Many animals in Asia are endangered due to illegal poaching, over hunting, and destruction of their environments.
Photo By: Isabella Rivera, Photographer

By: Katherine Lachcik, Reporter

Recent population counts collected by governments and environmental organizations have shown that Asian countries have seen revival in some critically endangered animals’ numbers, including the Bengal Tiger and Asian Vulture. A number of species unique to Asia, including tigers, giant pandas, orangutans, giant catfish, and others are threatened or vulnerable, endangered, or critically endangered.

In most cases, these fascinating creatures have lost their homes—and their lives—due to illegal poaching, environmental destruction and depreciation, overhunting, and other similar actions. However, the recently accelerated efforts of several Asian countries to curtail these harmful practices seem to have had a positive effect on some endangered species’ numbers. In India, the total population of six critically endangered species of tigers rose from 1,706 in 2011 to 2,226 in 2014, a 30% leap in just three years.

AP Environmental Science teacher, Mr. Kristian Cole, says, “I think [the revival] of these species depends on each individual country and government…will it continue? I don’t know, but I hope so.”

The tigers’ numbers rose mainly because of the Indian government’s conversational practices, such as efforts to control poaching, carefully preserve the country’s forests, and minimize human encroachment on the tigers’ natural habitats. Authorities in India believe that these same practices can be implemented in other Asian countries.

“It’s good that some governments are trying to protect endangered species, but it depends on our actions whether or not the animals will continue to survive,” says senior Rashida Wilkinson.

Some of the other measures being taken by Asian governments to protect the multitude of endangered species include imprisonment for hunting or consuming endangered species, setting up preservation and conservation areas for wildlife, and placing certain animals on an endangered species list, in an effort to emphasize their vulnerability. In China, 420 animals are recorded on an endangered species list, and eating an endangered species of any kind is punishable by up to 10 years in prison.

Junior Maya Santiago says, “I think it’s a positive thing that some animals are recovering because a lot of animals are very important to the environment. I think [Asian governments] probably try to protect the animals, and I hope they do.”

The revival of certain endangered species in Asia, especially the tigers, has given several people hope that animal populations will continue to increase in coming years. However, environmental organizations and governments such as China and India’s stress that the combined efforts of government policies and civilians alike will ultimately decide the fate of many other exceptional species in Asia.