Whether it’s for economic reasons, for pest control, or simply to introduce an interesting addition to a home or estate, humans have introduced numerous animal species to new, unfamiliar habitats. Sometimes they introduced species that didn’t have that much of an impact on native environments, but all too often, as happens when humans interfere with nature…it went disastrously wrong. Stay tuned to number 1 to find out which ones you might already have as a pet!

Brought to you by Zero2Hero!!

Don't forget to subscribe here! [ Ссылка ]

Click here to hear the stories of 10 Famous People with Autism!!! [ Ссылка ]

Number 10: Yellowstone Wolves.
Now this example is a perfect example of how people’s actions and decisions can have a continuous negative impact on local environments. Thanks to human involvement, the last Northern Rocky Mountain wolves at Yellowstone Park were killed by government order in 1926. It wasn’t until decades later that scientists and conservationist realized the mistake that their decision had on the environment and began the process of reintroducing them back into the area. However, the wolves’ impact since reintroduction into the ecosystem has created both positive and negative outcomes. So what went wrong? Well, some people blame the type of wolf introduced, however it should be noted that both the Northern Rocky Mountain wolf and the North-western wolf, which was introduced, are both the subspecies of the same species, although, the reintroduced animal is slightly bigger, reproduces in larger numbers, and is more aggressive. But, overall, it’s unlikely this is a massive contributor to the issues caused by their reintroduction. Nevertheless, they have caused numerous problems in the area, and that area has expanded, as the packs grow, to include Idaho, Montana, and Colorado, not to mention the Rocky Mountain area of Wyoming, where they were introduced.
Not only are farmers losing livestock, but, the elk herds in the surrounding regions have been decimated, with a 40-50% decrease in herd sizes, due to the wolves feeding on them. This is definitely an example of how things can go disastrously wrong when humans try to introduce animals to new environments.
Number 9: Burmese Pythons.
This Burmese Python is a good example of how bad things can get when you introduce a predatory animal to an eco-system that doesn’t have any natural predator. Native to Southeast Asia, this snake has been introduced South Florida where it was widely kept as a pet. Although, it is NOW believed that there could be a few thousand of them living in the wild. The growing population of wild Burmese Pythons has the potential to cause ecological disaster for native species, as they don’t have any predators in that region, other than humans. They have also developed an appetite for local endangered species, causing concern for conservationists. They’ve even been known to take on the alligator!! In order to try and combat the sheer number of pythons inhabiting the waterways, local authorities have called on hunters to help keep the numbers down. I hope I never see one of these in the wild! No Thank you!
Number 8: The Nile Perch.
The Nile Perch is a species of freshwater fish that is native to the Congo, Nile, and Niger rivers, as well as other bodies in the surrounding area. As one of the largest freshwater fish, it can measure up to 2 meters in length, making it a massive catch. It has been introduced to several other freshwater lakes, the most notable being Lake Victoria in East Africa where it is considered a textbook example of the negative effects of humans introducing animals to new environments. In all, it’s believed the Nile Perch has contributed to the near extinction of several hundred native species. Initially introduced with planned economic benefits to the local fishing industry, some communities bordering the shores of the lake were not properly equipped to deal with the changing eco-system and suffered a massive socioeconomic impact as a result. This example is a good example of how species, introduced for commercial purposes, can have a devastating impact on the local environment, and can even negatively impact local communities as well… At least there is plenty of fish to eat. That’s if you can manage to catch one!
Number 7: Domestic cat.
It might surprise you to find domestic cats on this list, but humans have introduced them to numerous environments, and they are actually on the list of 100 worst invasive species in the world! As a pet, cats have brought lots of love and joy to the millions of people who keep them as pets, but they have also had negative impacts on the environment – especially in the United States. Introduced by European colonists, the population of domesticated cats has increased dramatically across the continent – especially in urban areas.

свернуть