5 ENDANGERED SPECIES WE AREN'T READY TO LET GO OF
Our entire purpose behind Amini is to positively impact this earth. By taking the trash out of our oceans that is causing extreme damage and repurposing it into swimwear that goes back into the ocean, we want to change the narrative. While positive change is inspiring, we can’t be blinded by reality. Coral reefs are dying, fish stocks are declining, and the endangered specifies list is growing. Awareness and education are steps in the direction of change. Here is a list of some of our favorite endangered marine life that we want to fight to keep here.
FinlessPorpoise
These guys are truly so cute. Their habitat is severely impacted by fishing and pollution. High levels of toxic pollutants also affect their population. They can be found around the Korean peninsula in the Yellow and East China Seas. They are currently classified as vulnerable with their population decreasing. However, the Yangtze finless porpoise is classified as critically endangered, with a 90% chance of going extinct in the next century.
https://www.worldwildlife.org/species/yangtze-finless-porpoise
Cape Penguin
These little guys are located in the Southern African waters. They are endangered with a decreasing population due to the loss of nesting sites, oil spills and food loss from overfishing. There is also a depletion of their prey, putting this species in jeopardy.
Hector’s Dolphin
Hector’s dolphin can be found in the coastal waters of New Zealand. They are the world’s smallest dolphin. Something unique about these marine creatures is that the females are larger than the males, #feminists. Hector’s dolphin are critically endangered. While their biggest threat is fishing; boat strike, mining, construction, coastal development, pollution, marine tourism, marine farming and climate change are also causing the population decrease.
Loggerhead Sea Turtles
Sea turtles are my personal favorite animal so this one especially breaks my heart. The loggerhead sea turtle is the largest of all the hard-shelled turtles. They are classified as endangered because of the increasing pollution in their habitats. Fishing gear is the sea turtles' worst enemy, but climate change also plays a role in their endangerment.
Southern Sea Otter
Okay but how can you not love Otter’s. The Southern Sea Otter lives in the waters along the central California coastline. When fur trade was rampant, their numbers dropped from around 1 million to fewer than 3,000. Ongoing threats include oil spills, shark attacks, habitat loss, food limitations, entanglement in fishing gear and conflict with shellfish fisheries.
Making this list felt disheartening. But we encourage you to engage with this reality and let emotion drive you to action.
Ways you can help? Educate & Donate!!
Under each animal we linked some helpful resources to learn more about the conservation efforts being made along with what steps that you can take.
All love,
Michaela