THE CONSERVATION OF ANIMALS

The Conservation of Animals

Viviana Camila Hernandez
The University of Texas at El Paso
RWS 1302

THE CONSERVATION OF ANIMALS

Abstract
Animals have been roaming the earth for more than four billion years. If you really think
about it animals have a special part in the life pyramid, and it is up to us to keep on
conserving it. Although over the years humans have been seeing dying patterns in the
animal species. We are aware of some of the causes as to why this is happening, but there
may be some others that we arent aware about. Humans have been trying to conserve the
animal kingdom for long periods of time and up to this day they are still fighting strong.
Although we have failed in various occasions it isnt too late to keep conserving the
broad animal species all over the world. Only we know why this matter has become more
important over the years and why we should keep on conserving the animal kingdom as
best as we can for future generations to come.

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A broad assortment of animal species have been roaming around our world ever
since the origin of the earth; precisely 4.6 billion years ago. History has proven that
animal species were the first intelligent beings to have emerged upon the earth.
Reiterating back to how the animal species were the first to roam the land nowadays
seems a bit difficult to believe. It is difficult to believe because they have been slowly, but
surely dying off. It is a situation that is quite difficult to believe either because we are not
exposed to it or know much about it. The conservation of our biodiversity has become
more important during the years because of the diminishing species in the animal
kingdom.
There are multiple reasons why the animal kingdom is dying and some of them
are: animal cruelty, mass murder of animals, animal testing, pollution, viruses, natural
reasons, or even suicide. The list of reasons as to why this is happening is extensive, but
it is a matter that has to be taken into consideration. Biodiversity is the variety of life that
surrounds us, which includes all of the earths plants, animals, habitats, and natural
processes that involves them. Biodiversity is the reason why we have been able to sustain
life in this planet to begin with. Future generations have to know why it is crucial for us
to keep conserving animals. In doing so, three questions will be considered:

Why has the conservation of biodiversity become more important during the
years?

What is our society doing to conserve the wildlife?

Why is animal conservation a crucial part for the future generations?

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These questions will narrow down the purpose of this research paper by
presenting information that addresses animal conservation in all its forms such as
seeing some of the organizations that contribute to help sustain habitats and
wildlife, looking at factors that are harming the biodiversity and further effects
that affect us directly if we do not conserve the biodiversity.

Why has the conservation of biodiversity become more important during the
years?
The conservation of the biodiversity has come to our full attention now more than
ever. This has been a topic that has been getting attention due to a major loss increase in
the biodiversity. Approximately 16 million square kilometers of tropical rainforest habitat
that originally existed worldwide, less than 9 million square kilometers remain today
(World Animal Foundation, 2015). This is an issue that has been going on for quite a
while, but not many pay attention to it. The biodiversity provides us with multiple vital
benefits, but if it is not conserved properly, then we could latter be facing major
consequences.
There are 80,000 species of edible plants known on Earth, but 90% of the worlds
food comes from a mere 20 of these species (CNHP, N/A). The biodiversity provides us
with many other benefits such as: air purification, poverty alleviation, health, purification
of fresh water, agriculture, mitigation foods, pollination of crops and natural vegetation,
carbon sequestration, buffering the land against ocean storms, presentation of soil fertility
and last but not least aesthetics and spiritual (CNHP, N/A).

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To add on, rainforests are home to more than half of all species on Earth, and their
destruction means the extinction of countless plant and animal species (Endangered
Species International, 2011). Half of the plant species and animal species live in our
rainforest, and by choosing not to care we are harming our present and our future.
To further this idea Honeybees and wild bees are the most important pollinators
of many of the fruits and vegetables we eat. Of 100 crop species that provide 90% of our
global food supply, 71 are bee-pollinated. The value of pollination of food crops by bees
in the U.S. alone is estimated at $16 billion and insect pollinators in general contribute
$29 billion to U.S. farm income (CNN, 2015). This is an article that proves bees form a
vital part of our life. Honeybees pollinate countless hectares of agricultural crops. Its
estimated that a third of the food you eat could be attributed to pollination by bees.
The productivity of modern agriculture would be drastically reduced without the
humble honeybee (Crop Pollination Association Inc. 2014) Bees play an important role in
agriculture, many species help in ecosystem services.
By having different sorts of species doing similar tasks, the ecosystem is being preserved,
but if we fail so conserve species such as these we will be facing the consequences latter
on.
World Wide Found of Nature (WWF)
The picture of the approximation of species that go extinct every year.

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Just to illustrate the degree of biodiversity loss we're facing, lets take you through one
scientific analysis...
E
E
E
E
E

The rapid loss of species we are seeing today is estimated by experts to be between
1,000 and 10,000 times higher than the natural extinction rate
These experts calculate that between 0.01 and 0.1% of all species will become extinct
each year.
The upper estimate of species numbers is true - that there are 100 million different
species co-existing with us on our planet- then between 10,000 and 100,000 species are
becoming extinct each year (WWF, 2015).
What is our society doing to conserve the wildlife?
There are multiple ways we are contributing to conserve the wildlife. There are
many ways to do so and these are some examples: reduce use of pesticides, getting
involves in ecological restoration, recycling, usage of environmental friendly products,
buying organic food, aiming for energy conservation, reducing single person-car use,
incorporating renewable energy systems, and last but not least by voting, voting helps by
seeking a legislation that affects biodiversity directly. According to (Gateway to doing
good) the top wildlife organizations are: Wildlife conservation society, PAWS, Gorilla
Doctors, Wildlife alliance, WWF, IFAW, WSPA, African wildlife foundation, PETA and
Animal welfare institute. These organizations not only help animals they are also
actively helping with climate change, extinction, animal projects, protection of wildlife

THE CONSERVATION OF ANIMALS

and ecosystems and much more. This research was done to find out how many people
know about animal conservation in general, and the question asked was: What
organizations do you know about, that contribute to helping animals and their habitat?
Although the results from the animal conservation survey were limited, some information
was taken into account. The survey was conducted through Survey monkey, an online
survey that collects the data. The day the survey was taken where the 30 and 31st of
October and the 1st of November, mainly by College Students in between the ages of 1824. The results of the survey were just as expected, 8 out of 29 people knew about some
organizations and the two that stood out the most were PETA and WWF. From this
survey we can conclude that not many people know about organizations that contribute to
helping animals, or there is just a lack of interest in the subject (Survey Monkey).
With organizations such as these, we are shaping our future and the future of our
biodiversity. The way to support these organizations would be by giving donations,
volunteering, getting an internship or even spreading the word to get others to do the
same.
One thing the WWF is doing to help conserve the animals is letting you adopt from a
variety of animal species. In the picture below there is a list of things you would be

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receiving.

.
Here are other stuff you would get, that were not listed above:
Species spotlight card, full of fascinating information about the animal
You will also receive a printable, personalized adoption certificate for the specie
adopted.
By adopting an animal with the WWF foundation you are donating money for a good
cause because you are contributing towards the conservation of animals. There are other

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ways of contributing as well, but this a simpler way of contributing without going out of
your way to do so.
Why is animal conservation a crucial part for our future generations?
Animal conservation is a crucial part to help future generations survive.
No one knows how the extinction of organisms will affect the other members of its
ecosystem, but the removal of a single species can set off a chain reaction affecting many
others. This is especially true for keystone species, whose loss can transform or
undermine the ecological processes or fundamentally change the species composition of
the wildlife community (CNHP, N/A).

Figure 1. Biodiversity is threatened by a variety of global changes resulting from

the combined actions of human society. The most direct threats are overharvesting and

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loss/disturbance of habitat resulting from conversion of natural ecosystems to human use
(thick red arrow). However, other changes such as increased nutrient availability and
elevated CO2, with the resulting climate change, are also long-term threats.
You see why the animal conservation is crucial to us? It is time to make a change and
have precaution for future generations to come.

Conclusion
It has become important to conserve the biodiversity during the years because it is
slowly dying off and if it keeps going at the pace it is going at we will soon be seeing
major changes. What our society is doing to conserve wildlife is helping organizations
that latter help in all aspects such as recycling, conserving animal habitats, and diminish
all other acts that affect the animals and their habitats directly or indirectly. Animal
conservation a crucial part for our future generations because it shapes nature and the
balance in the food chain as well, without animals we are headed for perdition. We have
to appreciate our animals and save them before it is too late. We are not only conserving
the many species that live on this Earth, but the Earth itself. We need to see how and what
we can do to preserve our Earth, because think about it, we cant really live in another
planet. And by preserving the species are giving the human race the gift of life.

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Reference Page
Morris, H., Dr. (2014). How old is out planet? Retrieved from Institute CreationResearch
website: http://www.icr.org/article/how-old-our-planet/

N/A). (2011). Retrieved from Endangered Species International website:

http://www.endangeredspeciesinternational.org/news_oct15.html

Spivak, M. (2015, March 5). What will happen if the bees disappear? Retrieved from
CNN website: http://www.cnn.com/2014/05/17/opinion/spivak-loss-of-bees/

(N/A) (2012, September 7) 11 Wildlife Organizations You Should Know. Retrieved from
GOODNET website: http://www.goodnet.org/articles/512
(N/A)(2013). Why Conserve Biodiversity? Retrieved from Connecting conservation and
Science/Colorado Natural Heritage Program website:
http://www.cnhp.colostate.edu/biodiversity.asp

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(N/A) (2015). Help Save Wildlife Retrieved from World Animal Foundation website:
http://www.worldanimalfoundation.net/wildlife.html

Gift Center. (2015). Retrieved from WWF website: http://gifts.worldwildlife.org/giftcenter/Default.aspx?sc=AWY1302WC913&_ga=1.157959807.410722157.144667695

Link to Survey conducted:

https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/XR9MGZK