Endangered Means There’s Still Time

• Endangered species are like fire alarms. They tell us about problems in our home we call Earth.

• If we listen to their alarm calls, they could help us improve our lives and the health of our planet.

What is an endangered species?

Endangered species are those considered to be at risk of extinction

Endangered species are threatened by factors such as

• Habitat loss• hunting• disease and climate change. Shockingly, current estimates suggest that a third of

the world’s amphibians, a quarter of all mammals and one in eight birds are endangered.

Endangered species usually have a small or declining population size or a very limited range, meaning factors such as habitat loss, hunting, disease or climate change could cause them to disappear completely within our lifetimes.

Not only do they add beauty and wonder to the natural world, they are also of great global economic importance. A great diversity of species maintains the ecosystems essential to our existence by helping to regulate our climate and by providing:

clean air and waterfoodmedicinesbuilding and clothing materialsfertile soils

Conservation status The conservation status of a species indicates

how great the risk is of that species becoming extinct in the near future.

The most global and comprehensive system that determines the conservation status of each species is the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Species are assessed according to a number of different criteria, such as how many individuals there are and whether this number is in decline.

Animals and plants face a large number of different threats with many of them being a direct result of human activity. Some of the most common threats include:

Habitat loss and habitat fragmentation – The ever expanding human population constantly requires additional space and resources.

Hunting and poaching – A wide variety of animals have been hunted, or fished, beyond sustainable levels and now face possible extinction.

invasive speCies – Humans have introduced non-native species (both intentionally and accidentally) to a wide variety of habitats, often with devastating consequences.

They may prove highly adaptable and outcompete native species for resources.

They can decimate local species which are not adapted to avoid predation, for example ground dwelling birds like the kakapo.

Climate change - Droughts, ocean acidification, the loss of sea ice and an increase in storms and extreme weather events can all threaten species’ survival.

Disease – Small populations, especially those which are limited in terms of genetic diversity are particularly vulnerable to disease.

Collection / pet trade – Many animals and plants, such as the Venus flytrap, have been collected from the wild beyond sustainable levels to be sold through the pet trade or be kept in private horticultural collections.

Pollution – Acid rain, heavy metals, pesticides, plastic waste and oil spills all harm the environment and put species at risk. Chemicals are particularly harmful to species that live in water.

Conservation aims to protect the natural world and sustain biodiversity by carefully preserving and managing existing habitats and restoring areas which have been damaged or degraded.

Species conservation can also take place outside a species’ natural habitat. For example, caring for an endangered animal in captivity, such as in a zoo, or preserving endangered plants through the use of seed banks.

Some commonly used conservation actions are as

follows: • Habitat preservation – The ideal solution

is to protect habitats before they are damaged. This can be achieved through the creation of national parks and marine protected areas.

• Habitat restoration – Where a habitat has already been degraded it is sometimes possible to restore the habitat by carefully managing the land, removing invasive species and reintroducing native species that had been lost from the area.

Ex-situ conservation – Many endangered species are bred in captivity to preserve their numbers and in some cases it is possible to reintroduce them to the wild.

Anti-poaching measures – In remote areas guards are sometimes employed to protect endangered species, such as the mountain gorilla, from poachers.

Wildlife corridors – Where habitats have been fragmented by divisions such as roads, urban areas or farmland, populations become isolated and are unable to move throughout their natural range to find sufficient resources and mates. Wildlife corridors help to reconnect habitat fragments and maintain genetic diversity.

Laws and policies – Some endangered species are protected by law or trade in them is restricted. CITES (The Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species) is an international agreement between governments to ensure that trade in wild animal and plant specimens does not threaten their survival.

Recycling one tonne of paper can save 17 trees and preserve habitat of a whole host of endangered species.

How can you help?

As well as supporting conservation organisations there are some simple steps that everybody can take to help protect the natural world and the species in it. Here are some ideas:

Recycle – Help protect the rainforests - recycling one tonne of paper can save 17 trees and preserve the habitat of a whole host of endangered species.

Use less energy – An old tip but a good one, you can save yourself money and help the environment too. For example, energy saving light bulbs use 80 percent less energy than a standard bulb, yet produce the same amount of light.

Choose sustainable products – Make sure that all the products you buy are sustainably sourced, from food and paper to timber.

Make your voice heard – Petition for change! Many campaigns to help wildlife are underway but they need your support.

Clean up your act – Volunteer to take part in a litter pick or beach clean up.

Get involved – Taking part in wildlife surveys is a fantastic way to enjoy the great outdoors and find out more about your local wildlife. By assessing what species are present you can help scientists plan how best to protect them in the future.

Spread the word – Through the ARKive project we hope to educate and engage people with the natural world.

Endangered species facts

More snails and slugs (gastropods) are known to have become extinct than any other animal group (281 species).

There are currently more endangered amphibians than any other animal group, a startling 1,900 species, which accounts for around 30 percent of all described amphibians.

Turtles are among the world’s most endangered vertebrates, with about half of all turtle species threatened with extinction.

One third of open ocean sharks are threatened with extinction. Scientists estimate that 26 - 73 million sharks are killed each year for the global fin trade.

Coral reefs are thought to be home to one quarter of the world’s fish species and protect the coastlines of 109 countries. But approximately 75 percent of the world’s coral reefs are rated as threatened.

The loneliest palm is probably the most endangered plant in the world, with only one individual remaining in the wild.

The Abingdon Island tortoise is the rarest reptile in the world. Sadly only a single male of this species, ‘Lonesome George’, remains alive today.

Many consider the Javan rhinoceros to be the most endangered mammal. With its recent extinction in Vietnam, less than 50 remaining individuals are confined to the Indonesian island of Java.

Once thought to be the most endangered snake, the Antiguan racer population has increased from just 50 individuals in the mid-90s to over 500 today.

According to the IUCN Red List, there are more threatened species in Ecuador than any other country (2,265), which is greater than Brazil (784), the USA (1,214) and Indonesia (1,149).

More than 900 species of plants and animals in the U.S., and more than 530 species living in other parts of the world, are protected by the Endangered Species Act.

• The most hope for endangered species lies in the hands of young people like you who care enough to make a difference.

pygmy elephant

 The pygmy elephants of Borneo are baby-faced with oversized ears, plump bellies.

They are also more gentle-natured than their Asian elephant counterparts.

Today pygmy elephants are smallest elephants in Asia

Tampa mock vervain

Plant Botanical Name: Glandularia tampensisPlant Threat Level: EndangeredIt is endemic only to coastal areas of southern FloridaEndangered because of loss of habitat to development and agriculture. Very few populations remain intact in nature, and efforts are being made to protect habitat and to preserve germplasm from these remaining populations. It is becoming popular among native plant collectors and enthusiasts of butterfly gardens.

tampa mOCK VeRVaIn

haU hele ‘Ula

Plant Botanical Name: Kokia drynarioides USBG Plant Location: ConservatoryPlant Threat Level: EndangeredIt is an endangered shrub endemic to dry forests on the island of Hawaii. Overgrazing by livestock, competition from invasive weeds and habitat disturbances due to development have reduced their number.It is a food source for nectar-drinking birds called honeycreepers, which have become endangered as a result of this decline.

HAU HELE ‘ULA

ChRIstmas helICOna

Plant Botanical Name: Heliconia angusta USBG Plant Location: ConservatoryPlant Threat Level: VulnerableHeliconia angusta, known as Christmas heliconia, due to the red and white flowers that usually emerge during the holiday season. Native to southeastern Brazil, this Heliconia is classified as vulnerable by IUCN because its natural habitats have been converted to agricultural purposes. The genetic diversity has been preserved through ex situ conservation.

Christmas Helicona

HAWAIIAN WHITE HIBISCUS

Hawaiin wHite Hibiscus Plant Botanical Name:  Hibiscus Waimeae USBG Plant Location:  Conservatory Conservatory Room Location:  Hawaii Plant Threat Level:  Endangered Hibiscus is endemic to Kauai Hibiscus species hybridize readily, this unique characteristic are threatened by cross-

pollination with non-native Hibiscus varieties that have been introduced to Kauai for ornamental use.

By carefully hand-pollinating and isolating flowers of Hibiscus,conservationists are able to collect, grow and store seeds that have not been cross-pollinated.

POT-OF-GOLD LILY

Plant Botanical Name: Lilium iridollae Plant Threat Level: EndangeredIt is also known as the pot-of-gold lily, grows along streams in wet pine woodlands and in pitcher-plant bogs in the southeastern United States. The habitat of this endangered plant is dependent on periodic, naturally occurring fires caused by lightning strikes. Overgrazing by livestock and urban development in nearby areas make these vulnerable in it’s ecosystem

Pot of gold lily

BRITTON’S BEARGRASS

Plant Botanical Name: Nolina brittoniana It is also known as Britton's beargrass, is endemic to the dry scrub-covered ridges and sand hills of central Florida.It is threatened by fire suppression and by habitat loss resulting from land clearing for residential development and agricultural production. Currently, efforts are being made to monitor, protect and preserve germplasm

Britton’s Beargrass

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