50% of Earth’s Wild Animals Are Gone

By ELEANOR HEDGES DUROY, age 11

Earth’s wildlife population has decreased rapidly since the 1970s due to human destruction of habitat. “We have lost one-half of the animal population, and knowing this is driven by human consumption, this is clearly a call to arms, and we must act now,” said Mike Barratt of World Wildlife Fund. Scientists stress the need for sustainable energy and agriculture and a stop to environmentally damaging practices like deforestation.