General Information When a species becomes endangered, it means that it is at risk of extinction. Since the dawn of time, many species have become extinct due to the natural evolution of physical and biological conditions. Human factors such as pollution, commercial overexploitation, poaching and deforestation have all contributed to the increasing rate of extinction of animal species. It is important to preserve endangered species since their extinction causes inequity in the food chain, which could lead to a population imbalance. The extinction of animal species increases the amount of carbon dioxide in the air, thus worsening the greenhouse effect. As species become extinct, our opportunities for future discovery and progress are also lost. Animal research has played an important role in almost every medical advancement of the past decade. Benefits of Animals Plants and animals provide many agricultural, commercial, medicinal and ecological benefits to human beings. Threatened and endangered species must be protected so that future generations can experience their existence and necessity. Animals are beneficial to the agricultural needs of humans. Wild relatives of common crops such as corn and wheat contain vital disease-resistant material. They could also be used to create new crops that could grow on insufficient land. General Information When a species becomes endangered, it means that it is threatened with extinction. Since the dawn of time, many species have become extinct due to the natural evolution of physical and biological conditions. Human factors such as pollution, commercial overexploitation, poaching and deforestation have all contributed to the creation of plants, animal parts and mineral remedies. Due to the growing demand for these medicines, a number of plant and animal species used are at risk of being threatened or disappearing. Traditional Chinese medicine uses about 1,000 plant species and 36 animal species, such as tiger, rhino, seahorse, black bear and musk deer; the rhino, tiger and seahorse are threatened and endangered. Pollution of water, air and soil, for example: acid rain, water pollution and oil spills have been shown to be very harmful to many species of birds and fish. Chemicals and toxic substances present in areas containing wood could destroy the soil as well as the species that inhibit this area, for example: from bacteria to insects, then to birds, then to animals that will eat them and also enter the waters underground located below..