Arctic seals and birds are becoming increasingly threatened, mainly due to climate change and human activity. This information comes from an updated list of endangered species released last month by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN).
“This timely global update highlights the ever increasing impact human activity is having on nature and the climate, and the devastating effects this has,” Grethel Aguilar said. Aguilar is the director general of the IUCN.
Seals under threat
The IUCN said seals are struggling to survive. This is because of global warming, maritime traffic, mining, oil extraction, industrial fishing and hunting.
The IUCN said it would change the status of the hooded seal from vulnerable to endangered. Bearded and harp seals are now classified as near threatened.
According to the group, global warming is happening “four times faster” in the Arctic, where seals live.
“Global warming ... is drastically reducing the extent and duration of sea ice cover,” the IUCN said.
“Ice-dependent seals are a key food source for other animals.”
Birds are losing their homes
The IUCN studied thousands of bird species worldwide. It said birds are losing their habitats to logging and farming.
“Overall, 61 per cent of bird species have declining populations – an estimate that has increased from 44 per cent in 2016,” the IUCN said.
This year’s update focused on areas where birds are facing the destruction of tropical forests.
In Madagascar, 14 species were newly classified as near threatened. Three others were labelled vulnerable.
In West Africa, five more bird species were found to be near threatened. In Central America, one more bird species was found to be near threatened.
Some positive news
The report also mentioned that the green turtle is no longer endangered. Decades of conservation action have helped its population recover by 28 per cent since the 1970s.
Nicolas Pilcher is the executive director of the Marine Research Foundation. He said this success should spur action.
“Just because we have reached this great step in conservation, [it] isn’t a reason to sit back,” he said.
How does the IUCN decide if an animal or plant is threatened?
The IUCN decides if a species is threatened based on five criteria.
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How fast are the animals’ numbers dropping?
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What is the species’ geographic range?
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Is its existing total population already very small?
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Does it have a very small distribution or live in a restricted area?
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How likely is it to die out completely?
According to IUCN, 48,646 species are threatened with extinction. This represents 28 per cent of all assessed species (see chart).
