May 21st is NATIONAL ENDANGERED SPECIES DAY

May 21, 2021 is National Endangered Species Day, when people join together not only in the US but around the world to help protect endangered species.  Over 1,300 species are considered endangered in the US; worldwide the number is 41, 415.

You’re probably familiar with the endangered species like rhinoceros and elephants, but some of the endangered animals might be in your backyard. Have you noticed fewer songbirds or butterflies?

Natural events can lead to extinctions, but most extinctions today are caused by mankind. Habitat loss, pollution, and toxic chemicals have had significant negative impacts. My species of choice that is in jeopardy are the iguanas. Many iguanas are endangered, and some are critically endangered.  I’m proud to be part of a group of scientists working to conserve the remaining populations, the Iguana Specialist Group of the IUCN. The main threats to these magnificent lizards is habitat loss and predation by man and predatory pets, such as dogs and cats. Man has also impacted many species through the pet trade, by removing individuals from their native environments and introducing them to new environments, where they go on to become invasive, such as green iguanas.

I’ve tried to contribute to the conservation of iguanas by volunteering in research projects in the field, including iguanas in my adventure books, such as The Dragon of Nani Cave above, and by creating booklets to help people differentiate between the invasive greens and the native iguanas.

Each of us can do something to help endangered species, whether it’s a local butterfly or bird, or a species in another part of the world, for we’re all part of the environment and need each other to survive. We must be responsible tenants of this world we all share. I use my books–you might plant a garden and others might use responsibly-produced food. Each one of us can contribute something to the survival of other living organisms.