Question

Identify three vulnerable populations and the special restrictions associated with human research among the vulnerable groups. Evaluate the requirements and restrictions. Do you think they are adequate? Why or why not?

Answer 1

A population is called vulnerable if it has lost its natural habitat and faces a high risk of declining population in the wild. Due to overexploitation of natural resources and excessive human interference, there are several populations of plants and animals which are listed as vulnerable and endangered.

Three vulnerable populations are- mountain gorillas, snow leopards, and leatherback sea turtles.

Once abundant in Africa, the mountain gorilla has now become limited to two protected national parks in two different regions of Africa. Detrimental human activity, such as poaching, civil war, and habitat destruction has led to the dwindling numbers of this animal species.

The snow leopard population continues to decline due to the loss of habitat and human activities. Climate change is perhaps the greatest long-term threat to snow leopards. Livestock grazing by herders has also caused a shrinking in the snow leopard habitat.

Leatherback turtles are dependent on a variety of different habitats throughout their lives. Their nesting beaches throughout the world have been disturbed due to sea-level rise, coastal development, vehicle traffic, and other human activities.

Since the leatherback turtles are the most pelagic of all the sea turtle species, they become an easy target of unwanted human interference. The leatherback sea turtles are also important because they consume jellyfish and thus keep their population in check.

Since most of the endangered species are affected directly or indirectly by human activities, the first step to conserving them will be to put a check on undue human interference in the process of nature. Several measures should be taken by the concerned countries to curb such activities that can disturb the habitat or environment that suits these animals. There may be some restrictions due to developmental works but it should be made a rule that development should not be done at the expense of disturbing nature. If all the countries of the world join hands to overcome global environmental issues like climate change, carbon emissions, pollution, etc, then certainly a lot can be achieved in saving the vulnerable and endangered species of plants and animals.