David Sweet

Mrs. Anderson
Biology 1100
11 April 2014
The State of the Planets Wildlife
Isnt it sad to think that zoos are rapidly becoming one of the only safe sanctuaries for
wildlife? Scientists have said for a long time that, within the 21st century, half of the species that
we know and love today will be extinct. This is because the planets wildlife are in danger; their
habitats are under threat. As human beings take over and expand, wildlife populations decline.
We have the control of the planets future in our hands.
China consumes most of the worlds resources; including a quarter of the planets meat.
Unfortunately, there is not enough pasture to keep up with this heavy demand. With an increase
in pork and poultry demand, soybeans are needed for feed for these animals. However, farmers
cant keep up. To attempt to keep up, thousands of acres of rainforests are burned to make room
for more farmland, and this vicious cycle just keeps on repeating.
South Africa is known for its immense, beautiful grasslands. In these grasslands, there are
over 800 species of flower. During the rain season, they soak up much of the water. However,
much of these grasslands are being turned into tree plantations to keep up with the logging
industry. The trees in these plantations are not native to South Africa, and they are soaking up too
much water; leading to in imbalance in the ecosystem.
In Kenya, Lake Baringo, a very large and important body of water for the people and
animals of that area, is being dried up. This is caused by an increase in agriculture siphoning the
water away. Overgrazing of farm animals in the area has also caused river erosion. To restore

Lake Baringo, the people have come together in this area, and made a plan to plant grass for their
animals away from the lake. This move has been quite beneficial to the wildlife in that area.
Floridas Everglades are the size of Connecticut; it is one of the largest protected
environments in the US. However, this area is in peril. Over a dozen species in the Everglades
are endangered. Lake Okeechobee, which helps filter fresh water for the Everglades, is now
showing signs of damage due to the urban sprawl surrounding the ecosystem. The overcontamination of phosphorus waste being poured into the lake is affecting the surrounding
wildlife. However, some cattle ranchers in the area have come together with a solution. They are
using their run-offs on their own land, which doesnt harm the environment, and is actually
making new habitats in the area.
When people get too hungry, theyll do almost anything for food, and, a lot of the times,
wildlife become an option. In poor areas of the world, animals are becoming extinct in order to
feed the hungry. They are even killed as trophies and exotic pets. This is leading to the loss of
bird species. Singapore is a global market to buy and sell exotic birds. The purchased birds are
shipped to mainly North America and Europe. This is creating empty forests due to over-hunting,
and is putting the entire ecosystem in danger.
In Zambia, Africa, over 1,000 elephants are killed each year for food and tusks.
Unfortunately, this poaching can be necessary for this poor area. However, in order to feed the
hungry, new agricultural methods have been introduced in the area, and the poaching has
decreased. Elephant populations are now bouncing back.
Obviously, global warming is one of the worst catastrophes in the world. Temperatures
are rising faster than any other time in history. Ice and snow are melting all over the world. For
example, the Andes Mountains are melting three times faster than they were only 50 years ago.

This rapid melting could be a death sentence for polar bears. They need ice for their hunting
techniques of seals. Without it, they cant eat. Polar bears can swim for over 100 miles. However,
in recent years more and more are drowning from sheer exhaustion just from looking for ice.
The Rocky Mountain Front is an environmental success story. It is a place home to about
1,000 grizzly bears. Farmers in this area have teamed up to help this population of animals,
instead of totally isolating them.
Like the farmers in Florida and the Rocky Mountain Front, many people are finding new
ways to coexist with nature. The most important thing to help prevent more loss of species is to
be aware of the signs that are happening all around us, and work to better preserve the planets
wildlife.