Many Rare Species Are Being Pushed Towards Extinction Due to Human Illnesses

New diseases are now threatening humans and animals. There are many rare species being threatened and pushed towards extinction by exposure to human illnesses. Scientists believe human encroachment into wildlife areas is hastening the emergence of new viruses. These new viruses are passing through from animals to people.

Asian lions are at risk from TB and other viruses carried by dogs. The Asian lions live in a forest area in India. It is estimated that there are only about 300 animals left there. This is due to these animals being exposed to human Tuberculosis. This happens because of encroachment into their habitat. United Kingdom has found evidence that the decline in red squirrels in the United Kingdom is caused by pathogen. Scientists believe pathogen was introduced when grey squirrels were brought over from the United States.

The great apes are also in jeopardy, one of the diseases introduced to these apes was the polio outbreak in chimpanzees. The home of these chimpanzees was in Gombe, in Tanzania. Measles in gorillas, scabies and yaws, which started in primates, then into humans, which now it is being transmitted back into humans. Primate species are under serious threat of extinction; within 20 years there may not be any more great apes left in the wild. The total population of mountain apes is estimated at 400. An outbreak of measles would be enough to tip the species into extinction.

The increase in pathogen pollution between animals and humans is one of the greatest threats. Scientists expect new epidemics similar to aids will emerge and threaten millions of people. If the rate of infectious diseases increases in wildlife, the chances of humans getting novel diseases will increase. If another Nipah virus or something similar is out there and the odds are there is, this could be an epidemic of a nasty disease. If it can be transmitted between humans, we will be facing a pan-global epidemic. We can guarantee there will be more viruses like the aids virus to come.

If the rate in infectious diseases increases in wildlife, the chances of humans getting novel diseases will also increase. The only way to limit these diseases from occurring would be to leave the wildlife alone. Separate these species from humans and being handled by humans. The wildlife belongs in the wild and not in cages. When new diseases occur within animals and humans, we can only blame humans for this. If some of these species become extinct, we can only blame the people who take these animals out of their habitat and put them in zoos, circuses, and wild animal parks.

This would be like taking humans out of their habitat and putting them in the wild, we wouldn't live long. The same should go for these animals, leave them in the wild.