have made animals nothing more than products that we should have access to at any cost.

TAKEAWAY - If we want to truly address the innocent slaughter of so many endangered animals, devalue the things that we are taking from them. Devalue ivory, devalue pangolin scales, and ban trophy hunting. 

What's the ultimate takeaway from this post today? That we are hypocritical at every stage of animal welfare and conservation. That we are selective in what outrages us while contributing to other situations that are further endangering animals. Humans are despicable and until we collectively agree that animal lives are truly important and their survival is dependent on us stepping up and doing what is right, we will continue to see the extinction of some of the most beloved species on our planet.

HAPPY VEG