If you are anything like me, you probably have a soft spot for animals. You probably also know that many animals around the world are threatened by habitat loss, climate change, hunting and illegal trafficking, and other human activities. Animals are also becoming extinct. That is when the last members of a species die because they cannot get food, water, shelter, or the space necessary to survive. Many species are now endangered or threatened with extinction. Have you ever stopped for just a second to really think of the word “extinction?” It’s the dying out of an entire species. It means that species no longer exists anywhere on Earth and is gone . . . forever! According to the International Union for Conservation of Nature (the “IUCN”), which maintains a Red List of Threatened Species and is the world’s most comprehensive information source on the global extinction risk status of animals, almost 9,000 animal species are now endangered or critically endangered. Nine thousand! A critically endangered species is one that has been categorized by the IUCN as facing an extremely high risk of extinction in the wild, which means there may only be some left in captivity, like zoos.
Here is a question for you. What do you think it will take for you, your family, and your friends, to become more actively involved in some fashion with the plight of not only endangered and critically endangered species, but all species? The longer we wait without doing anything, the more species will become extinct and critically endangered. Unfortunately, people are mostly unaware of the plight of most species and the impact humans have on the environment because of a lack of good sustainability training. Many people around the world are doing great things to save endangered species. But we need millions of people to not only care but to get involved. We need more laws protecting nature, and to get those laws, we need lots of people pressuring our lawmakers. Look around the world. When people band together in great numbers, governments listen, and changes are made. WE MUST WORK TOGETHER TO BOTH RESTORE AND CONSERVE NATURE TO PROMOTE THE HEALTH OF OUR GORGEOUS PLANET.
While you think about your answers to our question, here’s something to think about. Recent studies have shown that visiting natural spaces like parks, green spaces, oceans, lakes, and rivers, or participating in nature-based activities like hiking, gardening, and wildlife observation are good for people. The COVID-19 pandemic confirmed the immense value of humans connecting and engaging with nature. People need natural environments for their health and wellbeing. So, try and get out in nature and see what you’ve been missing. If you live in a big city, it may be more difficult. But cities do have attractions like zoos and aquariums. You may think these are just for kids, but people of all ages love them. Each year, over700 million people around the world visit zoos and aquariums. A visit to a zoo or aquarium can give people a personal connection with the animals. You also can learn a lot about what is happening to animals in your city, state, county, and other countries around the world. A connection with animals can build compassion within you and promote a greater concern about the effects of climate change on species around the world. Zoos can provide visitors with a personal connection to animals, which in turn, may build compassion and promote a greater concern about global issues such as climate change. Research has shown that these empathetic bonds strengthen visitor support for global conservation initiatives. These feelings are infectious because when visitors recognize this empathy in other people who are interested in doing more, it creates a type of social connection which nurtures collective action towards climate change.
Citation –Learmonth, M. J., Chiew, S. J., Godinez, A., & Fernandez, E. J. (2021).Animal-visitor interactions and the visitor experience: Visitor behaviors, attitudes, perceptions, and learning in the modern zoo. Animal Behavior and Cognition, 8(4), 632-649. https://doi.org/10.26451/abc.08.04.13.2021
Citation - Robinson, J.M.; Brindley, P.; Cameron, R.; MacCarthy, D.; Jorgensen, A. Nature’s Role in Supporting Health during the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Geospatial and Socioecological Study. Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2021, 18, 2227.https://doi.org/10.3390/ ijerph18052227
