How to Help Endangered Species: 7 Ways to Protect Them
Preservation of the environment has been a trending topic in recent years as part of climate change discussions—but it’s hard to figure out how to help endangered species. When habitats and ecosystems suffer, so do the species that live in them. From fundraising for animal charities to raising awareness about saving the bees, we can all do our part to help wildlife thrive in our world. How can we help endangered animals? Learn more below.
Six startling endangered animal facts
Animals that are in danger of becoming extinct soon are called endangered species—it can happen globally or in a specific area because of poaching, loss of habitat, invasive species, or climate change. For example, if polar bears lose the Arctic sea ice, they can starve as they won’t have a place to hunt and become endangered.
We’ve compiled some quick facts about endangered species and conservation efforts to help you understand the situation better:
- Under the U.S. Endangered Species Act of 1973, it is illegal to hunt, capture, or harm any endangered animal.
- Out of over 150,000 species assessed, 42,100 are considered threatened by extinction and over 9,000 species as critically endangered species, per the IUCN Red List.
- Removing an animal from the endangered list is possible, though takes many years. For example, the bald eagle was removed from the list in 2007, after more than 40 years of conservation efforts.
- While other animals, like West African black rhinos, went extinct recently. This type of rhino was listed as critically endangered in 2008 and went extinct in 2011 due to poaching.
- Freshwater ecosystems support over 100,000 species, including more than fish, yet are among the world’s most endangered habitats.
- More than 1 in 10 species could be lost by the end of the century as the climate crisis accelerates extinctions in the coming decades.
Seven easy ways you can help save endangered species
If you’re looking for how to save animals, there are countless things we can each do to protect the environment and the animals we share it with. There are many ways to help wildlife, from endangered species to rescue animals. It’s hard to tackle such a big problem and wonder how to protect endangered species, here are a few ways you can help in your community.
1. Plant native wildlife to attract pollinators
In many areas of the United States, bee populations are rapidly dwindling to the brink of extinction. Yet bees aren’t the only pollinators at risk—many types of hummingbirds also make the endangered species list.
You can start a fundraiser to gather donations and purchase native plant species to bring endangered wildlife—from bees to hummingbirds—back to the flowers. You can make a day of planting them with your friends or family around your home and nearby community gardens to restore their habitat. Start a community fundraiser to gather donations to purchase native plants and gardening supplies.
2. Start a recycling initiative
About 91% of all plastic products are not recycled, contributing to the nearly 5.25 trillion pieces of trash currently polluting the Earth’s oceans, harming the wildlife that calls the ocean home. Collecting waste is a great place to start if you’re wondering how to protect endangered species in ways that have an almost immediate impact. Donate your time to recycling programs in your area, or start one of your own.
3. Host a community fundraising event
Work with your local community by hosting a fundraising event. Charge a small entry fee and decide on prizes. Donate using the proceeds to a charity that works with endangered wildlife, and let participants know. Some great fundraising event ideas include hosting a party or banquet, a car wash (or dog wash), or a charity sports event.
4. Create a fundraiser to support wildlife programs
Crowdfunding can be one of the simplest and most effective ways to help wildlife. First, choose an animal charity with active programs that know how to help endangered species. Start by sharing your fundraiser with family and friends, and encourage people in your network to share on social media, from Instagram to TikTok.
Make it clear in your fundraiser which nonprofit will receive the donation, national or global, and how the organization will use those funds to help wildlife. Some fun ideas for a nonprofit fundraiser include hosting a charity sale or organizing a benefit dinner.
5. Sponsor an animal
Another great way to help animals in need threatened with extinction and save endangered species is to sponsor an animal. Both the World Wildlife Fund and the World Animal Foundation offer easy virtual adoption packages that benefit endangered species and save wildlife. Share your new adoption on social media to encourage those in your network to sponsor an animal. They will also have possible tips on how to save endangered animals in your area.
6. Clean up your local parks
Start an initiative to clean up your local parks and other outdoor spaces you enjoy, such as wetlands, beaches, forests, or rivers. Starting a fundraiser to support outdoor clean-up means you can raise money for things like dog waste stations at trailheads or trash and recycling bins at popular parks. This is a great way to save your area’s natural wildlife and species. Removing invasive species from these areas is also essential and will help you save animals in your area.
7. Educate others about eco-friendly products
Many household cleaning products pose a threat to the environment. The products we use can make an impact, whether due to the evaporation of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) into the atmosphere or toxic runoff into aquatic environments. Offer to speak at community centers or colleges about how we can help endangered animals with eco-friendly products or start a fundraiser to purchase eco-friendly cleaning supplies to donate to local schools or animal shelters.
See how others are fundraising
Take a look below at some examples of animal fundraisers highlighting how to help endangered species. The successful fundraisers below used GoFundMe for their online fundraising.
Preserving sea turtles in Costa Rica
As a college junior, Lisa raised over $2,000 to fund a summer internship focused on sea turtle conservation in Costa Rica. Lisa spent the summer working with marine biologists to build hatcheries to protect turtle eggs from predators. She also helped count and tag sea turtles for monitoring and cleaning up the beach habitats.
Raising money for Wildlife ACT
Kate raised almost double her $1,300 donation goal for Wildlife ACT, a South Africa-based organization dedicated to poaching prevention and animal conservation. Thanks to generous donors, Kate spent two weeks assisting rangers with tracking and monitoring animals and providing veterinary support.
Start protecting endangered wildlife today
We all want to do our part to preserve the planet, and protecting endangered species is one important way to do that. If you’re wondering how to help endangered species or even how to start, crowdfunding can be an easy, safe, and effective way to raise money for your favorite charity or organization. Now that you know how we can help endangered animals, start a wildlife fundraiser today and see what kind of impact you can make.