National Threatened Species Day: A Requiem for Tasmanian Tigers
When it comes to talking about endangered species, the remaining thousand or a few hundred individuals may not seem alarming at first. Even the last two hundred may not set off the alarm.
But what happens when the last remaining member of a species ceases to exist?
That is what happened with a species of tiger endemic to Australia, the Tasmanian tiger. As the last living member of the species, called Benjamin, deceased in the Hobart Zoo in Australia in 1936, the Tasmanian tiger became extinct. Despite ongoing attempts to find and identify even a single member of the species, sadly there is no definitive proof that the Tasmanian tiger is still out there (Hanna, 2017).
To recognize this grave moment, in 1996 - 60 years after the last Tasmanian tiger ceased to exist - the Australian government declared the 7th of September as National Threatened Species Day to ensure that tragedies like this never happen again and to ensure humanity reflects on how its own behaviour and practices irreversibly impact biodiversity. The National Threatened Species Day also celebrates the relentless efforts of passionate conservationists, researchers, volunteers, and community experts who work to ensure all species live in a sustainable and safe environment.
Endemic Species, International Issues
According to the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species, more than 41,000 species worldwide - approximately one-fourth (26%) of all assessed species – are threatened with extinction (IUCN, 2022).
However, all is not bad news, as international communities across the globe pay increasing attention to the delicate balance in our living planet and the interconnectedness between all living beings. In addition to efforts to decrease the human-induced negative impact on species and the environment, there are also research and development projects focused on the active reintroduction of species that reached near extinction levels. Examples include reintroduction of Cheetahs endemic to the Indian region by establishing conservation zones specifically designed for the species, or reintroduction efforts of Red Kites of England, large birds of prey, that involve pairing Red Kites with one another in a pre-organized, secure manner (WEF, 2022).
Moreover, multiple governments enacted firm laws and regulations banning harmful practices to threatened species, forcing corporations and individuals to be accountable for their impact, not to mention that local communities also take organized action to protect species. For example, China and Russia organized programs to protect Snow Leopards, a species of Leopards endemic to the region, in cold and mountainous border regions (IUCN, 2016).
It is obvious that a diverse biome, where a multiplicity of species interacts and creates a dynamic equilibrium – referred to as ecological balance – is important to maintain the natural balance in an ecosystem. This is true across ecosystems, including one of the most ancient and rich habitats of all, the Mediterranean Sea.
Endangered Species of the Mediterranean
The Mediterranean Conservation Society works to conserve the biodiversity of the Mediterranean, its species, and their habitats, taking protective action to reduce anthropogenic and anthropocentric pressures. To this end, the Mediterranean Conservation Society undertakes projects to monitor endangered species, and to protect and restore their habitats. Focus species include the Mediterranean monk seal (Monachus monachus), sandbar shark (Carcharhinus plumbeus), Mediterranean seagrass (Posidonia oceanica) and the Marmaris salamander (Lyciasalamandra flavimembris).
To develop environmental conservation projects that are appropriate and sustainable in the long-term, MCS partners with the community that profits from this resource users like fishers and the tourism industry, who are not only the beneficiaries of marine ecosystem goods and services, but also its longstanding protectors. Working with local and national authorities, international communities and volunteers, the Mediterranean Conservation Society is proud to see that science-based action for ecosystem restoration reaps tangible success.
Photograph: Pexels
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Sources
The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. (2022). Retrieved September 6, 2022, from https://www.iucnredlist.org/ IUCN. (2016).
The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Panthera Uncia. Retrieved September 6, 2022, from https://www.iucnredlist.org/species/22732/50664030#conservation-actions
Hanna, E. (2017). National Threatened Species Day. Home – Parliament of Australia. Retrieved September 6, 2022, from https://www.aph.gov.au/About_Parliament/Parliamentary_Departments/Parliamentary_Library/FlagPost/2017/September/National_Threatened_Species_Day#:~:text=September%207%20is%20National%20Threatened,sleeping%20quarters%20in%20Hobart%20Zoo.
WEF. (2022). 8 endangered species that are being reintroduced around the world. The European Sting. Retrieved September 6, 2022, from https://europeansting.com/2022/08/11/8-endangered-species-that-are-being-reintroduced-around-the-world/