Species Extinction

Did you know that 99% of all species that ever lived are now extinct? Extinction is a natural process and usually around five species a year die out. However, we are currently undergoing a "mass extinction event". That's when 75% or more species die out over a short space of time. Hundreds, if not thousands, of species are dying out EVERY DAY. The reason for this? It's humans, of course. The damage we are doing to the environment is destroying our fellow Earthlings.

So, what exactly are we doing that is killing so many plants and animals? Quite a bit, is the answer. We are polluting our air, rivers and oceans; we're chopping down forests and draining swamps to make way for farms; we're hunting fish and other animals to the brink of extinction, and our cities are sprawling, removing the natural habitats of so many species.

So, what can be done to protect those species which haven't died out yet? As always, it's governments that can make the most difference. But we can all take action - even if it is just writing to our MPs to let them know how we feel.

If you enjoy questions on science, then you might want to try our KS3 Science section. 50 quizzes covering a large variety of topics learned at this stage in school.