Background extinction is going on all the time.
Mass extinction is characterized by large numbers in a short time. We are now in the 6th mass extinction.
Imo this is not something to be taken for granted. It is directly due to huge human population growth leading to loss of habitat, as well as illegal poaching and trade in wildlife.
Imo non-human animals have the same right to life as humans. I do not believe in human superiority or speciesism.
Some facts from Species Alliance:
http://www.speciesalliance.org/facts.php
•One quarter of all mammal species face extinction in 30 years. (United Nations, http://news.bbc.co.uk/)
•For every person in the world to reach present U.S. levels of consumption we would need 4 more planet Earths. (Wilson, p. 23)
•Humans currently consume 50% of the Earth's available freshwater, leaving what's left over for all other species. (World Wildlife Fund, http://www.panda.org/)
•Humans currently consume 40% of all organic matter produced by photosynthesis on Earth, leaving what's left over for all other species. (Wilson, p. 33)
•Every species of great ape on the Earth (gorillas, orangutans, chimpanzees, and bonobos) is in imminent danger of extiction. (United Nations, http://news.bbc.co.uk/)
•Every species of tiger on Earth is in imminent danger of extinction. (World Wildlife Fund, http://web.archive.org/)
•The number of lions left in Africa has fallen 90% in 20 years -- there are now only 20,000 remaining. (BBC, http://news.bbc.co.uk/)
•90 percent of all large fishes have disappeared from the world's oceans in the past half century. (Nature Magazine, http://www.cnn.com/)
•Human population is expected to increase by at least 50% over the next 75 years. (United Nations Population Division, http://www.enviroliteracy.org/)
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