Page 19 - Dainfern Precinct_Issue 4_2022

NATURE

Image: IIse Orsel, Unsplash

Image: Nam-Anh,Unsplash

to rival the variety and drama of such as horns and tusks, and for
Africa’s wildlife. body parts used in Asian medicine.”

The report comes from a global As Walt Kelly’s comic character, Pogo,
survey by the Climate Action famously said 50 years ago, “We
Network (CAN) set up last century have found the enemy. He is us!”
by many universities and institutions.
CAN represents an interesting The findings reported in CAN’s
alignment of bodies that share Climate News Network are bleak. Of
information on various aspects of 362 mammals, including sharks and
environment and closely watches rays larger than 100kg, and birds
strategies affecting international, and reptiles larger than 40kg, there
regional and national climate issues. are at least 200 species that are in
The various institutions “place a high decline and more than 150 could
priority on both a healthy environment, become extinct.
and development that meets
the needs of the present without “Our results suggest we’re in the
compromising the ability of future process of slaying and consuming
generations to meet their own needs”. megafauna to the point of
extinction,” says Ripple. “Through
CAN’s latest report notes, “The the utilisation of various body
world’s biggest animals – the largest parts, purveyors of traditional Asian
birds, the bigger mammals and even medicine also exert heavy tolls on
reptiles, sharks and amphibians the largest species. In the future,
– are in increasing danger of 70% of megafauna will experience
extinction.” Why? The report is further population declines and
unequivocal – hunting, it says, is 60% of the larger species could
mainly to blame. either become extinct or be very
rare.”
Climate change, habitat loss and
pollution are compounding the They found “to their surprise” that
problems but the major threat comes hunting (both for food and for
from human beings who have trophies) was “the biggest danger for
emerged as the planet’s “super- 98% of the species for which they
predators”. could find data.”

Professor William Ripple, an “Preserving the remaining
ecologist at the Oregon State megafauna is going to be difficult and
University School of Forestry in the complicated,” says Ripple. “There
US, says, “The larger animals are will be economic arguments against
being hunted to death. They are it as well as cultural and social
Chris and Jules Image: Geran de Klerk,Unsplash
being killed for meat, for trophies obstacles.”
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