Protecting our wildlife
What do the leatherback turtle, white sturgeon, North Atlantic right whale and northern cricket frog have in common? Besides living in or around water, all of these creatures have been identified as being currently at risk in Canada.
Each animal is also featured on the second of three sets of stamps depicting endangered species that are native to Canada. You might recall that the first set of stamps, issued in 2006, featured animals that live on land: the blotched tiger salamander, blue racer, Newfoundland marten and swift fox. Stamps depicting at-risk species that live in the air will be available in 2008.
According to the Committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife in Canada (COSEWIC), species considered at risk are divided into five groups:
Extinct: A species that no longer exists.
Extirpated: A species no longer existing in the wild in Canada, but occurring elsewhere.
Endangered: A species facing imminent extirpation or extinction.
Threatened: A species likely to become endangered if limiting factors are not reversed.
Special Concern: A species of special concern because of characteristics that make it particularly sensitive to human activities or natural events.
Across the country and around the world, people are working hard to protect species at risk. If you’d like to learn more, please visit www.speciesatrisk.gc.ca.
|
