Endangered Animals in the Arctic
What does endangered mean? Whats the difference between endangered and extinction? Those are very common questions asked my many people. The answer is endangered animals are animals who are becoming more rare and decreasing in numbers because of hunting, pollution, and many more reasons that aren’t getting solved fast enough. Animals are getting endangered in the Arctic more easily because the animals and plants are getting more scarce due to the climate. If people do not keep an eye of the endangered species even if they are still populated they can decrease numbers at a rapid rate without anyone knowing due to all the climate change and oil in the Arctic regions.
There are different types of endangered; a least concern, near threatened and threatened. A least concern is an animal categorized by the International Union for Conservation of Nature. They are do not qualify as threatened, near threatened or dependent. Near threatened is given to species that may be close to extinction in the near future. This usually includes vulnerable species. Threatened is also known as endangered and means that extinction will come soon and a significant portion of the species will be gone.
The Arctic Fox: They can change their fur from long white fur all the way to short brown fur depending on the season. There fur can also be used as camouflage. The foxes are lowering due to hunting. Places near Finland, Norway, and Sweden are where the arctic foxes have been disappearing because of hunting. Arctic foxes are the most endangered species in the Tundra/ Arctic. Arctic foxes are lowering there numbers due to climate change and loss of habitat. Many animals are now preferring warmer regions and are moving up north.
Polar Bears: Polar bears are becoming endangered due to the climate change in the arctic. Polar bears main source of food is seals and it has been getting harder and harder to hunt for these. Less than 2% of polar bear hunts are successful. The most common hunting way is known as active breathing hole and uses a sense of smell. Polar bears fur is good for camouflage and can look like a snow drift.
Beluga Whale: These whales are more likely to become extinct at a rapid rate because of the burning of fossil fuels. There is a 75% decrease in the last decade. Pollution, habitat degradation, harassment, commercial fisheries and underwater disturbances are more reasons these animals are lowering in numbers. There is agency known as NOAA and they are committed to protecting them by rebuilding habitats and making sure numbers of the whales don’t go to low.
Caribou: These are endangered due to threats from oil and gas and mining. There are threats of poaching in some areas. This has been causing a loss of habitat and food. The caribou’s are endangered also because of direct habitat loss, degradation and fragmentation. The caribou’s are the least concern but if we do not keep an eye of endangered animals they can decrease rapidly and before we know it they are gone.
Narwhals: There has been an increasing threats of climate change and hunting. There skin provides Vitamin C which people in the Alaskan region need. They are also hunted for their tusks. Natural ice covers the top and thickens and causes the narwhals to not breath well because they cant come back up to the surface.
Sea Otter: Sea otters have the densest fur because it has no blubber to keep it warm. There is about 1 million hairs per square inch. Sea otters are like polar bears and are considered a valuable part in the ecosystem because they have a great influence on the environment. Sea otters diet consists of sea urchins, fish, mussels, and clams. During the 19th century sea otters came close to extinction because they were hunted. Another reason sea otters are decreasing is pollution caused by humans. Now sea otters are kept and protected in the Endangered Species Act & Marine Mammal Protection Act.
Walrus: The walrus population faces growing problems due to ocean acidification. They are considered to be the biggest problem facing extinction. This causes problems to their food supply as well. Oil and gas development increase the spills and create a noise pollution. Global warming has also played a big part in there extinction. Like the polar bear they both depend on sea ice. Walruses are an increasing threat of extinction due to global warming. In 2007 was a record low for the ice and that caused 40,000 walruses to die, and this can only get worse.
Bowhead Whale: Bowhead whales depend on the ice and are getting endangered due to the melting and freezing of ice. Bowhead whales are capable of breaking through the ice at least seven inches thick. Bowhead whales may be one of the longest lived animals according to data. They can be almost 200 years. Bowhead whales are considered a least concern but on the coast of Greenland is where the numbers are dropping. They have been hunted by commercial whalers until the latest century normally for oil, meat and baleen. Baleen is a whalebone.
Ways to stop or slow down endangering species: recycle anything you can, reduce your use of plastic, educate people about what is happening and educate the media by posting things to stop it.
In conclusion many animals are becoming endangered due to problems in the Arctic that aren’t getting resolved fast enough. This is to show how the animals are getting endangered to give ideas to either slow the process down or completely stop it.
