什麼是瀕危物種？

♪ (音樂) ♪

瀕危物種

你以前或者聽過這名詞

但到底什麼是瀕臨滅絕的物種呢？

瀕危物種為什麼需要我們的幫助？

讓我們來解說

“物種”一詞

是指可以繁殖的一組或一類
類似的生物體

舉例來說，人類是物種

但不同種類的動物，
植物、昆蟲也是物種

獅子、貓頭鷹、蜥蜴

蝴蝶、螞蟻和蜜蜂

我們種植的樹木、草和花

甚至我們吃的水果和蔬菜
都是不同物種的例子

但當一種物種瀕臨滅絕時，這意味著什麼？

瀕危物種的字面意思是

一種瀕臨滅絕或完全消失的物種

[]

為了跟踪一種物種的健康狀況

以及有多瀕危

依照以下標準，物種會被分類到其中一個類別

其人口、棲息地的健康狀況
及其他科學數據

這些類別從無危到完全滅絕

雖然所有類別對於評估地球上的生命都很重要

被列為極度瀕危物種

瀕危物種或易危物種

是指面臨滅絕威脅的物種

那麼什麼原因導致一種物種的數量減少
瀕臨滅絕或滅絕呢？

舉個例子

（叢林的聲音）

超過 6500 萬年前

至少有 700 種已知的恐龍類型或種類
在地球上漫遊

（叢林的聲音）

直到環境的劇烈變化導致恐龍滅絕

♪ (敲擊音樂) ♪

科學家說
一顆巨大的小行星撞擊地球

撞擊時殺死了很多恐龍

並使地球陷入失控

火山噴發

將灰塵、煙灰和碳釋放到空氣中

天空烏雲密布

氣候變化很快

使植物和動物難以生存

這種不健康的環境

導致了很多剩餘的恐龍物種瀕臨滅絕

沒有潔淨的空氣、水、食物和住所

恐龍最終徹底滅絶

只有少數物種倖存下來

並進化成我們今天所知的鳥類

（鳥兒叫聲）

在這個例子中，你們看到

一件事如何引起一系列連鎖反應

從而很快形成危險的不健康環境

今天，我們仍在經歷環境

和地球大氣層的自然變化

也正在經歷由人類活動引起的變化

Activities like fishing, growing food,

constructing roads and buildings,

using electricity, driving, shopping,

and many other things we do every day

can have major effects on the habitats

or places where species live
around the world.

And when habitats change,
the species living there are impacted.

Things like deforestation,

water, light, and noise pollution,

using too many natural resources,

and species being captured and brought
to places where they don't belong

are all putting plants,
animals, and humans in danger.

Millions of species exist on Earth,

but scientific research tells us

that as many as 2000 of those species
could be going extint

per year.

Let's call on one of our experts, Leigh,
to see if she can tell us more

about a few of our favorite species
that need our help.

(Leigh) Hi everybody, and thanks so much

for your interest
in learning about endangered species.

Sadly, it's no exaggeration
that plants and animals

are going extinct
around the world every day.

Take the tiger, for example.

(growling sound)

In the last century,
the Balinese, Caspian,

and Javan tigers have all gone extinct.

There are only two subspecies
remaining today:

the Continental and Sunda Island tigers.

And sadly, both are endangered.

Poaching, ilegal trade, habitat loss,
and other human conflict issues

have caused tiger populations
to continue to decline year after year.

Sadly, there are only about 3900 tigers
remaining in the wild today.

Similar to the tiger,
elephants, rhinos, and whales

are also made up
of different subspecies and populations,

which are also being driven
closer and closer

to extinction due to human activities.

The good news is, all over the world,

scientists and experts like me
work hard every day

to protect endangered species,

to increase their populations in the wild

so we don't lose them for good.

And the really great news is,

it's not just experts like me
that can help.

You have the power to make an impact too.

(children cheering)

(narrator) Leigh's right.

You can take action
to help stop the decline

of the natural systems that support us
and all other species on the planet,

like tigers, rhinos, elephants, and more.

You can help improve air quality

and reduce greenhouse gas emissions

by turning lights and electronics off
when you're not using them

and biking, walking

or taking public transit
instead of driving.

You can be mindful
of not wasting food and water.

You can talk or write
to your local leaders and government

so they make good decisions
that help protect nature.

You can also talk
to your friends and family

about how we all need
to take good care of the Earth.

And you can support organizations like WWF

that are working
to protect the environment

and all the life on our planet.

If we all do our part
to take a stand for nature,

we can protect species around the world,

including ourselves.

♪ (music) ♪