Today many conservation organizations will be observing the newly formed Endangered Species Day. The purpose of this day is to recognize the conservation efforts aimed at keeping the endangered species all across America from disappearing forever due to extinction.

Many of the ecologists and biologists who have been taking an inventory of the world's biodiversity, suggest that we are in the midst of a “6th mass extinction. For example the dinosaurs, as in the kind of extinction that kills off massive numbers of lifeforms. The big difference with this current one is that it is happening faster than the past ones. What normally took thousands or hundreds of thousands of years in the past, is now taking only a couple of hundred years.

The U.S. Department of Interior recently settled with it's litigants this month and therefore hundreds of species of plants and animals will be given endangered species protection. Around 250 or so candidates for the Endangered Species Act will be given protection out of approximately 460 total. There will remain hundreds of species that will remain on the verge of becoming endangered. While the Central American Crocodile and the Indian Tiger are on an increase, other well known and beloved animals such as the South Pole Penquin are on the decline.

But all is not lost and there are still many things that can be done. The simplest way to make a difference is to voice your views to your representatives in our State and Federal legislatures, or contact your local Fish and Wildlife Service headquarters for restoration volunteer opportunities. Or you can simply do a search on “Save the _________” and then donate, and/or get involved (email or letter campaigns are always helpful).

Whatever you decide to do, be sure to take some action for the endangered ones soon because in the case of extinction, Time waits for no one! Happy Endangered Species Day and let your voices be heard!