Over 41,000 Species at Risk on World Wildlife Day
(Wednesday, December 4) marks World Wildlife Conservation Day.
This day is observed amid growing concerns over the survival of wildlife and the increasing risk of extinction for various species.
As reported by the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species, the world’s most comprehensive information source on the global extinction risk status of animal, fungus and plant species, over 41,000 species are currently threatened with extinction–making up for 28 percent of all assessed species. Specifically, 27% of mammals are threatened, in addition to 13% of birds, 41% of amphibians, 37% of sharks and rays, 21% of reptiles, and 28% of crustaceans.”
The World Wildlife Fund (WWF) has also expressed concern about the decline in global wildlife populations.
According to the World Wildlife Fund (WWF), some well-known animal species whose populations are at concerning levels include the Tapanuli orangutan (less than 800 left), tigers (around 3,900 left), the giant panda (around 1,890 left), the Amur leopard (around 100 left), the mountain gorilla (around 1,063 left) and the black rhino (over 6,000 left).
Statistics also reveal a devastating 69% drop in wildlife populations since 1970.
World Wildlife Conservation Day was created in 2012 by then US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton to raise awareness of issues including wildlife extinction, endangerment, and global wildlife trafficking and poaching.
