By Kennedy Warren
Editorial Assistant
Changes in our environment can affect us in a multitude of ways, affecting food, water, the air, the weather/temperature, etc.
Trash is littered next to a garbage can in a bathroom at CMHS.
A change in the ecosystem mainly affects animals, as there are about 16,300 endangered animal species according to the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), with Javan Rhinos being the number one most endangered animal in the world, according to the World Wildlife Fund UK, an international non-governmental organization that works in wilderness preservation and the reduction of human impact on the environment (www.wwf.org.).
“I really don’t know a lot about animals, but I really like penguins, and I’d hate to see them go extinct because I know they’re an endangered species,” freshman Terrel Henderson said.
Penguins are, unfortunately, one of the most threatened species in the world, with five of the world’s 18 species being considered endangered, according to the IUCN. Penguins have numerous threats, including habitat loss, pollution, disease, being hunted by leopard seals and killer whales, and reduced food availability due to commercial fishing.
Climate change is also a significant concern for species of penguins, as the ice they depend on to find food or build nests is melting substantially. It is a major problem for all endangered animals, as the rising temperatures affect their vegetation, food processes, access to water, etc.
“Tigers are one of my favorite animals, so I’m a little sad that they’re going extinct,” junior Jacqu’es Johnson said.
In recent years, tigers have been on the brink of extinction. Just a century ago, 100,00 tigers roamed across the world. As of this year, the global tiger population has been reduced to 5,574, with most populations living in small isolated pockets, as stated by the IUCN, on their ‘Red List’, a list that provides information about the geographic location, population size, habitat and ecology, and conservation actions for species.
“I’ve been to a lot of zoos when I was younger, so I know that a lot of the animals they have there are endangered,” junior Rhyann Brown said.
Zoos and aquariums, accredited by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA), strive to save and sustain the planet’s wildlife by caring for endangered and threatened species in human care and conserving natural spaces.
“Some of my favorite animals are red pandas, so I get upset every time I hear about them being endangered,” junior Kiara Jones said.
Animal ecosystems are becoming uninhabitable, forcing them to migrate outside their usual patterns in search of food and substantial living conditions while simultaneously causing other species to die off.
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