Endangered Species of the Month
Every day, at least one species of plant or animal vanishes forever. Although extinction is a normal part of evolution, the increase in extinctions caused by human activity is not. According to the Sacramento Zoo, over the last 100 years the extinction rate was estimated by scientists at approximately 1,000 species per year, or 3 species per day. However, over the next 100 years that rate is predicted to increase to 10,000 species per year. That’s 30 unique species of plant or animal vanishing forever each day!
Why is this important to us?
Each species that vanishes has a specific role to play in its ecosystem, so losing one species can throw the entire ecosystem out of whack. Also, in the past few decades, animals and plants have been the source of new ideas and inventions, including important medicines. So, maintaining the planet’s biodiversity is important to humans, too. Finally, the world would be a much more boring place if we lost most of the plants and animals that surround us.
There are so many different kinds of animals in danger of extinction that it’s easy to become overwhelmed and even apathetic. However, when you look at some of the specific species that are threatened, the problem becomes much harder to ignore. With that in mind, we will choose one species each month that is endangered, or close to extinction, and highlight it in this blog.
The Giant Otter
This month, the featured endangered species is the giant otter (Pteronura brasiliensis). The giant otter is a species of otter that lives in fresh water all across South America. As you may have guessed from the name, the giant otter is bigger than any other members of its family-approximately as long as an adult human being! Although their large size can be intimidating, they are also known for their outgoing, social personalities.
Giant otters live in family groups of between 3 and 8 animals. They build communal dens to share, and construct common areas for playing and “hanging out” called campsites. They spend almost all of their time together. Unlike many human families, all the members of the group generally get along-even siblings seem to have very few rivalries or conflicts.
Giant otters are endangered today primarily because they were hunted so extensively in the past.
Their chocolate-brown fur is superb at repelling water, making it a popular choice for winter coats. At one point, the number of giant otters in the world was thought to be as low as 12 individuals!
They have since recovered, and now scientists believe their population to be from 1,000 to 3,000. However, these numbers are still small, and new threats have arisen that not only stand in the way of further recovery, but are expected to reduce population of the giant otter by half within the next 20 years! The main problems they face include habitat destruction, environmental toxins, and competition from commercial fisherman.What can you do to help the save the giant otter?
Most of their habitat is in the rainforest, so protecting the rainforest will help keep the otters stable.
How can you help?
People have trying to protect the rainforest for decades, with limited success. However, there are some simple steps that you can take:
- Don’t buy products made from rainforest wood- One of the main reasons that rainforests in South America keep disappearing is that illegal logging is extremely profitable. Even though most people realize that protecting the rainforest is important, there is still a tremendous demand for tropical hardwoods like mahogany.
- When buying produce from South America, buy certified organic or fair trade. Pesticides from agriculture run off into rivers and streams in the rainforest and are absorbed into the bodies of the animals there. Because they are at the top of the food chain, giant otters not only absorb toxins from the water and the air but also get a “double dose” of chemicals from the fish they eat. Over time, the pesticide levels in the otter’s body can rise to the point that they cause poisoning. Organic produce is grown without these chemicals. “Fair trade” is generally understood to mean that the workers who helped produce the food were treated fairly, but it also means that the produce was farmed using environmentally sustainable methods.
- If you’re feeling charitable, you can also support one of the many organizations that are committed to supporting the rainforest. The best programs for the giant otter, as well as countless other rainforest species, focus on buying land to set aside for conservation. Habitat loss is the biggest threat that the otters face right now, so anything that helps retain habitat for them will help ensure their future.
Thanks for your time… comments are always welcome.
Tags: Endangered, Extinction, Giant, Otter
This entry was posted on Friday, May 16th, 2008 at 10:13 am and is filed under Environment. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can skip to the end and leave a response. Pinging is currently not allowed.