Why+Should+You+Care?

Humans are a direct and indirect cause of the endangerment of animal species all over the world. Efforts to protect animals who are helpless against the human species need to be taken up by people from all walks of life, for the sake of a healthy planet and home for humanity.

The Siberian Tiger has been directly affected by human activity, by having their habitat destroyed by humans, being poached for their fur, being used as trophies, and even used as Chinese Medicine in some cases. The Siberian Tiger has been indirectly affected by human activity, because humans have been destroying their environment/habitat by chasing the animals out the better establish their cities and build homes. This causes the animal to become confused and lessons their resources which eventually causes them to die off. The Siberian Tiger is a beautiful animal and has been around for hundreds of years, I think its important to keep this regal animal around so we can continue to study the animal and learn about it. I also think it is important to keep the animal protected because there are not too many more left in the world so we all have to do our part by stopping the poaching and the killing of the tigers for medicines and use of trophies. The Siberian tiger also plays an important role in the food chain, and without its presence the same threat of endangerment will happen to another animal and the snowball event will occur.

The polar bear has been directly affected by human activity due to hunting, although efforts are being made to prevent poaching. Inuit groups such as the Nunavut in Canada still hunt polar bears since the animal is their only source of income and food and is a part of their spiritual tradition. However, even these groups are restricted to a certain quota per year in order to avoid over-harvesting. Humans are "indirectly" affecting polar bears through global warming. As the atmosphere and oceans get warmer, the ice sheets on which the bears thrive disappear. As a result, the bears are either forced to stay on more solid land for longer periods of time (during which they can starve or lose significant amounts of body fat), or face the possibility of drowning as they attempt to swim long stretches of ocean in search of food. According to National Geographic, one female polar bear was recently recorded as swimming for **nine days straight** for a total of about **426 miles** before finding a solid resting spot. During this record-breaking swim, her cub died and she also lost 22% of her body fat. The polar bear may not be as directly important to the livelihood of most people on the planet as it is to people like the Canadian Nunavut. However, their extinction would be a powerful and terrifying indication of what's to come for our own species if we allow global warming to continue.

The population of African elephants has taken a huge toll from poaching. Those who kill elephants for the ivory trade do it illegally and sell ivory through the black market, benefiting themselves financially and illegally trading across borders. Those who kill elephants indirectly kill calves when murdering their mothers. Calves are left without any means to survive or are hunted by predators like lions. African elephants are majestic creatures unlike any other species in the world. They are extremely intelligent animals and can even communicate across miles through telepathy. They are among the most caring and nurturing animals in the world, and are committed to their herds, with cows even carrying for calves not their own, who have been orphaned. They are sensitive creatures that although are massive, are helpless against poachers ruthlessly and illegally committing a genocide against their species. African elephants are keystone species that are vital to their environments in Africa, and are needed to ensure that the biodiversity of Africa's continent thrives and remains a healthy home for all species, whether plant, animal, or human.