This is just too sad

[LadyOhh]

Granted the numbers may be off, but the possibility just breaks my heart...


http://www.cnn.com/2008/TECH/science....ap/index.html


My children and childrens children may not be able to see animals that were typical in Zoos in our hayday.

[AndrewGeibel]

That's pretty rough. Sucks that animals go extinct. Generally I am a conservative but I just can't help but think we have had a pretty big impact on some things. I know tons of animals went extinct before humans but that just seems like so many species in the last 500 years.

[wolfy-hound]

The mountain gorillas are almost gone now. With none in captivity to have captive bred populations to use.
It's sad that humans can't share the planet.

[Kaorte]

Animals will always go extinct, and while it is sad, it is part of life. Survival of the fittest.

[Muze]

Animals will always go extinct, and while it is sad, it is part of life. Survival of the fittest.

Depends on the reasons for extinction. Is it a natural battle for survival in which the fittest wins, or it is because humans have made the planet such a toxic place to live in that many life forms cannot tolerate it? Is it that humankinds' selfish use of Earth and its resources has made it uninhabitable for many species? & human beings are not the fittest, we are the unregulated. Most other creatures have some type of reproduction regulation (to prevent overpopulation), feeding regulation, etc. However, humans do have the ability to make rational decisions. So here's hoping that more of us decide to use this ability and stop (or at least halt) the misuse of our planet.

[Kaorte]

Depends on the reasons for extinction. Is it a natural battle for survival in which the fittest wins, or it is because humans have made the planet such a toxic place to live in that many life forms cannot tolerate it? Is it that humankinds' selfish use of Earth and its resources has made it uninhabitable for many species? & human beings are not the fittest, we are the unregulated. Most other creatures have some type of reproduction regulation (to prevent overpopulation), feeding regulation, etc. However, humans do have the ability to make rational decisions. So here's hoping that more of us decide to use this ability and stop (or at least halt) the misuse of our planet.

I agree with you that the reason for many extinctions is from Humans, but keep in mind that we have always been on this planet, it is not like we just came down in a space ship thousands of years ago and started screwing up the planet. Yes we are screwing up the planet, should we do something about it? Yes. Will we? Probably not. The truth is, many people are not going to change their current lifestyle so a gorilla can live in the mountains. Humans are selfish by nature.
Don't get me wrong, I think it is terrible what is happening to the planet.

[tigerlily]

The biggest threat to mountain gorillas is NOT global warming or toxic chemicals, it is war. The main area they live in is undergoing a civil war. People do not have the luxury to save the gorillas, but are fighting for their lives. They did have quite a good ecotourism thing going, but with the fighting it is not longer feasible.

I also have very big conflicts with people always blaming 'industry'. These industries have such high restrictions put on them here that they then move overseas and are able to pollute at a much higher rate. I see people build houses all around a mill and then try and shut that mill down. There was a reason the house you bought was so cheap... duh. Ugh....

[Muze]

The biggest threat to mountain gorillas is NOT global warming or toxic chemicals, it is war. The main area they live in is undergoing a civil war. People do not have the luxury to save the gorillas, but are fighting for their lives. They did have quite a good ecotourism thing going, but with the fighting it is not longer feasible.

I also have very big conflicts with people always blaming 'industry'. These industries have such high restrictions put on them here that they then move overseas and are able to pollute at a much higher rate. I see people build houses all around a mill and then try and shut that mill down. There was a reason the house you bought was so cheap... duh. Ugh....

You are correct. It is not only industrial pollution that is causing the extinction of species after species at an alarming rate. War, deforestation, etc. are all man-made cause of species extinction. And I am one of those idealists that believes if we do not all just shrug our shoulders and say 'it's too late to do anything about it', then something can be done.

Something to think about...

[SoCaliSon]

I would really like to read this article but for some reason my server won't open the page...

[Muze]

and this so true:

"I see people build houses all around a mill and then try and shut that mill down. There was a reason the house you bought was so cheap... Duh. Ugh...."