Fascinating Endangered Species Facts For Kids

Before we get into our endangered species facts for kids, a quick reminder: animals, plants, and insects are all vitally important to the global ecosystem. Every action they perform sets off reactions that benefit all species. For example, wolves may eat a specific type of animal, but without the wolves, that animal would become too overabundant in an area. Both animals’ lives are vital, and one without the other sets off a negative chain of events.

When it comes to specific animals, certain changes in climate or the increasing industrial builds that take over naturalistic lands can lead to endangerment. When a specific species becomes endangered, it’s essential to recognize the need for their existence before they disappear from the planet altogether.

National Endangered Species Day aims to provide information and knowledge surrounding these species, as well as tips on how you can help preserve wildlife populations.

What is the National Endangered Species List?
The National Endangered Species List is an official compilation of all the world's species that are threatened to become extinct. These populations have continued to dwindle over the years. When a particular animal reaches a threshold in numbers, they are added to the list based on the high possibility that they will die out depending on the current numbers and birthing patterns of new species members. 

What is National Endangered Species Day, and why is it important?
National Endangered Species Day, held on May 19 every year, is dedicated to spreading awareness about animal populations and their risk of extinction. The day is important because it helps more people understand the broadness of the global ecosystem, the roles each animal plays, and how protecting endangered species is good for both the species under threat and the world as a whole.

It isn’t just about animals, however. Many species, including plants and insects, can become endangered and threaten the overall ecosystem. National Endangered Species Day's primary goal is to provide as much information as possible to people who may not know why protecting certain species is important, and give insight into what they can do to help keep the world in the best possible conditions.

Awareness is the first step of conservation. Without knowledge about endangered species, people may not know that certain animals are on their way out of existence, or why it will be detrimental if that happens.

What is the most endangered animal in 2023?
According to the World Animal Foundation, there are over 150,000 species assessed for endangerment. Out of those, roughly 40,084 are threatened by extinction. These species have begun to die out faster than they procreate or have suffered from other unforeseen obstacles that have caused their numbers to drop significantly.

Of those, ten species are considered the most vulnerable and endangered:

1. Javan rhino
2. Amur leopard
3. Sunda Island tiger
4. Mountain gorilla
5. Tapanuli orangutan
6. Yangtze finless porpoise
7. Black rhino
8. African forest elephant
9. Sumatran orangutan
10. Hawksbill turtle

According to the World Wildlife Federation, these ten species have been assessed as the most vulnerable in 2023.

What are some interesting facts and curiosities about endangered animal species?
Some of the most interesting endangered species facts for kids revolve around the ten most endangered animals in the world. For example, many children may not know the importance of the Hawksbill turtle and why it being on the list is not good news for more reasons than one.

Human activity, such as pollution and climate change, are driving this turtle species’ decrease in numbers. This shows that changes to how we treat the environment are vital, not just for protecting humans on the planet, but animal species too.

Here are some other fascinating facts about endangered animals for kids:

• Extinction is a normal process: One to five species will go extinct every single year. However, the extinction rate has gone up significantly in recent years, with dozens of species now being lost.
• Sadly, things are getting worse: With the rate of species extinction rising, it’s thought that by the year 2050, over one million species of animals, insects, and plants will become extinct.
• Humans play a large role: Roughly 99% of all endangered species can blame humans for their dwindling numbers. Between hunting and fishing, wildlife areas being torn down for industrial builds, and climate change, many species will go extinct because of these human actions. The blue whale, for example, is suffering endangerment from poisonous chemicals that get into the ocean, as well as the risk of being hit by fishing and passenger ships.

It's not all doom and gloom, though – the good news is that you can help, even on a small scale, by reviewing the Kid’s Guide to Threatened Species below!

How can we protect endangered species?
The first step in making a difference is knowing what needs to change. When it comes to endangered species, several areas of life need to be addressed for things to fall back into their natural place. If you want to help, there are several things you can do, including:

• Find out if there are any endangered species in your area: When you know your area and the species that live within it, you can change your everyday habits to benefit this species instead of harm it.
• Tidy up your outdoor space to make it animal-friendly: Many rural, suburban, and urban animals can get into trash cans and harm themselves. Securing bins while they are outside is a great way to prevent this from happening.
• Limit water consumption: Limiting how much water you use in your area allows for more available water for wildlife, and is better for the planet in general.
• Embrace your green thumb: Planting plants in your area can provide much-needed food and habitat for wildlife, which will prevent them from having to migrate to other, possibly unsafe, locations to meet their needs.
• Support conservation efforts: You can volunteer or sign up to work for zoos, wildlife parks, and conservation areas to help keep them in good shape for wildlife.
• Adopt an endangered animal: While you can’t take a wild animal home, you can “adopt” one through the World Wildlife Federation for a small monthly fee that helps conserve that species.

Doing your part to conserve species on the endangered list doesn’t just help them; it also helps the world as a whole.

 

Featured image by David Clode on Unsplash