The Destructive Behaviors of Humans

While most people do not realize there is a mass extinction currently happening, there are drastic amounts of species going extinct as a result of human activity. In the article “Threatened, Rare, and Endangered Plants” it states, “In recent years, it has become apparent that human activities are causing the loss of biological diversity at an increasing rate: the current rate of extinctions appears to be among the highest in the fossil record.” One way humans have contributed to the mass extinction is by mass use of fossil fuels which emit greenhouse gases, which get trapped inside the Earth's atmosphere and increase the global temperature. This has changed habitats and weather patterns across the globe too quickly for species to adapt and survive. One example of this is the polar bear, as the arctic glaciers they once lived on are melting at an increasing rate. Another activity that has pushed species to extinction is overhunting. This is evident in sharks, wanted for shark fin soup, and various animals in Africa, such as the northern white rhino, which only has two of its kind remaining, that is sought after for its ivory tusk. While these are just a few well known examples, throughout the existence of humans this has been a common occurrence. Along with directly destroying species, humans have also demolished habitats on a large scale. When humans run out of land they will often slash and burn whatever is in their sight. This is most commonly being done in rainforest habitats currently, which destroys a very diverse ecosystem, leaving numerous animals without a home. Humans have effectively put every animal at risk of extinction through their destructive activities that have either directly killed animals or have ruined their habitat so drastically, they are unable to adapt and survive.