http://www.enn.com/wildlife/article/41775
So far this group has talked exclusively about animals on the edge of extinction. And I will not be the one to stop that streak
The human race’s harmful ignorance is once again pointed out. According to a new analysis by Conservation International, more than a third of the world's 280 freshwater turtle species are threatened with extinction. CI’s recent analysis has pointed out that the recent drop in population for turtles is mainly because of people harvesting turtles and their eggs for food. Because turtles are believed to have medicinal curing properties, turtles are very beneficial, especially in China and Asia.
Dr Peter van Dijk, the director of CI’s Tortoise and Freshwater Turtle Conservation Program, explains how such harvesting impacts long-lived turtle populations. “These are animals that take 15 to 20 years to reach maturity and then live for another 30 to 40 years, putting a clutch of eggs in the ground every year. They play the odds, hoping that in that 50 year lifetime, some of their hatchlings will somehow evade predators and go on to breed themselves. But if you take these animals out before they've reached 15 and can reproduce, it all ends there.”
Some of the reasons why the turtles residing in the rivers are losing population are because of damning for hydroelectricity and mining.
CI also went to into detail about the ten most endangered species, some of which have only four individuals in those species.
Even though half of the world’s wetlands are already lost and two-thirds of major rivers are dammed there is still a possibility to help these fascinating creatures.
Opinion: Even though these guys aren’t the most fascination or majestic animals, they still are apart of our ecosystem just as much as any other animal. It is absolutely ridiculous that there are so much of these turtles that basically the only ones of their species. We need to do our part to not just help turtles but to help all these other animals out.
What are some things you could talk to your community about to help turtles?
Why would turtles be so valuable for medicine?
What are some good turtle saving organizations and how are they effective?
Just another animal on the brink of extinction. It is horrible that so many animals or creatures are going through this. Humans need to realize the kind of effects we are having on the ecosystem and the environment as a whole. Even though turtles can be very helpful for medicine, I do not believe that we should be capturing these animals for that reason. Just let them go and live their lives as we should be doing with ours. They don't bother us why should we bother them.
ReplyDeleteI agree that even though this animal isn't the most popular and well-known of all animals, it needs just as much care and attention. It's understandable that it is used for food and medicine, especially in China and Asia, but it's no reason to let them go extinct. If the human species is going to use animals for themselves, they need to think of a better way to do it, because it's causing huge problems for many species. People in China and Asia have to come up with a better plan if they're going to use the turtles for medicine. Instead of taking them out of their habitat, they should breed them in a special area for the one purpose. I realize that the medicine is important because China and Asia aren't the most wealthy countries in the world, so that is why we just need to make some minor changes. Let's be responsible and help the turtles!
ReplyDeleteOk so this is the third post about animals that have a decreasing population and need to be saved, so i dont have much more to say other than what ive already said in my two previous blog comments. So yea, I think we should save the turtle because again its our fault so we need to fix it. And yes, turtles arent the most popular animals but it doesnt givbe us anymore reason to not care about them less than we do any other animal. Any animal suddenly going near extinction is going to hugley impact the biodiversity and the whole "system" by which the habitat they're living in works. So along the same lines of the tiger one people in china and asia need to come up with an alternative for the tutle based medicine. http://www.costaricaturtles.com/ this website is the site for a very halpful turtle saving website that helps turtles, seas turtles in partivcular, through methods that are sustainable, environmentally responsible and enhance the lives of people who share the habitat. and Nicki if youre reading this PLEASe dont post about another endangered animal, all the comments ar5e becoming the same comment over and over again because we as the human race create the same problem over and over again. Enviornmentalist you better shape up and start protecting these animals!
ReplyDeleteAnother species that I had no idea was suffering a population problem, and of course caused by us humans. This subject is becoming more and more ridiculous. Chris made a great point about how the turtles did nothing to us so why should we go after them, and I agree with it completely. If Asians want the turtles so bad, then why don't they breed them on a turtle farm or something! It's unneccessary that they are taking the turtles out of their homes for some stupid medicine or research. Even though it is sad for the turtles to be in this situation, it is good to see that Japan has an organization to help this problem: http://www.iucn-tftsg.org/mauremys-japonica/ I agree with Ben, and I think that we should get off this depressing subject of endangered species and move on to something else.
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