It is a fact for example, that the Monarch butterfly's continued existence is threatened by the continuing and increasing threat to their survival as the few sanctuaries that are left are being destroyed. If you've ever seen a flock of migrating monarch butterflies, you're one of the lucky ones. Without those sanctuaries, which are essential to their life cycle, there will be no more Monarchs to make that long  trek each year which has amazed us for so many years. Those tiny creatures have survived that long journey of thousands of miles twice each year, northward in the spring, southbound in the fall, and our greed and careless disregard in the name of progress is well on the way to destroying them forever.

Studies in recent years of birds, butterflies and wild flowers have revealed the strongest  of evidence yet that we are on the verge of a mass extinction of global wildlife ... the sixth mass extinction in the history of life on Earth. What an achievement ! And not one in which we should take pride.

 As global warming  becomes more and more recognized as a very real problem with each year that passes our careless disregard for our environment reaches criminal proportions. How dare we destroy  the wonders we have been privileged to enjoy and rob our children of the opportunity to share in nature's bounty as we have done. It is unforgivable that we have shown so little care to protect what should be theirs.

A prime example of this is the magnificent Arctic Polar Bear. As the pack ice that is the bedrock of their existence melts because of global warming, polar bears are facing unprecedented environmental stress. There are now  only 20,000 to 25,000 polar bears across the Arctic. The principal cause of this decline is climatic warming.  In a shrinking ice environment, the ability of the bears to find food, to reproduce and to survive is in peril.

The United States is the only member of the G-8 that has refused to ratify the Kyoto Protocol, which calls for reducing emissions that many scientists say are causing Earth to warm up. And why? Because of the financial implications for the large corporations.

The best  proof of  the effect of global warming on polar bears comes from the western coast of Hudson Bay, in the Canadian province of Manitoba.  Facts show ice is melting there about three weeks earlier than it did 30 years ago  causing a 17 percent decline in the polar bear population in the past 10 years, from 1,200 to fewer than 1,000. The  Canadian research is the primary basis for  the  warning about the future of polar bears around the world.  The Canadian Wildlife Service says "We have seen with our own eyes that climatic warming is causing the ice to break up earlier, and that is affecting the survival of the bears." 

They are losing three weeks at the best time of the year for feeding on the ice, when seal pups are abundant and bears put on fat that they store during the four months that they have to live onshore. Studies have found that  losing this critical hunting opportunity, polar bears in western Hudson Bay weigh about 15 percent less (about 150 pounds less for an adult male) than they did 30 years ago. The bears are losing their physical condition. It is a cumulative process that is causing a steady decline in survival, particularly for cubs and sub adults. It is causing the population to decline.

Polar bears evolved from brown bears about a quarter million years ago to become specialist carnivores, marine mammals that can thrive on ice packs and feast on seals. Climate change is happening too quickly for the bears to adapt. Chalk another one up to progress.

Perhaps one of the best examples of man's lack of foresight is the magnificent Mountain Gorilla. Mgahinga Gorilla National Park  in Uganda is home to this wondrous creature, the total world population of which is now estimated to be less than 650. These numbers are carefully monitored  and  frequently reassessed. Most recent figures, considered to be reliable, show 320 of these awesome creatures make their home in Uganda. The remainder may be found in nearby Rwanda. Unfortunately we humans have not been kind to these mammals considered to be so close in kinship to man. Poachers have decimated them, and man has destroyed their natural habitat. These massive gentle creatures have faced extinction, but today sound conservation policies have slowed that decline and in Mgahinga Gorilla National Park’s secure habitat they are able to establish  their family groups untroubled by predatory man. 

The mountain gorillas are the largest of living primates and are mainly ground dwelling animals. They live in groups that usually include a single mature male, 2 to 4 adult females, and 2 to 5 immature animals, less than 8 years old. Females successfully produce offspring only once every 4 to 8 years as 40 - 60% of offspring die in their first year of life. The estimated life span of the mountain gorilla is about 35 years in the wild. 

Access to the families is strictly controlled (and not always permitted) and small groups of visitors are always accompanied by a trained ranger. To keep disturbance to the animals to a minimum there are limits on the number of tourists  allowed in at any one time. 

“Take nothing but a photograph, leave nothing but a footprint”  ...  is the motto of the Ugandan National Parks and Game Reserves who take very seriously their charge as custodians of the Mountain Gorilla’s fragile environment.

 Sadly, more developed countries tend to place greater value on the almighty dollar than they do to protecting the environment and its creatures. Perhaps as we see more definitive evidence  of our folly and it takes the toll on man  which we have inflicted on nature we will finally adopt more and better safeguards.  If it isn't already too late. One only has to look at what has been happening with our extreme weather in recent years to know we are running out of time.

How many 'Katrinas' is it going to take before we wake up and demand that our governments act responsibly ? How long before we realize that the almighty dollar won't buy fresh air or clean water unless we are prepared to make changes in our life styles and take the actions necessary to save what is left for our children and which should be theirs by birthright.

 I have only skimmed the surface of how we are destroying our environment and the many creatures who have shared this planet with us. One finds evidence  everywhere if we only open our eyes. As I asked in the first paragraph of this page, how many butterflies have you seen lately ? I do have more questions however. How many birds sing in your yard each morning ? How many days is the air quality as it should be to guarantee that it is not hazardous to your health ?

 And perhaps the most important question of all ... How long before we are prepared to do something about it, and to demand that the necessary steps be taken ?

 We are running out of time ... please don't wait until it's too late.