Overexploitation: Hunting, fishing, and harvesting are significant threats to wildlife. Excessive hunting and overfishing can lead to population declines and eventual species extinction. This can be driven by factors such as commercial trade, subsistence hunting, and unrestrained fishing practices.
Climate Change and Global Warming: Climate change induced by greenhouse gas emissions is a major factor in species extinction. Rising temperatures, changes in precipitation patterns, and extreme weather events can disrupt ecosystems and impact the survival of species. Some animals and plants are highly vulnerable to changing climatic conditions and cannot adapt quickly enough to survive.
Pollution: Various forms of pollution, including pollution, chemical contamination, and plastic pollution, can harm animals and birds. Pollutants enter ecosystems through industrial waste, agricultural runoff, oil spills, and other human activities. These substances can directly harm individuals, affect their food sources, or alter their habitat quality.
Invasive Species: Invasive species are non-native plants or animals that establish themselves in new environments and disrupt the ecological balance. They can compete with native species for resources, transmit diseases, and alter habitats, leading to population decline and potential extinction of native animals and birds.
Overpopulation and Resource Depletion: Rapid human population growth and overconsumption of resources strain the environment and contribute to species extinction. The increased demand for food, energy, and other resources often leads to the degradation and destruction of natural habitats. This can displace and jeopardize wildlife populations.
Disease: The spread of diseases and pathogens can threaten animal and bird populations. Infectious diseases, bacterial infections, and viruses can cause high mortality rates and spread rapidly within vulnerable species. Factors such as habitat fragmentation and immune stress due to environmental changes can increase the susceptibility of wildlife to diseases.
Conservation and Hunting Practices: Unsustainable hunting and illegal trade can contribute to species extinction. Poorly regulated hunting practices, indiscriminate killing, and the illegal wildlife trade can devastate populations and drive some species to the brink of extinction.
Direct Persecution: Direct persecution and human-wildlife conflict can contribute to species decline and extinction. This can range from intentional killing due to perceived threats to animals or competition for resources to accidental deaths through collisions with human infrastructure like roads and buildings.