Chatterbox: Down to Earth

EXTINCTION

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Many animal species are threatened, endangered, or even close to extinction. For example, there are only three Northern White Rhinos alive today. There used to be thousands, even millions. Yet there are only three. 

It's because of humans.

Humans are selfish. They see an animal, and they think, Ooh, pretty! And the next thing you know, they're trying to kill it to collect that animal's skin, horns, shell, or even hooves. And do you know what happens next? They tell all their friends that the animal is so pretty that everyone should have one. And then that animal becomes endangered because so many people killed so many of its species.

It's pathetic, really. These animals have survived in the wild for so long. Each has different attributes that help it sustain its place in the ecosystem. Each animal is equally important to their ecosystem, so if humans cause the extinction of one species, then the whole ecosystem could collapse.

Another example is the African grey parrot. It lives in the forests of Africa. It's a wild animal. But one day, some idiot saw one and thought, Oh, what a great pet that undomesticated bird would make! And now millions of African greys are taken from the wild each year.

They're endangered.

There are less than three hundred Amur leopards left in the world. It's also because of humans. For some odd reason, some people thought that the bones of Amur leopards had healing properties. It was proved time and time again that this was incorrect, but people let belief overpower truth and logic, and now the species is near extinction.

Unfortunately, much fewer people are trying to restore animals to their former glory. The majority of the population is careless—wasting water, time, and wood, among other resources—and isn't trying. Animals are so much more diverse and vital to the earth than people.

I believe that each and every one of you can help these animals. In the comments, please write one thing that you'll do to help end extinction.

Thank you.