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'Extinction Crisis' Threatens 40% of Species

Watchdog group sees serious danger to one in four mammals

By Jonas Oransky,  Newser Staff

Posted Sep 12, 2007 1:46 PM CDT
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(Newser) – More than 16,000 species are in serious danger of extinction, including one in four mammals and one in three amphibians being monitored by a global conservation group. With 40% of 40,000 surveyed species facing the highest levels of threat, “We’re at code red,” a top conservationist says of the World Conservation Union's annual list, the Guardian reports.

The list includes 180 new species. Just one animal—the Mauritius echo parakeet—saw its status improve, and only from “critically endangered” to merely “endangered.” Climate change and El Nino are major threats, though the full story is more complicated: The western lowland gorilla, for example, has suffered from Ebola, the bushmeat trade, and spreading oil palm plantations.

The Rain Forest's newest resident, a nine-foot long, 221 pound female gharial relaxes on the sand Nov. 13, 2003 at the Cleveland MetroParks Zoo in Cleveland. The 2007 Red List of Threatened Species released Wednesday, Sept. 12, 2007, by the World Conservation Union revealed that the Western Gorilla and the...
The Rain Forest's newest resident, a nine-foot long, 221 pound female gharial relaxes on the sand Nov. 13, 2003 at the Cleveland MetroParks Zoo in Cleveland. The 2007 Red List of Threatened Species released...   (Associated Press)
Kimani, a 2-year old western lowland gorilla, presses her face against the glass of the enclosure at the Franklin Park Zoo in Boston, Sunday, April 22, 2007. The zoo held special activities and workshops in conjunction with Earth Day on Sunday. (AP Photo/Michael Dwyer)
Kimani, a 2-year old western lowland gorilla, presses her face against the glass of the enclosure at the Franklin Park Zoo in Boston, Sunday, April 22, 2007. The zoo held special activities and workshops...   (Associated Press)
A black cinereous vulture is thrown in the air by Thai vets as they force the bird to fly during the release of the vultures back home to Mongolia in the mountainous area in northern Thailand near the Myanmar border Thursday, May 10, 2007. Four brown and white Himalayan Griffons...
A black cinereous vulture is thrown in the air by Thai vets as they force the bird to fly during the release of the vultures back home to Mongolia in the mountainous area in northern Thailand near the...   (Associated Press)
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COMMENTS
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Take a closer look at the 2007 Red List
World Conservation Union

Maybe a new species catalogue will catalyze interest in the biodiversity crisis
New York Times

The critical issue is biodiversity
Voice of America

A closer look at some specific species
Daily Mail (UK)

Why the Red List is so important
Reuters

 
climate change • endangered species • environment • endangered species list • extinction • El Nino • gorilla • species • Western Lowland Gorilla • Mauritius Echo Parakeet • World Conservation Union • biodiversity • animal

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