Season 3: Endangered Species

The American alligator is now a classic conservation success story. Hunting and habitat loss decimated their populations, but protections and monitoring have brought them back to a thriving state of being.

Bats are often misunderstood. Our folklore and fear has made them an object of revulsion by many. Even when not actively hunted, our presence alone at the wrong time can harm them. However, there are some species that are starting to recover.

Many human-influenced extinctions can be traced back to a kind of 'dominion over nature' mentality, the idea that we can shape nature however we want. Not understanding interconnected ecosystems, we could not always anticipate the consequences. Once a species is gone, it can't be brought back.

Sometimes, when humans see extinction coming, they can begin captive breeding programs. If wild populations then die off, this leads to the rare classification of Extinct in the Wild.

The duck-billed platypus is known for laying eggs despite being a mammal and its bizarre, almost mix and match, anatomy. However, they have a few egg-laying relatives that don't get as much of a spotlight, two of which are Critically Endangered.

Island ecosystems can be delicate. Water provides a natural barrier to species colonization, so introducing a non-native species to an island is highly disruptive. New predators will target native wildlife and the most vulnerable species can decline rapidly.

When you think of turtles, the most common image is the retracting of their head into their shell. But, there is an entire group of turtles that instead hold their head and neck in sideways. A number of these side-necked turtles are at risk.

For some species, getting accurate population counts is a difficult task. Because of this, species can also be listed as threatened because of small population area. Habitat loss can contribute to this, and can be exacerbated by island-dwelling or specific habitat needs.

While previous examples of threatened species had suffered declines due to habitat loss, others have been subjected to direct human exploitation. In particular, the Atlantic cod has shaped the history of North America and Europe for centuries.

Carnivorous plants supplement their nutrient intake by capturing and digesting small animals. However, their habitat requirements are highly specialized and can be vulnerable to habitat loss.