Hobbies And Interests
Protect the Environment
An easy way to help is to recycle and buy sustainable products for your household. For instance, by limiting your use of palm oil you help to protect the forests where tigers live. By recycling your cell phones, you reduce the need for a special mineral that is harvested from gorilla habitats. And by boycotting certain products that use wood harvested in rainforests, you can potentially protect a wide variety of species. You should also minimize your use of herbicides and pesticides around the home as these are especially harmful to animals and the environment. Similarly, improve the state of your yard by cleaning up harmful trash, reducing the amount of water you use, and by promoting natural vegetation to help nourish the animals that live nearby. And when you drive, don't forget to slow down for any animals you may encounter in the road.
Shop Wisely
Avoid using or purchasing products made from threatened or endangered species. There is an increased likelihood that you may come across these kinds of items while traveling overseas, so be careful when purchasing souvenirs. Many products may seem enticing, but double-check to make sure you aren't supporting poachers who make a living by hunting wildlife illegally. Be on the lookout for illegal items like tortoise shell, ivory and coral, as well as items using the skin or fur from tigers, polar bears, or crocodiles. Also, stay away from certain foreign medicinal products that use ingredients collected from rhinos, tigers and bears. Do not buy live animals like birds, snakes, lizards, turtles, monkeys or other apes as many of these are captured illegally. If you see any illegal activity that harms threatened or endangered species, report it immediately to the proper authorities.
Make a Donation
Making a donation might not seem like a very active way to prevent extinction, but it is immensely helpful. Donating to the various organizations that strive to protect threatened and endangered wildlife can help fund various projects all over the world to preserve the planet. To make an even bigger impact, collect funds in your community to get everyone involved in the cause. You could donate the proceeds to a wildlife organization, or you could organize your own specific project to help stop extinction.