Wildlife needs your help

Conserving Wildlife is protecting wild species and their habitats to help maintain healthy populations. By protecting natural habitats from destruction, exploitation, poaching and pollution we can have a profound effect on the success of animal life. Thousands of animal species worldwide are at risk of extinction. Fortunately, National and International governments have enacted legislation to help protect endangered species through Conservation Agreements. These Agreements, restrict the trade of Endangered Species. We are a non-governmental organization dedicated to conserving wildlife and wildlife habitat.

When you destroy habitat it limits the places where animals can live. Sounds obvious but human caused habitat loss is the primary force causing habitat loss. Deforestation, agricultural expansion and urban growth contribute to lost habitat. As habitats get smaller, so do the animal populations that rely on those spaces.

Over hunting is another problem as animals are killed at a higher rate than they are able to reproduce and recover. Poaching also puts animals at risk through illegal trade. Some species in Africa for example, are killed simply for their skins, horns and tusks. Unfortunately, poachers target all species including Endangered ones.

What can we do? Through Habitat Conservation we can help protect species within a designated area. By setting aside protected areas and creating national parks or game reserves we can make a difference. By monitoring the populations within our protected area we can determine better ways to do more and help those species thrive. We measure things like, population numbers, geographic distribution, genetic diversity and much more. The methods we use can be direct or indirect. For example, we may use trail cameras and drones to limit our interactions.

In 1973, the US enacted the Endangered Species Act to protect at risk species. The primary purpose was to prevent the extinction of and help species at the brink recover. A lot more work needs to be done and we must continue with our efforts. We here at the Western Montana Chapter of Safari Club International want to do our part in helping manage and protect, not just endangered species but all animals.