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Endangered Animals Because of Climate Change

According to the Environmental Protection Agency, the rate of temperature warming across the globe over the last 30 years is three times greater than temperature warming over the past 100 years. Warmer temperatures translate to higher sea levels, warmer oceans and loss of animal habitats, which has put the existence of several of Earth's animal species in jeopardy.

  1. North Atlantic Right Whales

    • Part of the reason for the North Atlantic right whale's presence on the endangered species list has to do with the long history of the whaling industry, but another reason is that Earth's rising temperatures have led to an increase in ocean temperatures. The warming waters contain fewer plankton, which is the whale's primary food source. As of 2011, the World Wildlife Federation estimates that only 300 to 350 right whales still exist in the wild as food becomes harder to come by.

    Panda Bears

    • According to the World Wildlife Federation, only 1,600 giant panda bears remain living in the wild as of 2011. Although part of the reason for their reduction in numbers is illegal poaching, the effects of global warming on bamboo, the bear's food source, as well as on the forested, mountainous ecosystem of southwest China, are the primary causes. Bamboo is growing farther away from its natural habitat because of changes in climate, making it harder for the animals to get to.

    Tigers

    • The World Wildlife Federation estimates that as of 2011 only 3,200 tigers remain in the wild due to poaching and destruction of habitat from rising temperatures. Already an endangered species, the tiger's future could be greatly further effected by global warming. Tigers have taken to India's mangrove forests in large groups; however, these forests are coastal habitats. Global warming causes glaciers to melt, leading to a rise in sea levels. If these sea levels rise too much, it could wipe out the mangrove forests altogether, eliminating existing tiger habitats.

    Polar Bears

    • As temperatures warm, the ice that makes up sea ice habitats is melting away. Polar bears spend much of their time in these habitats, using ice as a platform to catch prey. The reduction in sea ice is making it harder for polar bears to hunt, which is leading to decreased populations. In fact, as of 2011, the National Wildlife Federation estimates that two-thirds of the existing polar bear population will disappear by 2050. Polar bears aren't yet officially listed as "endangered," but they are recognized as a threatened species by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.

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