Methods to Improve Populations of Endangered Species

Hunting Bans

• If governments enact them soon enough, bans on hunting or harvesting endangered species give their populations a chance to recover. The U.S. prohibited fishermen from hunting marine mammals and whales in 1972, according to the Encarta Encyclopedia. Over 160 nations ratified the Convention on Biological Diversity in 1992; it requires them to shield endangered species from harm. Canada enacted two major laws for the protection of endangered plants and animals in 1996. Some governments also ban imports of meat, clothing and other items derived from such species. However, criminals continue attempts to covertly hunt and export endangered animals.

Captive Breeding

• Humans also try to breed some endangered animals in captivity to improve their populations. This has proven successful in some instances, especially for bird species. Encarta indicates that the population of California condors increased by nearly six times in 13 years, with the help of captive breeding. Similar efforts to improve peregrine falcon and whooping crane populations brought success. This method protects the animals from predators and habitat destruction. However, it can create other problems, such as decreased resistance to diseases and reduced capability to live in the natural world.

Environmental Protection

• Sometimes, environmental contamination causes plant or animal species to become endangered. Among other things, pesticide use, waste discharges and mercury poisoning harm wildlife. Political leaders, business operators and individuals must take steps to curtail these types of pollution before endangered species populations can improve. Such methods have achieved success in the past. The U.S. population of bald eagles increased approximately ten times since 1963 thanks to the prohibition of eagle hunting and DDT pesticide, according to the Environmental Protection Agency. Concerns about the effects of other pesticides remain.

Protecting Habitat

• Even if humans do not hunt or inadvertently poison endangered species, they can still cause extinction by destroying plant and animal habitat. When people replace forests and grasslands with shopping centers or cattle grazing fields, nearly all species in these areas lose their habitats. Some governments and non-profit organizations work to improve endangered species populations by purchasing land and protecting it from development. Local governments also use regulation and zoning methods to restrict construction by existing landowners. National parks and forests help protect endangered species habitats; the United States, Canada, Mexico and Japan were the first countries to establish national parks, according to Britannica Ready Reference.