Are we 'protecting' endangered species, such as the Antiguan Racer, to such an extreme point that we are in fact over-protecting them and beginning to interfere with nature and the natural cycle of things as a whole? Since removing imported rats from the Caribbean island of Antigua, the Antiguan Racer population has increased ten-fold. At the rate it is now, the Antiguan Racer population will have increased to fifty snakes per square mile by the late 2020's. What effect would this have on such a small island country?
These snakes would defiantly make a change, but the question is what kind of change. I believe they could affect the food chain. For example, if their are to many snakes the rats would go down and the other small rodents would go down then that makes birds go down and coyotes. This would defianlty affect humans or other bigger meat eaters. Also these snakes could very much attack the humans and make a difference in this small little island. Truly these snakes should have been saved but not so much that it starts affecting the rest of the world.
ReplyDeleteI agree with Big Heart’s comment. Protecting a species from extinction is a big deal, but so is over protecting them to the point where you affect other animals. There is a natural balance of things in nature in humans so often try and interfere when they believe that they are "helping" and often times they end up doing more harm than they do help. These animals all could be protected differently and efficiently we just need to think about the natural way of thing before just jumping in and trying to solve the problem.
ReplyDeleteWhen there is a species of any organism that is on the brink of extinction, there is nothing else to do but try and increase the number of that organism. In this case the number has greatly increased. Although the number has increased significantly, there may be problems with the natural order and over population but, with every thing in life, problems follow as well. The effect that this could have on a small island country could be devestating. It would affect the human beings on that island. Since they projected that there are 50 snakes per square mile, the snakes would eventually start ending up in homes of the community.
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ReplyDeleteIf these creatures over populated, the tiny island of Antigua would be in some serious trouble. What would they do with all the snakes? Kill them? Eat them? Are they even healthy enough for us to eat? Having too many snakes would be a huge hassle to handle especially for such a small area. Little kids would be in danger because they would not know better and would probable end up getting bitten by one. I know if I lived on this island I wouldn't be able to sleep for fear of a snake being in my bed. That is a huge possibility because "over-protecting" the species would drastically change everything!
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