Extinctions In Near Time: Biodiversity Loss Since The Pleistocene

Me: Some call it cuteness, some call it charisma, some even call it animal magnetism: Hi, I’m Jack Werner, and today I’ll be talking about why we try so much harder to conserve likeable species and what this means for endangered animals everywhere. With me is my good friend, Not me. Not me: Hello there Me: Let’s get to it. From China’s giant pandas to the elephants of the African savanna to America’s iconic bald eagles, there are some animals that just captivate us. In fact, a study estimated that 54% of all wildlife funding in the United States is devoted to just 1.8% of America’s endangered species. Not me: Why exactly do we value some endangered species so much more than others? Me: Most endangered species aren’t economically valuable, so we usually value them for emotional reasons. Different people are captivated by different animals, but there are some general patterns to what people like. Typically, physical and behavioral similarity to humans is an important factor. Gorillas hold their babi