It is no surprise that world population is rapidly growing. What does come as a surprise is the connection between our population explosion, and the diminishing numbers of endangered animals.
As our population grows, other environmental problems become apparent. As we search for more land, we devestate the forests and other habitats that many animals, including those who are endangered, inhabit. This can be seen in many different forms and different places. The forests of the Amazon are one such example. The monkeys that live in the trees are having to search for homes elsewhere, due to the deforestation.
Poverty levels in developing countries also have a major impact on the animal population. Most animals that are endangered have attributes that makes them targets for hunters, like the rhino has a valuable horn, and sea turtle eggs fetch high prices on the black market. For people who have no other option, hunting an endangered animal is a price worth paying to feed their own family.
In order to solve the situation with the endangered animals, humans need to focus not only on the staggering population rise, but the huge gap between the rich and the poverty stricken.
http://www.populationconnection.org/site/DocServer/Poaching.pdf?docID=150
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