Is it bad to eat endangered animals?

In the past Nicaragua and Central America had a lot of different types of animals. Manatees, freshwater sharks, howler monkeys, tapirs, sea turtles, pumas and other large cats all lived Nicaragua, and still do. However, now the populations of these creatures have drastically been reduced. The primary cause of these declining populations is the destruction of their habitat. As they number of humans increase they need more land in order to grow food, build houses, and generate incomes? So as the human population grows there is less room for the animals.

This especially affects the larger mammals. It is estimated that a single puma needs 6 sq km of its native habitat in order to be able to generate enough food for itself. The puma primarily feeds on other animals. Without this much space other animals will not be able to reproduce fast enough to be able sustain the pumas appetite. It is not that the puma is a big eater, it just that it takes time and resources for creatures to reproduce.

Poaching is problem in many parts of the world. Poaching is when animals are being hunted even though the law officially protects them. In Nicaragua, nearly every indigenous animal can be bought, much to the dismay of animal activists (people who try to protect the rights of animals). "If this is hard to believe, go to the animal market in Managua and see for yourself", suggested Eric Vanderburghe, a biologist we met while hiking. In the past there were less people and more animals, so animals were able to reproduce faster than they were being hunted. Now they are being hunted faster than they can reproduce, so they are now in danger of becoming extinct.

It seems simple enough to ask people to stop hunting or fishing, but we must ask why they are hunting and fishing in the first place. In Nicaragua, turtle meat is the cheapest meat you can buy, even though it is illegarl to kill sea turtles. When you are hungry and don't have a lot of money, what are you going to buy? Further more, when you don't have a lot of money you can't always afford food at a super market. In these cases people are forced to hunt and fish in order to feed themselves. When you are hungry you will eat whatever is available , won't you?

1. What do you think should be done about hunting these endangered animals?
2. Do think that illegal hunters should be put in jail? What would happen to their families?
3. What types of solutions would you suggest to protect the endangered animals?
4. What animals where in your area that are no longer there? What happened to them?
5. What would happen if we brought the endangered animals to the United States and set them free there? Would they survive? Would people hunt them?
6. Can you name three animals that are from Central America?