Where did the animals go?

Many years ago animals lived where ever they wanted to. Now the animals do not know where to go. Their homes are disappearing. People are destroying their homes everyday. When their homes are destroyed they have to move somewhere else. What happens when there is no where else to go? Animals become endangered or threatened then. When an animal is endangered, there are less and less of one type of animal in an area (5). This is a problem as it is very hard to expand a population of animals. A population of animals is like a big family. The government, who runs the country, made a law to help the animals but they need our help too! The law they made is called the Endangered Species Act. But what causes the animals homes to be destroyed?

Baby Florida Panther (1)



Big businesses, like the ones mommy and daddy work at are sometimes the cause of animals to lose their home. When the big businesses need a new building for people to work at, sometimes they have to cut down trees to make room (4, p.131). Do you know who lives in the woods? The animals! Once the trees are cut down, the animals do not have anywhere to live and hide.  The animals will either die from lack of shelter and food or if during their journey to find a place to call their home. Some animals can also be killed directly from cutting the trees down. When the trees are cut down it is called urbanization or "paving over" a habitat (4, p.131). This type of endangerment is considered to be indirect endangerment, or not intentionally hurting the animals.

 



Polar Bear Rug (3)



Animals are also disappearing because people kill the animals for their fur, skin or sometimes even their teeth (4, p.123). This can become a problem because a lot of the animal will not be used.  It will be left to lay or just thrown away.








 

The fur and skin could be used for...          

Baby Polar Bear (2)

 1)  Rugs

 2) Coats

 3) Shoes

 4) Purses

 5) Bags

 6) Tents

 

This unfortunately happens a lot (4, p.123). There is no exact way that we can help stop this but to not buy them. By buying the items, hunters will kill more animals for people to buy. Some hunters make money this way. This is considered direct endangerment. Direct endangerment means that they are aware they are hurting the animals. 

 

The first thing we can do to help save the animals is to be aware of what is happening. The animals are disappearing because of people like us. By being aware and helping animals, you can make a change.
 

(1) Baby Florida Panther [Picture]. Retrieved from http://theanimalrescuesite.greatergood.com/clickToGive/ars/article/Officials-Discover-Baby-Florida-Panther375
(2) Baby Polar Bear [Picture]. Retrieved from http://www.polarbearendangered.com/baby-polar-bears/
(3) Polar Bear Rug [Picture]. Retrieved from http://www.care2.com/news/member/785844898/1368017

(4) Ehrlich, P. & A. (1981). Extinction: The causes and consequences of the disappearance of species. New York, NY: Random House.
(5) U.S. Fish & Wildlife Services. (2013). Endangered species glossary. In Endangered species. Retrieved from http://www.fws.gov/endangered/about/glossary.html