Why Are Species Endangered? Educational Resources K12 Learning, Life Science, People and Their Environment, Science Lesson Plans, Activities, Experiments, Homeschool Help

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The pangolin is an African and Asian mammal with a body covered with horny, overlapping scales and a small head with an elongated snout. They are considered among the most gorgeous mammals because of their uniquely tough appearance.

tree pangolin

You might think any predator would be scared of this animal's defensive look. Surprisingly, all eight species of pangolins are under a serious survival threat ranging from being vulnerable to critically endangered.

What factors affect their survival?
What interventions have been enacted to protect these and all other animal species from becoming endangered?

Let's find out!

Endangered Species

The earth's biodiversity consists of many life forms, including animals, plants, and microorganisms.

How many species are currently alive on our planet?

It is hard to say, but scientists estimate that 8.7 million species live on the earth. While we know that the lifespan of each species varies, there are reasons why some become threatened or endangered.

According to The Endangered Species Act of 1973:

Threatened refers to any species in near or immediate danger of becoming endangered throughout all or most of the area where it lives.

Endangered refers to any species in near or immediate danger of becoming extinct throughout all or most of the area where it lives.

Scientists estimate that dozens of species go extinct each day. While conservationists fight to protect all species from extinction, we will focus on animals in this lesson.

Too many animal species have left the earth completely in recent years. Let's take a look at five of them. (Drag the slider along the black line beneath the images to view all five animals.)

Why Are Animals Endangered?

This is an important question to ask. Let's briefly discuss several factors.

Human Intervention

Have you ever gone shopping and seen a belt, bag, or shoes made out of an animal's skin?

The scales on pangolins, for instance, are sold for $3,000 per kilogram. This is an exploitation of animals for commercial use.

Animals are also used for scientific, educational, recreational, and entertainment purposes. All of this significantly reduces their populations.

Destruction of Habitat

Human civilization has changed the demographic of many regions on the earth. If industrialization overwhelms a natural habitat, animals may lose their major food sources.

Their adaptation skills are disrupted When their natural environment is altered. Changes to the ecosystem can also cause extreme weather conditions, which are fatal for the animals.

Pollution and Natural Disasters

This factor is closely related to habitat destruction.

Humans disrupt the planet with pollution, such as oil spills and acid rain. Natural disasters, such as extreme drought, flooding, earthquakes, and forest fires, can also be catastrophic to animals in the wild.

If an animal's natural habitat and food sources are diminished due to pollution or disaster, it is often unable to recover and find a new place to live.

Predation and Competition

The ecological system within a region must be balanced by the diversity of its species population. An ecosystem's complex food web must be sustainable to guarantee the survival of its inhabitants.

If a group of predators outnumbers its prey; this balance tips, and food sources become scarce. This leaves the other animals with no choice but to migrate to a new ecosystem.

Reproduction Rate

Some animal species have a prolonged reproduction rate. This means they do not often conceive and give birth, so building up their population naturally is hard.

Female pandas, for example, can only conceive over a three to four-day period once a year.

Genetic Vulnerability and Immunity

Like people, animals are susceptible to illness. If the entire species population is exposed to a widespread disease that they are not immune to, it will significantly deplete their numbers.

Why Should We Care?

The world is shared by all living creatures. As one of the most advanced life forms on the earth, you are responsible for protecting and conserving all species in the natural equilibrium.

Could you imagine a rainforest without any animals in it or flowers that bloom?

That would be really weird.

Every species is also dependent on each other for food. Just as we require plants and certain animals for our consumption, other animal's dependency on the predator-prey relationship to survive helps keep the balance in nature.

Different organizations currently monitor

Endangered and threatened species. These organizations include the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the U.S. Department of Agriculture, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, NOAA's National Marine Fisheries Service, and the National Park Service. These federal agencies and other private organizations provide information so you can understand how to protect them.

For a list of animals currently threatened with extinction, check out the World Wide Life's Species Directory.

Move on to the Got It? section whenever you're ready!