Older Animals Are Disappearing Worldwide, Says Australian Study
🌍 Hey there! Did you know that some of the oldest animals on our planet are starting to disappear? A new study from Charles Darwin University (CDU) in Australia has found that human activities are causing a decline in older animals both on land and in the ocean.
From majestic lions 🦁 and elephants 🐘 to the oldest fish 🐟 in the sea, these older creatures are facing big challenges. People are hunting them for trophies, poaching them, and even harvesting old coral from the ocean!
Why is this a problem? Older animals are super important! Just like how grandparents have lots of wisdom to share, older animals help their families and communities survive. Keller Kopf, the lead author of the study, says, “Old individuals of long-lived species such as elephants, whales, and humans accumulate knowledge over long time-periods, and—among many other benefits—this allows them to provide better care of their offspring or grand-offspring.”
By losing these wise old animals, we risk harming the balance of nature. It’s like taking the teachers out of a school—everyone loses important lessons!
What can we do? The research team is asking for better plans and policies to protect these amazing creatures. By caring for older animals, we can help keep our ecosystems healthy and make sure future generations get to see these animals, too!
Let’s all do our part to protect wildlife and spread the word! 🐾🌿
Reference(s):
cgtn.com
