In such a short segment of time, now 99 percent of currently threatened species are at risk from human activities, primarily those driving habitat loss, introduction of exotic species, and global warming. Our time may only appear as a small slither of time at the moment, but this is exactly why it is so disturbing; especially since this is the first mass extinction to be caused alone by one species and create such a detrimental effect. Humans have literally “chewed a hole in the ozone layer over Antarctica, doubled the amount of methane in the atmosphere and driven up carbon dioxide concentrations by 30%, to a level not seen in 400,000 years” (Anthropocene, Monastersky, 2015). As a species now, we have no bounds to where we can travel and spread across the earth, as well as we have the ability to alter environments and ecosystems purely to suit our needs. A species that very recently reached extinction is the Pinta Island Tortoise. La Pinta Island was being visited frequently by passing whalers as it was a spot for giant tortoises. Once it was discovered that these creatures could go long periods of time without food or water and their meat was delicious, the tortoises did not stand a chance. The population was slaughtered by the hundreds, throw aboard ships of explorers as well as whalers as a popular food source. For many years it was thought this was the end of these giant tortoises. However in 1971, one last member named Lonesome George was found roaming the island. Shortly after George was taken into captivity up until 2012, when his death marked the tragic end of the La Pinta line of tortoises.
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