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Critically endangered
4 years ago
General
Here's an idea:
I don't like being the bearer of bad news. But at some point we must face the truth. And the truth is that today we are living through the Sixth Mass Extinction in the history of our planet. And, for the most part, it is a result of human activity, either directly or indirectly. Habitat loss, illegal hunting, rare species trade, climate change, and ocean acidification, are only some of the reasons why we are losing hundreds of species every single year.
I know it sounds like a lot. After all, it is a lot to take in.
The furry community, at its core, shares a common fascination for animals. We can agree that they are incredibly amazing, and that part of our inspiration comes from being able to behold and appreciate their diversity and beauty. But all that is under threat right now. And we can't pretend like that is not happening.
So here's what you can do.
If you feel particularly generous, you can find plenty of organizations, charities and NGOs that focus on the protection and conservation of endangered animals HERE, and send them a donation. All of those rely mostly on financial support, so if you can afford it, consider doing so.
And if you can't donate, here's another way you can contribute. Because, in the end, we can't solve a problem if we don't even know where the problem is. So, do me a favour:
1. Go to the Wikipedia page for Lists of IUCN Red List critically endangered species (LINK HERE)
2. Browse around, check out the different categories, learn about the various organisms that are currently critically endangered.
3. Comment the name of the organism in this journal, and a brief explanation of why you chose it.
4. I will choose and draw some* of them as sketches whenever I find some spare time.
* this is NOT an open journal for requests. I cannot promise your comment will be chosen. Please do not ask for your own character to be drawn. This is about endangered species, not about you!
That way, we can all be conscious about what we are losing, and help others become more aware about this crisis we are facing.
It might not be much, but at least, we can say we are trying.
Have a wonderful day!
~Tzin
The line sticks in my mind as I sleep tonight - "today we are living through the Sixth Mass Extinction in the history of our planet."
The organism I found is the Chinese Pangolin- listed as endangered since 2014;
Sadly they are nearing extinction due to greed of human interference with poaching. I adore pangolins and their physique, they're tough and cute, like armadillos but with thick and big scales.
Raising awareness about this topics is essential to recognize the problem and begin to figure out how to fix them, so thanks for sharing this with us Tzin!
Endangered animals I care a lot about are saiga, kiwi birds, the kakapo, all lemurs, all elephants, all great apes... and that's just where my knowledge goes as a fan of mammals and birds.
Thank you for bringing their plight to light! You're very wise and I admire you a lot.
And you are completely right. Choosing a plant-based diet is incredibly impactful! After all, you eat (on average) three times a day, so over time, it really adds up. I really wish more people gave up meat to some degree.
I was going throw the list for a while, mammals, amphibians, fish, etc.. and though a lot of them didn't have pictures, one really stood out to me.
I chose the turquoise dwarf gecko, or known as the electric blue gecko (Lygodactylus williamsi). Truly an incredible showcase of how mother nature can show beautiful vibrant colors in nature, and instead of admiring it. Illegal traders steal and trade these geckos where they are put in captive breeding cells. Where most young die as they require a lot of care. This species and many others are just as beautiful and I believe this is one of the many that I wish could live in peace. Thanks for this journal Tzin.
Thank you so much for choosing such a stunning little gecko! I had no idea they even existed!! Their colour is simply astounding!! It would be such a shame to loose this fascinating reptile forever! Thank you for leaving such a thoughtful and heartfelt comment, Maz!
The list of charities includes one of my favorites, the Jane Goodall Foundation. How tragic would it be if our closest cousins went extinct?
I've always been fascinated by fungi. While I don't like eating them, I always enjoy learning about them. Turns out this species of mushroom is fuzzy/fluffy on its fruiting body.... also, these things can get pretty heavy!
The species I've selected to shine a spotlight on is one that's so rarely discussed in furry circles; the monkey.
Specifically, the Golden-Bellied Capuchin
Not only did it strike me as irresistibly cute, but even its way of communicating is described as "short and frequent yipping whines, similar to that of a newborn pup". They're described as extremely resourceful and social amongst themselves, this followed by the fact that the main factor that led to it's "critically endangered" status is deforestation and hunting.
They have an apparent lifespan of 15-25 years in the wild, whilst in captivity (like zoos) that can easily be doubled.
There are means at the ready to save these creatures and give them an alternative habitat, yet so scarcely implemented.
It's seriously saddening. Thanks for sharing this journal, Tzin.
Still, if the message came through, I'm happy that I can raise awareness (even if it is in a handful of individuals), because that is the first and crucial step to make a change. What matters in the end is not about how much we know but rather how willing we are to learn.
And you, for instance, have now taught me something I didn't know before! I remember reading about capuchin monkeys when I was younger, and they seemed such a ubiquitous species. I had no idea that their populations had been dwindling to the point where they are so threatened today. Thanks so much for sharing this valuable information with me. You know I am not a fan of monkeys, but these could seriously use all the love that we can offer, and much much more!
I have a soft spot for Elephants in general. To me, they seem like such gentle giants, which is something I admire. They have a great sense of community and family bond, which I really like. I like their trunks, they're like a prehensile arm! They are also pretty intelligent!
Currently, they are being poached for their tusks for ivory and I honestly hope that more teaching is done to educate why this poaching needs to end. Conservation is being done right now, which is fantastic, but we still need to keep going.
It's really upsetting to see how many species are on this list and how many are threatened. I'm really glad you're raising awareness about this, Tzin.
And yes... as always, zoos are a bit complicated. The way I see it, the best thing you can do is to be informed about whether they have any program for the reintroduction of species into the wild. Because that way, the zoo is actually funding and making a conscious effort to restore the habitats of the species that might be threatened in the wild. Those are the ones worth supporting, imo.
Which dictated my choice. I looked at the cetaceans, and when you look at some of the whales/whale adjacents, some of them are actually listed as being Least Concern now. Which gives me hope, those conservation efforts, the 'save the whales' stuff, actually did some good!
But I picked the Vaquita because there is still more to do
https://www.theguardian.com/environ.....ies-on-a-train
As you say, we know that concerted efforts and widespread action can make a difference when we look at what happened after whaling was banned. We can do it. Humans are not all evil and we can all contribute to achieve a common goal. You say it very well: there is still more to do, but we have all the tools to make a difference!
And that article you posted is amazing! Gut-wrenching, but truly amazing. It really gives you a perspective of how dire the situation for some of this animals is! Thank you for sharing!!
Glad you saw the same things in the article I did!
I made a donation to VaquitaCPR because of this