Devin Johnson

Mrs. Debock
English 4
3 March 2016
Animal Sanctuaries Have Positive Affects On Endangered Species
An animal sanctuary is classified as any safe haven for animals of all shapes,
sizes and species. Animal sanctuaries preserve wildlife species by multiplying
individual populations of the threatened animals, eliminating the dangers that are
crippling the animal species such as predators, disease, and lack of resources, and
lastly by increasing the number of sanctuaries and researches worldwide.
A prime example of the positive affect sanctuaries have had on threatened
animals is the American Crocodile. This dramatic plummet in population was due to
hunting for sport and skins as well as overcollection for zoos and museums. In 1975
there were as little as 200 crocodiles left, in 2005 the crocs returned to a stable
number of over 2,000 and was taken off the endangered list. This incredible
comeback was possible because of the sanctuaries that took some of the few
remaining crocodiles into custody and gave them a safe haven with plenty of
resources to replenish its numbers. The sanctuaries also study the effect of captivity
on their physiological parameters.(Sajjad) At this time there is an estimated
number of 1500 crocs because of a freeze that killed hundreds, but with the efforts
of local sanctuaries there are over 100 documented egg nests ready to hatch in the
spring. It was concluded that captivity has a significant effect on various
hematological parameters in animals.(Sajjad)
Right now there are about 41,000 threatened species on the IUCN Red List,
and over 16,000 of them are endangered species on the course of going extinct,
and every year these numbers rise due to illegal poaching and deforestation.
Although this is not always the cause of endangerment, an example is the wolves of
yellowstone national park over hunted the elk so much that it started affecting the
wolf population because the lack of elk to hunt. After the employees at yellowstone
national park became aware of this they quickly gathered a numerous amount of elk
and bread them by the masses to save theirs and the wolves population from being
threatened.This is the process boosting wild populations and working towards
finding new populations in areas where they have become extinct.(Jai-Chyi Pei) The
role that sanctuaries play in epidemics such as this are keeping the animals safe
and keep their population on the rise. Sanctuaries can improve the wellbeing of
animals especially in terms of housing and socialization.(Brent)
With over a thousand sanctuaries worldwide,
each is responsible for the well being of the surrounding environment,by providing a
place for confiscated animals and facilitating the return to the wild of suitable
candidates.(Jai-Chyi Pei) An example is the Born free usa sanctuary in dilley ,texas.
The born free usa sanctuary is in charge of preserving the wildlife in texas, and

monitoring the steady population of the animals. Some of the methods sanctuaries
use to maintain and observe population is by tagging animals with trackers. Also
another priority for sanctuaries is to organize the rehabilitation and release of
threatened.(Jai-Chyi Pei)
In conclusion, animal sanctuaries have positive affects on endangered
species. When animals dont have the security, or resources to preserve their
existence these sanctuaries take
them in and return them to their past glory. Sanctuaries work day in and day out to
preserve the
species that are threatened by extinction, how many animals would be extinct right
now if they
stopped doing what they do?

Work Cited

Jai-Chyi Pei, Kurtis. The role of sanctuaries in integrated conservation: the

Endangered Asian
Species Trust linking Monkey World - Ape Rescue, UK and Pingtung Rescue
Centre,
Taiwan, with the Dao Tien Endangered Primate Species Centre in
Vietnam. HCS Smart
Search. Web. Jan. 2012. Vol. 16 Feb, 2016.
Sajjad, Sumera. Comparative Hematological Variables Of Bengal Tigers (Panthera
tigris tigris)
Aug.

Kept In Lahore Zoo And Lahore Wildlife Park, Pakistan. HCS Smart Search.
2012. Web. 16 Feb. 2016.

Brent, Linda. Life-Long Well Being: Applying Animal Welfare Science to Nonhuman
Primates in Sanctuaries. HCS Smart Search. Dec. 2007. Web. 15 Mar. 2016.