Natural and Sustainable

Become a Family of Conservationists:

To get your children involved in saving endangered species, begin by educating them about the cause. First, look for learning tools that present the facts in a kid-friendly way. There are many books focused on threatened species. The books out now are ideal for reaching children how they can help protect wildlife and preserve the earht’s ecosystems. Kids can also play the trading-crad game Xeko, which features endangered animals such as th Javan warty pig and the hairy-eared dwarf lemur. And the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has many programs where children can learn more about endangered species on their website. THey have videos, slideshows and even quizzes children can take to educate themselves more on what animals are endangered and how to protect all animals from making the list to begin with.

Facts to know about endangered species:

#1) Six out of seven species of marine turtles are listed as endangered or critically endangered.

#2) Today, only around 61% of the panda population, or about 980 pandas, are under protection in reserves.

#3) Two-thirds of the world’s polar bear population may be lost by 2050, according to the U.S. Geological Survey.

According to the World Conservation Union, 7,859 non-plant species are threatened with extinction. Representing just a mere fraction of this number, here are six creatures from around the globe that are in dire need of conservation efforts:

• Giant Pandas: Habitat: forests in southwest China. Only about 1,6000 giant pandas remain in the wild today, estimates the World Wildlife Fund. Population growth and unsustainable use of natural resources have broken up their habitat into fragments, leaving pandas with far less flexibility in finding new feeding areas.

• North Island Brown Kiwis: Habitat: Forests and farmland in New Zealand. Covered in shaggy feathers and bestowed with an outlandishly long bill, the kiwi has been declining in population ever since humans arrived in its native New Zealand more than a thousand years ago. Predatory animals (introduced both accidentally and intentionally by settlers) have wiped out most of the brown kiwis, with short-tailed weasels responsible for killing about 60% of all chicks hatches each year.

• Great Apes: Habitat: Forest in Africa and Asia. Without an increase in conservation efforts, the animals most closely related to humans could become extinct in the next few decades if not sooner. In Africa, gorillas, chimpanzees and bonobos contend with habitat loss, hunting and the spread of the Ebola virus. Meanwhile, in Asia, the orangutan is threatened with deforestation by the agriculture and oil palm industries.

• Marine Turtles: Habitat: Open water and coastal habitats worldwide. Marine turtles have roamed the ocean since the time of the dinosaurs, but hunting and pollution are now driving many into extinction. Amonf the critically endangered species is the leatherback turtle, which can grow up to nine feet long and weigh 1,100 pounds.

• American Pikas: Habitat: Alpine regions in the western U.S. and southwestern Canada. This small furry creature may be one of the first North American mammals to be wiped out by global warming. With temperatures rising in the alpine regions where they make their homes, the rabbit-like animals are having a hard time migrating to more suitable habitats.

• Jaguars: Habitat: The rainforests, swaps and savannahs of Central and South America. The jaguar is classified as “near threatened”, but many conservation groups consider this spotted cat to be endangered. Agricultureal expansion and hunting are two of the top threats for the jaguar, whose name means “the wild beast that can kill its prey in a single boungs” in one ancient language. (Source: U.S. Fish and Wildlife Federation)

** Along with the endangered species the grey wolf should be added to the list for the U.S. Over at Globally Green Living, Sandra Williams tells about how the grey wolf is being tracked from Idaho to Oregon and she also tells of ways to keep this wonderful and fascinating creature from becoming extinct.**

*Natural and Sustainable Living Tip: Think BIG picture.