Another mass extinction could occur, and some wonder if we are nearing it. Migratory animals, including birds, elephants, and sea turtles, are reportedly threatened with extinction.
Earth on the Verge of Another Extinction?
A new report alerts us that over half of the world's migratory species are at least experiencing a population decline, and 22% are threatened with extinction.
Human activities are reportedly to blame for this, particularly overexploitation and habitat loss, deemed the biggest dangers to these creatures.
"Today's report clearly shows us that unsustainable human activities are jeopardizing the future of migratory species," said Inger Andersen, executive director of the UN Environment Programme. "Creatures who not only act as indicators of environmental change but play an integral role in maintaining the function and resilience of our planet's complex ecosystems."
Every year, billions of creatures migrate through the skies, rivers, oceans, and on land. In order to feed and breed, some of them migrate thousands of miles across continents and national lines.
Not only do migratory species carry nutrients and pollinate plants, but they are also vital to the upkeep of the world's ecosystems. The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), the Zoological Society of London (ZSL), and BirdLife International provided species datasets and contributions for the paper.
The world's most comprehensive inventory of the state of biological species conservation worldwide is published by IUCN in its well-known Red List.
Of the 1,189 animal species that CMS has identified as needing international protection, 260 (or 22%) are thought to be in danger of going extinct, while 520 (or 44%) are experiencing population decreases.
According to the IUCN Red List, the 260 species that face extinction have been classified as "Critically Endangered" (68), "Endangered" (78), or "Vulnerable" (114). Among these is the Hawksbill turtle, recognizable by its overlapping scale pattern on its shell and slender, pointed beak.
The severely endangered turtle species is found in tropical oceans worldwide, mostly in coral reefs, and has historically been hunted by humans.
It travels great distances to find food, usually 90 miles (150 km), and then returns to nesting beaches.
The scalloped hammerhead shark, overfished and highly valued by illicit dealers for its fins, is another species in danger. The shark species is said to move to deeper waters in search of food until adulthood, at which point it presumably returns to its natural habitat.
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5 Mass Extinctions
Roughly 98% of all plants and animals have become extinct due to self-extinction. It is a fact of life that extinction occurs occasionally.
As of right now, there have been five mass extinctions -- the Ordovician-Silurian, the Late Devonian, the Permian-Triassic, the Triassic-Jurassic, and the K-Pg.
Experts claim that, in contrast to previous extinction events that were caused by natural causes, we are currently experiencing the sixth mass extinction, which is being driven by human action, mainly (though not only) the unsustainable use of land, water, and energy as well as climate change.
Currently, agriculture occupies 40% of the total land area. Furthermore, 70% of the freshwater in the world is used for agriculture. It is also responsible for ninety percent of the world's deforestation, which severely alters the habitats of the creatures that dwell there, causing terrible effects.
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