Please. Help.

That's what endangered animals would say if they could speak, and understand that their species is about to vanish from the planet.

It's sad, really, to think that because of our actions so many other species had to go or move to the side so that we could build and multiply. When the dinosaurs died, at least that was 'understandable', it was caused by a force that was out of our control. And I doubt that we would be here if the dinosaurs still existed, or not at least in this form. So when the dinosaurs died, they gave an opportunity for a more 'intellect'(depends on how you want to see it) species to try how far it could go in its own cycle of existence. Homo Sapiens, we humans, have existed 200 000 years while the dinosaurs existed about 150 million years, so we have a long road ahead of us. Although I doubt we manage to reach one million years on Earth because we are, how would I say it, bad where ever we go.

But my, how far we have gone already, it's like we are not part of nature or other species on this planet anymore. But we are, we just shed our hair and tail and got smarter when it comes to building things, in general.

We got so much, and got so far, leaving other species helplessly behind doing whatever we wanted with them. So cave-man-like and still happening in the 'modern era.

I always thought that Africa is where animal preservation is concentrated, and of course, it is true that there are many species that need protection over there.

But there are also species, living nearer, that need the same protection. Every country has its own endangered species. I woke up (literally you know 😉) about this late, this year actually. I always knew our Saimaa Ringed Seal was endangered, but I just didn't realize the seriousness of it until I moved back to my hometown because of Covid and began to see how much stuff is being sold here to raise money for its protection.

Now, I am concerned about our seal. After all, the only population of them live in 'my' lake. I have never given them a lot of thought, maybe because it's so difficult to see them, they are extremely timid. The poor guys were trapped here because of the water levels in the ice age, 9,500 years ago. That's an honorable time for adjusting for a smaller habitat. Now there are about 400 of them but in 1983 there were only 100-150 seals, so protection has worked. In April-June there is a net fishing ban on the lake so that the cups won't get tied to them and drown and winters with little snow, human-made snowdrifts are made so that they could breed.

I admire the work which is done for them, and I understand how they say that a lot of work still needs to be done. And now, with climate change, I am worried about what will happen to them if future winters will be snowless. Frightening really. What will happen not only to us humans, and nature but to animals when weather conditions change. Because I don't think they can adapt in a few years as we humans, they would need a lot more time, but I hope I am wrong. But regardless of adaptation, our Saimaa ringer seal would not survive without snow, it's essential for breeding.

The other day I saw a documentary about the Santa Catalina rattlesnake, which doesn't have the rattle because in the island where it lives there are no predators and therefore evolution removed it. So you know, maybe evolution could work fast when there is a need for that, or in the snake's case, no need.

So maybe there is hope, I don't know.

At least we study endangered species, try to help them, and try to make them breed. But they are still totally under our feet. Well, at least at the moment.

As the pandemic showed, we don't inhabit the Earth alone, other animals can harm us too, or better said, their freeloaders. Not to talk about one of the most dangerous species ever; the mosquito. The one which is hard to detect, which acts fast, and which can spread like the wind. I have always thought how good luck the humans have had recently, that there hasn't been anything threatening us for a long time. But now after the pandemic, I think we all realized that we don't dominate everything and that things can change very quickly.

I would like to be positive about this but I am afraid that things won't change significantly until there is no other choice. We humans just tend to be like that, believe in our species' good luck of surviving whatever comes our way. And although it is true that our evolutional journey is remarkable, I just ponder, how far we can push our luck?

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On the WWF website you can see the list of endangered animals, which includes the Saimaa ringed seal as well:

https://www.worldwildlife.org/videos/building-snowbanks-for-endangered-freshwater-seals

You can buy lovely gifts to support the animals, like the awesomely cute sloth baby blanket.