| As lobby groups and environmental organisations | | | | number of reasons - including that they serve as |
| continue to push governments across the world | | | | umbrella species; this means that their survival |
| into taking drastic measures to curb the | | | | also helps numerous other species that live in the |
| acceleration of global warming, it is perhaps fair to | | | | same habitats.The early efforts of organisations |
| say that other environmental issues may be in | | | | like the WWF were essential in passing crucial |
| danger of being pushed aside. People need to | | | | legislation for the protection of endangered |
| remember that climate change is not the only | | | | species; this includes the Endangered Species Act |
| scourge to the health of our planet; the protection | | | | of 1973 in America, which was designed to |
| of endangered species, for instance, remains a | | | | protect plant and animal species from becoming |
| paramount concern to many people intent on the | | | | extinct. Since this time, global awareness of the |
| preservation of natural wildlife across the | | | | importance of protecting endangered species has |
| world.What makes a species 'endangered'? | | | | skyrocketed. In the late 1990s, high street shops |
| Generally speaking, a species can be said to be in | | | | began to see the importance of animal protection |
| danger of extinction if it is few in number or | | | | - retailers like The Body Shop, for example, |
| threatened by changing environmental or | | | | designed an entire range of products on the |
| predation parameters. The twentieth century saw | | | | protection of endangered species, and saw their |
| the importance of protecting certain species from | | | | popularity increase dramatically.In the last few |
| extinction - particularly with the pioneering efforts | | | | years, more effort has been made to involve |
| of organisations like the World Wildlife Fund | | | | children in the fight for the protection of |
| (WWF), which has been protecting endangered | | | | endangered species. Recently, the WWF has |
| species since its inception in 1961.The UN | | | | entered into a partnership with Doubletree Hotels |
| estimates that nearly 100 species are lost every | | | | Teaching Kids to Care initiative in order to spread |
| day - a staggering statistic. The major species | | | | awareness of the dangers and facts surrounding |
| protected by groups like the WWF include: tigers, | | | | endangered species, as well as to stress |
| great whales, marine turtles, elephants, gorillas, of | | | | importance of protecting them. Such efforts |
| which fewer than 650 are left, and giant pandas, | | | | represent an important step in the protection of |
| of which only 800 are estimated to exist in the | | | | animals facing extinction; after all, we aim to save |
| wild today.However, these are only a selection of | | | | the environment and preserve our wildlife so that |
| the thousands of endangered species that exist | | | | these children can enjoy a better future. |
| across the world. Their survival is crucial for a | | | | |