Everyday Extinction is an Instagram-based reminder of human’s damage to our animal friends

Vaughn Highfield February 7, 2018

Nobody really knows just how many species actually exist, and new creatures are being discovered all the time. However, modern extinction rates are troubling. Scientists estimate that humanity’s impact on the rapid loss of species today amounts to between 1,000 and 10,000 times higher than Earth’s natural extinction rate. This works out at around 200 to 2,000 species go extinct every year.

Everyday Extinction is an Instagram-based reminder of human’s damage to our animal friends

To help highlight the acceleration of this problem, as well as simply be an interesting account to follow, photographer Sean Gallagher has started up an incredibly intriguing Instagram account. Called Everyday Extinction, Gallagher’s account pools the work of 25 wildlife photographers, photojournalists and scientists in a bid to help people really understand the impact mankind is having on species extinction, while simultaneously celebrating the wonderful variety of creatures the Earth has to offer.

Just so you’re not alarmed, some of the images below are distressing just by their very nature. If you’re a little squeamish, or uncomfortable seeing images of animals that have been harmed, I recommend you don’t scroll any further.

The giant manta ray is the largest type of ray in the world and is listed as “vulnerable” in regards to the possibility of its extinction. It’s believed most giant manta rays are at risk of death due to humans via entanglement in fishing lines and strike wounds from boats. In this photo, a female giant manta ray has been hooked by a fishing lure on her face.

This is a fennec fox, an animal that has quickly become a popular pet thanks to its depiction in Disney’s Zootopia. Native to the Sahara, species levels have begun to come under threat due to the scale of exotic pet ownership. Not only does this damage species levels, but it also harms the environment associated with the animal.

A skull of the capuchin monkey from the Boyaca region of Colombia. This monkey was historically found in the Andes and Orinoco region but now, due to deforestation from agriculture and cattle, populations have declined. Another reason for its drop in population numbers comes from the adoption of monkeys as pets in rural Colombia.

This dead leatherback turtle has met such a fate thanks to the silent killer, global warming. As extreme cold weather swept into Cape Cod Bay far earlier than expected, it muddled with animal migration patterns and meant the turtles who hadn’t already left were stranded and incapable of weathering the cold.

You may not think it, but the humble giraffe is under threat with population numbers plummeting over 40% in the last 30 years. It’s believed the decline is due to the likes of deforestation, illegal hunting, ecological changes due to climate change and human expansion and even simply being caught in the crossfire of rebel militias or military operations.

A giant salamander in a shallow pool in a Chinese zoo surrounded by the coins visitors have thrown in an attempt to land on the creature for “luck”. Zoos in China are notoriously bad for animal welfare and, while China is making strides to improve the situation, this shot from just a decade ago only highlights the depth of the problem.

The Jamaican iguana was rediscovered in 1990 and listed as the rarest lizard in the world. A conservation effort into the revival of the species began as hatchlings were collected and reared in safety during their most vulnerable stage in life and then released into the wild. Despite threats to their renewed growth in 2014 due to plans to build a transhipment hub in their habitat, the lizard still survives thanks to the Jamaican government stepping down its plans due to pressure from environmental lobbyists.

You can follow Everyday Extinction here.