2. Endangered Means
There’s Still Time
• Endangered species are like
fire alarms. They tell us about
problems in our home we call
Earth.
• If we listen to their alarm
calls, they could help us
improve our lives and the
health of our planet.

3. What is an endangered species?
 Endangered species are those considered to be at risk
of extinction
 Endangered species are threatened by factors such
as
• Habitat loss
• hunting
• disease and climate change.
 Shockingly, current estimates suggest that a third of
the world’s amphibians, a quarter of all mammals and
one in eight birds are endangered.

4. Endangered species usually have a small or declining population size
or a very limited range, meaning factors such as habitat loss, hunting,
disease or climate change could cause them to disappear completely
within our lifetimes.
Not only do they add beauty and wonder to the natural world, they
are also of great global economic importance. A great diversity of
species maintains the ecosystems essential to our existence by
helping to regulate our climate and by providing:
clean air and water
food
medicines
building and clothing materials
fertile soils

5. Conservation status
 The conservation status of a species indicates
how great the risk is of that species becoming
extinct in the near future.
 The most global and comprehensive system
that determines the conservation status of each
species is the
IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Species
are assessed according to a number of
different criteria, such as how many individuals
there are and whether this number is in decline.

6.  Animals and plants face a large number of different
threats with many of them being a direct result of
human activity. Some of the most common threats
include:
 Habitat loss and habitat
fragmentation – The ever expanding
human population constantly requires additional
space and resources.
 Hunting and poaching – A wide
variety of animals have been hunted, or fished,
beyond sustainable levels and now face possible

7.  invasive speCies – Humans have introduced
non-native species (both intentionally and
accidentally) to a wide variety of habitats, often with
devastating consequences.
 They may prove highly adaptable and outcompete
native species for resources.
 They can decimate local species which are not
adapted to avoid predation, for example ground
dwelling birds like the kakapo.
 Climate change - Droughts, ocean acidification, the
loss of sea ice and an increase in storms and extreme
weather events can all threaten species’ survival.

8. Disease – Small populations, especially those
which are limited in terms of genetic diversity are
particularly vulnerable to disease.
Collection / pet trade – Many animals and
plants, such as the Venus flytrap, have been collected
from the wild beyond sustainable levels to be sold
through the pet trade or be kept in private
horticultural collections.
Pollution – Acid rain, heavy metals, pesticides,
plastic waste and oil spills all harm the environment
and put species at risk. Chemicals are particularly
harmful to species that live in water.

9.  Conservation aims to protect the natural world and
sustain biodiversity by carefully preserving and
managing existing habitats and restoring areas which
have been damaged or degraded.
 Species conservation can also take place outside a
species’ natural habitat. For example, caring for an
endangered animal in captivity, such as in a zoo, or
preserving endangered plants through the use of seed
banks.

10. Some commonly used
conservation actions are as
follows:
• Habit at preser vation – The ideal solution
is to protect habitats before they are damaged. This
can be achieved through the creation of national
parks and marine protected areas.
• Habitat restoration – Where a habitat
has already been degraded it is sometimes possible
to restore the habitat by carefully managing the
land, removing invasive species and reintroducing
native species that had been lost from the area.

11. Ex-situ conser vation –
Many endangered species are bred in
captivity to preserve their numbers and in
some cases it is possible to reintroduce
them to the wild.
Anti-poaching measures
– In remote areas guards are sometimes
employed to protect endangered species,
such as the mountain gorilla, from
poachers.

12. Wildlife corridors – Where habitats have
been fragmented by divisions such as roads, urban areas or
farmland, populations become isolated and are unable to
move throughout their natural range to find sufficient
resources and mates. Wildlife corridors help to reconnect
habitat fragments and maintain genetic diversity.
Laws and policies – Some endangered species
are protected by law or trade in them is restricted. CITES
(The Convention on International Trade in Endangered
Species) is an international agreement between
governments to ensure that trade in wild animal and plant
specimens does not threaten their survival.

13.  Recycling one
tonne of paper
can save 17 trees
and preserve
habitat of a whole
host of
endangered
species.

14. How can you help?
As well as supporting conservation organisations there are some
simple steps that everybody can take to help protect the natural
world and the species in it. Here are some ideas:
Recycle – Help protect the rainforests - recycling one
tonne of paper can save 17 trees and preserve the habitat of a whole
host of endangered species.
Use less energy – An old tip but a good one, you
can save yourself money and help the environment too. For
example, energy saving light bulbs use 80 percent less energy than a
standard bulb, yet produce the same amount of light.

15.  Choose sust ainable products –
Make sure that all the products you
buy are sustainably sourced, from
food and paper to timber.
 Make your voice heard – Petition
for change! Many campaigns to help
wildlife are underway but they need
your support.
 Clean up your act – Volunteer to take
part in a litter pick or beach clean up.

16. Get involved – Taking part in wildlife
surveys is a fantastic way to enjoy the great
outdoors and find out more about your
local wildlife. By assessing what species are
present you can help scientists plan how
best to protect them in the future.
Spread the word – Through the
ARKive project we hope to educate and
engage people with the natural world.

17. Endangered species facts
More snails and slugs (gastropods) are known to have
become extinct than any other animal group (281 species).
There are currently more endangered amphibians than any
other animal group, a startling 1,900 species, which
accounts for around 30 percent of all described
amphibians.
Turtles are among the world’s most endangered
vertebrates, with about half of all turtle species threatened
with extinction.

18. One third of open ocean sharks are threatened with
extinction. Scientists estimate that 26 - 73 million
sharks are killed each year for the global fin trade.
Coral reefs are thought to be home to one quarter
of the world’s fish species and protect the coastlines
of 109 countries. But approximately 75 percent of
the world’s coral reefs are rated as threatened.
The loneliest palm is probably the most endangered
plant in the world, with only one individual
remaining in the wild.

19. The Abingdon Island tortoise is the rarest reptile in
the world. Sadly only a single male of this species,
‘Lonesome George’, remains alive today.
Many consider the Javan rhinoceros to be the most
endangered mammal. With its recent extinction in
Vietnam, less than 50 remaining individuals are
confined to the Indonesian island of Java.
Once thought to be the most endangered snake, the
Antiguan racer population has increased from just 50
individuals in the mid-90s to over 500 today.

20. According to the IUCN Red List,
there are more threatened species
in Ecuador than any other country
(2,265), which is greater than
Brazil (784), the USA (1,214) and
Indonesia (1,149).

21.  More than 900 species of plants and
animals in the U.S., and more than
530 species living in other parts of
the world, are protected by the
Endangered Species Act.

22. • The most hope for endangered
species lies in the hands of
young people like you who care
enough to make a difference.

24. pygmy elephant
 The pygmy elephants of Borneo are
baby-faced with oversized ears,
plump bellies.
 They are also more gentle-natured
than their Asian elephant
counterparts.
 Today pygmy elephants are smallest
elephants in Asia

29. Tampa mock vervain

30. tampa mOCK VeRVaIn
Plant Botanical Name:
Glandularia tampensis
Plant Threat Level:
Endangered
It is endemic only to coastal areas of southern Florida
Endangered because of loss of habitat to development and
agriculture.
 Very few populations remain intact in nature, and efforts are
being made to protect habitat and to preserve germplasm from
these remaining populations.
 It is becoming popular among native plant collectors and
enthusiasts of butterfly gardens.

31. haU hele ‘Ula

32. HAU HELE ‘ULA
Plant Botanical Name:
Kokia drynarioides
USBG Plant Location:
Conservatory
Plant Threat Level:
Endangered
It is an endangered shrub endemic to dry forests on the
island of Hawaii.
 Overgrazing by livestock, competition from invasive weeds
and habitat disturbances due to development have reduced
their number.
It is a food source for nectar-drinking birds called
honeycreepers, which have become endangered as a result of
this decline.

33. ChRIstmas helICOna

34. Christmas Helicona
Plant Botanical Name:
Heliconia angusta
USBG Plant Location:
Conservatory
Plant Threat Level:
Vulnerable
Heliconia angusta, known as Christmas heliconia, due to the
red and white flowers that usually emerge during the holiday
season.
 Native to southeastern Brazil, this Heliconia is classified as
vulnerable by IUCN because its natural habitats have been
converted to agricultural purposes.
 The genetic diversity has been preserved through ex situ
conservation.

35. HAWAIIAN WHITE HIBISCUS

36. Hawaiin wHite Hibiscus
 Plant Botanical Name:
 Hibiscus Waimeae
 USBG Plant Location:
 Conservatory
 Conservatory Room Location:
 Hawaii
 Plant Threat Level:
 Endangered
 Hibiscus is endemic to Kauai
 Hibiscus species hybridize readily, this unique characteristic are threatened by cross-
pollination with non-native Hibiscus varieties that have been introduced to Kauai for
ornamental use.
 By carefully hand-pollinating and isolating flowers of Hibiscus,conservationists are able to
collect, grow and store seeds that have not been cross-pollinated.

37. POT-OF-GOLD LILY

38. Pot of gold lily
Plant Botanical Name:
Lilium iridollae
Plant Threat Level:
Endangered
It is also known as the pot-of-gold lily, grows along streams in
wet pine woodlands and in pitcher-plant bogs in the southeastern
United States.
The habitat of this endangered plant is dependent on periodic,
naturally occurring fires caused by lightning strikes.
 Overgrazing by livestock and urban development in nearby
areas make these vulnerable in it’s ecosystem

39. BRITTON’S BEARGRASS

40. Britton’s Beargrass
Plant Botanical Name:
Nolina brittoniana
It is also known as Britton's beargrass, is
endemic to the dry scrub-covered ridges and
sand hills of central Florida.
It is threatened by fire suppression and by
habitat loss resulting from land clearing for
residential development and agricultural
production.
Currently, efforts are being made to monitor,
protect and preserve germplasm

41. HELP US

42. THANK YOU…………