By DELANEE BOGAN
Drowning from being trapped inside large nets owned by longline fisheries, the leatherback turtle is an endangered species in Florida. This animal is declining not only due to the fisheries but also due to destruction of its habitat.
The world is home to nearly 1.7 million animal species and 500 of these animals are endangered, meaning they are at the risk of extinction. Numbers of endangered animals are increasing every year. Without these animals, the earth’s natural balance will be destroyed, and there will be rapid climate changes which will impact everyone negatively.
Florida alone has 56 threatened and endangered animal’s. If people do not take action, Floridians will see changes in the animals they see on a day-to-day basis.
“It is disgusting how we let the pure number [of endangered animals] get that high. It is outrageous that we are destroying Florida’s naturally beautiful ecosystem,” sophomore Joseph Johnson said.
Classified as an endangered species by the U.S. Department of the Interior in 1967, the Florida Panther is threatened due to destruction of its habitat, genetic defects caused by extensive inbreeding, and collisions with automobiles. In 1996, the population was 30-50 panthers, but because of the Genetic Restoration Program, the wild range is now estimated to be 50-70 panthers.
“[Everyone] should know that one day all of the animals that we think are cool and observe are not going to be there anymore. [The amount of endangered animals] is affecting our environment and it will eventually come back to hurt us,” freshman Ramon Alejo said.
The Florida manatee is also on Florida’s endangered species list. This animal is on the list because of careless boaters who do not look out or slow down for the manatees.
SeaWorld Parks and Entertainment has helped ill injured and orphaned animals for the past 45 years. They help any animal that is in need of assistance. Over 20,000 animals have been rescued by the rescue team, which is on call 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. SeaWorld rescued 19 manatees and released 16 back into the wild last year.
With an attempt to take the manatees off the endangered species list, the government has created idle speed zones to reduce the amount of manatees injured and killed by boat propellers. The government has also created sanctuaries so the manatees cannot be harassed, hunted or captured. Homosassa Springs, located in Homosassa, is one place where students can observe and interact with this endangered species. Freshman Alexandra Freel visited the park last year.
“[Homosassa Springs] is quite interesting. I didn’t realize how much I didn’t know about manatees. I learned what their habitat has to be like and that they mostly eat lettuce. The people that work there let my mom and I throw heads of Romaine into the spring,” Freel said.
At Homosassa Springs, there is an adopt-a-manatee program. To adopt a manatee one can pay $25 to contribute to saving manatees. With adoption, one receives an official certificate, official club newsletter, a full color photo and a biography of a real manatee.
The Florida gopher tortoise is another species threatened due to the destruction of its habitat. They share burrows with rattlesnakes, and are often killed accidentally by hunters which are trying to kill the rattlesnakes. The Florida law prohibits intentional killing or wounding of this animal.
To get involved and help donate to save endangered animals one can go online to worldwildlife.org. This website helps protect endangered animals by accepting monthly donations that support the World Wildlife Fund’s Global Conservation Efforts.
Another way to help is the Adopt-a-Bird program at the Audubon Center for Birds of Prey, located in Maitland. One bald Eagle costs $3,000 to rehabilitate. This “adoption” includes annual investments in the care, medical treatment, and feeding of one’s bird. The donations help other species as well as contribute to educational programs that help spread awareness of the endangered animals in Florida.
Although the bald eagle was removed from the threatened and endangered species list in 2007, it still remains under protection of state and federal laws.
The horseshoe crabs in south Florida are on the brink of extinction. They are endangered because their blood is used for testing human pathogens in human blood, tissues, and for creating intravenous drugs. They are crucial to the environment because their eggs provide food for birds.
“[Endangered animals] lives should be valued. If there are small amounts left, they should be preserved. These animals are here for a reason,” Freel said.
The American alligator, located in the FL everglades, is on the endangered animals list. It is endangered due to pollution, and because of hunters killing them.
The local non profit organization, Back to Nature has been open since 2007 and its main goal is focused on saving Central Florida’s native wildlife. They do this by helping rehabilitate them at their center. BTN has over 50 permanent residents and will take any animals that is orphaned or injured and help nurse them back to health then release them back into the wild. To help volunteer visit their website at www.btn-wildlife.org.
“[While volunteering at Back to Nature I have learned] so many things. I have more respect for what animals go through with humans,” Bonnie Westvreld, office manager said.