James Stevenson's Intent To Kill An Endangered Species

Thought to have been first introduced into the wild via pet owners (Dorcas & Wilson, 20011) have caused significant declines in mammal populations. An observational study conducted by Dorcas et al (2012), found a 90% reduction in encounter rates of a number of species including racoon, opossums, bob cats and white tailed deer over the period 2003-2011 in which Burmese python populations have increased. The introduction of the Burmese python has also caused a significant decline in bird species. A study conducted by Dove et al (2011) found remains of 25 different species of birds in the digestive tracts of 85 Burmese pythons collected from 2003-2008, 4 of which are of special concern in Florida and 1 the ‘Wood Stork’ is listed as endangered. Preying on native wildlife and competing with native predators has impacted the food web and trophic level dynamics of the ecological

In most places owning a dog or cat is second nature, but what about a tiger, bear or maybe python? Exotic pet ownership is far from having a clear right or wrong answer but it is in need of a ban for both the protection of animal and owner.For exotic pet owners, owning a wild beast insures a sense of power and uniqueness. It is also their way of contributing to the conservation of a species by having a “backup population” once human population growth and habitat destruction has resulted in extinction (Slater 113). But in reality the ownership of wild animals as pets only helps to damage already fragile ecosystems, both the one from which they came from and the new one in which they find themselves. Animals in captivity are also stripped of a natural life in the wild, free of confinement and unsuitable care. Finally, the risk to humans is very large, injuries inflicted from exotic pets are dangerous and possibly deadly. Bans vary from state to state, ranging from no ban to partial ban to complete ban, but even in states with full bans, exotic pet ownership still occurs. Private ownership of an exotic animal as a pet should be banned in the US, due to disruptions in ecosystems, the dangers that wild animals are exposed too, and the risks to the owners of these pets.

However, they disagree on whether or not it is harming the wildlife populations in those areas. Terris says “roads and sprawling neighborhoods are replacing pristine wildlife habitats at an alarming pace, putting the survival and reproduction of plants and animals at risk.” Terris also believes it may be “the problem for U.S. wildlife in the 21st century”. (Terris) According to Terris, one victim of sprawl is the Florida panther, which has been reduced to a population of 30 to 50 adults. Furthermore, in the Sonoran Desert many plant species are affected, which also affects the animals that rely on those plants. She goes on to give numerous examples of animals and plants that are being harmed that spreads across the U.S., supporting the fact it is widespread.

recently become detrimental to many wildlife species. These house cats are responsible for the deaths of

Humans have caused another extinction, one that could possibly take us down in the process, species are exponentially going extinct because of habitat loss, species exportation, and invasive species bullying native species. On the other hand, scientists are trying to safe guard native species, keep animals in captivity whether it be for the animals well-being or for research, and widespread invasion. In this essay I will be comparing and contrasting “What Everglades Pythons and Other Invasive Species are Trying to Tell Us,” by Julia Whitty and “The Sixth Extinction,” by Jeff Corwin.

To put this on equal terms, think one day you and your family are taking a leisurely stroll down the park. While walking down the spark another person randomly tries to kill you. But, no one but your mom is wounded with a poisoned wound without an antidote. Frighten you would not be able to know or think straight with the sight of someone dear to you dying right in front of your eyes. Now if you would please take that picture and put it in terms of an animal being hunted by another species far more advanced, without a way to protect themselves. Is it really morally right to kill another living thing for sport? Especially when the animal involved is on the endangered species list, to be fair, it is on the endangered species list for a reason because it is on the verge of becoming extinct. So let me ask you again why should anybody think it's more to hunt and kill animals that are endangered or simply in our backyards. it is morally wrong to continue trophy hunting as a Leisure activity when endangered animals are

Imagine waking up in the middle of a warm Texas night to the thundering sound of fences being annihilated by a cluster of swine, weighing in at a hefty 300 pounds each and armed with razor-sharp tusks. Within minutes, the rowdy pigs turn a beautifully manicured lawn into a scene fitting of the apocalypse, a yard with numerous piles of de-rooted sod, broken fence posts and mangled bushes. In the state of Texas, feral pigs are considered one of the most destructive species of animals ever introduced to America. The amount of destruction feral pigs produce on a yearly basis in Texas is alarming; almost half a billion dollars in damages to property and crops are estimated every year as a result of the pigs’ actions. Feral pigs are responsible for causing widespread agricultural damage, spreading diseases in the food supply, and harming the state’s ability to feed needy people with their meat.

Attributed to the release of the exotic pet, the encroachment of the voracious species has already demonstrated its appetite for the indigenous fauna of the Everglades. It is now feared that with their migration to the Florida Keys, the

When you think of invasive species possibly common invasive animals like the goby or zebra mussel comes to mind, the last thing you would think of as aggressive, habitat destroying, and invasive is a large beautiful bird the mute swan. Mute swans originally from Europe were brought to America by early explorers and colonists and released them here when no one thought that their messy eating habits and their aggressive behavior would affect native organisms. That was a long time ago before they started to overpopulate. Mute swans are very large birds and they raise many cygnets (baby swans) every year and the cygnet survival rate is very high that is just

The audience is left horrified by such glaring numbers, and now understands why there needs to be more enforcement - to eliminate the many deaths of our precious birds. By citing evidence, the author is able to establish that his concerns are true, strengthening his line of argumentation in the

Stevenson fights for Justice for whose who are in need. He believes the systems treats the rich and guilty better than the poor and innocent. He dedicate his life to fights for those who have been either falsely convicted or harshly sentenced. King, also fights for the same cause, he states " Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere". King believes that people have moral responsibilities to break the unjust law and take actions than just waiting for justice to come. Both king and Stevenson have similar views.

Feral cats are a major issue to wildlife in the Great Sandy Desert. They are not only killing native animals, but they are spreading diseases to native species as well. Researchers estimated that there are around six million feral cats in the Great Sandy Desert, and plan on killing thousands per year to make the native species life safer. The research shows that the total amount of feral cats in the desert is much lower than the previous years of feral cats in the Great Sandy Desert due to many people killing them. “Agencies are responsible for managing cat populations and would enable better planning for baiting, trapping, shooting or other eradication

Domestic cats have taken the role of a keystone species in many environments, including human habitations, where they control some rodent populations. Feral cats are known to decimate native populations in many places in which they are introduced.

Exotic animals can easily become endangered animals. According to current estimates, a third of the world’s amphibians, one in eight birds, and a quarter of all mammals are endangered. (“Endangered Species”). On average, there are twenty-three states in the United States of America alone that allow you to legally own an exotic animal, and twelve of those you do not even need a permit to acquire them (Loria). This increases the chance of fatality, malnourishment, being endangered, extinction and other issues. Exotic animals being kept can also endanger humans while being in harm's way themselves. Examples of some popular exotic animals some people might not consider exotic are snakes, birds, monkeys, big cats, and turtles. Turtles are the most endangered in the vertebrate groups due to the pet trade. This is because once you get a turtle, you cannot release it again or else it will not survive. Second, big cats are extremely popular in the US. There are around 10,000 tigers being kept as pets. This means there are more tigers kept as pets than in the wild. Statistically, since 1990 there have been 21 human deaths, 246 maulings, and 143 wild-cat deaths in captivity. Next, monkeys are also incredibly popular. Monkeys can carry various diseases such as Herpes B-Virus, Monkeypox, Ebola, and many more. Owning a monkey is bad for the monkey and for the owner. Additionally, there are over 150,000 parrots smuggled into the U.S. every year. Birds are meant to fly and be free, not to have their wings clipped and be confined into a tiny space. They have lost their whole life, and freedom so they can be called “pretty bird” and fed little pellets. Lastly, are the snakes. Snakes are everywhere around the world, ranging in color, shape, size, and species. In the last decade, more than 12 people have been killed from boa constrictor incidents, and with even more injuries. Snakes are also very dangerous to humans. Not only do a lot of

Thesis/Preview: Today, I will discuss three types of cats based on their shelters or living conditions: the pet cat, the feral cat, and the pseudo-wildcat.