Climate Change: Unveiling The Animal Extinction
Over the past years as the industrialization is booming, more consumption is becoming the sign of a good lifestyle. We are cutting our forest to grow more grain to eat, we are cutting our forest to build new buildings. We are cutting our forest are burning coal to produce electricity. We are making dams on rives and creating harm to aquatic species.
we are creating More GDP and higher economic growth a the cost shift in weather cycle, floods, water scarcity, new borne dieses and other worse situation.
this earth is not only the home of human but also the million of other species. our life can not sustain without them. over the years these species are getting disappear due to habitat loss, illegal wildlife trafficking and human interference. Our existence depends upon them because they are the drive of the whole ecology. In this article we are focusing about the animals from India.
These species are regionally extinct or in at the edge of extinction
- Cyberian crane
- Asiatic Lion
- Asiatic cheetah
- Rhinoceros
- Himalayan quill
Table of Contents
| ICUN Red List Category | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
1 |
EX |
Extinct |
ContentEX- Extinct No known living individuals of the species remain. |
909 |
|
2 |
EW |
Extinct in wild |
Extinct in wild. The species only survives in captivity or as a naturalized population outside its historical range. |
84 |
|
3 |
RE |
Regionally Extinct |
Regionally Extinct |
00 |
|
4 |
CR |
Critically Endangered |
Extremely high risk of extinction in the wild. |
9760 |
|
5 |
EN |
Endangered |
High risk of extinction in the wild. |
17944 |
|
6 |
VU |
Vulenerable |
High risk of endangerment in the wild. |
16912 |
|
7 |
LR/cd |
Lower Risk, Conversation Depends |
144 |
|
|
8 |
NT or LR/nt |
Near Threatned |
Likely to become endangered in the near future. |
9170 |
|
9 |
LC Or lr/LC |
Least Conceren |
Lowest risk of extinction in the near future. |
81577 |
Number of speceis from various IUCN Red List category over the years
There one thing should be notice that when there is decrement in the number of the species from a particular category that necessary does not mean that situation is getting better, it could also mean that some species are transferred into more extinct category.
Cause of animal extinction
Deforestation
Here are some facts about deforestation in India:
Rapid Rate of Loss: India has seen one of the highest increases in deforestation globally in recent decades. A report found India ranked second only to Brazil between 2015 and 2020 in average forest loss [source: down to earth India deforestation].
Historical Context: Deforestation has been a problem for centuries, but British colonial rule in the 19th century significantly worsened it with commercial logging [source: Wikipedia deforestation in India].
Current Forest Cover: Despite some increase in overall forest cover, India still loses a significant amount of natural forest each year. Estimates suggest over 127 hectares were lost in 2021 alone [source: red earth deforestation and wildlife in India].
Drivers of Deforestation: The main causes of deforestation include agriculture, infrastructure development, mining, and logging for fuel and timber [source: grow billion trees deforestation in India].
Impact: Deforestation has severe consequences for India, including increased soil erosion, reduced water availability, loss of biodiversity, and contribution to climate change.
Industrialization
India’s rapid industrialization presents a significant challenge in the global fight against climate change.
Fossil Fuel Dependence: India’s industrial sector heavily relies on fossil fuels like coal, a major contributor to greenhouse gas emissions. This exacerbates global warming and disrupts climatic patterns.
Environmental Pollution: Industrial processes often release harmful air pollutants like sulfur dioxide and nitrogen oxides, along with particulate matter. Additionally, industrial waste containing toxic chemicals can contaminate water sources. This air and water pollution has detrimental effects on public health, disrupts ecosystems, and contributes to phenomena like acid rain.
Deforestation for Infrastructure Development: Establishing new industrial facilities and their supporting infrastructure often necessitates land clearance, leading to deforestation. This not only destroys vital wildlife habitats but also disrupts the natural water cycle, accelerating soil erosion and reducing water availability.
Escalating Energy Demands: Industrial activity demands a high volume of energy, placing immense strain on existing resources. This often leads to a reliance on unsustainable sources like coal, further exacerbating the climate crisis.
Waste Management Challenges: Industries generate significant amounts of solid waste, often hazardous, posing serious disposal challenges. Improper disposal can lead to soil contamination, health problems for nearby communities, and further environmental degradation.
Farming
Farming plays a complex role in climate change, acting as both a contributor and a victim.
-
Greenhouse Gas Emissions:
- Methane: Livestock, particularly cattle, emit large amounts of methane, a potent greenhouse gas, through enteric fermentation (burping).
- Nitrous Oxide: The use of nitrogen fertilizers in conventional agriculture releases nitrous oxide, another powerful greenhouse gas, during nitrification and denitrification processes in soil.
- Soil Carbon Loss: Intensive tillage practices and monoculture farming (planting only one crop repeatedly) deplete soil organic carbon, which is stored carbon released into the atmosphere as CO2.
-
Land-Use Change: Clearing forests for agricultural land increases greenhouse gas emissions by eliminating carbon sinks and releasing stored carbon.
-
Deforestation: Livestock ranching and feed crop production are significant drivers of deforestation, contributing to the loss of vital carbon sinks and disrupting ecosystems.
-
Water Pollution: Agricultural runoff containing fertilizers, pesticides, and animal waste can contaminate water sources, leading to algal blooms and impacting aquatic ecosystems.
These factors contribute to global warming, which disrupts weather patterns, increases extreme weather events like droughts and floods, and disrupts agricultural productivity in the long run.
Illegal wildlife Trade
Illegal wildlife trafficking isn’t just a threat to endangered species, it’s a factor that contributes to and is worsened by climate change.
Habitat Destruction: Poaching and habitat destruction to access animals for trade disrupts ecosystems. Healthy ecosystems play a crucial role in storing carbon and regulating climate. Forests, for example, are vital carbon sinks, and their loss due to wildlife trafficking contributes to increased greenhouse gas emissions.
Disrupted Seed Dispersal: Many animals play a vital role in seed dispersal, ensuring plant diversity and healthy ecosystems. When these animals are removed through trafficking, seed dispersal can be disrupted, leading to changes in vegetation cover and impacting the ability of ecosystems to store carbon.
Loss of Pollinators: Illegal wildlife trafficking can target pollinators like birds and insects. This decline in pollinators disrupts plant reproduction, impacting entire food chains and the health of ecosystems, potentially affecting plant life that helps absorb carbon dioxide.
Impact on Fisheries: Overfishing and illegal fishing practices can disrupt ocean ecosystems. Healthy oceans are vital for absorbing carbon dioxide from the atmosphere. Wildlife trafficking can contribute to overfishing and disrupt the delicate balance of marine ecosystems.
Shifting Habitats: Climate change disrupts animal habitats, forcing them to migrate or move to less suitable areas. This can make them easier targets for poachers who can exploit their vulnerability.
Increased Resource Scarcity: Climate change can lead to droughts and decreased water availability. This can make competition for resources like water more intense, potentially leading to increased poaching as communities struggle to survive.
New Vulnerabilities: Climate change may introduce new diseases or weaken animal immune systems, making them more susceptible to illness and easier targets for poachers who capitalize on weakened populations.
These members of cat family are rare to see
