Why is OUR PLANET dying?

Humans have turned out to be a scourge on this planet, Earth.  Humans have explored and infiltrated all parts of this world, usually destroying it in their wake.  Elephants are almost extinct, as are Polar bears, Dolphins and most whale species.

These animals have just as much right to exist as any other animal.  We don't see animals displacing and exterminating other species; it is only man that kills off entire species for our own selfish reasons.  What we also fail to acknowledge is  when one species goes extinct it has a domino effect on other species.  We are probably the last domino in the chain, no one can tell you otherwise.  We all have the responsibility to save each domino, each species on the brink of extinction due to mankind.

When elephants die off, so do the birds that pick parasite from their skins.  There are also fish that utilize the elephant footprints which fill up with water during rainy seasons.  Insects also use these water filled footprints to lay their eggs.  Without the elephants, the insects die, and so do the birds that survive off the insects and so do people who survive off the birds.  Everything is a domino effect, don't kid yourself.

Elephants are still murdered for their tusks everyday.  WHY DOESN'T EVERYONE JUST STOP BUYING IVORY!  What is Ivory even used for in today's world, gaudy art pieces displayed in Chinatown?

Elephants are so similar to humans, yet we have turned a blind eye to their plight, which incidentally we humans have created.  They can live up to 70 years, begin mating when they are 20 years old, and are very protective of their young.  Elephants celebrate the birth of a baby calf and mourn when an elephant dies.  Elephants have often been observed mourning when encountering Elephant bones, they are not stupid animals and do have a right to existence just like we do.

 Flamingos are a staple in the lawn art decoration arena, yet they too are dying out in alarming numbers.  People would rather have plastic lawn art flamingos to look at than have any Flamingos actually survive this polluted environment.   Lake Natron in Tanzania is the only breeding ground for the Lesser flamingo, but the SODA ASH EXTRACTION plant may pollute and deteriorate the lake forever. With no environmental laws and protections, the natural soda ash is extracted so humans can use it in household items.

Ancient Romans ate Flamingo tongues as a delicacy until it was outlawed by the ancient Romans due to extinction worries.

Cuttlefish and Stingrays are also treated with complete disregard.  There are no programs to protect their existence.  You may think Cuttlefish are no big deal, but they are quite intelligent and mate for life.  They exhibit a full range of emotions that are quite readable by their pulsating body color changes.  I find them to be very human like.

Stingrays are also so full of life and are yet falling prey to the inconsiderate and littering human species.  They are so delicate and easily effected by toxins in the oceans.  Not to mention the rays that get caught in the trawling nets.  They are suffocated and discarded of.  I find they have very expressive faces, even before they are born.

                            Stingray egg. Even before birth they exhibit facial expressions                                                         

Parrots are quickly disappearing from the rainforest.  Rainforests are shrinking at too quickly of a rate for parrots to adapt to.  This Blue Hyacinth Macaw is the largest parrot in the world.  It is on the endangered species list due to de-forestation of Brazil rainforests and humans hunt them for their beautiful feathers. Since this bird is a messy eater, it contributes to seed dispersal within its habitat by dropping seeds and nuts when feeding, thus helping preserve the environment by supporting rainforest animals who reside on the forest floor.    

                     As few as 1,000-2,000 Blue Hyacinths remain in their natural habitat.  They are loving creatures that can live up to 90 years old.  They also mate for life and are very social and emotional.

The Blue Throated Macaws  are almost extinct with as few as 100-120 birds left in the Wild.  They are the smallest of the large Macaws and have been a favorite pet among royals and pet fanciers for several hundred years. They naturally reside in a small rainforest in Bolivia, and sadly more live in captivity than in their natural environment. This rampant disregard of the rainforests will decimate these last populations of birds, as well as other native birds, unless we find both legal means and economic incentives to totally halt the trapping of these birds and stop the destruction of their natural habitat.  Incidentally, when the parrots die off, so do the small creatures who feed off of the food that the parrots tossed down from the rainforest canopy.  The small animals go without food and the larger animals who feed off of them also die.  The only thing that would increase would be insects without predators.  Ecotourism would be a great alternative for these native peoples of South America.  Additionally,  do not buy a bird caught in the wild for a pet, there are plenty of domestic bird breeders!

Blue Throated Macaw of Bolivia.  Only about 50 mating pair are left in the wild.              

Polar Bears are drowning! News info as of 2006

   For the first time ever, in 2005 researchers have found dead polar bears that drowned off the Arctic coast.  It is believed that the polar bears are drowning directly due to warmer climate changes melting the Arctic ice shelf.   Four polar bear bodies were found floating in one month in a single part of ocean near the north coast of Alaska, where average summer temperatures have increased by 2-3C degrees since 1950s.

Shockingly researchers found polar bears swimming up to 60 miles across open sea to find food. They are being forced into these long excursions because the ice floes from which they feed are melting, becoming smaller and drifting farther apart.

Polar bears are known to be strong swimmers, but they are adapted for swimming close to the shore, not swimming for 60 miles across the open ocean. Their new sea travels for food leave them extremely vulnerable to exhaustion, hypothermia or drowning by large waves.  

Once again, Polar Bears are an integral part of our world, they do not deserve to be starved to death and they do not deserve to drown looking for food because Humans over fish the planet and Humans raise the entire PLANET'S temperature because we burn fossil fuels and pollute our waterways.  We are a scourge on this planet, but hopefully we can change before it's too late for all of us.  If the Polar Bears go extinct because of climate changes, chances are we are in for the same ride.