Keeping Endangered Species Around

by Juan Gil on March 27, 2014


Ever since humans developed the ability to hunt and survive to reach the top of the food chain, various animal species have become endangered, and countless ones are extinct. The fact that so many species are now endangered is not just a problem for the animals themselves, but it is also a problem for humans. Various animals serve as a way to control the population of smaller species that they feed on, which are pests to humans, there are also animals that humans use as food that are no longer as readily available, and the beauty of some of these animals will not be there for future generations to see.
The extinction of animal species around the world is due to various reasons. Some die out because humans and natural predators kill them, and others do because of environmental change that has led to ecosystems that they can no longer live in. However, there are also species that are becoming extinct for reasons that we don’t understand.

American bison, also known as buffalo, are a great example of what happens when there is uncontrolled killing of a specific species. There used to be millions of bison that roamed the Midwestern United States, but through continuous hunting and killing of them, at rates of up to 250 a day, there eventually were only around 300 total American bison left. Thankfully, over the years, through legislation that prohibited hunting these animals, and by creating wildlife preserves, the population has rebounded to levels that indicate they will not become extinct.

Burmese pythons are not a species that is in danger of becoming extinct. However, they have proven to be a pest to citizens in Florida because they have no natural predator, and after being introduced into the environment, the population of pythons has increased dramatically. The increase in population is not only a problem because they are large predators that pose a threat to babies and children, but they are problematic because of their choice in prey. Due to their large size and lack of any natural predator, Burmese pythons can eat just about any animal they want, even alligators. The problem is that these pythons have been eating animals that are already endangered and are bringing fragile species closer to the brink of extinction. Programs are being put in place to slow their growth in population, but it is already too late for various species that are now extinct.



Moose, an animal native to northern, cold areas, are now at risk for extinction. The biggest problem is that there is no known cause. There are hypotheses that say that climate change has led to the decrease in the population in moose, but there is no concrete evidence yet. There is a theory that the increased warmth has lead to the moose being stressed out,thus reducing their life expectancy. There is also the idea that because of the increased warmth, white-tailed deer are around more and the ringworm, which they carry, that is toxic to moose, has transferred and is leading to more moose deaths.

It is unacceptable that animals like moose could potentially die out for climate change reasons that we can’t even explain, but that we as humans are the cause of. There needs to be more concern for animals because they help control pests. Saying that, some animals shouldn’t be introduced in certain areas so that they themselves do not become pests. If the extinction of animals is halted, we can experience the beauty of animals like the Sumatran tigers, orangutans, rhinos, and elephants, chimpanzees, sea lions, and giant pandas for generations to come. We are not the only inhabitants of Earth, so we should help keep the animals that live with us around as well.



American bison. (2014, March 5). In Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. Retrieved from

Gilman, Victoria. (2006, September). Python Bursts After Eating Gator. National Geographic. Retrieved from
Mcdonald, B. (2014, March 5). Minnesota Mystery: What’s Killing the Moose? The New York Times. Retrieved from

Python Control. (n.d.). Nature. Retrieved from

World Wildlife Species Directory. (2014). World Wildlife. Retrieved March 6, 2014, from

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great post April 28, 2014 at 3:45 am



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