Why Global Conservation Matters
Why are Species at Risk?
More than 18,000 species are known to be at risk of extinction. Right now, most are continuing to edge towards oblivion. That’s why we all need to get involved and urge the U.S. and other nations to do more to help protect the ecosystems where these animals live.
Most of the world’s natural habitats including rainforests, mangroves, freshwater wetlands, coral reefs, seagrass beds and sea ice are being destroyed or damaged. Loss and degradation of these ecosystems that species depend on has put species at risk and driven some to extinction.
Habitat destruction, excessive hunting, the illegal trade of wildlife (live trade for pets, or killing wildlife to sell as folk medicines or ornaments), pollution, invasive non-native species and climate change are the main activities putting species at risk. Around the world, these activities are on the rise, causing continued declines in wildlife populations.
Click here to see photos and descriptions of some of the world’s most at-risk species.
What’s At Risk
Between 1970 and 2006, the populations of vertebrate species (animals with backbones including all mammals, birds and fish) fell by one-third. Amphibians, coral species, and plants and animals native to the tropics and freshwater ecosystem are at the greatest risk.
- Fewer than 3,200 tigers remain in the wild.
- Nearly 50% of all primates are in danger of becoming extinct.
- 30% of all shark species are at risk of extinction.
- Nearly 25% of all plant species are threatened with extinction.
- More than 30% of all amphibian species are already extinct or threatened with extinction.
SPECIES ON THE BRINK
Amphibians
Amphibians
Amphibians are cold blooded vertebrates including frogs, toads, salamanders, and newts that typically live in moist conditions or freshwater environments.
The greatest diversity of amphibians is in tropical rainforests.
Nearly one-third of the world’s amphibian species are already extinct or threatened with extinction, and the status of another 25 is unknown.
Amphibians are considered good indicators of the condition of the environment, as they are very sensitive to ecosystem damages. The sorry state of the world’s amphibian species is a serious wake up call about the state of our environment.
SPECIES ON THE BRINK
Primates
Primates
Nearly half of all primate species are now in danger of becoming extinct due to destruction of the rainforests they inhabit, illegal capture and trade as pets, traditional medicines and other uses, and commercial hunting for bushmeat (wild animal meats).
96% of studied gorilla and chimpanzee populations are in decline. Within 50 years, 11% of these populations are expected to become extinct, and most of the rest are expected to be in dire condition. 80% of Western Gorillas are expected to be gone by 2046.
Bornean and Sumatran orangutans are rapidly disappearing along with their habitat. Only several thousand remain, and current if rainforest destruction continues, less than 1% of their native forest habitats are expected to survive undamaged by 2030.
The golden headed langur is found only on the island of Cat Ba in the Gulf of Tonkin, north-eastern Vietnam, where just 60 to 70 individuals remain.
Scientists estimate there are fewer than 100 northern sportive lemurs left in Madagascar.
Only 110 eastern black crested gibbons survive in northeastern Vietnam.
Species data from IUCN and IUCN Red List. For more information on species status and global biodiversity trends visit www.iucnredlist.org.
