The Sixth Mass Extinction

A recent study has shown that humans are the cause of the mass extinction of hundreds of animals. Since human civilizations began developing we have harmed the natural Earth, making room for our population, our materialism, and our farms. Over generations, our so-called advancements have led to climate change beyond debate in the scientific community, affecting all species living on Earth. Extreme weather and rising temperatures are harmful to animals all over the world. The U.N.’s Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change suggests that if global warming exceeds 2° C, a path we are already on, species will not be able to adapt fast enough to keep up with drastic temperature and terrain changes.  Many populations are at great risk of extinction while other species have already reached their end. The Eastern Cougar, Vietnamese Rhino, and Yangtze River Dolphin are a few of the many species that have gone extinct in just the past five years. The Eastern Cougar is the most recent addition to extinct species; it was declared extinct just last week, adding to ever-growing list of extinct animals. Although the last spotting of the Eastern Cougar was in the 1930’s, it has taken the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service 80 years to officially declare the cougar extinct. Humans have greatly increased the extinction process; species that would take 10,000 years to be extinct now are gone in just 100 years because of humans and our activities. According to the IUCN Red List, 22 percent of the world’s mammal species are known to be globally threatened or extinct. Humans are changing the world for the worse, destroying habitats and making it impossible for many species to survive. This is the start of the sixth mass extinction and humans can take all the blame. It’s time to make a change. Take action NOW. Call on world leaders to action and sign the largest climate petition in the world. Sign here. Sitara Sayyed, Intern