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LEARN ABOUT SOME EXTINCT ANIMALS AND WHY THEY ARE EXTINCT:

Woolly Mammoth- “An enormous mammal, believed to be closely related to the modern-day elephant. Its ancestors migrated out of Africa about 3.5 million years ago, spreading across northern Eurasia and North America. The creature was over 4 metres tall and could weigh over 6 tons. They were covered in fur and their curved tusks could easily be up to 5 metres long! The Woolly Mammoth eventually disappeared 10,000 years ago through a combination of hunting by humans and the disappearance of its habitat through climate change. The last of the isolated woolly mammoth populations is believed to have vanished from Wrangel Island in the Arctic Ocean around 1700BC.” Source: One Kind Planet

Tasmanian Tiger- “Native to Australia, Tasmania and New Guinea, the Tasmanian Tiger was a large carnivorous marsupial. Not related to tigers, the creature had the appearance of a medium-to-large-size dog (it weighed 30kg with a nose to tail length of almost 2 metres) but dark stripes gave it a tiger-like appearance. It is believed to have been hunted to extinction – this was encouraged by bounties – but human encroachment into its habitat, the introduction of dogs and disease could also have contributed. The last wild Tasmanian Tiger was killed between 1910 and 1920, with the last captive one dying in Hobart Zoo, Tasmania in 1936.” Source: One Kind Planet

Passenger Pigeon- “Native to North America, the Passenger or Wild Pigeon has been extinct since the early 20th century. It is estimated that between 3 and 5 billion Passenger Pigeons inhabited the US when Europeans arrived in North America, but their settlement led to mass deforestation resulting in habitat loss and a reduction in the bird population. By the 19th century pigeon meat was commercialized as a cheap food for the poor, which resulted in hunting on a massive scale. The Passenger Pigeon died out in the wild by around 1900, with the last known individual dying in captivity in 1914.” Source: One Kind Planet

Sabre-toothed Cat- “Often called Sabre-toothed Tigers or Sabre-toothed Lions, they existed 55 million to 11,700 years ago. Sabre-tooth Cats were carnivores named for the elongated bladelike canine teeth, which in some species were up to 50cm long. Quite bear-like in build, they were believed to be excellent hunters and hunted animals such as sloths and mammoths. These felines could open their jaws at an angle of 120 degrees – almost twice as wide as a modern lion! It is believed the Sabre-tooth Cat’s extinction may be linked to the decline and extinction of the large herbivores they hunted. Other explanations include climate change and competition with humans.” Source: One Kind Planet

Baiji White Dolphin- “Baiji White Dolphin, also called the Chinese River Dolphin, can only be found in the Yangtze River in China. These mammals could grow to eight feet long and weigh up to a quarter of a ton. They relied on echolocation to navigate and hunt for pray due to their tiny eyes and very poor eyesight. Living in the Yangtze for 20 million years, their numbers declined drastically from the 1950s onwards. As China industrialised, the river was used for fishing, transportation and hydroelectricity which had a huge effect on the mammals. Although not officially recorded as extinct, no one has seen a Yangtze River Dolphin since 2002.” Source: One Kind Planet

HOW TO WRITE TO YOUR ELECTED OFFICIAL ABOUT WILDLIFE

1.“______________, Director, Federal Government Agency, Street Address, City, State, Zip Code, Dear Director _____________, I am concerned about the plan to relocate desert tortoises. Before any such relocation is undertaken, please implement a full environmental review as required by a comprehensive Environmental Impact Statement. This review should include the results of past relocations, including the number of tortoises moved and the number who died or were harmed. The review should also detail the manner in which tortoises will be protected in future moves, including identifying appropriate environmental conditions, e.g., ample food supply and the ability of the site to handle the number of tortoises relocated. Thank you for your attention to this matter. Sincerely, Your Name “ Source: The National Humane Society

2. “_____________, Director, Federal Government Agency, Street Address, City, State, Zip Code, Dear Director _______________, I am concerned about the spread of the devastating disease known as white-nose syndrome, a disease that has killed more than a million bats in the Eastern United Sates during the last four winters and urge your agency to close all bat caves and mines on federal lands in the contiguous 48 states to help curtail the spread of it. Closing the caves will give scientists time to determine how the white-nose syndrome disease is being spread and if humans play a role in transmitting it. Therefore, I urge your agency to keep these caves closed until all data are analyzed and steps have been taken to protect bats and their habitat. Thank you for your time and attention to this matter and for protecting the animals and the environment by closing these caves. Sincerely, Your Name ” Source: The National Humane Society

3.“_____________, Director, State Government Agency, Street Address, City, State, Zip Code, Dear Director ___________, I want to see turtles protected in this state and urge you to place a ban on harvesting these wild creatures who are being sold into the pet trade industry and for domestic and international food markets. Along with the fact that these creatures belong in the wild, they are not safe for human consumption as they are often contaminated with mercury, PCBs, and pesticides. Thank you for your attention to this matter. Wild turtles belong in the wild and not in a home terrarium or on someone’s dinner plate. Sincerely, Your Name “ Source: The National Humane Society