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It would take at least 3 million years for Earth to recover from the 6th mass extinction

Elephants in Okavango Delta, Botswana
Elephants in the Okavango Delta. The area is one of the best places to see animals and birds in Africa. The area supports large concentrations of animals on both a permanent and seasonal basis. A myriad of species are found within the delta including African Bush Elephant, African Buffalo, Hippopotamus, Lechwe, Topi, Blue Wildebeest, Giraffe, Nile crocodile, Lion, Cheetah, Leopard, Brown Hyena, Spotted Hyena, Greater Kudu, Sable Antelope, Black Rhinoceros, White Rhinoceros, Plains Zebra, Warthog and Chacma Baboon. Notably the endangered African Wild Dog still survives within the Okavango Delta and exhibits one of the richest pack densities in Africa. In addition to these large animals the Okavango Delta also supports over 400 species of birds and 71 recorded species of fish including Tigerfish, Tilapia and Catfish. Thanks to this wide variety of wildlife, the delta is now a popular tourist attraction.

Even if we stop destroying Earth’s wilderness today, it would take 3 to 5 million years for Earth to recover from the 6th mass extinction, scientists warn.

83% of wild mammals have already gone extinct.

The average rate of vertebrate species loss over the past century has been up to 100 times higher than the average background rate of extinction, and roughly 60 percent of large animal species (most of them in the developing world) are threatened with extinction.

  • Scientists say humans are causing Earth’s sixth mass extinction.
  • So many animals will go extinct in the next 50 years.
  • If we carry on without changing our behavior, 99.9% of critically endangered species will be lost in the next few decades. Forever.
  • We are destroying what millions of years of evolution have created before us.
  • Big mammals such as rhinos and elephants are under severe threat. Asian elephants, for example, only have a 33% chance to make it to 2100.
  • And the planet will suffer even more when the distinct animals die off.
  • Animals do have their own defense against threats to their survival: evolution. But, they can’t evolve as fast as we are destroying their habitats.
  • 83% of big mammals have already gone extinct.
  • It will take 3 to 5 million years for our planet to return to how it is today, even if we stop poaching, polluting, and destroying wild areas in the next 50 years. But species such as elephants would never re-evolve if we lost them. Extinction is forever.
M. Özgür Nevres
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Özgür Nevres

By M. Özgür Nevres

I am a software developer and a science enthusiast. I was graduated from the Istanbul Technical University (ITU), Computer Engineering. In the past, I worked at the Istanbul Technical University Science Center as a science instructor. I write about the planet Earth and science on this website, ourplnt.com. I am also an animal lover! I take care of stray cats & dogs. This website's all income goes directly to our furry friends. Please consider supporting me on Patreon, so I can help more animals!

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