Response to the book - Essay Example

In this article, we are going to analyze the sixth extinction portrayed in the book by Richard Leakey and Roger Lewin. Leakey is one of the most famous living Paleo-anthropologist in the world and from his experience in anthropology makes; us devote more time in trying to note the things that will hasten the next evaluation. This article will provide the pros and cons of what the two authors think will result to the sixth extinction. The book has several interesting points, which seems crucial to note, these points are also the stronghold of the book.

Leakey accepts that homo sapience or the modern man is the most dominant species on earth currently. The ability to reason and have a vertebrate brain of man is the main reason why man is able to dominate other species. These are also the reasons behind the book claims that human activities are the main agents of extinction of the other species. Leakey identifies that man’s insight has led to technological improvement that have helped him expand his population at an alarming rate. The population increase and the advanced technology have led to overexploitation of the natural resources thus tampering with the ecosystem (Leakey and Lewin, 21).

The book states that the historical past of man has led to killing of other species in the form of hunting for food and collections. Leakey identifies that man is destroying tropical forests that are the main habitats for millions of species either to expand their agricultural land or to build roads and cities. This will result to the extinction of these species (Leakey and Lewin, 27). This information is true basing my argument on Cantilena Island, which was known to develop a unique flora before man has destroyed it by inhabiting making it for his agricultural benefits.

The unique flora is now extinct. The book states that the more man is becoming knowledgeable in science the more harmful he is becoming to other species. This is due to the