Habitat Loss, Hunting Put Mammals at Risk
PlanetArk 7 Oct 08;
A quarter of the world's mammals are at risk of extinction because of threats from mankind, according to an international survey by 1,700 experts on Monday.
Following are key findings of the annual "Red List" report, issued during an International Union for Conservation of Nature congress in Barcelona from Oct. 5-14:
-- There are 5,487 species of mammals in the world. Of the 4,651 species for which enough data is available, 1,139 or one in four are in danger of extinction. At least 76 mammals have gone extinct since 1500. The last survey of mammals was in 1996 and findings and categories are not directly comparable.
-- 188 mammals are in the worst category before extinction, or "critically endangered". Twenty-nine of these may already be extinct, such as the baiji or Yangtze dolphin in China.
-- One in two mammal species are declining in number. Threats have worsened for species such as the Tasmanian Devil, an Australian marsupial, the Caspian seal or the fishing cat, found in Asia.
-- Main threats are loss of habitat and hunting by humans. Other risks include climate change and disease.
-- Some species are recovering. China's Pere David deer is extinct in the wild but captive populations have risen and could lead to re-introduction in the wild. The African elephant has been moved to "near threatened", a lesser level of risk than its previous category as "vulnerable" because of rising numbers.
-- Species' ranges vary from a few hundred square metres (yards) for the Bramble Cay melomys, an Australian rat, to all the world's oceans for the orca or killer whale. Most land species occupy an area smaller than Britain.
-- Worldwide, the Red List comprises 44,838 species, of which 16,928 are considered threatened, or 38 percent. Groups such as amphibians are far worse off than mammals. A year ago, the Red List comprised 41,415 species, of which 16,306 were rated as threatened.
Red List of endangered species - summary of the IUCN report
The Telegraph 6 Oct 08;
* Of the 5,487 mammals on Earth 1,141 are known to be facing extinction.
* The survival of one in four of the world's land mammal species and one in three marine mammal species is threatened by extinction.
* There are now 1,983 species of amphibians (32 per cent) either threatened or extinct.
* A representative sample of reptiles shows that over one in five face extinction.
* The main threat to land animals is loss of habitat, dispersal of species and hunting.
* The side effects of fishing poses the biggest threat to marine mammals.
* Climate change could become the biggest cause of extinctions.
* Regions with most diversity tend to be the most threatened.
* At least 76 mammals have become extinct since 1500.
* 29 species have been flagged as Critically Endangered Possibly Extinct.
* 188 mammals are in the highest threat category of Critically Endangered.
* Nearly 450 mammals have been listed as Endangered.
* Overall, the IUCN Red List now includes 44,838 species, of which 16,928 are threatened with extinction (38 per cent).Of these, 3,246 are in the highest category of threat, Critically Endangered, 4,770 are Endangered and 8,912 are Vulnerable to extinction.
Red List of endangered species - most threatened and recovering animals
The Telegraph 6 Oct 08;
Some of the most threatened creatures who feature on the IUCN 2008 Red List:
Iberian Lynx (Lynx pardinus), which has a population of just 84-143 adults and has continued to decline due to a shortage of its primary prey, the European Rabbit (Oryctolagus cuniculus).
China's Père David's Deer (Elaphurus davidianus), has declined from Critically Endangered to Extinct in the Wild. The captive population has increased in recent years and it is possible that free-ranging populations could be re-established soon.
Tasmanian Devil (Sarcophilus harrisii), which moved from Least Concern to Endangered after the global population declined by more than 60 percent in the last 10 years due to a fatal infectious facial cancer.
The Fishing Cat (Prionailurus viverrinus), found in Southeast Asia, moved from Vulnerable to Endangered due to habitat loss in wetlands.
The Caspian Seal (Pusa caspica) moved from Vulnerable to Endangered. Its population has declined by 90 percent in the last 100 years due to unsustainable hunting and habitat degradation and is still decreasing.
The Grey-faced Sengi or Elephant-shrew (Rhynchocyon udzungwensis) is only known from two forests in the Udzungwa Mountains of Tanzania, both of which are fully protected but vulnerable to fires. The species was first described this year and has been placed in the Vulnerable category.
Some animals whose numbers have recovered:
The Black-footed Ferret (Mustela nigripes) moved from Extinct in the Wild to Endangered after a successful reintroduction by the US Fish and Wildlife Service into eight western states and Mexico from 1991-2008.
The Wild Horse (Equus ferus) moved from Extinct in the Wild in 1996 to Critically Endangered this year after successful reintroductions started in Mongolia in the early 1990s.
The African Elephant (Loxodonta africana) moved from Vulnerable to Near Threatened, although its status varies considerably across its range. The move reflects the recent and ongoing population increases in major populations in Southern and Eastern Africa. These increases are big enough to outweigh any decreases that may be taking place elsewhere.
New species appearing on the Red List for the first time:
Indian tarantulas, highly prized by collectors and threatened by the international pet trade, have made their first appearance on the IUCN Red List. They face habitat loss due to new roads and settlements.
The Rameshwaram Parachute Spider (Poecilotheria hanumavilasumica) has been listed as Critically Endangered as its natural habitat has been almost completely destroyed.
For the first time, all 161 grouper species have been assessed, of which 20 are threatened with extinction.
The Squaretail Coral Grouper (Plectropomus areolatus) from the coral reefs of the Indo-Pacific is newly listed as Vulnerable.
Amphibians:
In Costa Rica, Holdridge's Toad (Incilius holdridgei), an endemic species, moved from Critically Endangered to Extinct as it has not been seen since 1986 despite intensive surveys.
Reptiles:
New reptiles assessed this year include the La Palma Giant Lizard (Gallotia auaritae). Found on the Canary Island of La Palma and thought to have become extinct in the last 500 years, it was rediscovered last year and is now listed as Critically Endangered.
The Cuban Crocodile (Crocodylus rhombifer) is another Critically Endangered reptile, moved from Endangered because of population declines caused by illicit hunting for its meat and its skin, which is used in clothing.
