The greatest risk to planet earth is humans. Biodiversity and the survival of every living creature is at risk from the human animal that at 7 billion is showing no sign of abating. Climate change and the growing list of extinctions of not just animals but birds plants and fish are the outcome of our greed and rampant population that seems out of control. Unless something is done about our population it doesn't seem to matter what we do to save animals there seems no hope. All the efforts by biologist and science studying environmental factors rescuing animals trying to safeguard areas for animals to live isn't going to work if humans just keep multiplying. And yet I never hear of anyone with an idea of actually addressing this obvious issue.

How can it be in this day and age of huge concern over the ability of wildlife to survive in the face of human population growth that a magpie can be shot because it swooped a cyclist ? Magpies are synonymous with the Australian urban landscape and we all love them I thought. Apparently not everyone after a cyclist complained to a Sydney council after being swooped by an aggressive one. It is known that they are very territorial at breeding time so surely we can make some adjustments. It seems shameful to me that a bird going about it's normal life should pay with it's life because it swooped a cyclist. What is wrong with the people making these decisions anyway ? It's a scary precedent to start 'removing' problem animals in this way which seems so dark ages in thinking. I thought we had moved on from this approach to wildlife and if not then we need to.

The lucrative but illegal trade in exotic pets is of epidemic proportions and leading almost certainly to the demise of some species. The cheetah is a highly prized animal in the illegal pet trade and at great risk of extinction anyway but the trade in these animals is driving them to the brink. Taken from the wild as tiny cubs most don't make it anyway but it doesn't stop the ones making the money. This fastest of all land animals needs to be able to run, to have adequate exercise to be healthy and have the right diet. As a status symbol for wealthy Arabs these animals have a bleak future in captivity without a doubt.