The rate at which climate change is rapidly transforming the habitat of wildlife is eradicating rare and common species alike. Humans continue to contribute to carbon emissions, and plastic trash and acidification are ravaging the oceans. The most gentle and vulnerable of wildlife are unable to speak for their fate, struggling to survive in the face of humanity’s troubling impact on the planet.

Age Of Decline And Destruction

Humans may obsess over the threat of an extinction-level event posed by a meteor strike or some other cataclysmic disaster. Sadly, it is the actions of human beings that are more likely to bring about a gradually apocalyptic end to life on Earth as we know it. Wildlife is disappearing from this planet at an alarming rate.

Scientists and researchers have been keeping a closer watch on planetary changes, and the wildlife population has been drastically reduced by 60% since 1970. Due to human activity, the quality of waterways and land to support wildlife is quickly becoming unsustainable.

Mass Extinction Imminent

Things are in a dire state, and humans need to make sweeping global changes to become zero-emission and cease activities which destroy the habitats and food sources of wildlife. Humans, plants, marine life, and wildlife on the surface all share an intertwined destiny.

Humans are the only creatures on the planet that have so radically mismanaged natural resources, and thrown the equilibrium off balance to support all life. It is projected that by 2020, nearly 2/3 of the wildlife population will disappear forever because of human influence.

Race To Repopulate And Restore

The time to sound the alarm was decades ago, but we may be quickly approaching a point of no return. If enough biodiversity is removed and unable to recover, humans will soon feel a painful trickle-down effect.

This may be the last generation with the opportunity to reverse the damage that has harmed coral reefs and oceans, reduced the quality of soil, and made the air impossible to breathe in some places. Many people have spoken up to make efforts to repopulate and protect threatened wildlife, but a new Global Deal is sorely needed.

Most Vulnerable Creatures

Polar bears are being threatened by starvation, thanks to the loss of glacial ice that allows them to hunt seals. Animals such as the Orangutan and the Sumatran Rhino are critically endangered because of massive deforestation. Whales, dolphins, sea turtles, and many species of fish are having their once vast numbers, petering out into oblivion.

As much as humans depend on sustaining their life from the oceans and land, so too, do wildlife. Exploitation of the planet by human industry, uncontrolled consumer demand, pollution, and unsustainable practices are to blame.

Shifting Sights For Survival

This generation may be the last to protect the critically threatened and endangered wildlife on our planet. The time to develop and implement sustainable models for managing natural resources, and enact cleaner business policies is now.

Once enough wildlife are gone forever from our oceans, lakes, rivers, jungles, prairies, and savannahs, humans will be the next to follow suit. There is still time for humans to put a halt to the collapse of our fragile ecosystem, and restore it to balance.

MORE: These are the twelve most endangered animal species on Earth.