Audrey+&+Eliza

=Threats to Australian Animals =

Questions-

 * ** What are major threats to Australian animals facing extinction? **

Australia has over 96 endangered species and they are all facing major threats such as bushfires, deforestation, loss of habitat, climate change, introduction of other exotic species, pollution, hunting and poaching, accidental deaths. The animals are being wiped out because of nature but also because of our carelessness, like when we are de-foresting the forests and leaving the animals homeless and starving.

CLIMATE CHANGE: climate change is when the climate we live in is getting hotter due to the fact that we are producing gases that trap the heat in the atmosphere. It’s melting the Ice and causing damaging storms.

BUSHFIRES: bushfires are a common factor in Australia’s wildlife but humans and arsonists are starting many of the fires, whether if its controlled or wild they are still dangerous for the animals.

DEFORESTATION: the land is being cleared; to be sold and to be built on, as our population increases the loss of habitat grows.

LOSS OF HABITAT: The animals are losing their habitats because of the deforestation and they no longer have their homes or their usual food resources.

EXOTIC SPECIES: species like rabbits and wild plants are being introduced and they are killing other animals or damaging crops like when the rabbits eat them. Also when the new plants and weeds spread onto croplands.

POLLUTION: Australia is one of the top polluters In the world, Australia’s carbon pollution levels are very high for the amount of people living here, Australia produces more carbon pollution per person than the United States which is the world’s biggest economy. We produce pollution by factory’s and green house emissions.

HUNTING: Animals in Australia are all at risk of being killed, like in many other countries, Australia has valuable wild life that can be poached, animals such as crocodiles and some snakes, abalone and some species of birds.

ACCIDENTAL DEATHS: deaths occur from animals jumping out on the roads and being killed.

TASMANIAN TIGER:
 * ** What have been the cause of extinction for animals already extinct? **
 * Climate change is responsible for endangering half of the animals that are extinct.
 * These animals are mainly giant marsupials, and climate change is changing the way the animals are fending of diseases so now they are prone to getting illnesses.
 * Habitat degeneration is also causing species to become extinct and endangered.An animal that has suffered the effects and threats is the much loved Tasmanian Tiger, sadly this animal has become extinct due to the back when the white peoples settlement and the fact that the Tasmanian Tiger was a large and intimidating animal. They were hunted to the brink of extinction, the Tasmanian Tiger is described to be a dog with a wolf face.The last known Tasmanian Tiger to be alive was in 1936, killing the tigers was allowed and encouraged with their own bounties.

The human race plays and important role in the animals becoming extinct this is due to the fact that they are creating climate change and also they are destroying the animal’s habitats by mining and de-forestation, marine mining and vegetation. Humans create the gases that help create climate change,
 * ** What role have/do people play in the threats? **


 * ** What threats can we control? **

The threats that us Australians can control are, > > We are responsible for creating the threats because we deforest, mine; poach all for our personal game. Leaving our Animals homeless endangered or in some cases extinct. > > Introduced species and plants are all very bad for the animals and plants. > > > > > > > > >
 * Introduction of other exotic species- Plant or animal species introduced into an are where they do not occur naturally, non- native species
 * ** D eforestation-** To cut down and clear away the trees or forests from the environment
 * Poaching- Illegally hunt or catch on land or sea that is not one's own or is under official protection.
 * Mining- T he process or industry of obtaining coal or other minerals from a mine.
 * ** Who is responsible to creating the threats? **