48% Agree that Humans Exploited Wildlife for Housing or Farming

Wildlife extinction is a well-known fact. Moreover, research by scientists from different disciplines and from different countries shows that species are now disappearing faster than ever. Due to population growth, the impact on the environment has become critically uncontrolled in the past 50 years.

Agriculture, mining, and processing industries are necessary for humanity as they make our life comfortable. At the same time, for the development of many sectors of the national economy, forests are cut down and swamps are drained. This destroys natural ecosystems and leads to pollution of the atmosphere, contamination of the world’s oceans, and global warming.

According to experts from the Intergovernmental Science-Policy Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services (IPBES), a tenth of all currently existing plant and animal species will disappear in the coming decades. More than 40% of amphibians, 33% of reef corals, and over a third of marine mammals are threatened. Almost a quarter of all terrestrial species are also at risk.

Accordingly, Real Research conducted a survey to know the public opinion on the increased wildlife extinction. Are people aware of the increased rate of wildlife extinction? Furthermore, what measures to preserve wildlife must be taken by humans? What are the most endangered animals? Let us find out through results obtained from the Real Research online survey application.

Highlights 

• The majority (74.04%) is aware of wildlife extinction increasing over the past few centuries.
• According to 38.21%, mammals are the most critically endangered.
• Almost 48% believe that humans have destroyed wildlife’s natural habitats for housing or farming.
• 42.44% of the respondents highly agree that advancements in science have led to preserving certain wildlife.

A Global Problem Known Almost by Everyone

To start with the Real Research survey asked respondents if they are aware that the rate of wildlife extinction has increased over the past few centuries. 3/4th of the respondents (74.04%) said ‘Yes’. Respectively, 25.96% replied ‘No’.

It is worth noting that in the report of the World Wildlife Fund in 2018, it was officially announced that the sixth wave of mass extinction of animals began on our planet, and this was caused by human activities. Moreover, according to a recent analysis, the extinction of wildlife on Earth is accelerating. Over 500 species of land animals are on the brink of extinction and are likely to disappear within 20 years.

Read Also: Animal Welfare Awareness Increases Globally

The Animals in Danger of Extinction Most Are Mammals

The next question we asked through the Real Research online survey application is which kind of wildlife in their opinion is most critically endangered. Almost 39% of the participants believe that mammals are the ones in danger. In line with this, the results on the Real Research online survey application show that 20.77% of respondents think that birds are in danger.

Furthermore, 9.27% and 20.59% chose ‘Reptiles’ and ‘Other’ options.  Meanwhile, the minority, 4.90%, 2.50%, 2.03%, and 1.73% chose ‘Fish’, ‘Amphibians’, ‘Flora and Fungi’, and ‘Insects’ respectively.

Wildlife Extinction Causes

Accordingly, we next asked our respondents what could be the causes of extinction of wildlife the most. Remarkably, the majority (47.94%) of the participants think that humans are the ones who are destroying their natural habitats for housing or farming. Following that, 22.28% and 11.77% chose the ‘Other’ and ‘Hunting for sport, profit, and accessories’ options.

8.47% of the respondents chose ‘Rising pollution is contaminating their natural habitats’. Respectively, 5.91% and 2.88%, chose ‘Climate change is causing them harm’ and ‘human migration has disrupted the natural ecosystem’. Lastly, 0.74% picked ‘Some species are threatened by an overpopulation of other species’.

In 2019, a UN report was presented in Paris with an assessment of how much humanity today depends on the state of natural systems in various areas. This report contains details about how humankind has destroyed natural ecosystems over the past 50 years. It also talks of what could happen in the next few decades if urgent action is not taken.

Measures To Preserve Wildlife

To continue, we asked respondents what measures should we as humans take to help preserve wildlife. Especially since we are a contributing factor to wildlife extinction causes. 36.19% of the participants think that we should increase funding for wildlife sanctuaries and other related projects. 19.96% considering increasing laws to strictly protect all wildlife worldwide.

In line with this, 23% have different thoughts as they chose the ‘Other’ option. Following that, 7.59%, 5.57%, 2.39%, and 2.07% believe that strict laws for hunting worldwide, taking measures to fight climate change, controlling the human population, and the use of science will help to preserve wildlife.

Does Science Help To Preserve Certain Wildlife?

Lastly, we asked our respondents if they agree that advancements in science have led to preserving certain wildlife. The majority (42.44%) of the participants ‘Highly agree’ and 24.03% ‘Somewhat agree’. Accordingly, 6.26% and 3.29% ‘Somewhat disagree’ and ‘Highly disagree’.

Meanwhile, almost 24% of the respondents are unsure about this statement.

In conclusion, wildlife is disappearing at an unprecedented rate. Meanwhile, biodiversity is the foundation for the health of forests, rivers, and oceans. Destroying some species will only lead to the inevitable collapse of all ecosystems. Ultimately, this will lead to the destruction of not only wildlife but also of humanity. Therefore, respect for nature and wildlife is a huge responsibility for each and every one of us.