21%

In a study conducted by Princeton University, it was found that on average, there are only 21% of the large mammals that once inhabited the continents still left. It was just 500 years ago, that the world was at an essential 100. But it tracked downwards into a spiraling demise, thats to none other than us. Humans. We did this. We intervened with the ecosystem, our niche has so sorely infected it, that we've nearly driven certain mammals to extinction. Great job, human race. Its interesting to note, however, that Australia was free from such a staggering drop. The study reported that Australia's mammal count had dropped by 32, to 68%. Regardless, we are doing something, we are doing something horrible. Should we aim to preserve the planet by averting our attention to limiting greenhouse gases, among other goals, we should also protect its animal life. Once they collapse, we might as well collapse too. We have to learn to keep our dominance level, or it will become the end of us.