We are Responsible for Animals!
Raise your hand if you think that koalas are adorable.
Did you hear about the mass extinction of almost 700 koalas in Australia due to overpopulation in the beginning of September? Devastating, isn’t it?
The reason for killing them was because they wouldn’t have survived.
I understand the fact that it’s difficult to witness ill and weak animals desperately trying to feed themselves. I get that and physically feel their pain and hunger.
But, I don’t believe that all those who were killed would not have survived with proper care.
It’s just easier and cheaper to kill than it is to prevent such a situation or to care for the weak.
But that’s our job as humans.
That’s what makes us special.
Mass Extinction is Near
According to the Australian Koala Foundation, Koalas are now considered functionally extinct. Although there are a supposed 800,000 left in Australia, as soon as their numbers dip to a certain point, there’s no turning back as they are being driven into extinction.
Functionally Extinct could mean one of three things:
- Any species whose population has declined so much that it no longer plays a significant role in their ecosystem. In the case of the koala, they eat upper leaves in the top branches and then poop which produces more trees, keeping balance in a eucalyptus forest. Koalas are nutrient recyclers.
- A species whose population is no longer viable. Female koalas produce one offspring at a time and up to six in a lifetime. Koalas are very sensitive animals – just look at them – and when they’re stressed, they may not mate. They’re not as ‘lazy’ as sloths, but they are a species who saves as much energy as possible and mating takes energy, even if it’s only a 2 minute process. Sexual diseases such as Chlamydia also affect fertility rates. And get this, they don’t have the reproduction drive as other animals. Interesting. Koalas are nonchalantly sensitive.
- In smaller groups, they can suffer from inbreeding which threatens their future. We’re already seeing this happen in urban areas and through genetic studies, along the Koala Coast near Brisbane. Koalas are desperate.
Although they have no natural predators, they have humans who engage in deforestation. Climate change and drought are horribly affecting their population as well. So, yeah, they need our help in order to survive.
UPDATE January 8, 2020: According to this article, koalas are luckily NOT functionally extinct, but they are still not thriving, especially now after 3 months of fires. A new analysis will have to be made once the fires stop and things get ‘back to normal’ but that will take a couple of years. The information above about their reproduction and sensitivity is still accurate though, which is why I’m leaving it in this article.
Taking Responsibility
Other animal species care for the weak too, but we have the means and more opportunities than they do which makes it our responsibility.
After hearing the news, I knew I could help, even if only a little bit.
As a member of B1G1, I support various projects that help reach the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals.
Since joining in December 2018, I’ve funded many projects to help reach all 17 goals, but I concentrate more on #13: Climate action, #14: Life below water and #15: Life on land because I feel we have to get these three reached.
If we fail at this, we won’t be around anymore.
We’ll be looking at a mass extinction of the human species.
Also, I’m passionate about all animals and have built my life and businesses on trying to help save and protect them.
SO, I went into the B1G1 portal, searched for their koala projects and these two below popped up.
It may not sound like much, but this is a collective initiative, so it’s not just my giving back action that helps them. It’s the action of many others as well.
And rest assured, I will be back to help feed more koalas in the future so that this culling never happens again because …
… Killing is not conservation.
As opposed to non-human animals, we have the knowledge, means and opportunities to help save and protect other species and our environment. This is what makes wildlife conservation and climate action our responsibility.
Creating a kinder world
When we believe we are at the top of anything, be it food chain or what have you, we‘re in big trouble.
When we nurture a diverse ecosystem and truly respect all living beings, we become more peaceful, abundant, happy and less stressed.
When we respect Mother Nature and all she takes care of, we‘re no longer feeding our ego and enabling a ‚me, myself and I‘ society, we‘re acting on a higher level of consciousness.
In that moment, we‘re at peace with ourselves and others.
We’ll be able to work together to make the lives of everyone better, including animals. There‘s enough room, money, food and shelter for all of us, we just have to distribute it better.
But, we also have to figure out the overpopulation crisis of our own species before it‘s too late.
We can‘t do this if we believe that we have the right to continue destroying things like rainforests, oceans, entire species, etc. We have to find real solutions!
Genocide and ecocide are not solutions!
How You Can Help
If you feel compelled — and I hope you do — to help save species like the koala, it doesn’t take much time or money and you can do it right now on your desktop or phone.
The koalas I fed above are taken care of by the Australia Zoo Wildlife Warriors, established in 2002 by Steve and Terri Irwin. You can donate to their organization.
And you can donate $5 to become an Earth Protector to help to make ecocide illegal.
Ecocide is the mass damage or destruction of natural living systems.
Without laws that protect our environment from destructive industry practices and dirty supply chains, we will drive many species into extinction. Including our own.
Also, you can vote with your wallet.
There are many smaller brands who are producing products in an ethical way.
So, when you need a new shirt, pair of shoes, bottle of gin or socks, please let me know and I’ll send you links of brands who are doing something good in this world. An easy search on ecosia.org will also work.
Every step counts!
Thank you for Your Contribution
Did you know that just by signing up to receive my emails, you help save lives. When you subscribe, I fund a day of rabies vaccination administration to street dogs in Nepal.
Or if you write a positive review of Lily Bowers and The Uninvited Guest, I fund a literacy program for a girl in India.
How do you feel about us driving species into mass extinction? Please comment below and let’s talk!
Peace and love,
