A recent study has revealed that global wildlife decline is much more severe than previously thought. According to the report, almost half of the planet’s species are experiencing rapid population decline, and many experts claim that humans are entering the sixth mass extinction. Human activities such as land development, climate change, and more are driving many species to extinction. Researchers analyzed more than 70,000 species worldwide, including mammals, birds, reptiles, amphibians, fish, and insects. The results showed that 48% of these species were undergoing population decline, and less than 3% were increasing.
The study also shows that tropical animals are more sensitive to rapid changes in environmental temperature, which is why declines are concentrated in the tropics. Amphibians have been hit particularly hard with multiple threats, including disease and climate change. However, there was good news for fish and reptiles, as more species populations appear to be stabilizing rather than declining.
For decades, extinction alarms have been defined by “conservation categories.” This new study provides a “better picture” of the extent of global biodiversity erosion. The study shows that 33% of species classified ‘non-threatened’ on the IUCN Red List are declining toward extinction. Moreover, the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species classifies about 28% of species as threatened with extinction.
Brendan Godley, a professor of conservation sciences at the University of Exeter, who was not involved in the study, said the report provides new insights into population trends. While there have been stories of endangered animals reviving, such as great white whales and sea turtles, we all need to be vigilant. “If populations, species, habitats, and ecosystems do not thrive, we cannot survive,” Godley added.