Problem-solution Research Paper

How to protect the endangered wildlife

1. Introduction:

An endangered species is defined as “a species which is likely to become exist in the coming future, either in the conservation area or worldwide.” In other words, they will be extinct if the problem which cause them to become endangered species is not be solved. Such problem will also have a significant influence in our life. If a species becomes extinct, it will result in the destruction of a local food chain. In addition, the extinction of the species may break the balance of ecosystem. Finally, it will break down the whole ecosystem. For instance, if the balance of marine ecology is out of control, we may no longer fish some species in their fishing ground. Without these extinct species, some species begin to look for other food sources. This action tends to cause ecosystem much destruction because the species may invade other species’ habitat. As a result, we can not ignore the problem of endangered wildlife. Moreover, we should come up with the feasible method to protect them. Therefore, in this paper, I identify three major problems in the current situations and provide some solution to prevent the species from being endangered.

2. The overall problem:

With the rapid development of technology and economics, some wildlife will find it difficult to survive. According to the Red List from International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) (2020), more than 31,000 species have been threatened with extinction. In addition, another research from earth day organization (2018) is surprising; scientists estimate that we are now losing 5,000 to 50,000 species per year. Therefore, we should pay attention to this issue. Although there are some natural reasons causing the species to become endangered, human is still the cause of some factors. For example, the species may be at risk because of poaching, deforesting and pollution. Data from Earth Day Organization (2018) also shows that there are more than 650,000 marine mammals caught or injured seriously by fishing gear annually worldwide. This fact shows that the behaviors from human may cause the species to be threatened. No matter what reason results in the species to be endangered, humans should work together to protect our nature and those endangered species.

3. One part of the problem—over-hunting & poaching:

First, some wildlife was threatened by over-hunting or poaching in Neo tropical countries, such as Brazil, or other Latin American countries. Although most of the countries have forbidden over-hunting and poaching, some people still break the law in order to gain a huge commercial profit, such as medicine making or trafficking. Therefore, we need another solution to avoid this wildlife becoming extinct. According to the research from Nogueira, & Nogueira-Filho, (2011), they suggested that we can adopt wildlife farming as the solution to protect them. However, in the survey I conducted, only 23 out of 56 people (41.1%) have heard of it before (Figure 1). That is to say, over half of people don’t know what wildlife farming is. Wildlife farming is a method of conservation, which raises the undomesticated animals in a private agricultural setting. This method can not only protect the species from being extinct but also create a lot of benefits. Take Southern Africa for example. In 1960, an estimated number of 100,000 southern black rhinos decreased to 2,410 in 1995 due to poaching and destruction of their habitat. However, their number has increased to more than 4,000 in 2008 through wildlife farming. In addition, the number of southern white rhinos has also increased from 14,540 in 2005 to 17,480 at the end of 2007. Thus, we can see the effect of wildlife farming. On the other hand, wildlife farming can also produce the profit and reduce the trafficking. In China, the Chinese Academy of Engineering who have been working on the development of the wildlife farming industry valued the operations of wildlife farming industry at 520 yuan. Furthermore, the legal trade in wildlife farming can prevent the trafficking effectively. However, some opponents may consider that wild farming leads to risk of diseasing the animal due to the intensive farming. In addition, the result of wildlife conservation is not rapid. Indeed, wildlife farming has the possibility to cause the break out of disease, but it can be prevented effectively beforehand. For instance, government can research and develop the vaccine for wildlife to use. Although developing the vaccine may cost a lot of money and resource, it is worthwhile for the cost in comparison with the disadvantage of illegal trading. Moreover, the breeding of wildlife is not an easy way to do. Therefore, wildlife farming is a good method for the species at risk.

Figure 1. Survey responses to wildlife farming

4. Second part of the problem—global warming:

Next, due to the development of human technology, global warming has caused the climate abnormality. Subsequently, the climate chaos may result in the habitat destruction. As a result of the reduction of the habitat, some species may encounter the lack of food resource or the loss of their home. For example, the snow leopard lives in alpine area at elevations from 3,000 to 4,500 m, ranging from eastern Afghanistan to western China. According to the research in Peking University Center for Nature and Society (2016), they estimated that the habitat of snow leopard would move to the higher area because of the warming climate. Surprising, over 80% of the snow leopard’s habitat, which is equal to around 23% area in global, will disappear in Bhutan and Nepal due to global warming until 2070. Another example in Australia is Bramble Cay melomys, which is a recently extinct species of rodent. Some researchers said that they had last been seen in 2009. Until 2016, the Queensland Government announced extinct. Moreover, researchers from Queensland's Department of Environment and Heritage Protection added that “it may represent the first record of mammalian extinction due to climate change.” As a result of the rising sea level, the habitat of Bramble Cay melomys decreased continually. Through these two examples, it is obvious how the climate chaos impacts on wildlife. To avoid the threat from climate abnormality, one of the solutions is that government can invest resources and money in the recovery of wildlife’s habitat. Interestingly, in the survey I conducted, 42 people (around 75% in the responses) believed that it is effective for protecting the wildlife habitat with the effort of the government (Figure 2). Different from private wildlife farming, the government can establish national parks or natural reserves as conservation and enforce the law to protect them. In European countries, there are habitats directive for preventing wildlife’s habitat from destruction. Through the classification of the scale, they have different rules to maintain the conservation. For example, if there are about 900 different species in the area, these sites must be managed in accordance with the ecological needs of the species. Besides, the core areas of their habitat should be designated as sites of Community importance (SCIs). However, some opponents may consider that only the developed countries' governments have the ability and the conception to invest a lot of resources in environmental conservation and wildlife habitat. In fact, according to the information from Ranthambore national park in India, the number of local wild tiger and its habitat has increased from 268 tigers in 9 reserves in 1972 to above 2000 tigers in 28 reserves in 2016 through the effort of the government. That is to say, it is important for each government to put a lot of effort into the conservation of the wildlife habitats. With the investment of government, there could be a more significant effect in the conservation of wildlife and their habitat.

Figure 2. Survey responses to the investment of government

5. Third part of the problem—environmental pollution:

Finally, the environmental pollution such as plastic recycling management is another main reason which makes the wildlife endangered. As a result, the plastic waste flows into the ocean. According to the research from Roland Geyer, Jenna R. Jambeck and Kara Lavender Law (2017), they estimated that 800 million metric tons (Mt) plastics waste are dumped in the ocean per year. When the marine wildlife such as sea turtle eat the plastic waste carelessly, they can not digest the waste. Once they can not eliminate the waste from their body, they don’t have the capability to gain energy. In order to decrease the environment pollution, one of the solutions is that everyone should do good recycling. In addition, government should establish a mechanism or enact a law to manage the waste. For instance, "Waste Disposal Act Enforcement Rules" is a law to control the waste in Taiwan. This not only affects industry but also individuals. Although the law can assist the waste disposal, the government and people have to work together to prevent the environment from being polluted effectively. However, some opponents may doubt that not everyone is willing to recycle the plastic debris or other waste. In fact, in the survey I conducted, 47 people (near 84% in the responses) replied that they were willing to do recycling in their daily life (Figure 3). It is obvious that people can spent time recycling the waste. Truly, we can not ensure everyone to do good recycling, but we can transmit the importance of recycling to more people as possible. The more people practice, the more effect shows up. Besides, nobody refuses to protect our environment. Once everybody does good recycling and cooperate with the government, it can decrease the possibility of the plastic or other debris being flowed into the ocean.

Figure 3. Survey responses to the willingness of doing recycling

6. Conclusion:

In conclusion, wild farming, government’s efforts, and recycling are three important solutions to prevent the wildlife from extinction. Although their timing of use is distinct, the goals of protecting the endangered wildlife are the same. In order to pursue the commercial profit, many developing countries may destroy their own environments without notice, such as deforestation, over-hunting, illegal trading, etc. In other words, humans should strike the balance between the economic development and the environmental conservation. After all, we only have a one earth to live on. In my opinion, government plays a significant role in protecting wildlife. They should invest resources in environmental conservation. In addition, enacting a law is another crucial method to prohibit over-hunting, illegal trading, or deforestation. Furthermore, they need to promote the environmental protection awareness for everyone as possible, such as speeches, programs, or activities. As for us, we still can contribute to the endangered wildlife. For example, we can participate in the beach cleanup, donate some money to World Animal Protection, or cosign the documents of wildlife protection. To sum up, everyone has the duty to take care of our environment and the wildlife. If we continue to damage the nature, we may taste of our own medicine in the future. Therefore, humans should learn how to live in harmony with the nature.

References

BBC News (2019). "Bramble Cay melomys: Climate change-ravaged rodent listed as

extinct". Retrieve from https://www.bbc.com/news/world-australia-47300992

Earth Day organization (2018) Retrieve from

https://www.earthday.org/fact-sheet-global-species-decline/#_ftn2

Geyer, R., Jambeck, J. R. and Law, K. L. (2017). Production, use,

and fate of all plastics ever made. The Science Advances. Retrieved from

https://advances.sciencemag.org/content/3/7/e1700782

Harry, C. (2019). "Animal declared first mammal made extinct by

human-made climate change". The Independent. Retrieved from

https://www.loom.com/share/bddcb4e42ed54c948b834ac629e93720 australia-climate- change-mammal-rodent-a8787766.html

IUCN 2020. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Version 2020-1.