While I was using some of my social media accounts this week, I realized that I see a lot of videos that feature the cutest animals! This gave me the idea to write an article about animals and how we, as individuals, can play a part in helping save some of the species that aren't doing so well. Below you'll find four species that are endangered and three ways that you can help each one.
1. African Elephants
According to the World Wildlife Fund (WWF), African Elephants are considered a "vulnerable" animal. They are a critical part of the habitats they live in: they help with germination processes and have an impact on both fresh water supplies and forest cover. You can read more about why we are working to save them on the WWF website.
Ways you can help:
1a. Don't buy ivory. This is probably the number one way we can help their population. Ivory pieces are made out of African Elephant tusks and the way it is gathered is really tough to watch and overall very sad. The fewer people buying ivory, the smaller the need to gather it, and thus the elephants aren't being hunted as often.
1b. Start a petition. Petitioning helps raise awareness and support for endangered species (among many other things). It's easy to do and you can do it from the comfort of your home with Change.org or other sites. Petitions can also pressure lawmakers into action, which can also impact endangered species in a positive way. This option can be applied to any of the animals on this list.
1c. Adopt an Elephant. Who wouldn't want their own elephant? If you adopt one, you get cute photos of your elephant, a species card, and some sites even offer a plush elephant modeled after your adopted one. By doing this, you ensure your elephant's safety. The more people who do this, the more elephants are protected! You can adopt one here: World Wildlife Fund.
2. Tigers
Is this not one of the cutest tigers you've ever seen? Since they're a large predator, they play an important part in maintaining healthy ecosystems. They also help communities by being a type of tourist attraction which brings in more revenue for those communities. More information is on WWF's website!
Ways you can help:
2a. Use recycled tissue and toilet paper products. Deforestation plays a big role in the diminishing number of tigers in the wild. When paper is recycled, it limits the amount of deforestation needed. This keeps the tigers' habitat safe and healthy. You can refer back to my article "10 Eco-Friendly Companies Perfect for the Gift-Giving Season" to purchase recycled paper products!
2b. Check your coffee. Avid coffee drinkers, like myself, will take coffee wherever and whenever we can get it. However, the coffee we keep stocked in our homes can play a part in saving tigers' habitats! Next time you go shopping, look for Rainforest Alliance-certified coffee. They've been fighting to stop coffee farmers from farming within Indonesia’s Bukit Barisan Selatan National Park. This is a common place to find tigers, but when illegal farming comes in, the habitat shrinks.
2c. Petition or adopt tigers, too! Just like you can adopt an elephant, you can adopt a tiger, too! Go to WWF's website for more information. Petitioning for tigers is also a helpful and easy thing to do.
3. Manatees
Manatees, fondly called sea cows, live in estuaries, canals, and coastal areas. They can travel between fresh and salt water with no issues! These big animals eat a bunch of sea grass; this helps keep the sea grass beds healthy. Like tigers help communities near them, manatees are also a key part of their coastal communities' ecotourism.
3a. Use less plastic. Since these graceful creatures live in canals and rivers, pollution can severely affect them. Reducing the amount of plastic you use can help keep their habitats safe and clean. You can read my article for shops that make it easy to reduce plastic waste.
3b. Abstain from watering or feeding them. If you live on a dock, you know it can draw in manatees from time to time. They love drinking fresh water and eating lettuce, but it is really bad for them. By watering them from a dock, it trains them to come into a place with a lot of boat hazards. Feeding them lettuce can do the same thing, plus it has no nutritional value for them.
3c. Pay attention to no wake zones. No wake zones are there for safety - and not just your own. Being aware of and listening to 'No wake zone' signs can help protect manatees. According to the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, 25-30% of statewide manatee deaths are attributed to boats. The faster a boat is going, the harder it can hit an unsuspecting manatee. Keep your eyes open and stay alert when driving or riding in a boat!
4. Coral
According to WWF, coral reefs support 25% of all marine species. So as you can imagine, they're extremely important. Unfortunately, they are endangered. While this is one that needs action from companies and higher-ups, there are still a few things we can do to make a positive impact.
4a. Support eco-friendly companies. A big part of how we can help is by supporting companies, like 4Ocean, who use their revenue to clean and help our oceans by removing pollution and reducing the amount of plastic that is produced.
4b. Practice safe diving/snorkeling. Whether you live in a coastal area or you're taking a vacation, practicing safe diving and snorkeling can positively affect coral reefs. Restrain from touching the coral or kicking too hard at the bottom. When you touch coral, the oil from your hands can affect their mucous membranes and can kill an entire coral colony. So enjoy the beautiful colors from a bit of a distance!
4c. Pay attention to your sunscreen. A large number of sunscreens contain chemicals like Butylparaben and Ethylhexyl methoxycinnamate. These chemicals have been shown to cause coral bleaching. Make sure to check your sunscreen's ingredients before you complete your purchase. Brands like Love Sun Body, Sun Bum, and Banana Boat offer reef-safe sunscreens!
I hope this article was eye-opening and inspires action in everyone! Doing the research for this article definitely made me start thinking over some things I could be doing to really be involved.
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