CANADA: Late last week, scientists concluded that Earth has already entered its sixth extinction, as species are dying out at an accelerated rate due to the presence of man.
This week, we’ve updated numbers on the record amount of animals that are threatened to be gone forever, and it remains staggering.
The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) has updated their Red List of Threatened Species to include 77,340 assessed species, a third of which are in danger of extinction.
“This update is also a wake-up call, reminding us that our natural world is becoming increasingly vulnerable,” the IUCN said in a release, while also championing the good that can come from raising awareness. “The international community must urgently step up conservation efforts if we want to secure this fascinating diversity of life that sustains, inspires and amazes us every day.”
They cite the Iberian Lynx as a positive case, as the endangered species climbed from 52 in 2002 to 156 ten years late. Still, the new update states that 22,784 others are threatened with extinction, an increase of a few hundred from last year. Most of those species are succumbing to the destruction of habitat, while illegal trading and invasive species are also contributing factors. A new threat has emerged in the form of bone and body part trade, which is used for traditional medicine.
While no new species have been declared extinct, 14 have been recorded as critically endangered or possibly extinct. While there are some positive examples on the list, it’s clear that many species are declining at a rapid rate, and while this report doesn’t directly blame humans, other scientists are not so shy.
“It is encouraging to see several species improve in status due to conservation action,” says Jane Smart, Director, IUCN’s Global Species Programme. “However, this update shows that we are still seeing devastating losses in species populations. The IUCN Red List is the voice of biodiversity telling us where we need to focus our attention most urgently – this voice is clearly telling us that we must act now to develop stronger policy and on-the-ground conservation programmes to protect species and halt their declines.”
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