TO WHOEVER INHERITS THE EARTH

ENDANGERED

7. Vaquita

The vaquita (Spanish: [baˈkita]; Phocoena sinus) is a species of porpoise endemic to the northern part of the Gulf of California that is on the brink of extinction. Based on beached skulls found in 1950 and 1951, the scientific description of the species was published in 1958.

The word vaquita is Spanish for "little cow".  Since the baiji (Yangtze River dolphin) is thought to have gone extinct in 2006, the vaquita has taken on the title of the most endangered cetacean in the world. It has been listed as critically endangered since 1996.

The population was estimated at 600 in 1997. An estimate released in March 2019, based on acoustic data gathered in the summer of 2018, is that a maximum of 22 and a minimum of 6 vaquita porpoises remain, with the IUCN supporting roughly about 10 individuals.

The population decrease is largely attributed to bycatch from the illegal gillnet fishery for the totoaba, a similarly sized endemic drum that is also critically endangered.

Additionally, the ability of the vaquita to survive and reproduce while confined to a sanctuary is uncertain. In November 2017, the attempt to capture wild vaquitas for captive breeding and safekeeping was suspended following the death of a female vaquita. The adult female died within hours of being captured.

ENDANGERED

8. Tiger

The tiger is the largest species among the Felidae and classified in the genus Panthera. It is most recognizable for its dark vertical stripes on reddish-orange fur with a lighter underside. It is an apex predator, primarily preying on ungulates such as deer and bovids. It is territorial and generally a solitary but social predator, requiring large contiguous areas of habitat, which support its requirements for prey and rearing of its offspring. Tiger cubs stay with their mother for about two years, before they become independent and leave their mother's home range to establish their own.

The tiger once ranged widely from Eastern Anatolia Region in the west to the Amur River basin, and in the south from the foothills of the Himalayas to Bali in the Sunda islands. Since the early 20th century, tiger populations have lost at least 93% of their historic range and have been extirpated in Western and Central Asia, from the islands of Java and Bali, and in large areas of Southeast and South Asia and China. Today's tiger range is fragmented, stretching from Siberian temperate forests to subtropical and tropical forests on the Indian subcontinent and Sumatra.

The tiger is listed as Endangered on the IUCN Red List since 1986. As of 2015, the global wild tiger population was estimated to number between 3,062 and 3,948 mature individuals, down from around 100,000 at the start of the 20th century, with most remaining populations occurring in small pockets isolated from each other. Major reasons for population decline include habitat destruction, habitat fragmentation and poaching. This, coupled with the fact that it lives in some of the more densely populated places on Earth, has caused significant conflicts with humans.

The tiger is among the most recognisable and popular of the world's charismatic megafauna. It featured prominently in ancient mythology and folklore and continues to be depicted in modern films and literature, appearing on many flags, coats of arms and as mascots for sporting teams. The tiger is the national animal of India, Bangladesh, Malaysia and South Korea.

Whoa - that's good - truth
This is supposed to be a response to someone's entry! Sorry! It wont delete!

To Solomon Song's
Rhyme inspired by title:

To whoever inherits the earth -
we're sorry that to you we gave birth
while we mindlessly trashed creation,
fanning the flames to our damnation.

I wish to thank the members who participated in the challenge of this competition.  It’s always fascinating to read the way each poet translates and expresses the theme; and this theme in particular, which affects us, everyone.

There remains two hours for any members who plan to contribute an entry to do so before the thread closes. In the meantime...

Once it does, I anticipate going straight to posting the final results shortly thereafter, so there won’t be an extension, and no public voting.

However the outcome, I congratulate you all!

All my best,
Jade🐅

The moment of Honors is at hand:

With grateful thanks to all contributors!  The results are in regarding those who placed in the top three.  Congratulations to:

🥇1st Place:  Ahavati, with her poem “Bring it Back”

🥈2nd Place:  Hepcat61, with his Sonnet “In Death, Are All Our Worldly Cares Forgot!”

🥉3rd Place:  Nomoth, with his poem “Birth to Islands - snowglobes”


See you all again soon!
~Jade🐅

I am truly honored, Jade.  Thank you.  

Congratulations, nomoth and Hepcat on your placements. I am in wonderful company. But, in all honesty, I would've thought one of you would've won.