In 10 to 20 years, some animal species such as the Bornean Orangutan are destined to disappear from
earth. Protecting endangered wildlife is a critical issue as the disappearance of animals, plants and
insects deeply affects the biodiversity in ecosystems. Tackling this problem should be one of the
priorities on the agenda of the states, yet governments prioritize all too much economic interests and the
development of industries. In this regard, human activities and climate change represent a major hurdle
the international community needs to address in order to protect wildlife.
Firstly, the extinction of some animal species has a serious impact on forests despite them playing a
crucial role for life on earth. Humans depend on plants and trees as they produce oxygen, yet illegal
logging and deforestation keep accelerating. As a consequence, large forests like the Amazon rainforest
shrink at a very fast pace. The Malaysian case is particularly striking as its government encourages the
exportation of expensive wood. Deforestation, illegal logging and palm tree plantations have been a
major cause of the destruction of the Bornean forest. Animals like the Bornean Orangutan, registered as
a “critically endangered” species by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), are
facing extinction because of human activity while they play an important role. The Bornean Orangutan
contributes to keeping the rainforest healthy as it spreads 500 different types of seeds which enhances
biodiversity. Yet, more and more apes end up losing their natural habitat. In order to save the Bornean
Orangutan, more national parks should be created. The government should also contribute into restoring
degraded parts of the rainforest and encourage the activities of NGOs like “Save the Orangutan”. The
awareness of civil society about this issue should be raised on an international level so that illegal
logging and palm tree plantations can be stopped.
Secondly, climate change which is accelerated by human activities and industrialization, also leads to
the extinction of animal species. For example, the Bengal, the Sumatran and the South China tigers
represent the most endangered subspecies of the tiger. India which is home to the world's largest
population of tigers has to face a major issue: the rise of the sea level. Because of this phenomenon, the
mangrove forests situated at the Indian coast could be completely destroyed. As a consequence, the
Bengal tiger loses its natural habitat. On top of the rise of the sea level, those tigers are also endangered
because of human activities like illegal poaching. More political will is necessary in order to stop that:
governments should promote the preservation of forests and a sustainable economic development. Tiger
trade and illegal poaching must be prohibited.
Lastly, animal species important for biodiversity on earth and declared as “vulnerable” by the IUCN
might be saved as long as governments are willing to act now. Polar bears have become an iconic
example of endangered species due to climate change. Because of global warming, scientists kept
estimating the rapid decline of their population in the early 2000s. However, it seems today that the
decline of this species has not yet reached a critical point of no return. The melting of the Arctic ice
constitutes a great challenge for the international community as a common effort is needed in order to
slow down global warming. Industrial development has also polluted the polar bear's habitat. Besides,
many states are not inclined to look away from the opportunity of opening up permanent Arctic shipping
routes thanks to the melting of the ice. This issue constitutes a new threat to polar bears. Some
projections show that 30% of the polar bear population might decline in 2050. In order to avoid that,
transnational cooperation in the Arctic is necessary. Moreover, industrial impact has to be reduced so as
to stop the pollution of the sea.
Finally, despite the extinction of animal species due to human activities which accelerate climate change,
there are solutions to tackle this issue. In most cases, governments have to show more good will in order
to protect the environment. Animals are endangered because they lose their natural habitats or because
those habits are changing. So, governments need to promote more sustainable models of development
and cooperate with local communities to ensure the protection of forests and wildlife.