There are many threats to animals in our world. Many include habitat loss, poaching, and pollution. But the biggest danger in our world is climate change. Climate change happens when many greenhouse gases enter the atmosphere, creating a barrier that would trap heat that would otherwise escape Earth’s atmosphere. This makes Earth’s temperature warm which can be bad for some species of animals and also for people too. It is also bad for the animals because some animals thrive in cold climates while others thrive in a stable environment. Thankfully, there are ways to stop this from happening and help Earth return to a stable temperature.
Climate change is caused by global warming, which is the long-term event of Earth warming up. It is very harmful to animals that live in the polar regions and the oceans. For the animals in the polar regions, their habitats are shrinking due to sea ice melting in the Arctic. Polar bears rely on the sea ice to hunt seals while walruses rely on them for resting. Polar bears’ habitats are also decreasing due to melting ice, leading them to come close to people or grizzly bears. Coming into contact with people can be fatal to both the bears and people. Also, since polar bears are coming into grizzly bear territory to the south, they are often breeding with grizzly bears and creating hybrids called grolar bears. Coral bleaching happens as a result of climate change. That’s when coral loses its color and turns white. It often happens in mass and can decimate entire coral reefs. This is harmful to many organisms as many ocean animals depend on coral reefs for shelter, food, and a place to live.
Animals around the world are also affected. As temperatures rise, algae are appearing in water bodies like the oceans and rivers. That’s what caused the death of 350 elephants in Botswana’s Okavango Delta. In May and June of 2020, 350 elephants died and scientists saw that they drank water that was contaminated with algae. Moose populations in North America are decreasing due to tick infestations. As temperatures get warmer, parasites like ticks are more likely to survive. Moose are prone to parasites and many die out due to them.
It’s not only those animals that are affected by climate change. It will also affect us too. As the temperature rises and sea ice melts, the sea level will rise. That can lead to many coastal cities getting flooded. It will also change weather patterns and make them more extreme. Droughts are getting more intense, long-lasting, and frequent due to warmer temperatures. That is leading to many people and animals going without water for days before finally dying of dehydration. Tornadoes and other natural disasters like hurricanes would get stronger and therefore, can cause more damage than in the previous years. With climate change going on, we will also encounter another mass extinction soon.
Luckily, there are ways you can help stop this problem. List is below