By Hannah Schneekcloth
Imagine a world where tigers are just stories from the past, or elephants are things that people need to go to museums to learn about instead of the zoo. Due to habitat loss, poaching, and lack of genetic diversity in a species gene pool, species have become endangered.
The International Union for Conservation of Nature has seven levels on how to classify species. The first two levels are the “least concerned” and “near threatened.” Near threatened species are considered close to qualifying as a threatened species in the near future. The next level is the vulnerable species who are classified because their population has decreased by 30-50%. The species has an extent of occurrence in less than 20,000 square kilometers but with an area of occupancy (an area that an animal resides in within the extent of which the species occurs) less than 2,000 square kilometers. Vulnerable species include the giant panda, hippopotamus, polar bear, and Savannah elephant.
The next category is endangered. To be considered endangered a species must fall under one or more of the criteria: decline in the population by 50-70% in the span of 10 years, an extent of occurrence (region of all known or projected residence of a species) with less than 5,000 square kilometers, an area of occupancy that is less than 500 square kilometers, a population of fewer than 2,500 adults, and a 20% probability of the species to become extinct in the wild in the next 20 years. The Borneo pygmy elephant is on the endangered list because of their approximate population of 1,500.
After endangered, the next classification is critically endangered. Any critically endangered species are classified by having a sharp decline in the population equal to or greater than 80%. The species occurs in less than 100 square kilometers, an area of occupancy of 10 square kilometers or less. The population is fewer than 250 adults, restrictions of 10 adults, and a 50% probability to become extinct over the next 10 years. The Amur leopard has less than 100 known adults, classifying them as critically endangered.
The last two classifications set by the International Union for Conservation of Nature are extinct in the wild and completely extinct. Extinction in the wild means that the only known members of a species that are left are in captivity. Species like the scimitar oryx, Guam kingfisher, Hawaiian crow, and black softshell turtle are extinct in the wild, but they are found in captivity around the world.
Efforts have been made to help preserve these species and their habitats. In the United States, Congress has passed several pieces of legislation to help threatened and endangered species across the nation, such as the Endangered Species Act of 1973, Wild Bird Conservation Act of 1992, and Multinational Species Conservation Act. These acts provide funding for conservation efforts and help protect the species and their habitats around the United States and internationally.
Since the creation of these conservation acts, several species have been declassified as endangered species. Some of these species that have been removed from the endangered species list are the bald eagle, peregrine falcon, whooping crane, and the Przewalski horse. Without these conservation efforts, the future generations would miss the opportunity to experience the natural beauty of these animals.
Sources
• https://www.worldwildlife.org
• https://www.nationalgeographic.org/encyclopedia/endangered-species/
• https://www.fws.gov/international/laws-treaties-agreements/us-conservation-laws/index.html
Hannah Schneekcloth is a student at Mabel-Canton High School. She is one of eight area students participating in the Journal Writing Project, now in its 20th year.