BP Oil Spill

Throughout history there have been many environmental catastrophes that resulted in devastating destruction. The most recent one that took place five years ago, in the Gulf of Mexico, was the BP Oil Spill. This event caused eleven workers to be killed and over 8,000 birds, sea turtles, and marine mammals to be discovered injured or dead within six months after the spill occurred. Damage to the Gulf Coast is still taking place to this day. The aftermath effects sadly include certain species to become sparse of even extinct. Habitat rehabilitation and future reconstruction are positive steps in the right direction, but each action that has taken place will continually start a chain reaction; and whether they are positive or negative, only the

There as not only been a decreased number of species from this environmental crisis; but even in parts of the globe were exotic living beings used to flourish, now are at an all-time low when it comes to how many of them are left of this Earth. “Today we’re living through the sixth great extinction, sometimes known as the Holocene extinction event.” (Whitty, 2015) In future generations, those kids would be lucky if they even get to see a rhino or elephant in their life because of how much these animals are exploited and slaughtered for nothing other than blind greed. “Of the 40,168 species that the 10,000 scientists in the World Conservation Union have assessed, one in four mammals, one in eight birds, one in three amphibians, on in three conifers and other gymnosperms are at risk of extinction.” (Whitty, 2015) In the latest centuries recorded extinctions, the current rate is one hundred times the background rate. It’s shocking that on average somewhere between 2.7 and 270 species are eliminated from existence every day. If we remain on the road of frivolous destruction, half of all the worlds’ plant and animal species will cease to exist. Keeping in mind that the circle of life does exist and animals and plants will eventually die just like all of us one day; but humans continually take advantage of natural resources and other living beings. The only way to save Earth’s membrane is to salvage what is left of its beauty and assemble its broken pieces back together. Surprisingly, not all hope in humanity is lost. The strive to rewilder North America is one of the many positive steps that need to be taken. Starting with reconnecting what remains of wilderness parks, sanctuaries, and national parks. In addition to those actions, North America must also rekindle the four broad “megalinkages” which include “the Rocky