<< Surely we could do something to protect their habitats >>

We are, Lexi.

There is a lot of effort going into endangered species in Australia, by way of protecting habitat, captive breeding and reintroduction into the wild, elimination of cats and foxes, working out what the best burning practices are, etc.

And it is really paying dividends for some critically endangered species.

However, there are problems with this approach –

Firstly, these efforts need to be kept up for the species concerned. If programs stop, it all gets undone very quickly, in most cases.

Secondly, it could be argued that all the energy being poured into this sort of activity would be a whole lot more effective if it was directed towards an overall human sustainability regime whereby there was no further incursion on natural habitat. Sure, some of the critically endangered species would go by the wayside if we did this. But if it was successful, it would mean a halt to further pressure on natural ecosystems, rather than the continuously increasing pressure that is currently happening, by way of urban sprawl, agricultural and mining expansion, etc.

And thirdly, if we fail to address the problems related to the achievement of a sustainable society, funding for endangered animal and plant species is likely to dry up and be redirected into urgent projects needed as a result of our continuous growth antisustainable society.

<< If some different creature were to have the calamitous effects on other plants and animals that we ourselves do, we would undoubtedly consider it the most noxious and virulent pest to crawl upon the face of the earth.>>

Absolutely!

So we should be putting MAXIMISED effort into reining in this obnoxious creature and MAKING it live sustainably and in harmony with all other creatures on this planet.

Dear NSB

*do we have the right to extinguish species of our own volition?, as living creatures, we all have the same right to life I reckon*

Yes species do have the same right – agreed. The problem is most humans don’t. What I really meant was humanity is so cruel i would like to spare creatures of ours hands.People laugh when you tell them birds are equal etc.
We won’t stop people growing rice or tomatoes & I do not agree Australia should rely on importing food . I think we need to cut our population instead.

Dear Lexi & Ammonite

Thanks for those kind words for Keith & links.

I have long looked at IFAW to leave a large estate to. I have a friend & we work together on domestic farm animals problems. Together we have purchased properties and this is a lifelong plan to leave to an organization But there is so much domestic farm animals cruelty i keep going back in that direction- despite the interest in sanctuaries. There are so many organizations and so many problems for creatures.

The biggest problem is to find one that you know the funds will actually go to help *animals & your wishes will be honored. Like many others I have learned in life the bigger organizations are not necessarily the best.

There are some Buddhist monks doing great things so maybe we should track them down. That of course doesn’t stop intensive of exports. So much to do. So such cruelty from humans to creatures.
I tend to think we need a few more Damien Mander`s & co in this world. Love to send them to NT.

http://sixtyminutes.ninemsn.com.au/blog.aspx?blogentryid=714606&showcomments=true

http://www.monstersandcritics.com/science/nature/news/article_1370640.php/Ex-Army_men_to_protect_tigers_in_India

http://www.australianwildlife.org/Home.aspx

Australian Wildlife Conservancy are an already well established
foundation with a whole heap of wildlife sanctuaries. Tim Flannery
is on their board. AFAIK they are doing a very good job,
with some serious money behind them.

Kerryanne

Excellent website. Deserves more promotion - will spend more time there when I can.

On species extinction, we really need to consider the effects when the top predators are wiped out, more sharks are eaten by humans than vice versa, we have destroyed habitats that provide the cover needed for predators (tigers), hunted out bear species for the supposed medicinal purposes of a single gland and so on.

"The loss of top predators, such as lions, wolves and sharks, is causing unpredictable changes to food chains around the world, according to a review written by 24 scientists.

These animals, called apex predators, play a crucial role in ecosystems, and their disappearance — often due to hunting by humans and loss of habitat — can lead to changes in vegetation, wildfire frequency, infectious diseases, invasive species, water quality and nutrient cycles, according to the authors led by James Estes, a professor of ecology and evolutionary biology at the University of California, Santa Cruz.

"The loss of apex consumers is arguably humankind's most pervasive influence on the natural world," ...

... The loss of these predators at the top of the food chain causes a cascade of effects down the line. The authors cite many examples, such as the decimation of wolves, which have since been reintroduced in Yellowstone National Park, led to over-browsing of vegetation by elk. The loss of lions and leopards in parts of Africa has led to changes in olive baboon populations and increased their contact with humans, which, in turn, has caused higher rates of intestinal parasites in both people and baboons.

“Predators have a huge structuring influence," said author Stuart Sandin of Scripps Institution of Oceanography at the University of California, San Diego, who has studied sharks' role in coral reef ecosystems. "When you remove them you change the biology, which is typically profound and complex. And in many cases it's not necessarily predictable.""

http://www.livescience.com/15051-apex-top-predators-loss-food-chain-ecosystem.html

We have many wonderful organisations as mentioned by previous posters, but while the attitudes of "greenie tree huggers" surrounds efforts to take concerted action in preserving eco-systems, we're fracked.

Thanks for your inputs and I am pleased to see that this thread is
still running. I value all of your opinions greatly and am grateful that you care enough to be part of this discussion.

"Tiger, tiger, burning bright
In the forests of the night,
What immortal hand or eye
Could frame thy fearful symmetry?"
(William Blake).

William Blake's famous poem, captured the majoesty and mystery of one
of nature's awe-inspiring creatures. On November 21, 2010, IFAW gathered in St Petersburg, Russia, with the leaders of 13 countries where magnificent tigers still roam the wild to finalise a global plan to save them from extinction. A point which IFAW President Fred O-Regan drove home during a rousing speech in which he highlighted the need to end all trade in tigers and tiger parts, to eradicate poaching and to restore and protect tiger habitat. As Ammonite pointed out in her post - the importance of these creatures cannot be
de-valued. Whether it's larger organisation like IFAW or smaller ones,
the important thing is that the work continues as Kerryanne stated, and that also - awareness is raised about the need to protect the planet and particularly the species on the brink of extinction.

on the eco natzie topic
i recalled about building 30 hydro generators
IN THE AMAZON*

the film was about the plight of the forrest people
and really was a throwaway line in it

[as they showed the biggest hydro
under construction..30 more on the way]

i thought it related to this topic
think of the many species going to die there
[cause the greenies are too busy helping sell the new tax]
and want to let unkown billions of litle besties DIE

i guess im more angry at the church
who IGNORES gods 5 th law..[THOU SHALT NOT KILL*]

why are you so silent papa
no more death..how hard a message to sell is that
[in this mess-age]..one neds thing has the church
gone too far..from its own rule book]

ie no ursury
no murder

love thy neighbour
that we do to the least[beast]
we do to the most...[dead isnt dead]
but the church and the green's church..is numb from the neck up

how to wake them up?

this carbon mania is murdering the amazon
once thats gone so shall we

demonic fools lead us
as the koran reveals...the demoic noise within..
has made them numb..

they allow unthinkingly
extreeme wrong..to be done