Threats to Survival
By: Amanda

       There are a lot of people who are trying to kill  endangered animals (that is why they are endangered).  These people are called poachers.  They kill animals for money.  As you probably know, elephants are endangered because poachers kill them for their tusks, which are made of valuable substance, ivory.

         Animals are also going extinct because of loss of habitat.  In the rainforest, humans are clearing the forests for new homes.  In that process, they are destroying the animals' homes.  Just think, how would you feel if "animals" came and destroyed your homes to make theirs?  I know you would feel simply terrible.  Well, that's what some of these endangered animals are feeling.

    With some animals, the reasons they are endangered are totally different.  Some animals are killed for food, some because they're pests, or some are killed for sport.  Deer are killed for sport, but since there are so many deer, it doesn't hurt their population.  If you ask me though, I don't think any animal should be killed for any reason.

     The bald eagle is one of the few success stories.  The bald eagles' eggs were being polluted by DDT, a chemical that softens the eggs so when they sit on the eggs they crack and the baby doesn't develop.  But thanks to the ban of DDT, the bald eagles have re-populated and have come off of the endangered species list.