Packaging the Concern

Endangered animals as we speak are species who’re at the risk of being extinct in the near future either worldwide or in a particular location. Endangered animals are at risk for several reasons: habitat loss, poaching and invasive species (overpopulation of a particular species that harms its new environment). The top-10 world’s most endangered animals are as follows: (i) Javan Rhinos, (ii) Amur Leopard, (iii) Sunda Island Tigers, (iv) Mountain Gorillas, (v) Tapanuli Orangutan, (vi) Yangtze Finless Porpoise, (vii) Black Rhinos, (viii) African Forest Elephant, (ix) Sumatran Orangutan and (x) Hawksbill Turtles – WWF. 

 

The endangered animals are divided into four distinct species categories: Flagship Species, Keystone Species, Priority Species and Indicator Species. By definition:

 

• Flagship species refers to “a charismatic animal that has been identified to help raise awareness about the urgent need for action and funding around conservation issues in a specific part of the world” – Tree Hugger.
• Keystone species refers to “an organism that helps define an entire ecosystem. Without its keystone species, the ecosystem would be dramatically different or cease to exist altogether. Keystone species have low functional redundancy” – National Geographic.
• Priority species refers to “any animal species which is of management concern on a wildlife reserve we are working on and are considered as such for any number of reasons. For instance, the African Wild Dog is of concern because of its critically endangered status” – Wildlife Act.
•  Indicator species refers to “an organism whose presence, absence or abundance reflects a specific environmental condition. Indicator species can signal a change in the biological condition of a particular ecosystem, and thus may be used as a proxy to diagnose the health of an ecosystem.” – Encyclopedia of Puget Sound.

Following the “The Dream Team-Design your Super Animal Verse” Meet-up, we’re finally here and a step ahead with clarity on what endangered animals are and why they’re put into the diverse species categories. The content of this meet-up circled around the following touch-points: (i) Favorite animal, (ii) Whether or not they’re endangered, (iii) Which species category they’re put into and why, (iv) What efforts are being made to save the species. A situation was put forward: “If a team of one’s favorite animals were put into a deserted island, how would they survive on their own and co-exist within others.” The floor was then open for thoughts and it was a flood of the same. 

 

In the midst of the meet-up an interesting facet was shared by the host. The host of the meet-up questioned: “Do you know what ‘Dolphins’ are categorized into?” The answer was simple, “keystone species”. What was truly interesting was the why? Dolphins were highly functional during the World War II era. They were used as military weapons due to their sonar abilities. They were used to track opponent military forces; sound waves produced by them determined how far the rivals were. This was done in the main trade area for the UK, US and Germany i.e., Baltic Sea. Following this, another facet was put forward; some animals can be put into all species categories, some of those animals are, Rhinos, Mountain Tigers, White Tigers and Elephants.