November 9, 2009
Over 17,000 Species Could Go Extinct
Tigers are among animals facing extinction.
Over 17,000 Species Could Go Extinct
Tigers are among animals facing extinction.
SUMMARY: Over 17,000 species are threatened with extinction, a leading
environmental group, the Switzerland-based International Union for
Conservation of Nature, has said.
More than one in five of all known mammals, over 25% of reptiles, about 1/3 of
freshwater fishes, and 70% of plants are included in the 17,291 species
thought to be under threat, according to the survey. Craig Hilton-Taylor, who
manages the list, believes many more species yet to be assessed could also
be under serious threat.
Included on this "Red List" is the tiger, of which only 3,200 are thought to still
be alive in the wild because of a shrinking habitat due to human encroachment.
More than 300 reptiles were added to the list this year, including the Panay
monitor lizard and the sail-fin water lizard, both of which are hunted for food
and threatened by logging in their native Philippines.
A rare Panamanian tree frog, the Rabb's fringe-limbed tree frog, discovered
only four years ago, is one of 1,895 amphibian species that could soon
disappear because of deforestation and infection. This unusually large frog
glides through the forest using its big webbed feet to steer safely to the ground.
A fungus is thought responsible for its current predicament.
Some species have recovered thanks to conservation efforts. For instance, the
Australian grayling, a freshwater fish, improved from "vulnerable" to "near
threatened" because of fish ladders at dams and other protection measures.
To read the entire article, click on this link to FOX NEWS.
COMMENT: It is sad to learn that so many of God's creatures are
disappearing from our world. One doesn't have to be an environmentalist or
animal rights activist to realize something is wrong. That something is sin, sin
which has marred our beautiful world and which caused St. Paul to write, "We
know that the whole creation has been groaning as in the pains of childbirth
right up to the present time. (Romans 8:22, NIV)" Of course, this shouldn't be
an excuse for being indifferent to problems in nature or with the world's
inhabitants, human as well as non-human.
It is easy to see that the world and the whole universe are winding down. The
Second Law of Thermodynamics (entropy) states that as time proceeds there
is a decreasing amount of useful energy and things are becoming more
disorganized. Thus, far more species are going extinct than new species being
observed.
This trend will unfortunately continue until the end of time when we shall see a
dramatic change. When that moment comes, those who have placed their faith
in their Savior, Jesus Christ, will say good-bye to their diseased, weak bodies
and instead inherit perfect bodies. They will enter a world where sin, disease,
death, and sadness will have gone extinct. This is what we true believers
anticipate as we desire to be with Jesus who said He was going to heaven to
get a place ready just for us (John 14:2-3).
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QUESTION OF THE DAY
How many known species of birds are there in the world?
**************************************************************************************
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containing alternate views. However, comments containing profanity or
advertisements will not be published. After posting a comment, please allow
several hours for it to appear on the blog.
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environmental group, the Switzerland-based International Union for
Conservation of Nature, has said.
More than one in five of all known mammals, over 25% of reptiles, about 1/3 of
freshwater fishes, and 70% of plants are included in the 17,291 species
thought to be under threat, according to the survey. Craig Hilton-Taylor, who
manages the list, believes many more species yet to be assessed could also
be under serious threat.
Included on this "Red List" is the tiger, of which only 3,200 are thought to still
be alive in the wild because of a shrinking habitat due to human encroachment.
More than 300 reptiles were added to the list this year, including the Panay
monitor lizard and the sail-fin water lizard, both of which are hunted for food
and threatened by logging in their native Philippines.
A rare Panamanian tree frog, the Rabb's fringe-limbed tree frog, discovered
only four years ago, is one of 1,895 amphibian species that could soon
disappear because of deforestation and infection. This unusually large frog
glides through the forest using its big webbed feet to steer safely to the ground.
A fungus is thought responsible for its current predicament.
Some species have recovered thanks to conservation efforts. For instance, the
Australian grayling, a freshwater fish, improved from "vulnerable" to "near
threatened" because of fish ladders at dams and other protection measures.
To read the entire article, click on this link to FOX NEWS.
COMMENT: It is sad to learn that so many of God's creatures are
disappearing from our world. One doesn't have to be an environmentalist or
animal rights activist to realize something is wrong. That something is sin, sin
which has marred our beautiful world and which caused St. Paul to write, "We
know that the whole creation has been groaning as in the pains of childbirth
right up to the present time. (Romans 8:22, NIV)" Of course, this shouldn't be
an excuse for being indifferent to problems in nature or with the world's
inhabitants, human as well as non-human.
It is easy to see that the world and the whole universe are winding down. The
Second Law of Thermodynamics (entropy) states that as time proceeds there
is a decreasing amount of useful energy and things are becoming more
disorganized. Thus, far more species are going extinct than new species being
observed.
This trend will unfortunately continue until the end of time when we shall see a
dramatic change. When that moment comes, those who have placed their faith
in their Savior, Jesus Christ, will say good-bye to their diseased, weak bodies
and instead inherit perfect bodies. They will enter a world where sin, disease,
death, and sadness will have gone extinct. This is what we true believers
anticipate as we desire to be with Jesus who said He was going to heaven to
get a place ready just for us (John 14:2-3).
**************************************************************************************
Want to be automatically notified each time there is a new post? Just e-mail
your request to [admin@lutheranscience.org].
**************************************************************************************
QUESTION OF THE DAY
How many known species of birds are there in the world?
**************************************************************************************
NOTE ON VISITOR COMMENTS: Visitor comments are invited including those
containing alternate views. However, comments containing profanity or
advertisements will not be published. After posting a comment, please allow
several hours for it to appear on the blog.
**************************************************************************************
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| LSI stands for the Lutheran Science Institute, an organization of WELS and ELS Lutherans interested in science and health issues with a special emphasis on the creation and evolution controversy. This blog's purpose is to search the Internet to find articles of interest to Christians. Views expressed are those of the author (Warren Krug) and are not necessarily those of the Lutheran Science Institute, Inc. |
About 10,000. The best continent for bird
watching is South America where over 3,200
species are known to exist.
Source: www.usefultriva.com
watching is South America where over 3,200
species are known to exist.
Source: www.usefultriva.com