POLLUTION
is properly one of the most well known threat to any
animals well being. More and more human waste is pumped
into our seas and with the amount of rubbish we throw
away these days it was bound to take its toll on the
environment. It causes diseases deformities and species
extinction in certain areas.
HABITAT DESTRUCTION
is caused by
a number of things but the most common ones are
development, land fill, ponds being destroyed and
deforestation which in my eyes is the most devastating
with many species being driven to near extinction.
GLOBAL CLIMATE
CHANGE is something all
animals have always had to adapt to which would cause
the normal process of evolution. But with all the carbon
dioxide we pump into the atmosphere it has caused the
global climate to change at an alarming rate with global
warming and the greenhouse effect the animals just can’t
keep up.
EXPLOITATION is
on the rise at an alarming rate. Not only have the
animals had to put up with being hunted for their skins
and for potions but now they are being taken for the pet
trade. The trade in exotic animals is the second illegal
trade in the world after drugs. Poor capture techniques
and poor shipping methods kill many reptiles before they
even reach the pet stores and around 90% of the ones
that do die within the first year. There is by now a
large enough gene pool within captive bread reptiles to
be able to stop importing so many of them. I know we
won’t be able to stop the export and import of reptiles
but if we do our bit and only buy from breeders and stay
away from wild caught it’s a start.
There
have been extensive efforts made by a number of
organizations to help preserve reptiles and amphibians
in there environment with many reptiles benefiting from
their hard work. Even Governments have put laws in place
to help fight against the illegal trade. But even with
all their efforts it’s still not enough, the more people
are educated and made aware of the plight of the
reptiles and amphibians worldwide the more will be done
before its too late. Otherwise these lovely and
beautiful animals will no longer be around for us to
enjoy and what a shame that would be.