Domestic animal species can completely disappear

According to valasz.hu, hundreds of terrestrial vertebrate animals died out since the 1500s, and the number of endangered species is expanding year after year. It has been revealed in the days that even giraffes have become endangered.

The IUCN (The World Conservation Union) launched the Red List of Endangered Species in 1948 in order to monitor the extinction of races. According to the latest data, 22 103 species – including plants – are endangered. Veterinarian Endre Sos said it’s normal that animal species are disappearing because of natural and climatic causes, but today, humanity is responsible for the modern wave of extinction.

Giraffes are killed by poachers, because their bones are regarded as a magic solution. In Tanzania, the animal became endangered. According to MTI, the giraffe population of Tanzania has dropped by 40% in some places, while by 65% in elsewhere.

The white rhinoceros died out in the free nature a few years ago. There are only a few specimens live in the zoos and a breeding farm in Kenya. However, since the last population growth was in 2001, it can be stated that this species will be completely extinct in a short time.

The zoos can help a lot to save endangered species. They’re often involved in various breeding programs where they coordinate the conservation of endangered species at the international level. In Budapest, there are 35 breeding programs. For example, Przewalski’s horse was saved from extinction by a breeding program, valasz.hu said.

It’s also common that animals are not reproduced at the zoos, but zoo techniques are used. For this, the best example is Hungarian meadow viper in Hungary, of which is estimated that less than 500 animals left. However, a breeding site for the viper    has been formed in Kunpeszer 10 years ago, where the animals are held in captivity, imitating the natural conditions. The reintroducings have also been started. This can only happen if the endangering factors are over, valasz.hu said.

Unfortunately, not only the vipers that are the only endangered domestic animal species: for example, the slender-billed curlew has not been seen since 2000, from which the experts conclude it is extinct. Great bustard and imperial eagle are also endangered. The 2/3 of the imperial eagle population of the EU can be found in Hungary, about 160 pairs. Because of that, these eagles are globally endangered, and they’re strictly protected in Hungary. The lesser mole-rat is also critically endangered: less than 500 animals live in the area of Asotthalom and Kelebia.

based on the article of valasz.hu
translated by BA

Photos: MTI, http://commons.wikimedia.org

Source: http://valasz.hu