The Sensitive Topic of Extinction in Human-Nature Relationships
Any individual barely involved in biology or natural sciences knows that the topic of extinction is relevant in these scientific circles today. From a historical perspective, environmental self-awareness came to humanity quite late, but a scientific consensus about the drivers of extinction was developed relatively quickly. Experts say these include “habitat, pollution, the spread of invasive destruction species, overharvest from the wild, climate change, population growth” (Halting the extinction crisis, n.d., para. 6). I fully agree with this list of main causal drivers, and I also consider such outdated branches of the entertainment industry as zoos, circuses, and aquariums as additional extinction ones. There are thousands of them built on our planet; the management of each of them wants to get a popular rare species to make a profit, which has a catastrophic effect on existing ecosystems. These types of entertainment also inadvertently support poaching and animal cruelty.
Prohibition on Outdated Forms of the Entertainment Industry Involving Animals
I think banning zoos, circuses, and similar entertainment institutions and business models is a reasonably realistic initiative that would have a visible impact on slowing down and reversing the extinction trend. It would allow hundreds of thousands of living organisms to return to their families, packs, and natural habitats. Biological diversity would be partially restored, and natural circular processes would begin again. Additional protection of “wildlife places and wildlife habitat” from poachers and illegal hunters would also be an efficient ecological measure (Halting the extinction crisis, n.d., para. 7). I am also in favor of stricter punishments for these groups of offenders and destroyers of nature. Most of the proposed measures are of prohibitive or protective character, but these measures are what humanity needs to prevent the next sixth mass extinction.
Reference
Halting the extinction crisis. (n.d.). Center for Biological Diversity.