Endangered animals are those with populations so small. A number of these species are at risk of extinction and are being threatened by industrialization, overhunting, or reckless population management practices. In this post, newdayzz.com will give you some things to do to protect endangered animals.
Contents
- 1. Educate your family about endangered species in your area
- 2. Donate to a wildlife organization
- 3. Encourage volunteerism to protect endangered animals
- 4. Patronize sanctuaries
- 5. Reduce your consumption and pollution
- 6. Avoid harmful pesticides and herbicides that damage native plants and wildlife
- 7. Grow native plants
- 8. Watch the road and drive carefully
1. Educate your family about endangered species in your area
Teach your friends and family about wildlife, birds, fish, and plants that live near you. Just awareness of these species is a critical step. From the worms in the garden to the bats that pollinate and control the mosquitos, there are many ways that our daily habits at home affect these creatures.
2. Donate to a wildlife organization
There are many organizations focused on protecting endangered animals and preserving their native habitats. Organizations like the World Wildlife Fund, The Nature Conservancy, One Tree Planted (which Safari Ltd has partnered with in the past), and countless others are dedicated to the conservation of our endangered species and protecting vulnerable wild spaces. Do your research, find an organization that you feel is doing good work, and donate what you can to further the cause!
3. Encourage volunteerism to protect endangered animals
If you want to take an active approach to save endangered animals, find a place where you can volunteer. Look for a wildlife conservation project where you can help species threatened by habitat loss and human influences, such as poaching.
Most roles take place at a rescue center where you can care for injured and abandoned animals. Unfortunately, many of these creatures cannot be released back into the wild. You may also get to work in the field, observing and collecting data on exotic species. The information you gather can inform research and anti-poaching efforts.
4. Patronize sanctuaries
With the growing human population, the need for dedicated wildlife spaces is increasingly essential. Sanctuaries help conserve natural areas and the animals in them. These operations also take care of exotic creatures that have been injured in the wild or bought by consumers and subsequently abandoned.
When you visit a sanctuary, you fund the organizations that keep endangered species safe. While thousands exist across the U.S. and abroad, be sure only to patronize ones that treat animals with respect, not as props for entertainment. Sanctuaries should be a place for wildlife to retire, and visitors should not be able to walk around freely.
5. Reduce your consumption and pollution
Clean water is not just a valuable resource for humans, but for animals as well. Not having access to clean water can cause all sorts of problems for endangered wildlife. Reducing the amount of water you and your family use can help conserve clean water for animals to use. Simple acts such as not leaving a faucet running while brushing your teeth, or taking showers instead of baths, can help save some water for endangered animals. Don’t dump chemicals down the drain, either. Make sure to dispose of them properly.
You can also help by reducing your personal pollution footprint. Walk, bike, or take public transport when you can, instead of driving a personal vehicle. Carpool to work if possible. Buy locally grown food. These small steps can help make the world a better place for endangered animals.
6. Avoid harmful pesticides and herbicides that damage native plants and wildlife
Some pesticides and herbicides might do a good job of killing weeds, but they can have lasting harmful effects on native wildlife. Beyond the potential harm they can do to native plants, the chemicals in these pesticides can also seep into the soil and last a long time.
Once in the soil, these chemicals can spread throughout the food chain and cause damage to small animals like amphibians and mammals, as well as the larger predator animals that eat them. Limiting or avoiding the use of these can help save the endangered creatures in your area.
7. Grow native plants
One of the best ways to protect endangered animals is to grow plants. It’s a no-brainer but local species rely on local plants. You are providing food and shelter for native wildlife and you can reduce your water usage at the same time. Attracting native insects like bees and butterflies can help pollinate your flowers. And conversely, invasive species compete with native species for resources and habitat, threatening biodiversity. They can even prey on native species directly, forcing native species towards extinction.
8. Watch the road and drive carefully
Particularly if you live or commute in a rural area, roads are one of the biggest hazards that animals face. If you are driving on a road that wildlife is known to cross, make certain to drive slowly and carefully and look out for animals so that you will not hit them. It seems simple, but too many distracted drivers kill too many animals on the roads.
