Subjects:
plants and animals currently in danger of becoming extinct. Although the term
endangered is universally used, the definition of an endangered species is greatly
varied. In most cases, the factors causing an organism to become endangered are
human- related. When discussing the causes of endangerment, it is important to
understand that individual species are not the only factors involved in this dilemma.
Endangerment is a broad issue, one that involves the habitats and environments
where species live and interact with one another. Although some measures are being
taken to help specific cases of endangerment, the universal problem cannot be solved
until humans protect the natural environments where endangered species dwell.
There are many reasons why a particular species may become endangered. Although
these factors can be analyzed and grouped, there are many causes that appear
Our planet is continually changing, causing habitats to be altered and
modified. Natural changes tend to occur at a gradual pace, usually causing only a
slight impact on individual species. However, when changes occur at a fast pace,
. . .
wolves at Alligator River resulted in high mortality, and some animals exhibited a
tolerance of people considered to put them at risk because of potential conflict with
human activities. First and probably foremost, these animals, along with other
large predators, were extensively hunted, trapped, and poisoned by European settlers
in North America, who viewed them as a threat to livestock and humans. Therefore,
recovery efforts were directed toward exploring the feasibility of using captive stock
to reestablish red wolf populations in other areas of the species' historic range. It is better to conserve
habitats and animals together. Removing a species from the wild
for the purpose of captive propagation is a rare event, done only when all other
efforts to preserve the species in the wild have failed. Since the numbers were low they started removing all the remaining red
wolfs(14) from the wild and into captive breeding.
One species that is critically endangered due to more than one of this
reasons is the Red Wolf (Canis rufus).
Expanding human populations and extensive land clearing initially affected the
red wolf in two ways. The worst of these unintended
yet harmful consequences arise when introduced exotic species put native species in
jeopardy by preying on them. Otherwise, without quick action, population decline
leads to extinction. Second, the
extensive clearing of forest and hardwood river bottoms eliminated much of the
prime red wolf habitat. ARNWR was chosen, in part,
because it was free of coyotes. If the present level of
hybridization is not controlled, the current wild red wolf population may not exist in
three to six generations. It will also help eliminate a
non-native species such as the coyote from the reintroduction area.
Essay's Topics
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