by will sprout

Created on: September 02, 2009

How can we ever know if a species is truly extinct in the wild?

A species is considered extinct in the wild if: thorough searches for the wildlife in question have been conducted throughout the normal life cycle of the species, and where no trace of that 'animal' can be found.

Today, probably more than any other time in the past many people are interested in and concerned for the wildlife on this planet. When a species is considered extinct or extremely rare there are many individuals as well as proficient organisations which seek to find them.

But once an animal is confirmed extinct, then that action is irreversible. (Although modern technology could change the situation, by recreating the species from any DNA available at the time or from recent remains). But normally, when extinction occurs it is due to no living member of an organism being represented in the wild, and it may occur locally or globally.

Although today there are many more people interested in the welfare of living species, there are more animals and plants on this planet which are in extreme threat of facing extinction. There are two major causes for this; one is the advancing settlements of man which take up normally feral ground; and two, the results arising from the development of man, such as pesticides, contaminations, and global warming, etc,.

Evidence from paleontological sources indicates that over 90% of all species which have lived on earth are now extinct, but their extinction came about through natural processes, for example, in competing for food, and such things as environmental changes or disasters. The dinosaurs died out around 65 million years ago in the Cretaceous period, and science believes it was brought about by a meteorite striking the earth. They also accept that the same impact caused all manner of plants to die off, by causing a temperature change which affected the entire earth.

Yet in the absence of a meteorite striking us now, the main problem life on earth faces is man; in 1992 Edward O. Wilson estimated that this was between 50 and 100 species from around the world become extinct each day.

But this estimate seems rather high and probably unfounded, yet it cannot be ignored; we are aware of the many hundreds of endangered species around the world at the moment and we are equally aware of those we may not know about. The insight which we have in regarding the extinction of a species does enable us to protect them; when we observe a decline in a species we have the knowledge and the expertise to 'supply' the missing ingredient. This may be in the provision of a certain type of food or environment; we may even be required to provide personal care.

But none of this addresses the initial question; how can we ever know if a species is truly extinct in the wild?

As I have previously mentioned, no trace of the species would be found.

Another indication would be in the decline or explosion of other plants or animals which either relied upon the organism, or which was required by the organism in some way; we would find an unbalance of nature, because one thing invariably involves another.

It's a sad thing to know that the life forms around us are falling into extinction, but good to know that we can prevent it; all we have to do is care.

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