Previous Year Question

Wildlife Extinction occurs when all living members of a species disappear permanently from Earth. Its major Direct Drivers include habitat destruction, excessive hunting, illegal wildlife trade, pollution, climate change, and invasive alien species. Rapid Human Population Growth can intensify these pressures, but it is generally classified as an Indirect Driver rather than a direct cause of extinction.

Habitat Destruction is one of the most serious threats to wildlife. Deforestation, agricultural expansion, urbanization, mining, and road construction destroy or fragment natural habitats. This reduces the availability of food, shelter, breeding sites, and natural movement corridors. Small and isolated populations may experience reduced Genetic Diversity and an increased risk of Local Extinction.

Forest Burning and Illegal Commercial Wildlife Trade can also directly contribute to wildlife extinction. Deliberately set, uncontrolled forest fires can damage vegetation, nests, breeding sites, and wildlife populations. However, natural fires also play an important ecological role in the regeneration of certain ecosystems. Similarly, illegal hunting for ivory, horns, skins, and other wildlife products reduces the populations of affected species. CITES (1973) is a major international agreement regulating trade in endangered wild animals and plants.

Rapid Human Population Growth is an indirect driver of wildlife extinction. Population growth may increase demand for land, food, housing, and natural resources, encouraging agricultural expansion, deforestation, and pressure on natural habitats. However, environmental damage does not depend on population size alone; consumption patterns, technology, and resource management also play important roles. The IPBES Global Assessment (2019) identifies human population dynamics among indirect drivers, whereas land-use change and direct exploitation of organisms are major direct drivers.