New Delhi: Oceans are home to many sea animals, but some are endangered and are calling for help. With the rising ocean temperatures, these endangered species need more attention than ever. The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List of Threatened Species has listed that at least 37 per cent of the world’s sharks and rays, 33 per cent of reef corals, 26 per cent of mammals, including marine and 21 per cent of reptiles are threatened with extinction. Overfishing, habitat loss and degradation, pollution and climate change have brought many animals to the brink of extinction.
World Ocean Day is observed on June 8 every year to highlight the importance of the ocean ecosystem in our lives. As we observe this day, it is important to know some endangered marine life animals that need our attention. From Vaquita to Kemp’s Ridley sea turtle, this article highlights 9 endangered ocean animals.
List of endangered animals in the ocean
Vaquita
Whale sharks
Hawksbill sea turtle
Sea otter
River dolphins
Florida manatee
Hawaiian monk seal
Kemp’s Ridley sea turtle
Giant Manta Ray
Vaquita
Found exclusively in Mexico’s Gulf of California, the Vaquita is a timid and highly elusive dolphin that measures just 1.5 metres. It is also one of the smallest of all cetacean species. The Vaquita was recently discovered in 1958 and has a unique black ring around its eyes. Unfortunately, 94 per cent of the population declined between 1997 and 2016, mainly because by catching alone, many unwanted sea animals are captured during fishing for a particular species. There has been a rise in the awareness of its plight and attempted conservation efforts.
Whale sharks
The biggest fish in the ocean, the whale sharks, are known to grow up to 18 metres long and weigh around 19,000 kgs. Each of these sharks have a unique polka-dot markings on their body. Since 2016, on the IUCN Red List, whale sharks have been listed as endangered as their populations are decreasing. They face various threats like vessel strikes, bycatching, fisheries, finning, tourism and climate change. Whale sharks can live for 70 to 130 years.
Whale Shark (Photo credit: Gregory Sweeney/Moment/Getty Images)
Sea Otter
Sea Otters are one of the smallest marine mammals on earth and have played a crucial role in our ecosystem. They are the only marine animals that can flip boulders over on the sea floor, a behaviour that helps maintain the ecosystem’s balance. Sea otters are also known as ‘keystone species’ because their presence in an ecosystem disproportionately affects biodiversity. They are classified as endangered due to continuous threats from pollution, oil spills, and entanglement in fishing equipment.
Hawaiian monk seal
The Hawaiian Monk Seal, one of the two remaining monk seal species, is native to the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands. It is one of the earless seals that stay on warm beaches. These seals are classified as endangered because they have continuously been heavily poached and hunted for their meat, oil and skin. More than that, their survival is further threatened by plastic pollution and marine debris, and they are entangled in fishing nets in and around Hawaiian waters.
Kemp’s Ridley sea turtle
Six of the seven species of sea turtles are classified as either threatened or endangered. One is the Kemp’s Ridley Turtle, critically endangered on the IUCN Red List. Coastal development, marine pollution, overfishing, and hunting are the biggest threats to these endangered species in the ocean.
Kemp’s Ridley Sea Turtle (Photo credit: Rolf Nussbaumer/imageBROKER/Getty Images)
World Ocean Day is observed on June 8 to raise awareness of the importance of the ocean ecosystem in our lives. On this occasion, let us look at some of the endangered sea creatures that need our attention. knowledge Knowledge News, Photos and Videos on General Knowledge
