Thank you, master of ceremony.

A very good morning to honourable judges, loyal

timekeeper, loving teachers, fellow contestants and audiences. My name is ___________ I’m
happy to be with you today in this wonderful event. Before I narrow down to my topic for
today let me share with you some general info about factors that causes animal species
become endangered.

When an animal species is considered endangered, it means that

the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) has evaluated it as
nearly extinct, which means that a significant portion of its range has already
died off and the rate of birth is lower than the species' death rate.

Today, more and more animal and plant species are on the verge of extinction
because of a variety of major factors that cause a species to become
endangered, and as you might expect, humans play a role in quite a few of
them. In fact, the biggest threat to endangered animals is human
encroachment on their habitats.

Fortunately, conservation efforts around the world are bent on helping these
endangered animals revitalize their dwindling populations through a variety of
humanitarian efforts, including curtailing illegal poaching, halting pollution,
and habitat destruction, and curtailing the introduction of exotic species into
new habitats.

Habitat Destruction and Pollution

Every living organism needs a place to live, but a habitat is not just a
residence, it is also where an animal finds food, raises its young and allows the
next generation to take over. Unfortunately, humans destroy animal habitats
in a number of different ways: building houses, clearing forests to get lumber
and plant crops, draining rivers to bring water to those crops, and paving over
meadows to make streets and parking lots.

In addition to physical encroachment, human development of animals'

habitats pollutes the natural landscape with petroleum products, pesticides,
and other chemicals, which destroys food sources and viable shelters for the
creatures and plants of that area.

As a result, some species die outright while others are pushed into areas where
they can't find food and shelter. Worse yet, when one animal population
suffers it affects many other species in its food web so more than one species'
population is likely to decline.

Habitat destruction is the number one reason for animal endangerment,

which is why conservation groups work diligently to reverse the effects of
human developments. Many non-profit groups like the Nature
Conservancy clean up coastlines and establish nature preserves to prevent
further harm to native environments and species around the world.
Introduction of Exotic Species Destroys Delicate Food
Systems
An exotic species is an animal, plant, or insect that is introduced into a place
where it did not evolve naturally. Exotic species often have a predatory or
competitive advantage over native species, which have been a part of a
particular biological environment for centuries, because even though native
species are well adapted to their surroundings, they may not be able to deal
with species that closely compete with them for food. Basically, native species
haven't developed natural defenses for an exotic species and vice versa.

One example of endangerment due to both competition and predation is the

Galapagos tortoise. Non-native goats were introduced to the Galapagos
Islands during the 20th century. These goats fed on the tortoises' food supply,
causing the number of tortoises to decline rapidly. Because the tortoises could
not defend themselves or stop the overpopulation of goats on the island, they
were forced to abandon their native feeding grounds.

Many countries have passed laws banning specific exotic species known to
endanger native habitats from entering the country. Exotic species are
sometimes referred to as invasive species, especially in cases of banning them.
For instance, the United Kingdom has placed raccoons, mongooses, and
cabbages on their invasive species list, all of which are barred from entering
the country.

Illegal Hunting Can Endanger Species

When hunters ignore rules that regulate the number of animals that should be
hunted (a practice known as poaching), they can reduce populations to the
point that species become endangered. Unfortunately, poachers are often hard
to catch because they are deliberately trying to evade authorities, and they
operate in areas where enforcement is weak.

Furthermore, poachers have developed sophisticated techniques for smuggling

animals. Baby bears, leopards, and monkeys have been sedated and stuffed
into suitcases for transport. Live animals have been sold to people who want
exotic pets or medical research subjects. And, animal pelts and other body
parts are also secretly smuggled across borders and sold through black market
networks of buyers who pay high prices for illegal animal products.

Even legal hunting, fishing, and gathering of wild species can lead to
population reductions that cause species to become endangered. A lack of
restriction on the whaling industry in the 20th century is one example. It
wasn't until several whale species were nearing extinction that countries
agreed to abide by an international moratorium. Some whale species have
rebounded thanks to this moratorium but others remain at risk. 
International laws forbid these practices, and there are a number of
government and nongovernment organizations (NGOs) whose sole purpose is
to stop illegal poaching, especially of animals like elephants and rhinoceroses.
Thanks to the efforts of groups like the International Anti-Poaching
Foundation and local conservation groups like the PAMS Foundation in
Tanzania, these endangered species have human advocates fighting to protect
them from outright extinction.

How Are Animals Endangered?