Scientists point this massive decline to habitat destruction, exploitation and climate change as the driving forces for the loss of half of the world’s wild animal population. On to marine life, more than 650,000 marine mammals are annually caught or seriously injured by fishing gear worldwide, primarily declining the whale population that is composed of 48 known whale species. In fact, over the last 20 years, 75 percent of all toothed whale species (such as dolphins, porpoises and 65 percent of baleen whale species) along with 65 percent of pinniped species (sea lions) have been affected through bycatch in fishing operations worldwide.

Earth Day 2019: Protect our species. (2019, April 22). The Manila Times, p. B4.