Did you know that there are five hundred fifty-six animal species in Canada considered at risk? Or that thirty wildlife species became extinct when the Europeans first came to Canada? That's right, and much of this is a result of logging, mining, agriculture, poaching and pollution that destroys nature's balance and causes animals to become endangered or even extinct! In 2003 an organization called the Species at Risk Act was formed and began to save the endangered animals. An example of one of the animals they redeemed was the Whooping Crane.
In 1940 there where only sixteen of these creatures living, but now in 2008 there are approximately three hundred of them. This is a big improvement however, they are still considered endangered. The Species at Risk Act is an organization committed to protecting animals and their habitat and increasing the public awareness of their plight. From Joe Scott of Washington - based Conversation Northwest, "...Most Americans see Canada as a vast wilderness teaming with wildlife, but unless Canada protects its wilderness areas, the perspective is going to change." Canada has rapidly improved in their methods of protecting endangered animal species, but there is always more work to do. You may not realize how essential it is to protect the endangered animals. Without intervention endangered animals begin a dangerous chain reaction.
For instance if the mosquito becomes extinct you may think this is good, but it causes all the animals who depend on them as a food source to suffer. We who live in Canada have a great opportunity to become involved because the wilderness is in our backyard. We have the Woodland Caribou and the Bull Trout close at hand. So the next time you go fishing, make sure, "no black... throw it back!" When you're on the highway, be on guard for the caribou, because they have corridors that cross right over the highway. We need to all work together to protect and enjoy the animals and their habitat, so that future generations will have the same privileges that we do.
