Endangered Species Day

Episode

05/16/2024

Get ready for Endangered Species Day, using satellites to protect Jaguars, and an orangutan uses a medicinal plant to heal a wound on its face.

Transcript

Planet Earth is home to a huge number of different plants and animals. There are more than 5000 species of mammals, around one million species of insects, and over 280,000 different plant species. But it’s estimated that over 44,000 of these species are threatened with extinction —often because of human activity.

Endangered Species Day

Endangered Species Day hopes to change that. Held on the third Friday of May every year, this global event highlights the importance of protecting endangered species and raises awareness of the efforts being made to save them. And with a recent study proving that conservation efforts do help protect life on Earth, there is hope!

Gran Chaco, South America

deforestation

The Gran Chaco is the second-largest woodland in South America. It’s home to many species, including these jaguars. These big cats are threatened by deforestation—the clearing of forest land for human activities including farming and mining. To understand the amount of deforestation affecting the jaguars, scientists have been working with NASA.

Using satellite images taken across two decades, they have been able to see just how much of the forest has been cut down since the year 2000. With this data, they have also identified areas where the jaguar's habitat has been less affected. They hope these areas can now be protected from any further deforestation—keeping the jaguars safe, and allowing their numbers to grow.

Sumatran orangutan

Orangutans are the most critically endangered species of the great apes, but Scientists are still discovering new things about the animal’s behavior. This is Rakus, a Sumatran orangutan. Recently, he was observed treating a wound on his face with a paste made from a medicinal plant. Some animals have been seen swallowing, rubbing, or chewing plants to help cure injuries before, but this was the first time that a wild animal had been spotted using one to heal a wound!

After the wound appeared, Rakus chewed the stem and leaves of the akar kuning plant—which is often used by humans to fight disease. He was then spotted applying the paste to his wound, before putting the chewed-up leaves on it—like an adhesive bandage. After 5 days the wound closed up, and after a month Rakus was fully healed. Much to the delight of the Scientists, who say this behavior is a reminder of how similar humans and orangutans are.

Endangered Species Day shines a light on many animals just like Rakus, the jaguars in South America, and the issues they face. It also acts as a reminder of how amazing every species on Earth is, and the work being done to protect them so that they are around for many years to come.

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Endangered Species Day

Teaching overview

Learning points

Endangered Species Day highlights the ways we can help protect threatened and endangered species.
Scientists have used NASA satellites to help protect Jaguars in South America.
A Sumatran orangutan has used chewed plant paste with healing properties to treat a wound.

Curriculum keywords

endangered species day
deforestation
orangutans

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