The Fate of Species

I am literally sitting in my dorm room bawling right now because of a news article I just read on CNN.com. After watching the marvelous and gorgeous Planet Earth series, I became very interested in animal conservation. I have a particular interest in the big cats such as the amur leopard because of their dwindling numbers and there high reactivity to changes in habitat. This article I was referring to stated that hunters recently killed one of the only seven remaining Amur Leopard females in the wild today. This is pretty much a death sentence for the species because without breeding, the leopards will not survive. I am so sick of people these days and their belief that they are superior to other animal species. Hunters, illegally I might add, senselessly kill animals in the wild for use with human endeavors. What makes this event even worse is the fact that the leopard's body was left in the wild, nothing was done with it. Basically, this animal was killed for NO REASON. It was not harming humans, and it wasn't even used for its fur (which I am highly against by the way), it was simply shot and then left in the forest for authorities to find a week later. I cannot BELIEVE this happened. This species has spawned numerous conservation organizations that have made great strides in protecting habitat and enforcing stricter hunting laws. But for the species to be almost demolished by a few ignorant human beings is unforgiveable. I do not want to live in a world where there is no natural environment and all of the animals live in zoos. This is not what was supposed to happen. We as humans, given that we are supposedly intelligent life, have a responsibility to care for our planet and its inhabitants. Don't even get me started on global warming. Given the ignorance by people exhibited in regards to global warming, it is remarkable that we still survive as a species. How can you not think that by pumping pollutants in the air that it will have an effect on us? I am very glad that this has been a hot issue (no pun intended) within the last year or so because something needs to be done. It is said that if pollution was stopped completely right now, it would still take around 50 years for the earth to start cooling again. This does not bode well because I see no end in sight. Well, I have school work to finish, but I just needed to get this off of my chest. If I could give one message to the world that everyone would hear, it would be to think about what this world is becoming and to save the life and the nature that is so important for our survival.

PS: Donate to conservation organizations, they are doing wonderful things and they need all of the help they can. Hopefully other species will not end up like the Amur Leopard