There is plenty that can be done, both at local, national and international levels. Locally, join your county or state wildlife group. Don't assume that endangered species are only tigers or pandas that live far away. The impact of humans is such that there are endangered species of animals in most parts of the industrialized world.

Your joining fee will help to finance conservation work by experts and you may have the chance to volunteer to work on some projects alongside the experts. Even if you do not wish to do that, the mere fact of your membership has an impact. The bigger the membership the more local and national politicians take notice.

If you can afford it, join a national and an international organization too. In this way you can add your weight to efforts to change national policies in the interests of endangered species.

Become a nuisance! Keep on writing or emailing to your MP or Congressman/woman; if enough people do that, then they take notice. They may or may not care much about endangered species but they all want to get re-elected!

More difficult maybe, but the ultimate weapon is to examine your own lifestyle and ask honestly whether it could be contributing to the problem. Did those smart new window frames cost an Orang Utan its forest home? How about that ivory bracelet you just 'had to treat yourself to'? Scratch one more elephant maybe? Oh yes, and I must jet off to South Africa to go on safari, because I do SO love wildlife! Could your carbon dioxide output be costing Polar Bears their habitat in 20 years time? And how about those out of season strawberries flown in to your local supermarket. If enough of us don't buy them, they'll stop bringing them in!

Learn more about this author, Mark Hopkins.
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