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Climate change claims its first mammal

PostPosted: Mon May 20, 2019 9:28 pm
by Deutschess Kaiserreich
It was described in 2016 as the first mammalian extinction caused by human-induced climate change.

Now the eradication of the Bramble Cay melomys has been officially recognised by Australia, its only known home.

The rodent lived solely on a tiny sand island in the Torres Strait, near the coast of Papua New Guinea (PNG). The species has not been seen since 2009.

Scientists say there is a chance that an identical or similar species could yet be discovered in PNG.

But they're uncertain because PNG's nearby Key River region has been little documented by research.

Australia has one of the world's highest rates of animal extinction, says the International Union for Conservation of Nature.

'Our little brown rat'
The Australian government's decision to list the species as extinct comes after the Queensland state government made an identical determination in 2016.

A state government report said it was almost certainly caused by "ocean inundation of the low-lying cay, very likely on multiple occasions, during the last decade, causing dramatic habitat loss and perhaps also direct mortality of individuals".

It added: "Significantly, this probably represents the first recorded mammalian extinction due to anthropogenic climate change."

The loss of an animal that was hardly known in the public mind has generated sadness in Australia and abroad.

"The Bramble Cay melomys was a little brown rat," said Tim Beshara, a spokesman for advocacy group The Wilderness Society.

"But it was our little brown rat and it was our responsibility to make sure it persisted. And we failed."


https://www.bbc.com/news/world-australia-47300992

Honestly? I'm just speechless that this is not major news. This is only the sign of our times. Climate change is now actually beginning to claim major species and effect major ecosystems but we must not forget that such solutions take time.

PostPosted: Mon May 20, 2019 9:30 pm
by Duhon
It's not major news. Why?

We're not dying off yet.

PostPosted: Mon May 20, 2019 9:30 pm
by Inkopolitia
Damn... Well, that's bad news for the future. More animals are gonna go down this way.

PostPosted: Mon May 20, 2019 9:32 pm
by Highever
And yet people somehow think that human activity doesnt in any way cause massive harm to the planet. It's all totally natural. :roll:

PostPosted: Mon May 20, 2019 9:35 pm
by Aclion
nuclear power when?

PostPosted: Mon May 20, 2019 9:36 pm
by Great Eddy
This is just depressing.

PostPosted: Mon May 20, 2019 9:58 pm
by Gormwood
Why would climate change deniers give a shit about "a fucking rat"?

PostPosted: Mon May 20, 2019 9:59 pm
by Spearos
Climate change deniers are a menace to society. We should shut down their sources of fake news and silence their voices so that future extinctions are prevented.

PostPosted: Mon May 20, 2019 10:00 pm
by Atkemri
Eh sad, but hopefully governments will get those Carbon Recapture things up in large numbers relatively soon and we can stop worrying ad much

PostPosted: Mon May 20, 2019 10:03 pm
by Kowani
Fuuuuck.

In the interest of claiming that all is not irrevocably lost, this. Note that this is only applicable under certain conditions and is in no way a substitute for actually solving the problem.

PostPosted: Mon May 20, 2019 10:05 pm
by Bear Stearns
Let's see Paul Allen's mammal.

PostPosted: Mon May 20, 2019 10:16 pm
by Gudmund
I live in Aus, my dad said the roads used to get frosty with an icy slush all the time in Winter. It wouldn't snow but sometimes the icy slush would cover most of the ground. Hasn't seen it happen here in over 20 years since.

PostPosted: Mon May 20, 2019 10:24 pm
by Costa Fierro
It's not major news because it's one obscure species on an island. It's not dramatic or substantial enough to warrant front page coverage.

PostPosted: Mon May 20, 2019 10:29 pm
by Paradeavenlisian States
Deutschess Kaiserreich wrote:
Honestly? I'm just speechless that this is not major news.

Well, this was reported 3 months ago so it might have been considered major news back then.

Costa Fierro wrote:It's not major news because it's one obscure species on an island. It's not dramatic or substantial enough to warrant front page coverage.

Yes it is an obscure species but still, considering that, like Deutschess Kaissereich quoted, it is still the first mammalian extinction as a result of human-sped climate change so whether or not it is obscure it's still quite relevant news, in my opinion. Also, that's like say that the mentioned species or even its extinction doesn't matter in any meaning of the word which I personally disagree.

Anyways, I believe that is quite sad and now that this has happened, I hope more people who believe climate change is "a hoax made by the scientists" become increasingly more aware of what is really happening, otherwise their ignorance is beyond control. I do hope there is a solution to this or otherwise not only will the animals suffer, but we will suffer too(and still have some who STILL don't think this is a disaster).

PostPosted: Tue May 21, 2019 2:12 am
by The Lone Alliance
Costa Fierro wrote:It's not major news because it's one obscure species on an island. It's not dramatic or substantial enough to warrant front page coverage.

This really, it's not a major species it was a limited species trapped in one tiny area that made it extra fragile to it, if you had dropped a truckload of cats on the mouse's territory it likely would have had the same results.

Is it good?
No.

Is it really something that unexpected?
No.

Its it something that hasn't happened repeatedly on islands in that part of the world?
No.

They likely knew this was a losing battle back in the 90s, in fact looking it up they knew this species would eventually be at risk and they did absolutely nothing to actually try and save it.

Perhaps that is the real reason they don't like talking about it, if people had acted sooner with a captive breeding program it's likely it would have survived in captivity.
(That's not much better but at least it'd be alive)

Really it's very easy for something to go horribly wrong on those islands, there's been so many stupid things that have rendered countless species in that part of the world extinct.

So sadly this is nothing new.

PostPosted: Tue May 21, 2019 9:15 am
by Ors Might
Ok?

I mean, it sucks I guess but it’s not like obscure species, species that were fragile to begin with, going extinct was unheard of before humans started industrializing. This isn’t to day global warming isn’t a problem, just that the loss of a species of rodent isn’t something incredibly damaging, to the earth or to humanity as a whole.

PostPosted: Tue May 21, 2019 9:17 am
by Gormwood
Ors Might wrote:Ok?

I mean, it sucks I guess but it’s not like obscure species, species that were fragile to begin with, going extinct was unheard of before humans started industrializing. This isn’t to day global warming isn’t a problem, just that the loss of a species of rodent isn’t something incredibly damaging, to the earth or to humanity as a whole.

What people dismiss when it's A Fucking Rat they will act shocked with when it moves up to polar bears and beyond.

PostPosted: Tue May 21, 2019 9:20 am
by Ors Might
Gormwood wrote:
Ors Might wrote:Ok?

I mean, it sucks I guess but it’s not like obscure species, species that were fragile to begin with, going extinct was unheard of before humans started industrializing. This isn’t to day global warming isn’t a problem, just that the loss of a species of rodent isn’t something incredibly damaging, to the earth or to humanity as a whole.

What people dismiss when it's A Fucking Rat they will act shocked with when it moves up to polar bears and beyond.

Might be more useful to explain to people how shocks to ecosystems, extinctions for example, could negatively impact humanity. There’s little reason to give a shit about non-human species that aren’t valuable to us in some way.

PostPosted: Tue May 21, 2019 9:28 am
by -Astoria
>not-so-cute thing, centuries ago:
:o
>cute thing, now:
:meh: *sleeps*

PostPosted: Tue May 21, 2019 9:33 am
by San Lumen
Ors Might wrote:Ok?

I mean, it sucks I guess but it’s not like obscure species, species that were fragile to begin with, going extinct was unheard of before humans started industrializing. This isn’t to day global warming isn’t a problem, just that the loss of a species of rodent isn’t something incredibly damaging, to the earth or to humanity as a whole.

This could have been prevented if humans cared more about the planet then themselves and stopped polluting the air and water and treating forests like they are an annoyance.

PostPosted: Tue May 21, 2019 9:35 am
by Gormwood
Ors Might wrote:
Gormwood wrote:What people dismiss when it's A Fucking Rat they will act shocked with when it moves up to polar bears and beyond.

Might be more useful to explain to people how shocks to ecosystems, extinctions for example, could negatively impact humanity. There’s little reason to give a shit about non-human species that aren’t valuable to us in some way.

The island of Tuvalu is turning into Atlantis because of climate change, forcing its inhabitants into exile and people still don't give a shit.

PostPosted: Tue May 21, 2019 9:36 am
by Ors Might
San Lumen wrote:
Ors Might wrote:Ok?

I mean, it sucks I guess but it’s not like obscure species, species that were fragile to begin with, going extinct was unheard of before humans started industrializing. This isn’t to day global warming isn’t a problem, just that the loss of a species of rodent isn’t something incredibly damaging, to the earth or to humanity as a whole.

This could have been prevented if humans cared more about the planet then themselves and stopped polluting the air and water and treating forests like they are an annoyance.

Explain the ecological importance that this rodent species held and maybe you’ll prove that your reaction isn’t hysterical.

PostPosted: Tue May 21, 2019 9:36 am
by Ors Might
Gormwood wrote:
Ors Might wrote:Might be more useful to explain to people how shocks to ecosystems, extinctions for example, could negatively impact humanity. There’s little reason to give a shit about non-human species that aren’t valuable to us in some way.

The island of Tuvalu is turning into Atlantis because of climate change, forcing its inhabitants into exile and people still don't give a shit.

But complaining about a rat will be different because..?

PostPosted: Tue May 21, 2019 9:37 am
by San Lumen
Ors Might wrote:
Gormwood wrote:What people dismiss when it's A Fucking Rat they will act shocked with when it moves up to polar bears and beyond.

Might be more useful to explain to people how shocks to ecosystems, extinctions for example, could negatively impact humanity. There’s little reason to give a shit about non-human species that aren’t valuable to us in some way.

or just care about every species instead of being so selfish, Amazing concept i know. Thinking like this makes me wish dinosaurs never went extinct

PostPosted: Tue May 21, 2019 9:38 am
by Frolloist Union
Climate change is a hoax