Why do we try to preserve a species that is on a verge of extintion?
538836
Because we think we need to. Scientists claim to believe in evolutionary theory, but if an organism isn't suited for its environment, we attempt to save it. I guess it probably goes back to a moral obligation we feel we need to have. The same question could be asked about a child with mental retardation, or an elderly person on life support. Do we really NEED to continue feeding that old person? Your opinion may change if it was your grandmother. Basically, some people can't deal with the guilt of a species becoming extinct, like some people can't quite pull the plug on Old Man Sedwick.\n\n-Wied\n\n\nP.S.: in response to the previous answers...isn't man part of the environment? Just because we are excessive consuming omnivores doesn't make us not organisms in an environment. If a certain species of jackrabbit is dying off due to an influx of jaguars into the area, is it the jaguar's obligation to maintain a rabbit population?
560087
Protect and respect their habitats.  Help wildlife by building a bird feeder, composting, eliminating the use of pesticides and herbicides, etc.  In your garden use plants native to your area - do not introduce plants that are not native - they may disrupt the natural balance. \n\nPossibly one of the best things we can do is stop demanding so much of the world's resources, which, in one way or another, destroys wildlife habitat - increases global warming, destroys the rain forest, etc.  Use cloth reusable shopping bags to carry home groceries.  Buy at bulk food stores using much less packaging materials.  Recycle as much of what we use as possible - glass, soda cans, food cans, plastic containers, newsprint, etc.  Recycle toys, books, games, clothes, etc. by donating them to goodwill or Salvation Army, and shop for things you need at those stores.  Live a simpler, gentler life style.  \n\nHere are a few sites you may like to view.
393381
How can we save humans from extinction.
612006
They are homes to millions of species of plants and animals.  They help keep the equilibrium of our planet constant.
103799
It's a matter of survival.  Only a small percentage of seeds produced by plants will actually grow into mature plants.  Some won't germinate.  Some won't wind up in a place where they can germinate.  Some will be eaten.  Plants produce so many seeds so that enough of them will grow into mature plants to ensure survival of the species.
349846
Neither, because genetic material is inherited and not lost, probably just lying dormant, waiting to be 'switched on' when the conitions are right. After all, life has to be prepared to wait for environmental changes, or there is no evolution.
752420
Mostly, they don't unless their in zoos.  Once there habitat is gone, they're gone.  Squirrels are the exception.
576925
because the areas where they live are destroyed by man, meaning there is less food and less safe places to live. they do not breed easily so do not reproduce quickly enough to keep population numbers high. eventually there will be none left unless people help protect them.
1126019
correct.\n\n      they are barely a concern.     they are folly\n \n             thank you for your very relevant question.\n\nTHERE ARE MANY, MANY VERY, VERY BIG ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES WHICH ARE CAUSING THE PROBABLE EXTINCTION OF OUR SPECIES WHICH ARE NOT GETTING TAKEN AS SERIOUSLY.
373933
Since they have no natural predators, they take over the environment.  This happens because the addition of this new predator throws off the balance of the ecosystem, sometime fataly.
263899
They are leftover from our evolutionary past.
36906
We are designed to make sure that we produce enough offspring to keep our species going. It takes a pretty big carrot on the end of the stick to willingly risk having to take on all that is required of parents.
857634
I wounld not extinct anything b/c god put err thing here on earth thats here for a reason and for u to take the life of something juz b/c u dont like it or b/c u believe that it bothers u n some way.
200699
Species matters more than age.
597044
No sense in trying to stop it. We as humans have pissed mother earth off big time and now she is protecting herself. The earth will out last us. We do things to the earth and think nothing of it, it can be as simple as someone throwing a cigarette out the window, what if everyone did that? what would it look like? I go to secluded lakes and find fishing line that birds and other animals can get caught in, 6 pack rings that are deadly to our wildlife, hooks an innocent person or animal could step on, booze bottles, trash everywhere, it is sickening and we are losing land every day. No respect for her why should she care what happens to us. The only way to stop global warming is to start respecting the earth and every living thing on it, we as humans have not grasped that simple concept, no it may not happen in my life time or even yours but doom is eminent unless we smarten up, we do not own the earth we are just fortunate enough to stay here. Sadly we are ignorant souls and don't give a hoot. How sad is that?
784395
The American crocodile is endangered because few were left after the initial hunting spree before they were protected.\n\nTheir range became limited by human development in their original range and human interference with their habitat areas (e.g. removal of brackish mangrove swamp).  It is suspected that certain kinds of pollution interferes with their ability to reproduce.
339816
Both of them are important.They have various habitats,ecosystem etc but that doesnt mean one is more important than the other.Extinction of a single species can lead to imbalance in the food chain and other species may start dying as a result.\n\nSo every living creature is important in the ecosystem.