Of the estimated 5-15 million living species sharing the planet, the vast majority are under some kind of threat from humankind, whether it is by destruction of habitat, erosion of foodscapes and food sources, pollution, hunting, overfishing or climate change. Humans, through a dangerous combination of greed, indifference, and ignorance, are destroying numerous animal species, along with the rest of the living planet.
Without large tracts of uninterrupted habitat animals are no longer able to feed themselves and/or mate.
The planet is currently losing animal species at a rate of 5,000-10,000 times higher than the natural rate of extinct. The World Conservation Union (IUCN), a global tracking agency for species, reported in 2007 that life on earth was disappearing at an increased rate. In 2007, there were 41,415 species on the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species and 16,306 of them are threatened with extinction. 80% of the birds, mammals and amphibians on the Red List have been directly affected by habitat loss. Scientists refer to the increasing trend of species erosion as the “global extinction crisis”.
Loss of Habitat
Humankind is systematically colonizing the entire planet, from the water to the land to the skies. Development, deforestation, mining, war, farming, industry and pollution, all contribute to habitat loss and fragmentation. Habitat destruction is universally the most dominant threat to species. In fact, habitat loss and degradation affect 89% of all threatened birds, 83% of mammals, and 91% of threatened plants reports the IUCN.
Without large tracts of uninterrupted habitat animals are no longer able to feed themselves and/or mate. The Humane Society of the United States (HSUS) explains, “…maintaining functional ecosystems often requires the protection of vast expanses of land to meet the minimum habitat requirements of the largest, most widely roaming members of the ecosystem, including top carnivores such as eagles and cougars or large migrating herd animals such as elk”. Animals also need habitat corridors between larger tracts of land to survive, especially on migratory journeys.
Hunting
Trophy and canned hunts are arguably the worst of the various forms of hunting. Trophy hunting usually involves a hunter wanting to kill a specific animal to add to their collection of trophies. Ethan Smith, author of Building An Ark, estimates in the US alone, 13 million trophy hunters spend $20 billion dollars annually. Both Africa and Canada are renowned for their trophy animals; the ability to kill a male lion or a fully-grown grizzly bear attracts hunters from around the world. British Columbia is one of the few places in North America where it is still legal to kill a grizzly bear for sport.
90% of wild animals kept as pets are dead within the first two years of captivity.
Ozondjahe Safaris, one of numerous trophy-hunting organizations in Africa, offers an 8-day hunting package in Namibia for US$5980 which includes killing a Zebra, Impala, Cape Eland and Oryx. The price tag doesn’t include airfare, but does include luxury accommodation, meals and daily chef, butler, maid and laundry services. The price to kill an elephant in South Africa starts at about US$650 per day. A two-week package normally runs about US$12,600. A combination grizzly, black bear and wolf hunting package in British Columbia, Canada costs $US 8,000 (licenses and trophy fees are extra) advertises Northern Woodsman Outfitting Ltd.
Caged or canned hunts refer to shooting on reserves or game ranches where captive wild animals, usually a mixture of native and exotic, are held until a trophy hunter comes to shoot the animal. Big Cat Rescue reports that canned hunting “…violates the generally accepted standards of the hunting community, which are based on the concept of fair chase”. The HSUS is calling for an end to canned hunting. Yet even with much public outcry there are more than 1000 such facilities spread across 28 states in the USA. Canada, Africa and numerous other countries around the world offer canned hunting. The HSUS reports some popular animals for canned hunts in the USA include Zebra ($800-$2000), Pygmy Goat ($350), Water Buffalo ($3,500) and Sable Antelope ($3,000-$8,000). People For the Ethical Treatment of Animals explains, “…most of these ranches operate on a ‘no kill, no pay’ policy, so it is in owners’ best interests to ensure clients get what they came for”.
Cruel Captivity
Wild animals are usually kept in captivity for one primary reason —entertainment for humans. The Captive Wild Animal Protection Coalition estimates 90% of wild animals kept as pets are dead within the first two years of captivity. PETA reports the trade in wild animals is a $10 billion dollar a year business, many animals, ounce for ounce, are worth more to smugglers than cocaine.
Captive animals can be found in entertainment shows, zoos, rodeos and other animal attractions. The onus on entertainment takes precedent over the animals’ needs. Confined animals spend a large portion of their time in unnaturally small cages, pens or pools. It is extremely difficult to replicate a nomadic animal’s habitat within a city zoo or Las Vegas attraction. These animals also suffer psychological problems and severe stress due to boredom, frustration, inadequate habitat or food, and an inability to escape or retreat from their situations. Additionally, entertainment animals often are declawed, beaten, or drugged until they ‘accept’ the training. PETA reports entertainment animals experience constant stress and the combination of anxiety, imprisonment and inactivity results in weakened immune systems, neurotic behaviors, self-mutilation and aggression.
Resources
Big Cat Rescue: http://www.bigcatrescue.org/
PETA: http://www.peta.org/
Traffic: http://www.traffic.org/
World Conservation Union: http://www.iucn.org/
Zoocheck Canada: http://www.zoocheck.com/
Green Pages
Internet hunting is a system of killing live animals located on a game farm from your computer. Often referred to as “contained hunting” or “computer-assisted remote hunting”. The first American site originated in Texas and although numerous US states have banned this practice, several states as still allowing internet hunting to continue. The Computer Assisted Remote Hunting Act was introduced to Senate in 2007.
ARKive: Images of Life on Earth is the world’s largest collection of photographs of species on earth — many still living, but an increasing number becoming extinct: http://www.arkive.org/
Cirque de Soleil (Circus of the Sun) is a world-renowned Canadian circus troupe that has managed to wow close to 80 million spectators in over 200 cities on five continents without using any animals: http://www.cirquedusoleil.com/
The World Conservation Union (IUCN) is the world’s largest organization working to protect the integrity and diversity of nature. The IUCN publishes the Red List of Threatened Species each year detailing which species are threatened, facing extinction or have disappeared forever: http://www.iucn.org/
Aquariums are cruel prisons for most marine animals. Whales and dolphins swim great distances each day, but in marine parks the sea creatures are confined to small-chlorinated tanks. Many marine animals navigate by sonar and the confinement in a small tank drives many mammals insane: http://www.nowhalesincaptivity.org
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