The populations of wild animals are plummeting like there is no tomorrow!

Recent reports by the scientific community have unveiled a staggering decline in nature’s wildlife. These statistics have greatly alarmed scientists due to the exponential decrease within the animal kingdom.

According to The Living Planet Report 2016, animal losses are set to reach a whopping 67 percent by the year 2020. The researchers explained that they based this data from the devastating 58 percent drop in animal lives from 1970-2012.

RT claims that this drastic descend of population has increased over the years due to the elevated human interference on the nature’s ecosystems. WWF’s Director of Science, Mike Barrett, agreed with the website’s consensus, stating that human activity should be held responsible for this issue.

“Humanity’s misuse of natural resources is threatening habitats, pushing irreplaceable species to the brink, and threatening the stability of our climate,” Barrett stated.

Human activity has indeed caused much change within the environment. In fact, the effects on wildlife and climate have become so significant that scientists have begun to push the new term, Anthropocene, to describe human impact on the Earth’s geology and ecosystems. Although this term is yet to be approved, scientists are eager to seek possible solutions to this destruction.

“My hope though is that we don’t throw our hands up in despair – there is no time for despair, we have to crack on and act. I do remain convinced we can find our sustainable course through the Anthropocene, but the will has to be there to do it,” explained Barrett.

This shocking report has certainly brought things to the attention of the scientific community, especially since a recent analysis showed that Earth has already lost one-tenth of its wilderness since the beginning of the 1990’s. And while scientists may be hard at work trying to come up with a sterling solution, there are ways in which an ordinary citizen can start helping the planet.

“We need to become more informed and aware of these things,” commented WHHS freshman Andrew Ginart. “We only have one home and we need to take care of it.”

Similarly, Justin Cohen, a junior at WHHS, expressed his concern for the devastation of the environment. “We can help the planet by becoming more advanced,” he said. “By reducing carbon emissions and deforestation we can prevent pollution and the loss of animal lives. We can also start by using natural resources in ways that does not harm nature. Solar panels, wind turbines, and hydroelectricity are all things that can lessen the destruction.”