animal extinction essay

Essay on Extinct Animals

Students are often asked to write an essay on Extinct Animals in their schools and colleges. And if you’re also looking for the same, we have created 100-word, 250-word, and 500-word essays on the topic.

Let’s take a look…

100 Words Essay on Extinct Animals

What are extinct animals.

Extinct animals are species that don’t exist anymore. They vanished forever due to various reasons like habitat loss, hunting, or climate change.

Examples of Extinct Animals

Famous extinct animals include the Dodo, a bird from Mauritius, and the Tasmanian Tiger, a carnivorous marsupial from Australia.

Why Animals Become Extinct

Animals become extinct mainly due to human activities. Deforestation, pollution, and overhunting are major causes.

Importance of Preventing Extinction

Preventing extinction is crucial for biodiversity. Each species plays a role in the ecosystem, and their loss can disrupt the balance.

250 Words Essay on Extinct Animals

Introduction, the causes of extinction.

The primary causes of animal extinction include habitat loss, climate change, overexploitation, and invasive species. The relentless expansion of human civilization often leads to habitat destruction, leaving animals without homes or food sources. Climate change disrupts the delicate balance of ecosystems, making survival difficult for many species. Overhunting and overfishing have also led to the extinction of numerous species. Lastly, invasive species, introduced either intentionally or accidentally, can outcompete native species for resources, leading to their extinction.

Impact on Biodiversity

The extinction of animals greatly affects biodiversity. Each species plays a unique role within its ecosystem, and its loss can disrupt the balance, leading to cascading effects on other species. For instance, the extinction of a predator can lead to overpopulation of its prey, which may then overconsume vegetation and disrupt the ecosystem.

Conservation Efforts

Conservation efforts are crucial to prevent further extinctions. These include habitat protection, regulation of hunting and fishing, and breeding programs for endangered species. Additionally, raising public awareness about the importance of biodiversity and the consequences of extinction can drive societal changes necessary for conservation.

In conclusion, the extinction of animals is a pressing issue that requires immediate attention. Through understanding its causes and impacts, and implementing effective conservation strategies, we can hope to preserve the remaining biodiversity for future generations.

500 Words Essay on Extinct Animals

The natural world is a vast, interconnected web of life, with each species playing a unique role in the balance of the ecosystem. However, in recent centuries, human activities have greatly accelerated the rate of animal extinction, leading to a loss of biodiversity. This essay will delve into the topic of extinct animals, exploring the causes and consequences of extinction, and the importance of conservation efforts.

The Consequences of Extinction

The extinction of animals has far-reaching implications. Firstly, it disrupts the balance of ecosystems. Each species plays a unique role in its ecosystem, and the loss of a single species can trigger a cascade of changes that affect other species. Secondly, extinction can lead to the loss of genetic diversity, which is crucial for the resilience of ecosystems in the face of environmental changes. Thirdly, the extinction of animals can have economic implications, affecting industries such as tourism and agriculture that rely on biodiversity.

Extinct Animals: A Case Study

The dodo bird, native to Mauritius, serves as a poignant example of human-induced extinction. Unaccustomed to predators, these birds were easy prey for humans and invasive species introduced by sailors in the 17th century. Their extinction within less than a century of their discovery highlights the devastating impact of human activities on biodiversity.

The Importance of Conservation

In conclusion, the extinction of animals is a pressing issue that has been largely driven by human activities. The loss of species has profound implications for ecosystems and human societies. Therefore, it is imperative that we intensify our conservation efforts to protect biodiversity. The fate of many species lies in our hands, and it is our responsibility to ensure that they do not go the way of the dodo.

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Extinction of Animals Essay

This  extinction of animals essay question appeared recently in the IELTS test.

It is about how animals become extinct and whether humans should take steps to prevent this from happening.

It is a natural process that animal species become extinct, as the dinosaurs did in the past. There is no reason for people to prevent this from happening.

To what extent do you agree or disagree?

Choosing a Side

With agree / disagree type essays you can discuss both sides of the issue but you can come down firmly on one side and focus on only this in your response.

This can be an easier way to answer such questions and is certainly recommended if you are just needing the lower band scores, such as 7 and especially 6.

This is an example of an essay where the writer disagrees with the opinion and has given three reasons for this, set out in three body paragraphs.

For the higher band scores there is a risk the examiner thinks for a fully addressed answer , both sides of the issue should have been considered. So if you need a band 8 or 9, look at both sides of the issue as in this model answer.

Take a look at the model answer for this animal extinction essay and the comments below.

Extinction of Animals Essay Sample

You should spend about 40 minutes on this task.

Write about the following topic:

Give reasons for your answer and include any relevant examples from your own experience or knowledge.

Write at least 250 words.

Model Answer

It is commonly known that many species have gone extinct throughout history, including the dinosaurs. Some argue that preventing extinction is not necessary, as it is a natural process. However, I believe that humans have a moral obligation to protect endangered species and prevent their extinction.

Firstly, human activities such as deforestation, overfishing, and pollution have caused a rapid decline in animal populations, leading many species to be at risk of extinction. As a result, humans have a responsibility to conserve the environment and prevent further harm to wildlife. It is unfair for humans to cause the extinction of a species due to their actions, particularly when they have the ability to prevent it.

Another reason is that many species play a crucial role in maintaining the balance of the ecosystem. For example, bees are essential pollinators that are responsible for pollinating 80% of flowering plants, and thus if bees were to become extinct, it would have a devastating impact on our food supply and ecosystem. Similarly, the loss of predators can cause a ripple effect, leading to overpopulation of other species and causing imbalances in the food chain.

Lastly, preventing extinction is not only a matter of responsibility but also a matter of morality. Species have intrinsic value, and it is not our place to determine which species should exist and which should not. Humans must respect the inherent value of all life forms and do what they can to protect them.

In conclusion, while extinction may be a natural process, it is not a justification for humans to sit idly by and watch as countless species go extinct. By taking action to conserve the environment, humans can ensure that future generations can enjoy the same diversity of life that we have today.

(294 Words)

This extinction of animals essay would achieve a high IELTS band score.

It's organised well so would score highly for coherence and cohesion . It has a clear introduction that introduces the topics and then gives the writers opinion (the thesis statement).

Each body paragraph clearly sets out and explains a key idea, then the conclusion summarises the writers view and gives some final thoughts. The linking between sentences is also very good.

It has a clear opinion and that opinion is reflected in the response. The ideas are fully supported and explained. The question is fully addressed and the essay does not go off-topic. It would therefore score highly for task response . 

The essay also had a good range of high-level and accurate lexis and grammar , so it would also score well for those criteria.

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Fighting Extinction: Researching and Designing Solutions to Protect Endangered Species

By Sara Rust

• Oct. 19, 2017

The African wild dog. The Asian elephant. The Eastern lowland gorilla. These are just three of the many vertebrate species facing possible extinction because of human activities. Is there anything we can do to protect endangered species, and slow overall extinction rates?

In this lesson, students use Times reporting to learn about how human activity threatens the Earth’s biodiversity, and they research possible solutions that weigh environmental, economic and social concerns. As a Going Further activity, we invite students to act as citizen scientists addressing the problem in their own communities.

This lesson addresses the Next Generation High School Life Sciences Standard on Ecosystems, particularly HS-LS2-7 , which asks students to design, evaluate, and refine a solution for reducing the impacts of human activities on the environment and biodiversity.

One possible entry point to this discussion is through the vivid, often disturbing pictures in the photo essay “ A Mausoleum for Endangered Species .” You could select one image to show students, or give students access to the full text, and ask them to:

• Describe what you see. • Describe your reaction to seeing these images. • Address: What questions do these images raise for you?

Then hold a brief discussion in small groups or as a class.

Background Reading and Questions

Students can then develop a preliminary understanding of the issue of endangered and extinct species by reading the article “ Era of ‘Biological Annihilation’ Is Underway, Scientists Warn .” After reading, ask them to first write in response to, and then discuss, the following questions:

1. The author writes, “Gerardo Ceballos, a researcher at the Universidad Nacional Autonoma de Mexico in Mexico City, acknowledged that the study is written in usually alarming tones for an academic research paper. ‘It wouldn’t be ethical right now not to speak in this strong language to call attention to the severity of the problem,’ he said.”

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Human Evolution and Animal Extinction Essay

• To find inspiration for your paper and overcome writer’s block
• As a source of information (ensure proper referencing)
• As a template for you assignment

Homo Sapiens Invasions

Habitat loss, environment change.

The evolution of human beings on Earth was a complicated process related to animal extinctions. Some scholars connect the latter to human activities, while others explain everything by natural conditions’ changes. The recent scholarly findings prove that invasions of Homo sapiens to the Austronesian and American continents were the major factors that conditioned the extinction of numerous animal species (Carroll, 2001, pp. 81 – 82). These data allow at least hypothesizing that the recent scholarly findings bring the science closer to defining actual causes of animal species extinction, unknown to the prior scholars.

Hunting that was widely practiced by the Homo sapiens at the initial stages of their development is considered to be one of the main causes of animal extinction (University of Exeter, 2008). The findings of scholars from the University of Exeter seem to prove that hunting, but not climate change or any other naturally conditioned factors, caused the extinction of giant marsupials, also known as the Austronesian megafauna (University of Exeter, 2008). Prior scholarly views on climate change as the main extinction cause were based on the data that giant marsupials in the Austronesian continent became extinct 46,000 years ago, while humans came to the continent only 43,000 years ago.

However, recent research proved that some marsupial species were observed in the continent 41,000 years ago, i. e. 2,000 years after the Homo sapiens arrived. At the same time, the climate did not change essentially during those years, while hunting became used extensively, which allows scholars to argue about hunting as the major extinction factor (University of Exeter, 2008).

Further on, Klein (2002) argues about four other causes of animal extinction, and all of them are human-related. These four extinction factors are habitat loss, natural mass extinction, environmental pollution, and the combination of the first three that resulted in species mutations (p. 376). Habitat loss is argued to be the main of those four reasons, and again, it was caused by extensive human activities. Hunting provided Homo sapiens with food and improved their living conditions. The latter impacted the population growth and the need for large settlements (Klein, 2002, p. 378). As a result, the natural habitats of numerous animal species were destroyed to provide living space to human beings.

The pollution of the environment is thus the second most important extinction factor. Klein (2002) calls the Homo sapiens to be the dirtiest animal species on Earth and supports the point with substantial evidence (p. 378). From such a discussion, one can conclude that the waste that human activities bring to the environment makes the life of other species impossible in their natural habitats or in other places where living conditions were acceptable before human beings arrived.

Finally, the sum of all the above factors might have caused the mutation of animal species and conditioned their subsequent extinction (Carroll, 2001, p. 182; Klein, 2002, p. 391). The point can be better illustrated by the Allele frequency and relative fitness equations.

Thus, supposing that before the effects of human activities conditioned the extinction of giant marsupials in the Austronesian continent a sample of ten of these animals had only AA or Aa genotypes ( AA, AA, AA, Aa, AA, Aa, Aa, Aa, Aa, AA ), their Allele frequency will be:

• p A = 2 + 2 + 2 + 1 + 2 + 1 + 1 + 1 + 1 + 2 / 20 = 0.75 = 75%
• p a = 0 + 0 + 0 + 1 + 0 + 1 + 1 + 1 + 1 + 0 / 20 = 0.25 = 25%

So, we can assume that the AA genotype was the natural genotype of the Austronesian marsupials. However, the human activities changed the genotype and increased the number of aa genes into the population ( AA, aa, aa, Aa, aa, aa, Aa, Aa, aa, AA ):

• p A = 2 + 0 + 0 + 1 + 0 + 0 + 1 + 1 + 0 + 2 / 20 = 0.35 = 35%
• p a = 0 + 2 + 2 + 1 + 2 + 2 + 1 + 1 + 2 + 0 / 20 = 0.65 = 65%

Thus, it is obvious that human activities might have changed the genotypes of the animals, deprived them of their natural qualities, and cause their extinction. Further on, the relative frequency of the genes also proves this point. The absolute frequency before and after the human invasion is supposed to be:

Accordingly, the relative frequency before the human invasions was always the highest (1), while after the invasions it changed to 0.4 and 0.6 in AA and Aa types respectively, while the mutated genotype aa acquired the highest relative frequency 1. So, the effects of human activities seem to be more important for animal extinctions than climate change and other natural conditions.

Carroll, Sean. From DNA to diversity: molecular genetics and the evolution of animal design. London: Wiley-Blackwell, 2001. Print.

Klein, Jan. Where do we come from?: the molecular evidence for human descent . NY: Springer, 2002. Print.

The University of Exeter. Humans Implicated In Prehistoric Animal Extinctions With New Evidence. Science Daily, 2008. Web.

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Endangered Species

An endangered species is a type of organism that is threatened by extinction. Species become endangered for two main reasons: loss of habitat and loss of genetic variation.

Biology, Ecology, Geography, Conservation

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An endangered species is a type of organism that is threatened by extinction . Species become endangered for two main reasons: loss of habitat and loss of genetic variation . Loss of Habitat A loss of habitat can happen naturally. Nonavian dinosaurs , for instance, lost their habitat about 65 million years ago. The hot, dry climate of the Cretaceous period changed very quickly, most likely because of an asteroid striking Earth. The impact of the asteroid forced debris into the atmosphere , reducing the amount of heat and light that reached Earth’s surface. The dinosaurs were unable to adapt to this new, cooler habitat. Nonavian dinosaurs became endangered, then extinct . Human activity can also contribute to a loss of habitat. Development for housing, industry , and agriculture reduces the habitat of native organisms. This can happen in a number of different ways. Development can eliminate habitat and native species directly. In the Amazon rainforest of South America, developers have cleared hundreds of thousands of acres. To “clear” a piece of land is to remove all trees and vegetation from it. The Amazon rainforest is cleared for cattle ranches , logging , and ur ban use. Development can also endanger species indirectly. Some species, such as fig trees of the rainforest, may provide habitat for other species. As trees are destroyed, species that depend on that tree habitat may also become endangered. Tree crowns provide habitat in the canopy , or top layer, of a rainforest . Plants such as vines, fungi such as mushrooms, and insects such as butterflies live in the rainforest canopy. So do hundreds of species of tropical birds and mammals such as monkeys. As trees are cut down, this habitat is lost. Species have less room to live and reproduce . Loss of habitat may happen as development takes place in a species range . Many animals have a range of hundreds of square kilometers. The mountain lion ( Puma concolor ) of North America, for instance, has a range of up to 1,000 square kilometers (386 square miles). To successfully live and reproduce, a single mountain lion patrols this much territory. Urban areas , such as Los Angeles, California, U.S.A., and Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada, grew rapidly during the 20th century. As these areas expanded into the wilderness, the mountain lion’s habitat became smaller. That means the habitat can support fewer mountain lions. Because enormous parts of the Sierra Nevada, Rocky, and Cascade mountain ranges remain undeveloped, however, mountain lions are not endangered. Loss of habitat can also lead to increased encounters between wild species and people. As development brings people deeper into a species range, they may have more exposure to wild species. Poisonous plants and fungi may grow closer to homes and schools. Wild animals are also spotted more frequently . These animals are simply patrolling their range, but interaction with people can be deadly. Polar bears ( Ursus maritimus ), mountain lions, and alligators are all predators brought into close contact with people as they lose their habitat to homes, farms , and businesses. As people kill these wild animals, through pesticides , accidents such as collisions with cars, or hunting, native species may become endangered.

Loss of Genetic Variation Genetic variation is the diversity found within a species. It’s why human beings may have blond, red, brown, or black hair. Genetic variation allows species to adapt to changes in the environment. Usually, the greater the population of a species, the greater its genetic variation. Inbreeding is reproduction with close family members. Groups of species that have a tendency to inbreed usually have little genetic variation, because no new genetic information is introduced to the group. Disease is much more common, and much more deadly, among inbred groups. Inbred species do not have the genetic variation to develop resistance to the disease. For this reason, fewer offspring of inbred groups survive to maturity. Loss of genetic variation can occur naturally. Cheetahs ( Acinonyx jubatus ) are a threatened species native to Africa and Asia. These big cats have very little genetic variation. Biologists say that during the last Ice Age , cheetahs went through a long period of inbreeding. As a result, there are very few genetic differences between cheetahs. They cannot adapt to changes in the environment as quickly as other animals, and fewer cheetahs survive to maturity. Cheetahs are also much more difficult to breed in captivity than other big cats, such as lions ( Panthera leo ). Human activity can also lead to a loss of genetic variation. Overhunting and overfishing have reduced the populations of many animals. Reduced population means there are fewer breeding pairs . A breeding pair is made up of two mature members of the species that are not closely related and can produce healthy offspring. With fewer breeding pairs, genetic variation shrinks. Monoculture , the agricultural method of growing a single crop , can also reduce genetic variation. Modern agribusiness relies on monocultures. Almost all potatoes cultivated , sold, and consumed, for instance, are from a single species, the Russet Burbank ( Solanum tuberosum ). Potatoes, native to the Andes Mountains of South America, have dozens of natural varieties. The genetic variation of wild potatoes allows them to adapt to climate change and disease. For Russet Burbanks, however, farmers must use fertilizers and pesticides to ensure healthy crops because the plant has almost no genetic variation. Plant breeders often go back to wild varieties to collect genes that will help cultivated plants resist pests and drought, and adapt to climate change. However, climate change is also threatening wild varieties. That means domesticated plants may lose an important source of traits that help them overcome new threats. The Red List The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) keeps a “Red List of Threatened Species.” The Red List de fines the severity and specific causes of a species’ threat of extinction. The Red List has seven levels of conservation: least concern , near threatened , vulnerable, endangered, critically endangered , extinct in the wild , and extinct. Each category represents a different threat level. Species that are not threatened by extinction are placed within the first two categories—least concern and near-threatened. Those that are most threatened are placed within the next three categories, known as the threatened categories —vulnerable, endangered, and critically endangered. Those species that are extinct in some form are placed within the last two categories—extinct in the wild and extinct. Classifying a species as endangered has to do with its range and habitat, as well as its actual population. For this reason, a species can be of least concern in one area and endangered in another. The gray whale ( Eschrichtius robustus ), for instance, has a healthy population in the eastern Pacific Ocean, along the coast of North and South America. The population in the western Pacific, however, is critically endangered.

Least Concern Least concern is the lowest level of conservation . A species of least concern is one that has a widespread and abundant population. Human beings are a species of least concern, along with most domestic animals , such as dogs ( Canis familiaris ) and cats ( Felis catus ). Many wild animals, such as pigeons and houseflies ( Musca domestica ), are also classified as least concern. Near Threatened A near threatened species is one that is likely to qualify for a threatened category in the near future. Many species of violets , native to tropical jungles in South America and Africa, are near threatened, for instance. They have healthy populations, but their rainforest habitat is disappearing at a fast pace. People are cutting down huge areas of rainforest for development and timber . Many violet species are likely to become threatened. Vulnerable Species The definitions of the three threatened categories (vulnerable, endangered, and critically endangered) are based on five criteria: population reduction rate , geographic range, population size, population restrictions , and probability of extinction . Threatened categories have different thresholds for these criteria. As the population and range of the species decreases, the species becomes more threatened. 1) Population reduction rate A species is classified as vulnerable if its population has declined between 30 and 50 percent. This decline is measured over 10 years or three generations of the species, whichever is longer. A generation is the period of time between the birth of an animal and the time it is able to reproduce. Mice are able to reproduce when they are about one month old. Mouse populations are mostly tracked over 10-year periods. An elephant's generation lasts about 15 years. So, elephant populations are measured over 45-year periods. A species is vulnerable if its population has declined at least 50 percent and the cause of the decline is known. Habitat loss is the leading known cause of population decline. A species is also classified as vulnerable if its population has declined at least 30 percent and the cause of the decline is not known. A new, unknown virus , for example, could kill hundreds or even thousands of individuals before being identified. 2) Geographic range A species is vulnerable if its “ extent of occurrence ” is estimated to be less than 20,000 square kilometers (7,722 square miles). An extent of occurrence is the smallest area that could contain all sites of a species’ population. If all members of a species could survive in a single area, the size of that area is the species’ extent of occurrence. A species is also classified as vulnerable if its “ area of occupancy ” is estimated to be less than 2,000 square kilometers (772 square miles). An area of occupancy is where a specific population of that species resides. This area is often a breeding or nesting site in a species range. 3) Population size Species with fewer than 10,000 mature individuals are vulnerable. The species is also vulnerable if that population declines by at least 10 percent within 10 years or three generations, whichever is longer. 4) Population restrictions Population restriction is a combination of population and area of occupancy. A species is vulnerable if it is restricted to less than 1,000 mature individuals or an area of occupancy of less than 20 square kilometers (8 square miles). 5) Probability of extinction in the wild is at least 10 percent within 100 years. Biologists, anthropologists, meteorologists , and other scientists have developed complex ways to determine a species’ probability of extinction. These formulas calculate the chances a species can survive, without human protection, in the wild. Vulnerable Species: Ethiopian Banana Frog The Ethiopian banana frog ( Afrixalus enseticola ) is a small frog native to high- altitude areas of southern Ethiopia. It is a vulnerable species because its area of occupancy is less than 2,000 square kilometers (772 square miles). The extent and quality of its forest habitat are in decline. Threats to this habitat include forest clearance, mostly for housing and agriculture. Vulnerable Species: Snaggletooth Shark The snaggletooth shark ( Hemipristis elongatus ) is found in the tropical, coastal waters of the Indian and Pacific Oceans. Its area of occupancy is enormous, from Southeast Africa to the Philippines, and from China to Australia. However, the snaggletooth shark is a vulnerable species because of a severe population reduction rate. Its population has fallen more than 10 percent over 10 years. The number of these sharks is declining due to fisheries, especially in the Java Sea and Gulf of Thailand. The snaggletooth shark’s flesh, fins, and liver are considered high-quality foods. They are sold in commercial fish markets, as well as restaurants. Vulnerable Species: Galapagos Kelp Galapagos kelp ( Eisenia galapagensis ) is a type of seaweed only found near the Galapagos Islands in the Pacific Ocean. Galapagos kelp is classified as vulnerable because its population has declined more than 10 percent over 10 years. Climate change is the leading cause of decline among Galapagos kelp. El Niño, the natural weather pattern that brings unusually warm water to the Galapagos, is the leading agent of climate change in this area. Galapagos kelp is a cold-water species and does not adapt quickly to changes in water temperature.

Endangered Species 1) Population reduction rate A species is classified as endangered when its population has declined between 50 and 70 percent. This decline is measured over 10 years or three generations of the species, whichever is longer. A species is classified as endangered when its population has declined at least 70 percent and the cause of the decline is known. A species is also classified as endangered when its population has declined at least 50 percent and the cause of the decline is not known. 2) Geographic range An endangered species’ extent of occurrence is less than 5,000 square kilometers (1,930 square miles). An endangered species’ area of occupancy is less than 500 square kilometers (193 square miles). 3) Population size A species is classified as endangered when there are fewer than 2,500 mature individuals. When a species population declines by at least 20 percent within five years or two generations, it is also classified as endangered. 4) Population restrictions A species is classified as endangered when its population is restricted to less than 250 mature individuals. When a species’ population is this low, its area of occupancy is not considered. 5) Probability of extinction in the wild is at least 20 percent within 20 years or five generations, whichever is longer.

Endangered Species: Scimitar -horned Oryx The scimitar-horned oryx ( Oryx dammah ) is a species of antelope with long horns. Its range extends across northern Africa. Previously, the scimitar-horned oryx was listed as extinct in the wild because the last confirmed sighting of one was in 1988. However, the first group of scimitar-horned oryx was released back into the wild in Chad, in August 2016, and the population is growing. Overhunting and habitat loss, including competition with domestic livestock , are the main reasons for the decline of the oryx’s wild population. Captive herds are now kept in protected areas of Tunisia, Senegal, and Morocco. Scimitar-horned oryxes are also found in many zoos . Critically Endangered Species 1) Population reduction rate A critically endangered species’ population has declined between 80 and 90 percent. This decline is measured over 10 years or three generations of the species, whichever is longer. A species is classified as critically endangered when its population has declined at least 90 percent and the cause of the decline is known. A species is also classified as endangered when its population has declined at least 80 percent and the cause of the decline is not known. 2) Geographic range A critically endangered species’ extent of occurrence is less than 100 square kilometers (39 square miles). A critically endangered species’ area of occupancy is estimated to be less than 10 square kilometers (4 square miles). 3) Population size A species is classified as critically endangered when there are fewer than 250 mature individuals. A species is also classified as critically endangered when the number of mature individuals declines by at least 25 percent within three years or one generation, whichever is longer. 4) Population restrictions A species is classified as critically endangered when its population is restricted to less than 50 mature individuals. When a species’ population is this low, its area of occupancy is not considered. 5) Probability of extinction in the wild is at least 50 percent within 10 years or three generations, whichever is longer. Critically Endangered Species: Bolivian Chinchilla Rat The Bolivian chinchilla rat ( Abrocoma boliviensis ) is a rodent found in a small section of the Santa Cruz region of Bolivia. It is critically endangered because its extent of occurrence is less than 100 square kilometers (39 square miles). The major threat to this species is loss of its cloud forest habitat. People are clearing forests to create cattle pastures .

Critically Endangered Species: Transcaucasian Racerunner The Transcaucasian racerunner ( Eremias pleskei ) is a lizard found on the Armenian Plateau , located in Armenia, Azerbaijan, Iran, and Turkey. The Transcaucasian racerunner is a critically endangered species because of a huge population decline, estimated at more than 80 percent during the past 10 years. Threats to this species include the salination , or increased saltiness, of soil . Fertilizers used for agricultural development seep into the soil, increasing its saltiness. Racerunners live in and among the rocks and soil, and cannot adapt to the increased salt in their food and shelter. The racerunner is also losing habitat as people create trash dumps on their area of occupancy. Critically Endangered Species: White Ferula Mushroom The white ferula mushroom ( Pleurotus nebrodensis ) is a critically endangered species of fungus. The mushroom is critically endangered because its extent of occurrence is less than 100 square kilometers (39 square miles). It is only found in the northern part of the Italian island of Sicily, in the Mediterranean Sea. The leading threats to white ferula mushrooms are loss of habitat and overharvesting. White ferula mushrooms are a gourmet food item. Farmers and amateur mushroom hunters harvest the fungus for food and profit. The mushrooms can be sold for up to $100 per kilogram (2.2 pounds). Extinct in the Wild A species is extinct in the wild when it only survives in cultivation (plants), in captivity (animals), or as a population well outside its established range. A species may be listed as extinct in the wild only after years of surveys have failed to record an individual in its native or expected habitat.

Extinct in the Wild: Monut Kaala Cyanea The Mount Kaala cyanea ( Cyanea superba ) is a large, flowering tree native to the island of Oahu, in the U.S. state of Hawai‘i. The Mount Kaala cyanea has large, broad leaves and fleshy fruit. The tree is extinct in the wild largely because of invasive species. Non-native plants crowded the cyanea out of its habitat, and non-native animals such as pigs, rats, and slugs ate its fruit more quickly than it could reproduce. Mount Kaala cyanea trees survive in tropical nurseries and botanical gardens . Many botanists and conservationists look forward to establishing a new population in the wild. Extinct A species is extinct when there is no reasonable doubt that the last remaining individual of that species has died. Extinct: Cuban Macaw The Cuban macaw ( Ara tricolor ) was a tropical parrot native to Cuba and a small Cuban island, Isla de la Juventud. Hunting and collecting the birds for pets led to the bird’s extinction. The last specimen of the Cuban macaw was collected in 1864. Extinct: Ridley’s Stick Insect Ridley’s stick insect ( Pseudobactricia ridleyi ) was native to the tropical jungle of the island of Singapore. This insect, whose long, segmented body resembled a tree limb, is only known through a single specimen, collected more than 100 years ago. During the 20th century, Singapore experienced rapid development. Almost the entire jungle was cleared, depriving the insect of its habitat.

Endangered Species and People When a species is classified as endangered, governments and international organizations can work to protect it. Laws may limit hunting and destruction of the species’ habitat. Individuals and organizations that break these laws may face huge fines. Because of such actions, many species have recovered from their endangered status. The brown pelican ( Pelecanus occidentalis ) was taken off the endangered species list in 2009, for instance. This seabird is native to the coasts of North America and South America, as well as the islands of the Caribbean Sea. It is the state bird of the U.S. state of Louisiana. In 1970, the number of brown pelicans in the wild was estimated at 10,000. The bird was classified as vulnerable. During the 1970s and 1980s, governments and conservation groups worked to help the brown pelican recover. Young chicks were reared in hatching sites, then released into the wild. Human access to nesting sites was severely restricted. The pesticide DDT , which damaged the eggs of the brown pelican, was banned. During the 1980s, the number of brown pelicans soared. In 1988, the IUCN “delisted” the brown pelican. The bird, whose population is now in the hundreds of thousands, is now in the category of least concern.

Convention on Biological Diversity The Convention on Biological Diversity is an international treaty to sustain and protect the diversity of life on Earth. This includes conservation, sustainability, and sharing the benefits of genetic research and resources. The Convention on Biological Diversity has adopted the IUCN Red List of endangered species in order to monitor and research species' population and habitats. Three nations have not ratified the Convention on Biological Diversity: Andorra, the Holy See (Vatican), and the United States.

Lonesome George Lonesome George was the only living member of the Pinta Island tortoise ( Chelonoidis abingdoni ) known to exist. The Pinta Island tortoise was only found on Pinta, one of the Galapagos Islands. The Charles Darwin Research Station, a scientific facility in the Galapagos, offered a $10,000 reward to any zoo or individual for locating a single Pinta Island tortoise female. On June 25, 2012, Lonesome George died, leaving one more extinct species in the world.

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Extinct species, explained

Extinctions happen when a species dies out from cataclysmic events, evolutionary problems, or human interference.

The truth is, scientists don’t know how many species of plants, animals, fungi, and bacteria exist on Earth. The most recent estimate put that number at 2 billion , and that will most likely change at some point.

One thing we do know: The western black rhinoceros, the Tasmanian tiger, and the woolly mammoth are among the creatures whose populations at one point dwindled to zero, and it’s possible that species extinction is happening a thousand times more quickly because of humans .

Extinction happens when environmental factors or evolutionary problems cause a species to die out. The disappearance of species from Earth is ongoing, and rates have varied over time. A quarter of mammals is at risk of extinction , according to IUCN Red List estimates.

To some extent, extinction is natural. Changes to habitats and poor reproductive trends are among the factors that can make a species’ death rate higher than its birth rate for long enough that eventually, none are left.

Humans also cause other species to become extinct by hunting, overharvesting, introducing invasive species to the wild, polluting, and changing wetlands and forests to croplands and urban areas. Even the rapid growth of the human population is causing extinction by ruining natural habitats.

Among the most famous species driven to extinction by humans is the dodo , a bird that primarily lived in the island nation of Mauritius and was popularized by its appearance in Lewis Carroll’s book “Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland.” Dodos were first mentioned by Dutch sailors in the late 16th century and last seen in 1662 after having been hunted to extinction. Passenger pigeons, billions of which frequently blanketed North American skies when Europeans arrived on the continent, went extinct when the last one died at the Cincinnati Zoo in 1914.

Six mass extinctions

Fossils show that there have been five previous periods of history when an unusually high number of extinctions occurred in what are known as mass extinctions. Most of the Earth’s species went extinct roughly 266 million to 252 million years ago in the Permian extinction .

Those losses, however, also paved the way for dinosaurs to evolve into existence, as mass extinctions create a chance for new species to emerge. Dinosaurs met their end about 65 million years ago in another mass extinction at the end of the Cretaceous period. A large crater off of Mexico’s Yucatán Peninsula suggests that an asteroid most likely struck there. Scientists believe that volcanic eruptions in India caused global warming that also may have contributed to the mass extinction.

Scientists are debating whether Earth is now in the midst of a sixth mass extinction . If so, it may be the fastest one ever with a rate of 1,000 to 10,000 times the baseline extinction rate of one to five species per year. Humans are largely responsible for the striking trend. Scientists believe that pollution, land clearing, and overfishing might drive half of the planet’s existing land and marine species to extinction by 2100.

Slowly increasing surface temperatures caused by heightened levels of greenhouse gases likely will cause many species to move toward the Earth’s poles and higher up into the mountains to stay in habitats with the same climates. But not all species will be able to adapt quickly enough to stave off extinction and many are expected to perish.

What can we do about it?

Using fewer fossil fuels by lowering the thermostat, driving less frequently, and recycling is one good way to slow the rate of extinctions. Eating less meat and avoiding products, like ivory, that are made from threatened species also can make a difference. At home, securing garbage in locked cans, reducing water usage, and refraining from using herbicides and pesticides can protect local wildlife.

Related Topics

• EXTINCT SPECIES
• EXTINCTION EVENTS
• PALEOZOIC ERA

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Extinct Animals

Introduction.

Causes of Extinction

The most common cause of extinction is a sudden, serious change in a species’ habitat. A habitat is the surroundings in which an animal lives. Animals can rarely survive such sudden change. Their food supply may be wiped out. They may also lose shelter or other things that they need to survive.

Many things can change a species’ habitat. Floods, fires, droughts, volcanoes, and other natural events may be causes. People also change the environment in ways that drastically affect animals. People clear forests and drain wetlands. They build dams that disrupt the flow of rivers. They build cities on land that animals need to survive. They also create harmful pollution.

Some changes that cause extinction affect only a small area. Others are large enough to affect the entire world. A fire or other local event may cause the extinction of animals that live only in that region. A sudden change in the global climate might wipe out an animal species that lives in many parts of the world.

People can cause extinctions more directly as well. Some species have been hunted to extinction. The passenger pigeon is one example of this. Humans killed millions of the birds over many years. The last one died in the early 1900s.

Mass Extinctions

Sometimes many different species become extinct in a short time. This is called a mass extinction. Several major mass extinctions have occurred in the past. Each time many animal species were wiped out. Some survived, however, and over millions of years new species developed.

The worst mass extinction happened about 248 million years ago. This extinction included mainly animals without backbones that lived in water. Another mass extinction occurred about 65 million years ago. It wiped out many of the planet’s land animals, including the dinosaurs.

Dinosaur Extinction

Dinosaurs first appeared on Earth about 215 million years ago. They were the most important land animals for more than 150 million years. By 65 million years ago, however, the dinosaurs had died out.

Many scientists believe that a large asteroid, or rock from space, caused this mass extinction. When the asteroid hit Earth, the impact caused drastic changes. Thick dust and other materials blocked the sun. Temperatures dropped, and plants could not grow. The dinosaurs could not survive the cold temperatures and lack of food. But early species of birds and mammals did survive.

Large Mammal Extinction

About 10,000 years ago another mysterious animal extinction occurred. This extinction was especially dramatic in North America, where many large mammals disappeared. Among them were woolly mammoths and saber-toothed cats.

Scientists do not know what caused this extinction. Some believe that growing numbers of human beings hunted and killed too many of the animals or their prey. Another theory is that the climate changed and affected the availability of food.

Endangered Species Today

In the past 200 years the world has lost many animal species. Hundreds of others are on the verge of extinction. Animals at risk of dying out are called endangered species .

Governments today are working to protect the world’s endangered species. Laws protect some animals’ habitats from being polluted or destroyed. Other laws make it illegal to hunt endangered animals. Some species respond well to these protective measures and increase in number. Others are not as successful.

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IELTS Essay: Extinction

by Dave | Real Past Tests | 3 Comments

This is an IELTS writing task 2 sample answer essay on the topic of extinction from the real IELTS exam.

Please consider supporting me on Patreon.com/howtodoielts to receive my exclusive IELTS Ebooks – you can even sign up for private live lessons with me!

It is a natural process for animal species to become extinct (e.g. dinosaurs, dodos, etc.). There is no reason why people should try to prevent this from happening.

Do you agree or disagree?

Some today argue that humanity should not interfere with the extinction of other species. In my opinion, this was a more legitimate argument in the past, when mankind was not the primary driving force behind this phenomenon.

Throughout history, extinction has been part of natural selection and evolution. Creatures such as the dinosaurs disappeared due to a likely cataclysmic event, but in more recent history, less adaptable species have also gone extinct. Humanity, in these cases, played either no role or one commensurate with the rest of nature. This can be seen as necessary to the work of nature. Certain species develop and prosper, while other ones do not and perish. A modern, compassionate public might view this as inhumane, but the indifferent cruelty in nature has served the historic purpose of maintaining a healthy, thriving, and diverse ecosystem.

However, contemporary human dominance must be accompanied by a larger share of responsibility. Mankind is no longer one animal among many, but the dominant species whose actions affect the majority of other animals. The most pertinent examples of this relate to deforestation and climate change. In order to sustain booming populations, production has stripped bare sections of the earth, decimating natural habitats and plunging thousands of species to the brink of extinction. The causal role of human industry necessitates taking responsibility. Moreover, there are simple steps that could be taken to preserve species and curb the effects of human progress. If countries collectively committed to moderate conservation efforts, then the earth could be restored to a more natural equilibrium.

In conclusion, though humanity was not at fault for past extinctions, the current influence of industry means that we should now take responsibility for biological diversity. Once a species disappears, it will never return.

1. Some today argue that humanity should not interfere with the extinction of other species. 2. In my opinion, this was a more legitimate argument in the past, when mankind was not the primary driving force behind this phenomenon.

• Paraphrase the overall essay topic.
• Write a clear opinion. Read more about introductions here .

1. Throughout history, extinction has been part of natural selection and evolution. 2. Creatures such as the dinosaurs disappeared due to a likely cataclysmic event, but in more recent history, less adaptable species have also gone extinct. 3. Humanity, in these cases, played either no role or one commensurate with the rest of nature. 4. This can be seen as necessary to the work of nature. 5. Certain species develop and prosper, while other ones do not and perish. 6. A modern, compassionate public might view this as inhumane, but the indifferent cruelty in nature has served the historic purpose of maintaining a healthy, thriving, and diverse ecosystem.

• Write a topic sentence with a clear main idea at the end.
• Explain your main idea.
• Develop it with specific examples.
• Keep developing it fully.
• Stay focused on the same main idea.
• Conclude with a strong statement.

1. However, contemporary human dominance must be accompanied by a larger share of responsibility. 2. Mankind is no longer one animal among many, but the dominant species whose actions affect the majority of other animals. 3. The most pertinent examples of this relate to deforestation and climate change. 4. In order to sustain booming populations, production has stripped bare sections of the earth, decimating natural habitats and plunging thousands of species to the brink of extinction. 5. The causal role of human industry necessitates taking responsibility. 6. Moreover, there are simple steps that could be taken to preserve species and curb the effects of human progress. 7. If countries collectively committed to moderate conservation efforts, then the earth could be restored to a more natural equilibrium.

• Write a new topic sentence with a new main idea at the end.
• Explain your new main idea.
• Include specific details and examples.
• Continue developing it fully!
• Vary short and long sentences.
• Add in more detail and results.
• The further you extend your ideas, the better.

1. In conclusion, though humanity was not at fault for past extinctions, the current influence of industry means that we should now take responsibility for biological diversity. 2. Once a species disappears, it will never return.

• Summarise your main ideas.
• Include a final thought. Read more about conclusions here .

What do the words in bold below mean? Make some notes on paper to aid memory and then check below.

Some today argue that humanity should not interfere with the extinction of other species . In my opinion, this was a more legitimate argument in the past, when mankind was not the primary driving force behind this phenomenon .

Throughout history, extinction has been part of natural selection and evolution . Creatures such as the dinosaurs disappeared due to a likely cataclysmic event , but in more recent history , less adaptable species have also gone extinct . Humanity, in these cases , played either no role or one commensurate with the rest of nature . This can be seen as necessary to the work of nature. Certain species develop and prosper , while other ones do not and perish . A modern , compassionate public might view this as inhumane , but the indifferent cruelty in nature has served the historic purpose of maintaining a healthy, thriving , and diverse ecosystem .

However, contemporary human dominance must be accompanied by a larger share of responsibility . Mankind is no longer one animal among many, but the dominant species whose actions affect the majority of other animals. The most pertinent examples of this relate to deforestation and climate change . In order to sustain booming populations , production has stripped bare sections of the earth , decimating natural habitats and plunging thousands of species to the brink of extinction . The causal role of human industry necessitates taking responsibility. Moreover, there are simple steps that could be taken to preserve species and curb the effects of human progress . If countries collectively committed to moderate conservation efforts , then the earth could be restored to a more natural equilibrium .

In conclusion, though humanity was not at fault for past extinctions, the current influence of industry means that we should now take responsibility for biological diversity . Once a species disappears, it will never return .

For extra practice, write an antonym (opposite word) on a piece of paper to help you remember the new vocabulary:

humanity mankind

interfere get in the way of

extinction an animal species completely disappearing

species kind of animal

legitimate argument justified ideas

mankind humanity

primary driving force behind main source of

phenomenon happening

throughout all the way through

natural selection the way animals evolve

evolution how animals change over time

disappeared gone away

due to a likely because of probably

cataclysmic event big problem

in more recent history in the last few decades or so

less adaptable not as flexible

gone extinct completely gone

in these cases in these instances

played either no role had no effect in it

commensurate equal to

rest of nature all other plants and animals

necessary needed

develop change over time

prosper flourish

perish die out

compassionate public caring people

view opinion

inhumane cruel

indifferent cruelty not caring and mean

served did its part

historic purpose reason throughout history/the past

maintaining keeping up

thriving flourishing

diverse ecosystem lots of different plants and animals

contemporary human dominance recent era of mankind ruling

accompanied by along with

larger share of responsibility more duty

no longer not anymore

dominant most powerful

majority most of

pertinent relevant

relate to have to do with

deforestation cutting down forests

climate change global warming

sustain booming populations feed more and more people

stripped bare everything taken away

sections of the earth parts of the world

decimating natural habitats destroying animal homes

plunging thousands of species making many animals disappear

brink of extinction nearly gone

causal role the one that made it happen

necessitates requires

simple steps basic actions

preserve species keep animals live

curb the effects of human progress limit the impact of mankind

collectively committed altogether decided to

moderate conservation efforts minor changes to policies

restored to brought back to

more natural equilibrium more equal and balanced

at fault their responsibility

biological diversity different kinds of plants and animals

return come back

Pronunciation

Practice saying the vocabulary below and use this tip about Google voice search :

hju(ː)ˈmænɪti   ˌɪntəˈfɪə   ɪksˈtɪŋkʃən   ˈspiːʃiːz lɪˈʤɪtɪmɪt ˈɑːgjʊmənt   mænˈkaɪnd   ˈpraɪməri ˈdraɪvɪŋ fɔːs bɪˈhaɪnd   fɪˈnɒmɪnən θru(ː)ˈaʊt   ˈnæʧrəl sɪˈlɛkʃən   ˌiːvəˈluːʃən ˌdɪsəˈpɪəd   djuː tuː ə ˈlaɪkli   ˌkætəˈklɪzmɪk ɪˈvɛnt ɪn mɔː ˈriːsnt ˈhɪstəri lɛs əˈdæptəbl   gɒn ɪksˈtɪŋkt ɪn ðiːz ˈkeɪsɪz pleɪd ˈaɪðə nəʊ rəʊl   kəˈmɛnʃərɪt   rɛst ɒv ˈneɪʧə ˈnɛsɪsəri   dɪˈvɛləp   ˈprɒspə ˈpɛrɪʃ ˈmɒdən kəmˈpæʃənɪt ˈpʌblɪk   vjuː   ˌɪnhju(ː)ˈmeɪn ɪnˈdɪfrənt ˈkru(ː)əlti   sɜːvd   hɪsˈtɒrɪk ˈpɜːpəs   meɪnˈteɪnɪŋ   ˈθraɪvɪŋ daɪˈvɜːs ˈiːkəʊˌsɪstəm kənˈtɛmpərəri ˈhjuːmən ˈdɒmɪnəns   əˈkʌmpənid baɪ   ˈlɑːʤə ʃeər ɒv rɪsˌpɒnsəˈbɪlɪti nəʊ ˈlɒŋgə   ˈdɒmɪnənt   məˈʤɒrɪti   ˈpɜːtɪnənt   rɪˈleɪt tuː   dɪˌfɒrɪˈsteɪʃ(ə)n   ˈklaɪmɪt ʧeɪnʤ səsˈteɪn ˈbuːmɪŋ ˌpɒpjʊˈleɪʃənz strɪpt beə   ˈsɛkʃənz ɒv ði ɜːθ ˈdɛsɪmeɪtɪŋ ˈnæʧrəl ˈhæbɪtæts   ˈplʌnʤɪŋ ˈθaʊzəndz ɒv ˈspiːʃiːz   brɪŋk ɒv ɪksˈtɪŋkʃən ˈkɔːzəl rəʊl   nɪˈsɛsɪteɪts   ˈsɪmpl stɛps   prɪˈzɜːv ˈspiːʃiːz   kɜːb ði ɪˈfɛkts ɒv ˈhjuːmən ˈprəʊgrəs kɒˈlɛktɪvli kəˈmɪtɪd   ˈmɒdərɪt ˌkɒnsə(ː)ˈveɪʃən ˈɛfəts rɪsˈtɔːd tuː   mɔː ˈnæʧrəl ˌiːkwɪˈlɪbrɪəm æt fɔːlt   ˌbaɪəʊˈlɒʤɪkəl daɪˈvɜːsɪti rɪˈtɜːn

Vocabulary Practice

I recommend getting a pencil and piece of paper because that aids memory. Then write down the missing vocabulary from my sample answer in your notebook:

Some today argue that h______________y should not i_______________e with the e____________n of other s___________s . In my opinion, this was a more l______________________t in the past, when m___________d was not the p______________________________d this p_______________n .

T_______________t history, extinction has been part of n_______________n and e______________n . Creatures such as the dinosaurs d__________________________y c___________________t , but i______________________y , l___________________e species have also g___________________t . Humanity, i__________________s , p_____________________e or one c________________e with the r_______________e . This can be seen as n______________y to the work of nature. Certain species d___________p and p___________r , while other ones do not and p_________h . A m____________n , c____________________________c might v______w this as i___________e , but the i____________________y in nature has s________d the h__________________e of m______________g a healthy, t____________g , and d___________________m .

However, c_________________________________e must be a__________________y a l_____________________________y . Mankind is n____________r one animal among many, but the d_____________t species whose actions affect the m___________y of other animals. The most p_______________t examples of this r__________________________n and c__________________e . In order to s_________________________________s , production has s______________________________________h , d_________________________s and p____________________________s to the b__________________n . The c____________e of human industry n_______________s taking responsibility. Moreover, there are s_________________s that could be taken to p__________________s and c_________________________________s . If countries c_____________________d to m_________________________s , then the earth could be r_____________o a m__________________________m .

In conclusion, though humanity was not a__________t for past extinctions, the current influence of industry means that we should now take responsibility for b____________________y . Once a species disappears, it will never r________n .

Listening Practice

Learn more about this topic in the video below and practice with these activities :

Reading Practice

Read more about this topic and use these ideas to practice :

Top 10 Extinct Animals

Speaking Practice

Practice with the following speaking questions from the real IELTS speaking exam :

• Have you ever seen a wild animal?
• What is your favourite wild animal?
• How do you feel when you see animals at the zoo?
• What is the importance of animals to children?

Writing Practice

Practice with the related IELTS essay topic below:

Some people say that the main environmental problem of our time is the loss of particular species of plants and animals. Others say that there are more important environmental problems.

Discuss both these views and give your own opinion.

IELTS Writing Task 2 Sample Answer: Environmental Problems Plants and Animals (IELTS Cambridge 14)

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Many are of the opinion that the extinction of certain animals is inherently natural; therefore, human intervention in this process is necessary. Although several animals do disappear because of natural causes, I am strongly convinced that humans who have contributed to the disappearance of many species should make a concerted effort to combat this phenomenon. Admittedly, extinction has been part of natural selection and evolution. The truth is that there are many examples of animals going extinct without the impacts of humans. A good example of this would be dinosaurs dying out due to the collisions between meteors and the Earth. Clearly, humans play no role in the disappearance of these animals. This indicates the fact that natural selection, rather than human activities, prunes the poorly adapted and allows the hardiest to flourish. Therefore, it is understandable why many maintain that it is unjustifiable for humans nowadays to attempt to preserve endangered animal species. Nonetheless, the current dominance of humans is responsible for engendering numerous animals on the brink of extinction. Human activities, most especially poaching, have led to a lower level of reproduction among certain species which eventually go extinct. Perhaps the best example of this would be the extinction of Rhino in Vietnam which can be largely ascribed to them being hunted by poachers for their horns. Furthermore, to ensure a healthy economy, energy is produced by combusting fossil fuels, generating an excessive amount of carbon dioxide into the environment. This is compounded with the emergence of more factories whose effluents potentially contaminate water sources, while deforestation is rife to create more lands for agriculture. All of which is likely to devastate the natural habits of animals, possibly triggering mass extinction as a result. In conclusion, while I accept that humans are not at fault for past extinctions, current destruction attributable to humans has resulted in various threatened animals. Therefore, human effort is required to combat the disappearance of animal species.

Nice writing!

Really nice vocabulary especially – love the example too!

Extinction of animal species is a natural process due to some live examples like dinosaurs, dodos etc. It is not reasonable why people should attempt to prevent this from happening. I disagree with this notion and this essay shall elucidate on to justify my stance. 

To embark with, extinction of animals is the result of excessive poaching. This is to say, many species of animals such as cheetah or elephant numbers are profoundly decreasing due to poaching which might be a solid reason for extinction of particular species nowadays. Though the natural process of ending a species is a slow and inevitable stage like it happened in the past for dinosaurs, accelerated poaching is causing rapid destruction which is unfair and not justifiable. For example, animals like elephants have been hunted for commercial purposes globally. Due to increased illicit hunting, the number of elephants in some asian countries such as India started to reduce significantly. When this continues for some more time, elephants might be included in the list of endangered wildlife of India. Therefore, to avoid extinction of wildlife, people should be cautious about their actions like illegal hunting and its consequences on animals.  

To continue further, unsuitable weather conditions from human activities is yet another reason for extinction of some wildlifes. This is because historically catastrophic incidents like wildfires used to occur seldom and cause destruction. However, these days people are heavily engaged in activities such as extensive deforestation or igniting fossil fuels which aggravated the environmental problems. This results in very frequent vagaries like unsupportive weather conditions which are not conducive for animals to live in the wild and lead them to deaths. For instance, koalas are identified as an endangered species after an unprecedented wildfire took place in Australia. Consequently, many other wild animals were dead along with koalas. So, human actions are causing more problems and driving more animal species to the verge of extinction than the natural process.

To conclude, poaching is one of the reasons for the extinction of some animal species rather than letting nature take its course of action on wild species. Also, human activities which alter weather conditions that have significant consequences on wildlife is also yet another reason for extinction of wildlife. Therefore, I believe that humans should be careful about their actions and try not to harm animals.

Can you please review this Dave, thanks.

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More From Forbes

A biologist spotlights 4 ‘invincible’ animals that survived the 5 mass extinctions.

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In the past 500 million years on Earth, there have been five mass extinctions. Here are a few ... [+] incredible species that managed to squeak through the cracks.

Life on Earth is anything but predictable. For evidence, look no further than the five mass extinctions that have occurred over the past 500 million years:

• End-Ordovician Extinction (about 443 million years ago) . The End-Ordovician extinction is one of the earliest known mass extinctions, believed to have been driven primarily by a short, intense ice age that led to a drop in sea levels, disrupting marine habitats. The resultant habitat loss and cooling temperatures caused the extinction of approximately 85% of marine species, including many brachiopods and trilobites.
• Late Devonian Extinction (about 359-375 million years ago) . The Late Devonian extinction was not a single event but a series of extinctions spread over several million years. It predominantly affected marine life, with significant losses among coral reefs, trilobites and early vertebrates. The causes remain debated but may include volcanic activity, global cooling and the proliferation of plants, which could have led to nutrient runoff and anoxic conditions in the oceans.
• End-Permian Extinction (about 252 million years ago) . Known as the "Great Dying," the End-Permian extinction is the most severe extinction event in Earth's history, with about 96% of marine species and 70% of terrestrial species going extinct. Possible causes include massive volcanic eruptions in the Siberian Traps, which released vast amounts of greenhouse gasses, leading to global warming, ocean acidification and widespread anoxia.
• End-Triassic Extinction (about 201 million years ago) . The End-Triassic extinction saw the loss of about 50% of marine species and many terrestrial vertebrates. Possible causes include volcanic activity associated with the breakup of the supercontinent Pangaea, leading to climatic changes, ocean acidification and disruptions in the carbon cycle.
• End-Cretaceous Extinction (about 66 million years ago) . The End-Cretaceous extinction is famous for the sudden demise of the dinosaurs, along with many other species. The primary cause is widely believed to be a massive asteroid impact near the Yucatán Peninsula, creating the Chicxulub crater. This impact would have led to severe climate changes, including a "nuclear winter" effect with darkened skies and drastically altered temperatures. Additionally, volcanic activity in the Deccan Traps could have contributed to the environmental stress. The extinction wiped out about 75% of species, including non-avian dinosaurs.

Even in the midst of widespread ecological catastrophe, certain animals found a way to beat the odds and survive. Here are four animals that managed to persist through Earth’s mass extinction events.

1. Horseshoe Crabs

Having been around for over 450 million years, horseshoe crabs are often referred to as "living ... [+] fossils."

Horseshoe crabs have a body plan that has remained relatively unchanged for over 450 million years. Their hard exoskeleton provides excellent protection from predators and environmental stressors, while their simple, effective anatomy has allowed them to adapt to various environmental conditions and changes. For instance, horseshoe crabs can live in shallow coastal waters as well as deep ocean floors. They can also withstand a range of ocean temperatures. This gives them a wide geographic range–and range plays a key role in extinction probabilities, as evidenced by research published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences .

Additionally, horseshoe crabs have a reproductive strategy that includes spawning in large numbers, which increases the chances of survival of offspring despite environmental fluctuations. They also have a unique and highly effective immune system. Their blue blood contains a clotting agent, Limulus Amebocyte Lysate (LAL), which is crucial for detecting bacterial endotoxins.

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Best 5% interest savings accounts of 2024, 2. nautiluses.

This little ocean-faring guy evolved hundreds of millions of years before the dinosaurs, and ... [+] survives to this day.

The nautilus has existed on Earth for around 500 million years and are certainly one of the best “survival machines” ever created. Nautiluses are well-adapted to deep-sea environments where conditions are relatively stable compared to surface waters. Their ability to live in these more stable environments may have helped them avoid some of the harsher effects of mass extinctions that impacted surface and shallow-water species. Nautiluses feed on a diet of small fish, crustaceans and carrion. Their flexible diet and ability to scavenge may have contributed to their survival during times when other marine resources were scarce.

3. Coelacanths

This ancient fish was once thought to have died out 65 million years ago, until it was rediscovered ... [+] in the 1930s.

Coelacanths are part of an ancient lineage of lobe-finned fish that date back more than 400 million years. Their evolutionary design has been highly successful in various aquatic environments, allowing them to adapt to changing conditions without major changes to their fundamental body plan. Like nautiluses, many coelacanths live in deep-sea environments, which are less affected by the surface conditions that result in mass extinctions. The relative stability of deep-sea habitats may have provided a refuge from the drastic environmental changes experienced during extinction events.

Coelacanths have a unique physiological structure, including a highly adapted swim bladder and a well-developed lateral line system for detecting prey in the dark depths of the ocean. These adaptations have helped them thrive in specific niches where other species would have struggled.

Sand tiger sharks, like the one pictured here, are the decendents of earlier sharks that inhabited ... [+] Earth 400+ million years ago.

We often look at sharks with fear , but it’s equally important to recognize their evolutionary longevity—something that can be seen in their statuesque faces, disorganized teeth rows and primitive eyes. Sharks have existed for more than 400 million years and have evolved a range of adaptations that have allowed them to survive through various extinction events. Here are a few:

• Diverse diet and hunting strategies . Sharks are highly versatile predators with a wide range of feeding strategies, from filter-feeding to active predation. This dietary flexibility has enabled them to adapt to changing food sources and environmental conditions.
• Efficient reproduction . Sharks have various reproductive strategies, including oviparity (laying eggs) and viviparity (live birth). Their ability to reproduce in different ways helps ensure that their populations can recover even after significant declines.
• Durable physiology . Sharks possess a cartilaginous skeleton, which is lighter and more flexible than bone. This adaptation allows them to be agile swimmers and reduces the energy required to maintain buoyancy, making them efficient predators in diverse environments.

Are you worried about the possibility of the next great extinction? Take the science-backed Climate Change Worry Scale to know how your fear compares with others.

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Many animals are facing extinction in the wild. Why is this happening? What can be done to protect them?

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Use a variety of complex and simple sentences

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‘Complex’ sentences are not actually very complex; they are just two or more simple sentences put together. Putting them together makes the essay more coherent and cohesive.

I really want to study but I’m too tired.

I wore a warm coat because the weather was cold.

If action is not taken soon on climate change , global warming will get worse.

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should a nation invest in transportation? discuss both views ans express an opinion

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Notable Places in the Area

Arena khimki.

Church of Saints Cosmas and Damian in Kosmodemyanskoye

Locales in the Area

Severnoye tushino district.

Levoberezhny District

Khovrino district.

• Type: City with 232,000 residents
• Description: town in Moscow Oblast, Russia
• Categories: city or town , big city and locality
• Location: Khimki Urban Okrug , North Moscow Oblast , Moscow Oblast , Central Russia , Russia , Eastern Europe , Europe
• View on Open­Street­Map

Khimki Satellite Map

By public transport

By suburban train from Leningradskii station to Khimki station or Levoberegnaya platform (a district on the left bank of Moscow channel).

A lot of buses and marshrutkas run from Rechnoy Vokzal metro station, at the north end of the Green Line. You can also reach Khimki by marshrutka, bus or trolleybus from Planernaya metro station.

The most comfortable way to explore the city is to bike or take a car .

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