Three Endangered Species in Asia
By D Nyambu
An endangered species is an organism or animal that is threatened by extinction. An animal becomes extinct when it disappears from the face of the earth. A good example of an extinct animal is the Dinosaur.
Species become endangered for two reasons; Loss of Habitat and Loss of Genetic Variation.
A loss of habitat may occur due to natural causes or through human activity. A habitat is a place where animals or organisms find food and rise their young ones who will hopefully find space to grow, spread and live their lives.
Human beings have taken up a lot of space on planet earth as their population keeps growing. They clear vegetation and forests for construction of houses for their families and for agriculture as well as for industrial development. They draw water from rivers for crop irrigation and pollute the natural landscapes with pesticides and chemicals from industrial wastes. This results in loss of habitat for the mammals or organisms thus causing their extinction as they have nowhere to live and raise their young ones.
Loss of Genetic Variation is a variety found within a species. It allows for species to adapt to changes in the environment. The greater the population of a species the greater the genetic variation. Loss of genetic variation may take place due to human activity or due to natural causes. Inbreeding may take place with reproduction with close family species in a bid to naturally save the species.
Extinction through natural causes is a natural biological process that has been in existence since the beginning of time and this can seen in fossil records way back even before human activity became a cause of extinction. Natural causes include climatic changes as was the cause for the extinction of dinosaurs, volcanic activities and earthquakes, competition for resources among organisms or animals among others.
Three special endangered species in Asia we would like to mention today include;
The Snow Leopard
The snow leopard is found in China, Afghanistan, Pakistan, Kazakhstan to name but a few countries. These animals are offered little protection in their natural habitat for one simple reason; they graze in similar land that farmers graze their livestock. This leads to competition with livestock because prey animals are minimal in their habitat. Farmers in turn do not hesitate to kill the snow leopard in a bid to protect their livestock. This is one of the main reasons for the depletion of the snow leopard.
Another reason for its depletion is the fact that they are hunted for their fur and body parts. Their body parts are used in traditional Chinese medicine.
The use of snow leopards in circuses and in zoos also contributes to their depletion.
The Green Turtle
Found in Tropical and Subtropical beaches worldwide, the green turtle is migratory in nature. It roams the oceans of the world and in sand to inhabit the coastal beaches of more than 140 countries.
The highest threat to the green turtle is the harvesting of its eggs by fishermen for trading purposes. The female turtle lays its eggs in the soft sandy beaches. Human encroachment on nesting sites through the construction of beachfronts as well as lights emanating from beaches cause the turtles to move away from the ocean.
The green turtle is also killed for its meat.
The Giant Panda
The giant panda is located in China and lives in bamboo forests moving from one area to another in search of food.
Deforestation for farming practices; road and building construction are some of the main causes of its depletion. Poaching has also contributed a great deal to its extinction as its fur and body parts are used in trade practices.
What can be done to conserve these species?
A number of things could be done to protect these endangered species. This includes creating awareness among communities which live within and around the species habitat. These communities can be sensitized on conservation methods an effort that will go a long way in preserving the natural habitat of the species.
The communities could also be involved in efforts to repair the habitat where it has been damaged. This will protect the species from extinction. Tree planting efforts and due care taken while developing land near forest areas will also bear fruit in the long run as these efforts will help in restoring the natural habitat of the endangered species. In the case of the giant panda, the farmers could be encouraged to re-plant bamboo trees in areas where the pandas thrive.
Legislature and conservation policies that help preserve the endangered species and their habitat should not only be put in place but also reinforced. For instance in the case of the green turtle, egg harvesting should be banned in countries with beach side nesting areas.
