More than half of the world’s population of an endangered antelope died within two weeks earlier this year, in a phenomenon that scientists are unable to explain. At least 150,000 adult saiga antelopes were buried during a fortnight in May, but scientists say the actual figure will be significantly higher as many more carcasses were […]
Tag: extinction
Red List reveals Europe’s farmland wading birds in crisis
The latest update of the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species is out – and it’s sounding alarm bells for some of Europe’s most charismatic and cherished shorebirds (also known as wading birds). The list highlights sharp declines in most farmland wader species across much of Europe in recent decades. In some cases, these falls […]
Africa’s lion population forecast to drop by half
Lion populations in Africa are likely to shrink by half over the next two decades unless a concerted effort is made to conserve them, a study has found. The study included that grim news that the number of lions in Africa has already halved since the early 1990s. The research looked at 47 African lion […]
Vultures nearing extinction in Africa
Africa’s vultures are vanishing, according to a new report, posing a potential health risk to humans and livestock, since populations of other scavengers such as rats and jackals could rise as a result. The assessment, carried out by the conservation group BirdLife International, found that six of Africa’s 11 vulture species were at risk of […]
Puffins and turtle doves now as endangered as African Elephant
Puffins and turtle doves are now as endangered as the African Elephant and have been added to a list of animals most at risk of extinction. The much loved British birds have seen numbers plummet in recent years because of harsh winters, and are now under greater threat than even creatures like the humpback whale. […]
Fatu Hiva Monarch on the brink of extinction
The Fatu Hiva Monarch is not as well-known as its cousin, the Tahiti Monarch, but i’s existence is even more threatened. It lives on Fatu Hiva, a remote island which is part of the Marquesas Archipelago, 1500 km from Tahiti. There are now just 25 adults left in the world and as few as 5 […]
Veterinary diclofenac now completely banned in Iran
Iran’s Department of Environment has officially banned the export, import, production and veterinary use of the drug diclofenac in the country. Diclofenac is a non-steroid anti-inflammatory drug whose veterinary use as a painkiller for livestock has been the main cause of the decline of several species of vultures around the world. Vultures are scavengers, often […]
Volcano Could Mean Extinction for the Rocket Frog
Biologists near Quito, Ecuador are rushing to evacuate a critically endangered frog species before a volcanic eruption wipes it out. The small, chocolate-striped rocket frog—Hyloxalus (Colostethus) jacobuspetersi—was once common around Quito, even in pastures and backyards (it adapts well to peopled landscapes). Now, for unclear reasons, there is just one population left. Fewer than 100 […]