ENDANGERED ANIMAL SPECIES IN EUROPE

From the pre-historic time, the world has been subjected to gradual changes and sometimes catastrophic events which steadily modify the ecosystem. Apart from these natural modifiers of the ecosystem, humans have greatly altered the natural ecosystem and thereby exposed the living organisms to danger.

According to Conservation experts, 155 out of the 1000 species of native mammals, birds, reptiles and amphibians are classified as threatened; while there is an extremely high chance that 16 of the endangered animals will soon be extinct. Though many of the most endangered animal species in Europe are restricted to islands, essentially the Canary Islands, Continental Europe is also with a marked number of endangered species. For instance, Bavarian Pine Vole went into extinction in Germany sometime after 1962 and the only surviving species in Austria are dangerously unstable.

According to the World Conservation Union (IUCN) and Birdlife International reports, extinction threatens about 15%, or one in seven of Europe’s 228 species of mammals. Interestingly, only 6 out of these 35 threatened European mammals are marine species. For the purpose of this project, Europe’s five most endangered mammals –

Saiga-Saiga Tatarica (Saiga antelope), the Bavarian Pine Vole as well as Mediterranean Monk Seal and North Atlantic Right Whale classified as “Critically Endangered” will be treated here. Based on the fact that their populations have declined drastically or precariously low, Conservationists specialists conclude that their likelihood to become extinct in their natural habitat soon is “extremely high”.

• Saiga-Saiga Tatarica (Saiga Antelope)

• Bavarian Pine Vole (Microtus bavaricus)

• Mediterranean Monk Seal (Monachus monachus)

These animal species essentially abound in the Mediterranean Sea. Considering their population of about 450, this is the most endangered seal in the world. Majority of the surviving monk seals are in Greece and Turkey. Their natural habitats (caves which are important for breeding) are constantly being disturbed and fishing activities also endanger them. Man, whale and shark are their other threats.

• North Atlantic Right Whale (Eubalaena glaciali)

This animal species is found in the north-eastern Atlantic Ocean. Though majority of the right whales have been exterminated around the shore of Europe, since the last right whales were caught off Madeira Island, Portugal in 1967; however, about 350 right whales still live in the Western Atlantic, along the coast of North America.

Below is a list of some of the other endangered animal species in Europe: European mink, Azorean bat (Nyctalus azoreum), Madeira pipistrelle (Pipistrellus maderensis), Canary long-eared bat (Plecotus teneriffae), Roach’s mouse-tailed dormouse (Myomimus roachi), Sandy mole rat (Spalax arenarius), Canary shrew (Crocidura canariensis), as well as European bison, Wolverine, Polar bear and Marbled godwit. Others include Polecat, Balearic shearwater, Sociable lapwing, Red-breasted goose, Saker falcon, Egyptian vulture, White-headed duck, Slender-billed curlew (Numenius tenuirostris), Batuecan rock lizard, Aeolian wall lizards, Karpathos frog, Montseny brook newt, Bottlenose dolphin, European hare (Lepus europaeus), European otter(Lutra lutra), Greater horseshoe bat (Rhinolophus ferrumequinium), and Harbour porpoise (Phocoena phocoena).

The list also contains Red squirrel (Sciurus vulgaris), Water vole (Arvicola terrestris), Aquatic warbler (Acrocephalus paludicola), Sand lizard (Lacerta agilis), European adder (Vipera berus), Grass snake (Natrix natrix), Smooth snake (Coronella austriaca), Great crested newt (Triturus cristatus) and Natterjack toad (Bufo calamita).

ENDANGERED ANIMAL SPECIES IN NORTH AMERICA

Many species of animals are lost to urbanisation as more and more people settle on the continent of North America. The needs for housing, infrastructures, and of course food supply, have led to the destruction of the natural habitats of innumerable animal species and thus endanger them. Chief among these animals are red fox, grey wolf, raccoon, giant panda, bald eagle as well as crayfish and beaver. Other endangered species are the Southern right, Minke, Sei, Fin, Humpback, Giant beaked, and Bottlenose whales. Spectacled porpoise, Commerson’s dolphin as well as Hourglass dolphin and Orca are also inclusive. Few of the endangered species that will be treated here are:

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  Bald Eagle
  

Bald eagles have a wide range, from Alaska and Canada in the north to Florida and Mexico in the south. These animal species were once abundant in North America, but during the mid - to late 20th century, their numbers declined dramatically as a result of hunting and the use of pesticides in agriculture. There was genetic mutation caused by DDT ingestion, from fish to eagles. As a result, in 1973 the U.S. government banned the use of DDT, and the same year listed the bald eagle as an endangered species under the Endangered Species Act of 1973. The population of bald eagles in the United States has since climbed. Though recently, around 2007, the U.S. government removed the bald eagle from the list of endangered and threatened species, yet their habitats are constantly being destroyed.

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  The raccoon, a native North American mammal, is the largest of the Procyonid family. Traditionally, the raccoons are localised in mixed forest, but they have been adapted to other places beyond the mixed forest belt where some homeowners consider them as pets. It is saddening that they are facing extinction as a result of poaching and uncontrolled killing.
  Raccoon
  

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  Beaver