1. Maintaining ecological balance Every species is an important member of the ecosystem. Through the relationship in the food chain, species play an interdependent and mutually restrictive role.

Once there is a problem in one link of the food chain, the balance of the entire ecosystem will be seriously affected.

For example, due to uncontrolled hunting of snakes, snake resources have been depleted, leading to rampant rodent pests in forests, grasslands and farmland in some areas.

For another example, due to the extensive use of pesticides and chemical fertilizers and the hunting of live animals for the pet trade, the number of insectivorous birds has dropped sharply, leading to the widespread occurrence of forest and crop diseases and insect pests such as pine caterpillars and locusts.

Rats, diseases and insect pests have caused huge losses to agriculture, forestry and animal husbandry, and the cost of ecological imbalance is immeasurable.

? 2. Ensure the normal development of scientific research and education activities. Endangered animals are experimental materials for scientific research and play an important role in zoology, evolution, ecology, genetics, modern medicine, bionics and other disciplines.

For example, the vast majority of the tens of thousands of cynomolgus monkeys and macaques domesticated and bred in my country are used as experimental animals or to produce vaccines for disease resistance and prevention.

Scientific research institutes, colleges and universities, zoos and museums collect, display or exhibit specimens of endangered animals, which play an important role in scientific research and teaching, publicity and education, law enforcement activities, etc.

? 3. Promote economic development and meet people's living needs. Most endangered animals have high economic or ornamental value.

? (1) Medicinal value.

my country's traditional medicine is developed on the basis of the study and utilization of wild animals and plants, including tiger bones, leopard bones, rhinoceros horns, musk, pangolin slices, saiga horns, bear bile powder, turtle shells, geckos, cobra venom, Toad venom, etc., are indispensable and important raw materials for traditional Chinese medicine.

In 1993, in order to cooperate with the international community's efforts to protect tigers and rhinos, the Chinese government banned the trade of rhino horns and tiger bones. It also paid a high price for this, with direct economic losses of 2.3 billion yuan.

? (2) Food and clothing value.

Our ancestors relied on collecting or hunting wild animals and plants to make a living in the era of "eating hair and drinking blood".

Even today in the 20th century, many animals are still common ingredients for food or clothing in our lives.

Such as venison, yellow mutton, sable skin, weasel skin, leopard cat skin, otter skin, Tibetan antelope cashmere, bird's nest, flying dragon, crocodile meat, crocodile skin, ostrich meat, dried snake, snake skin, snake powder, etc.

As far as snakes are concerned, my country used about 9,000 tons of various types of live snakes in 1997, with a value of more than 400 million yuan.

(3) Ornamental value.

Endangered animals have high ornamental value. They are the trump card for attracting tourists in zoos, forest parks, nature reserves or scenic spots. They are the protagonists of circus performances. They are also the main objects for some families to breed and watch, or for many literati to recite poems and paint.

Exhibiting and cooperating in research on a pair of giant pandas abroad can raise at least 8 million yuan for the country's giant panda conservation fund every year.

In addition, crafts carved from ivory and hippopotamus tusks, as well as decorations made from peacock and ostrich feathers, butterflies, and argali skulls, also have high artistic value.

? (4) Diplomatic value.

my country's specialty animals, such as the giant panda, golden monkey, Siberian tiger, and Zhu Huan, are not only world-class endangered animals, but also rare animals that people from all over the world love and are eager to visit.

Donating or exhibiting these animals to foreign countries is important for improving China's visibility, developing political and economic relations between countries, promoting cultural exchanges, enhancing people-to-people friendship, publicizing my country's achievements in endangered animal protection and management, conducting cooperative research on endangered animals, and raising funds for endangered animal protection, etc. , can play a unique role.

(5) Recreational hunting value.

In 1998, my country approved the hunting of 3 takin, 23 argali, 61 falcons, 4 white-lipped deer, 57 blue sheep, 32 Tibetan gazelles, 2 ibex, and 1 sambar deer. *** The state has raised 11.7 million yuan in funds for the protection and management of endangered animals, and has also mobilized the enthusiasm of local governments and people to protect endangered animals, which is conducive to solving local poverty alleviation problems.

(6) Potential development value.

Humanity currently understands only a very small part of the value of species.

With the development of science and technology, the potential value of each species will be gradually discovered and recognized.

But if the species becomes extinct before it is recognized by people, there is no room for development and utilization of these values.

Undoubtedly, this is a great regret for us humans and a great loss for biodiversity conservation.

? It can be seen that we not only need to protect endangered animals, but also develop endangered animal resources and ultimately achieve the purpose of sustainable utilization.

To sum it up in one sentence, that is, protecting endangered animals is for the sustainable use of endangered animals.