Increased emission of Carbon gases and a continuous increase in pollution has led to an increase in global temperature. The earth is getting hotter with every passing day and the melting glaciers are the biggest proof of it. The over-dependence of human civilization on fossil-fuels is making the situation worse and there are ample examples to prove that we need to switch to clean energy without any delay. The summers are getting hotter with every passing year and this continuous rise of temperature poses a serious threat to a lot of species including humans.
The creatures living in the polar region will be the first to be affected by global warming and its impact on the earth and if governments across the world fail to find a way to tackle it, the changes could be disastrous and irreversible. A lot of species have gone extinct due to global warming in recent years while many have been placed in the extinct category. Some species have more risk of getting wiped out of the earth than others. In particular, animals living in cold regions are endangered and face the threat of getting extinct from the planet. The top 5 animals that may go extinct due to Global Warming are:
5. Adelie Penguin: Most of us have watched Penguins only in movies of TV series. But, we can still go and watch them for real in Antarctica. The only problem is we don’t know how much time we have before these beautiful creatures go extinct. Adelie Penguin is a species that resides in Antarctica. However, they face serious threats due to the rising temperature that leads to an unfavorable condition for their survival. The black and white birds are already declining on the West Arctic Peninsula due to the rising temperature and unsuitable living conditions. The increase in temperature has also affected their ability to prey, making their survival even more difficult. The marvelous creature may be reduced to movies or books if adequate measures are not taken soon.
4. Leatherback Sea Turtle: Leatherback Sea Turtle is a giant reptile weighing nearly half-a-tonne which faces the risk of extinction due to various factors that include climate change, poaching, and pollution. While almost all the species of turtles are in danger due to climate change and its effects, sea turtle has been affected the most due to global warming. The male to female ratio in sea turtles has also been compromised, resulting in a decline in the population of the reptile. Sand temperature plays a vital role in the gender of a newborn sea turtle. Hot sand is more suitable for female turtles in comparison to male turtles. This has led to a huge decline in the population of male turtles and the clouds of their extinction are hovering over the marine ecosystem.
3. Koala: The Australian fluffy bear may be around for just 70 odd years with the rising global temperatures and declining forest covers. The fluffy marsupial mainly feeds on eucalyptus leaves and the rising carbon levels due to the pollution have affected the nutritional values of these plants immensely, causing problems like malnutrition and starvation. Conditions like drought and reduction in the levels of groundwater have forced the migration of Koalas in search of water. This has led to a depletion in the population of the mini bears. On top of all this, the violent wildfires in Australia recently have led to the death of thousands of Koalas also destroying their habitat in the process.
2. Ringed Seal: Ringed Seals are another creature affected by the depletion of ice sheets due to the rise in global temperatures. The reduction in the population of Ringed Seals is not only affecting their existence but also posing risk for the Polar bears who feed on them. The warming sea temperature and rapid ice breakups are causing forced migration of these creatures. The increase in the population of seal parasite due to higher temperature and the forced migration may accelerate the process of disease spread, thereby, further affecting the population of Ringed Seals.
1. Polar Bear: Polar bears are a magnificent combination of beauty and beast. The gigantic mammals face an uncertain future due to the increase in temperatures in the Arctic region. The depletion of species like Seals further deteriorates the surviving condition for the world’s biggest land carnivore. Seas remaining ice-free for a long time in the cold regions of the world have made it even more difficult for the largest bear’s survival. Apart from this, Polar bears also fall victim to the greed of poachers, who hunt them for various purposes. The decreasing population of Polar Bears has been at the core of various debates on global warming. However, concrete actions to ensure their security are still awaited.
