Going, going, gone: The Iberian lynx (Lynx pardinus) is listed as 'critically endangered' on the IUCN's Red List. It's estimated only 84 to 143 animals remain in the wild.
Credit: Antonio Rivas
SYDNEY: Up to one-third of mammals may soon no longer roam the Earth, according to the 2008 endangered species list, released today.
More than 1,700 scientists from around the globe have contributed to the International Union for Conservation of Nature's (IUCN) 2008 Red List, an assessment of species' extinction risk.
The list is updated every four years, but this edition is the first since 1996 that has included an evaluation of all the world's 5,487 known mammals.
The news is good for some species, but dire for others.
The list shows that more than five per cent of threatened species are making a comeback. The African elephant (Loxodonta africana), and the black footed ferret (Mustela nigripes) – which was reintroduced into seven states of the U.S. in the last decade after becoming extinct in the wild - are two such success stories, with numbers increasing or remaining stable.
The number of species has increased 19 per cent since 1992, with many new creatures discovered in Madagascar and the Amazon.
Alarming rate
However, about one-quarter of mammals face extinction. That figure could be closer to one-third, if it included little-studied animals whose conservation status is unknown.
The total list, including reptiles, marine creatures and plants, accounts for 44,838 species, 38 per cent of which are threatened with extinction.
More than seven per cent of species worldwide are in the highest category - 'critically endangered'. And scientists estimate that 76 mammal species have been wiped from the Earth since the year 1500.
Amphibians also fare poorly, with 366 species added to the list this year. Almost one-third of them are either extinct or nearly extinct.
Australia tops developed nations with more than 22 per cent of mammals threatened with extinction. A total of 788 Australian plants and animals have been added the list.
The Tasmanian devil (Sarcophilus harrisii) has moved from 'least concern' category to 'endangered' in light of the devastation the facial tumour virus has caused to the population - numbers have been reduced by 60 per cent in the last decade.
The survey, published in the journal Science, shows that habitat loss and degradation is the number one threat to animals, affecting 40 per cent of species. An appetite for medicines, food and exotic pets affect more than 17 per cent of species.
Marine animals are most at risk from accidental capture by fishermen.
"As climate change now builds momentum at an alarming rate and with unpredictable consequences, the most sensible thing we can do is to protect and restore what’s left so that it stands a better chance of adapting to the changing conditions," said Nicola Markus, chief conservation officer for Bush Heritage Australia.
Calculating risk
To calculate a species' extinction risk, scientists assess trends in population size, location growth. So far, they have focussed efforts on mammals and birds.
This year, the IUCN has introduced a new measurement of trends in extinction risk that will encompass much of the world's organisms.
Working in a similar way to the Dow Jones Index, which tracks financial trends, the Sampled Red List Index will track the fate of species.
Scientists believe this index will provide a broader picture of global biodiversity and conservation efforts by including lesser studied beetles, molluscs, mushrooms and plants, along with reptiles, birds and mammals.
"It’s a tragedy that the red list continues to grow," said renowned zoologist Jane Goodall. "But as I travel around the world I meet inspiring people who are reversing the extinction trends for some species and providing inspiration for others. If more members of the public become involved and their voice is heard perhaps the next list will be shorter."
