Why animals are going extinct:
There are several reasons for animal extinction, us being one of the major causes for some of those. As you can see from the pie chart, habitat destruction is the number one cause of animal extinction. We are destroying large amounts of biodiversity by tearing down forests, and jungles to make way for agricultural land, or places for us to live. "Tropical forests are so important because they harbor at least 50%, and perhaps more, of the world's biodiversity. Direct observations, reinforced by satellite data, documents that these forests are declining." according to the article "Threats to Biodiversity." Also, if the habitat is too small for the species that are living there because we keep expanding our land, it makes them more prone to extinction. It's easier to spread a disease in such a small space, so that's also a problem that can lead to extinction. We keep on expanding our land all the time, and so many animals are losing the land that is necessary for their survival. Habitat destruction is just the tip of the ice burg for the many reasons why animals are going extinct.
There are several reasons for animal extinction, us being one of the major causes for some of those. As you can see from the pie chart, habitat destruction is the number one cause of animal extinction. We are destroying large amounts of biodiversity by tearing down forests, and jungles to make way for agricultural land, or places for us to live. "Tropical forests are so important because they harbor at least 50%, and perhaps more, of the world's biodiversity. Direct observations, reinforced by satellite data, documents that these forests are declining." according to the article "Threats to Biodiversity." Also, if the habitat is too small for the species that are living there because we keep expanding our land, it makes them more prone to extinction. It's easier to spread a disease in such a small space, so that's also a problem that can lead to extinction. We keep on expanding our land all the time, and so many animals are losing the land that is necessary for their survival. Habitat destruction is just the tip of the ice burg for the many reasons why animals are going extinct.
The next biggest factor that causes animal extinction are invasive species. Invasive species are, "any kind of living organism--an amphibian (like the cane toad), plant, insect, fish, fungi, bacteria, or even an organism's seeds or eggs--that is not native to an ecosystem and which causes harm. They can harm the environment, the economy, or even human health. Species that grow and reproduce quickly, and spread aggressively, with potential to cause harm, are given the label of "invasive." says an article on the website https://www.nwf.org/Wildlife/Threats-to-Wildlife/Invasive-Species.aspx. Invasive species can be spread in multiple ways like by ships, wood products, ornamental plants, and pet trade. They are a threat to many native species, wherever they are transported. Preying on native species, out-competing native species for food or other resources, causing or carrying disease, preventing native species from reproducing, or killing their young, are just the direct threats of invasive species. The indirect threat of invasive species are: changing the food chain, decreasing the biodiversity, or changing ecosystem conditions. One thing that is causing invasive species to move to different areas is global warming.
Over-exploitation of a species for our own purposes is another cause for animal extinction. This is shown in many ways, whether it's because people are over-hunting animals for trophies or for food, taking animals like frogs and turning them into medicine, making them into clothing, or just turning them into souvenirs. We take all of these animals for granted, mostly for the purpose of earning more money. This reminds of a Cree Indian proverb that said, "Only when the last tree has died and the last river has been poisoned and the last fish caught will we realize we cannot eat money." This is true because many people don't realize the consequences of an action, until they are suffering and wishing that they had done otherwise.
Pollution is also another cause for the extinction of animals. It usually enters through the atmosphere, earth, or some body of water. Pollution from chemicals can cause animals to become impaired, or can even cause death. It can also cause problems in the food chain too like bio-accumulation. "Toxins enter a food chain through several means: they can be ingested, absorbed through skin or inhaled, and plants take in toxins directly from soil. In order to bio-accumulate, a substance needs to be fat-soluble, long-lived, biologically active and mobile -- able to be taken up by organisms. When herbivores eat contaminated plants, the toxins accumulate in their fatty tissues. If a carnivore eats several toxin-laden herbivores, the toxins become even more concentrated in its body. This process of bio-magnification continues up the food chain." according to an article called "The Effects of Bio-accumulation on the Ecosystem." Trash that we leave in places inhabited by animals can also cause harm to them in many ways. The pollution we cause has major effects on animals too, not only humans.
There are probably many more reasons for animal extinction, but these are some of the major ones. Animals have done so much for us, yet we continue to drive them to extinction. We have to work to try to protect those animals who have done so much for us. These are problems that are happening all over the world, not only in California, and if we don't solve them soon enough there won't be any animals left.