More Cool Facts

Whilst hunting and habitat destruction play a major part in animal extinction there’s no doubt that the effects associated with climate change such as higher temperatures, extreme weather, changing rainfall all make the situation even worse.

It’s a known fact that over 16,000 plant and animal species are now threatened with extinction thanks to the rapid climate change we’re experiencing. Let’s take a look at a few examples.

Apollo Butterfly

This butterfly lives in the mountain meadows of forests and needs sunlight to stay warm and survive. However a warming climate has caused trees to grow higher up blocking essential light.

Trout

These cold water fish which were once common in lakes and rivers are not as common thanks to a general warming up of water temperatures. Trout and Salmon both extremely sensitive to temperature change are the hardest hit by our current climatic changes.

Golden Toad

This beautiful looking bright yellow toad became extinct in 1987, killed by a disease that spread in it’s natural forest habitat thanks to unusually warm temperatures. A whole species wiped out due to rising temperatures, now that’s something.

Curlew

Like many other shore birds the Curlew is becoming increasingly troubled due it’s habitat, food supplies and migration patterns being affected by the global climate changes.

Pika

A relative of the modern day rabbit this small mouse like creature is heading for extinction as they’re unable to survive in higher temperatures. They’re natural mountain habitat is becoming increasingly affected by temperature rises so much so that it may well be the first mammal species to die from climate change.

Polar Bears

With shrinking ice caps and less ice Polar Bears are finding it extremely difficult to feed due to the shortage of ice. Less opportunities to feed mean shorter lifespans and fewer cubs.

Pacific Hawksbill Turtle

Living in the Caribbean, 6 out of 7 of the Hawksbill Turtle species are now bordering on extinction. Thanks to global warming their food e.g. sea grasses and corals are slowly dieing due to warmer oceans. As well as this remote island beaches which are slowly dissappearing due to rising sea levels mean precious nesting grounds are being lost. Combine this with the general higher temperatures which lead to fewer eggs hatching and you have a complete turtle species heading for extinction.

Final Words

The world conservation union who gather information and data from the worlds leading scientists estimate that the number of threatened species are on the increase. As many as 1 in 3 amphibians, 1 in 4 mammals and 1 in 10 birds are currently heading for the extinction list. Not numbers to be happy about!

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