YGA Journal | Article
Endangered Species in 2023
Shedding light upon endangered species throughout Canada as of 2023
Educate yourself about the many factors that lead to the struggles of endangered species and learn how you can resolve these issues today!
Article
Published October 28, 2023
Written by Haseeb Rizvi
As the year comes to a close, we’re being faced with the problem of species endangerment. The prominence of this issue is mainly due to global warming, human encroachment, and exploiting creatures. It’s predicted that within the next century up to 30 percent of animal and plant species will be on the brink of extinction. We’ve seen it happen slowly over time already and it’s not looking any better. In this article we’ll see the history and challenges that endangered species face, while also looking at ways we could potentially increase their populations to help balance out our ecosystem.
Eastern cougars are a subspecies of cougars in eastern North America that unfortunately are one of many species that suffer the consequences of endangerment, in Canada, they’re commonly found in Ontario, Quebec, New Brunswick, and the rest of east Canada as the name intends. There is unclear information on the remaining population of eastern cougars, however, throughout history, we do know that western cougars were once hunted by humans for poaching and because they hunted livestock. Human settlement, destroying habitats, and mining are potential reasons for the massive decline in these species’ lives. To even have a chance at surviving they need large areas with no human activity such as a forest where they can thrive. They’re one of three cats in Canada, including the Canadian Bobcat and Lynx, so it’s crucial that they be preserved for the local ecosystem’s sake.
The Peary Caribou are a subspecies, like the eastern cougar, but towards caribou species. They are known to be the smallest North American caribou who reside in the habitat of Northern Canada, neighbouring next to Alaska. Sadly, the most dangerous thing to these species is climate change. Especially when it’s influenced by human pollution. The frequencies of severe weather effects like thick ice hurts their ability to get food and leaves them open to predators like wolves. And the overall result of climate change and pollution is that they can’t find a home. Hunters are also a factor of endangerment, as these species compile into one habitat to the other because of inhospitable land, it only worsens these effects that leave these species endangered.
The Grizzly bear, a species of brown bear inhabiting mostly Western North America from Canada to Mexico, they’re iconic for its brown appearance but can also be yellow, white or black. Hiding in forests and relying mostly on plants for their diet, they’re still considered to be the second biggest land predator in the continent. Although they just worry about what plants they’ll eat today, humans should start worrying about them more. The reason grizzly bears are dying out is because of us. We continue to destroy their homes by mining and building agricultural sites while also killing them by illegally hunting or by accidental reasons.
What you can do to help
The best priority to help endangered species is always now, but many are overwhelmed or unsure of how they can help. There are many ways you can help out with conservation programs aimed at helping these poor creatures. While you’re there you might find like-minded people who can tell you even more about the ecology, threats, and activities that lead to endangerment. It is important to educate ourselves about the endangerment of species and where it lies amongst our environment and daily affairs, especially when taking an approach that combines legal protection, education, habitat preservation, and international cooperation to ensure the survival of these species in hopes their population will thrive once and for all.
References
“Eastern Cougar.” Nature Canada, 3 Aug. 2022, naturecanada.ca/discover-nature/endangered-species/eastern-cougar/. Accessed 28 Oct. 2023.
“Evolution: Library: The Current Mass Extinction.” PBS, Public Broadcasting Service, www.pbs.org/wgbh/evolution/library/03/2/l_032_04.html#:~:text=By%20some%20estimates%C%20as%20much,vulnerable%20to%20extinction%20than%20others. Accessed 28 Oct. 2023.
“Grizzly Bear.” Nature Canada, 3 Aug. 2022, naturecanada.ca/discover-nature/endangered-species/grizzly-bear/. Accessed 28 Oct. 2023.
“Grizzly Bear.” Nature Canada, 3 Aug. 2022, naturecanada.ca/discover-nature/endangered-species/grizzly-bear/. Accessed 28 Oct. 2023.
“Peary Caribou.” Peary Caribou | NWT Species at Risk, www.nwtspeciesatrisk.ca/content/nwt-peary-caribou#:~:text=Peary%20caribou%20previously%20had%20a,changed%20to%20Threatened%20in%202023. Accessed 28 Oct. 2023.