Reasons for the Extinction of Endangered & Extinct Species

Natural Events

• A drastic change in the environment can be responsible for the extinction of a species. For example, a volcanic eruption can have a devastating effect on the wildlife population of an area. A drastic change in the Earth's temperature meanwhile, such as that seen after the world's ice ages, threatens many species who are unable to survive in the new warmer temperatures.

Climate Change

• Some temperature changes are brought about by humans, chiefly those caused by increased greenhouse gas emissions. The release of gases such as methane into the atmosphere by humans traps heat, resulting in a higher temperature across the world over time. This causes some animals to try to move to cooler areas, and some species have nowhere to go due to the destruction of their habitats by humans. Plants are especially vulnerable because they cannot escape the warming of their habitats.

Hunting and Collecting

• Certain animals, such as the rhinoceros and certain species of butterfly, have been the target of human hunters and collectors for centuries, who look to imprison these creatures or sell them. While hunting of endangered species is banned in many areas, it is still conducted illegally. Also, it's difficult to stop an individual from picking up a flower he likes.

Invasive Species

• Animals and plants already battle to survive in the habitat they call home; if a new predator or rival comes along, this struggle becomes harder, and can eventually lead to the extinction of a species. This new, invasive species may be responsible for eating all of the endangered animal's food for example, or else become a predator of the endangered species, significantly reducing its numbers.

Pesticides

• Another man-made process that is having an ill-effect on the survival of some flora and fauna is human use of pesticides and other chemicals, which not only contribute to pollution, but can also lead to animals and plants being poisoned. For example, the pesticide DDT was formerly used on farms, but ultimately had a negative effect on the ecosystem wherever it was used. The pesticide-contaminated water supplies, killing fish and adversely affecting the eggs of bald eagles who survived on local fish, resulting in less bald eagles being born.