Endangered Species

Through history, over-hunting (the buffalo during the 19th Century), over- trapping (the beaver during the 17th Century) and over-fishing (cod during the 1980s), have, put not only wild animal populations at risk but also the important balance of nature at some time or another.

On the other hand, natural environments nowadays are very different from what they used to be. The growth of modern day cities, roads and industries has gradually reduced their size while increasing their pollution. Wild animal habitats have consequently shrunk, leaving all animals with less and less space to feed, live and reproduce.

As a result, some animals have disappeared from large areas where they used to live. For example, the American elk once roamed the eastern woodlands of North America, but now can only be found in the western part of the continent.

In other cases, some animals simply became extinct. This is the case of the sea mink, which disappeared from the east coast of New Brunswick and Maine during the 19th Century after over- hunting.

Many animals risk extinction today since only a few individuals of that species are still alive. They can no longer reproduce safely, either because of pollution or because of a reduced family gene pool.These animals then become an endangered species. In Canada, for example, the wood buffalo of the northern prairies, or the beluga whale of the St. Lawrence river.

Can you tell what animals are closely related to buffaloes? To belugas? To elks? To sea-minks? Do you know of any others animals which are endangered species? Or even extinct? What could be done to protect endangered species? Do you think some insects can also be endangered? What animals do you think are not endangered at all? Can you describe why?