From the dodo to the Tasmanian tiger, many majestic creatures have become extinct over the years.
Now, the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) has warned that 48,646 animals that could be next.
The IUCN has updated its ‘Red List’, revealing that three species of Arctic seal have moved closer to extinction.
The update also warns that the majority (61 per cent) of bird species globally are in decline – a huge increase on the 44 per cent at risk in 2016.
However, it’s not all doom and gloom.
The green sea turtle has increased in population by approximately 28 per cent, thanks to decades of conservation action.
‘Today’s Red List update, launched at the IUCN Congress in Abu Dhabi, shines a light on both the urgent challenges and the powerful possibilities before us,’ said Dr Grethel Aguilar, IUCN Director General.
‘While species like Arctic seals and many birds face growing threats, the recovery of the green turtle reminds us that conservation works when we act with determination and unity.’
The IUCN has updated its ‘Red List’, revealing that three species of Arctic seal have moved closer to extinction. Pictured: a bearded seal pup
The update also warns that the majority (61 per cent) of bird species globally are in decline – a huge increase on the 44 per cent at risk in 2016. Pictured Schlegel’s asity
Species on the IUCN Red List are animals of the highest conservation priority that need ‘urgent action’ to save.
This year’s list includes 172,620 animals – 48,646 of which are threatened with extinction.
Three species of Arctic seal have moved closer to extinction, with the hooded seal now listed as Endangered, and the bearded seal and harp seal now listed as Near Threatened.
These animals are under a variety of pressures, including shipping, noise, oil and mineral exploitation, hunting, and bycatch in fisheries.
However, the biggest threat to these seals is climate change, according to Dr Kit Kovacs, Co–Chair of IUCN’s Species Survival Commission Pinniped Specialist Group.
‘Each year in Svalbard, the retreating sea ice reveals how threatened Arctic seals have become, making it harder for them to breed, rest and feed,’ she explained.
‘Their plight is a stark reminder that climate change is not a distant problem – it has been unfolding for decades and is having impacts here and now.
‘Protecting Arctic seals goes beyond these species; it is about safeguarding the Arctic’s delicate balance, which is essential for us all.’
However, it’s not all doom and gloom. The green sea turtle has increased in population by approximately 28 per cent, thanks to decades of conservation action
The Red List update also revealed that 61 per cent of all birds have declining populations – with species living in Madagascar, West Africa, and Central America most at risk.
This is mostly due to habitat loss, driven by agricultural expansion and logging, according to the IUCN.
‘That three in five of the world’s bird species have declining populations shows how deep the biodiversity crisis has become and how urgent it is that governments take the actions they have committed to under multiple conventions and agreements,’ said Dr Ian Burfield, BirdLife’s Global Science Coordinator (Species) and Bird Red List Authority Coordinator.
The green sea turtle, on the other hand, has actually improved in status, from Endangered to Least Concern.
Since the 1970s, populations have increased by around 28 per cent, thanks to conservation efforts focusing on protecting nesting females and their eggs on beaches.
‘The ongoing global recovery of the green turtle is a powerful example of what coordinated global conservation over decades can achieve to stabilise and even restore populations of long–lived marine species,’ said Roderic Mast, Co–Chair of IUCN’s Species Survival Commission Marine Turtle Specialist Group.
Sadly, the Red List update also sees six species moved to the Extinct category.
This includes the Christmas Island shrew, the slender–billed curlew, and the south–eastern striped bandicoot.
The update comes just one month ahead of the UN Climate Change Conference, which will be held in Belém, Brazil, from 10–21 November.
‘As we look ahead to the Climate COP in Belém, governments and communities have a pivotal opportunity to accelerate action that protects biodiversity, stabilises our climate, and builds a future where people and nature flourish together,’ Dr Aguilar added.
You can explore the full IUCN Red List here.
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