With all the celebrity support, most Americans are aware of the severe problem many of our animals face -they are endangered. By some estimates as many as 40% of all living organisms are in some way endangered. While animals such as the Siberian Tiger get lots of press there are literally thousands of other animals and species that are faced with extinction.
This problem has only been growing over the past few years and all stem primarily from several impacts of the human species. These include land development, pollution and overpopulation. Other problems such as a legal hunting and fishing also impact the number of healthy animal species.
Across the globe many countries have developed laws aimed at protecting some of the most precious species. These include restricting development, creating more strict hunting laws and the creation of animal preserves. These efforts have had some impact on the problem.
It is interesting to note that in spite of the vast number of species and animals that are currently facing some degree of extinction very few make it to the official list. This means very few species have legal protection, allowing some to pass into the time of history without notice.
While it is sad that animals and organisms have become extinct the problem is actually greater than that. Our world exists because of a delicate balance and removal of one or more species will undo that balance. Protecting our animals should be one of our primary goals. Failing to do so will have long lasting effects on our world.