Wildlife population drastically plummets in the last half century

The World Wildlife Fund is highly concerned where climate change is taking us. For years we’ve been warned about the dangers of the drastic effects that our fast-paced society can have on our planet, and humanity has ignored these warnings. And now this is at our doorstep: the wildlife population plummets in the last half century, and by a drastic amount.

In the grand scheme of things 50 years isn’t a long time. For example The original Last House on the Left came out in 1972; the original Godfather was released in 1972; Exile on Main Street from the Rolling Stones came out in 1972, and heck even an adorable but destined for greatness Dwayne ‘The Rock’ Johnson was brought into the world in 1972…50 years ago. So when you look at it, 50 years can pass by in the blink of an eye, really.

If you’re in your twenties you’re probably scoffing right about now, but trust me, friends; you’ll get there, and as you do get there, you’ll start to care about issues…issues that are brought up because society just won’t wake up.

Is climate change impacting the wildlife population?

This is why the statement in the leading paragraph of this piece is in fact so staggering…because 50 years isn’t a long time for the wildlife population to have dropped so drastically. If you ask me, millennium isn’t enough time to have done that amount of irreparable and unnecessary damage…no amount of time is.

It was in an article published at metro.co.uk, that the staggering facts were covered, and believe me they are staggering, hence my overuse of the word. And as the article points out, this number is based on even ‘less’ than 50 years. And what is that number? A ridiculous 94%. People, that’s only 6% away from 100%!

What is it going to take for the world to wake up? This right here is what the world’s governments should be concerned about. Of course they aren’t, but this is an old story that goes back 60, even 70 years, right?

The Beat Generation tried to warn everybody about this long ago…writers like Jack Kerouac, Allen Ginsberg, Gregory Corso, Gary Snyder, Herbert Huncke and William Burroughs.

The Hippie movement that followed started out with the right idea, trying to push that narrative of peace, love and not just rock and roll, but a narrative of giving back to the earth. The hippie movement’s narrative would unfortunately distort—essentially crumble upon itself, really, but there were those who took that positive narrative and ran with it.

But in the end, those were just a few tiny voices rendered redundant in the cacophony that was the already dominant industrial revolution, big business and world politics. And where did that leave the animal kingdom, which at one time had dominion over this world? Scratching their collective heads in wonderment at how idiotic humanity was slowly becoming, that’s where, and all the while they watched their homeland wiped out and all because we wanted to drive the fastest cars, have the state of the art technology, and for what?

So that our children could become brain dead automatons who stare into rectangular devices and shoot TikTok videos that are as nonsensical as the reasons that got us into this mess? Seems about right, doesn’t it? Sure.

And who suffers? The animals do…as Chuck Palahniuk once said: “The world’s last victims…” (Paraphrased).

If my usual jovial tone is lost here, dear readers, it’s because I’m frustrated. I apologize to you, my dearest readers, especially Dog O’ Day readers, because in the end, we’re animal lovers to the bone and a headline like this cuts us deep, and I know you’ll be on my side with this—and that side is on the side of the squirrel monkey that heads out for berries one day, ventures a little too far, and returns to his tree, finding it burned to the ever-loving ground, the berries falling from its cupped hand, it’s life shattered. No more home for it; no more cozy nights fighting off the cold with his or her brothers and sisters.

When will enough be enough? Conservationists have stated: “We are on the brink.”

Dr Mike Barrett, who is the executive director of science and conservation at the WWF (The World Wildlife Fund), has said:

"“Frankly, I’ve had enough…We’ve kicked the can as far down the road as we possibly can. It’s not a question of just talking about urgent action. It’s about action right now…We are not going to get another chance. It is for our current leaders, current governments, current CEOs to act and act now…”-Metro (link above)"

The WWF is highly worried about the Amazon Rainforest and state that if that area is lost, we really are down to the end, folks. In the end it all comes down to climate change, and yes, we’ve heard a whole heck of a lot about that, especially pre-pandemic—the pandemic slowed that narrative down a tad because it affected humanity of course—when humanity’s existence is at stake, stop the presses—but this narrative never really left, and the problem got nothing but worse…all of those masks made, those ones sold at dollar stores for like 10 bucks and at the corner store…what materials do you think those masks were made from?

WWF chief executive, Tanya Steele, had this to say in the aforementioned piece at Metro (link above):

"“If we lose the Amazon Rainforest there is no safe place on Earth from climate change…Despite the science, the catastrophic projections, the impassioned speeches and promises, the burning forests, submerged countries, record temperatures and displaced millions – world leaders continue to sit back and watch our world burn in front of our eyes…The climate and nature crises, their fates entwined, are not some faraway threat our grandchildren will solve with still-to-be-discovered technology. Across the world, and in the UK, nature is on its knees and our leaders are risking catastrophic consequences for people, planet and our economy by failing to act…”"

And speaking of world leaders…Justin Trudeau, Canada’s prime minister is more concerned with not allowing foreign dogs into the country for fear of rabies outbreaks…when that is something that can easily be checked before entry. Just goes to show you that Tanya Steele’s aforementioned comments were on point.

The harsh truths here are unavoidable. Animals are dying. They’re dying, and it’s all because of society, its government, and its lack to do what’s necessary to change.

“Find your place on the planet. Dig in, and take responsibility from there.”

-Gary Snyder

“Nature is not a place to visit. It is home. “

Gary Snyder

“How few there are who have courage enough to own their faults, or resolution enough to mend them.”

-Benjamin Franklin

If you like, please donate to the World Wildlife Fund here: WWF Donate