Wildlife numbers fall by 73% in 50 yrs, World Wide Fund
Wildlife populations have experienced a sharp decline, primarily driven by habitat destruction, according to data from the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF).
Human activities are continuing to cause what the WWF has described as a "devastating" loss of species globally.
From elephants in tropical rainforests to hawksbill turtles in the Great Barrier Reef, populations are plummeting, according to a new assessment of global wildlife.
The Living Planet Report, a broad analysis of the condition of the natural world, shows that wildlife populations worldwide have decreased by an average of 73% over the last five decades.
The loss of natural spaces has pushed many ecosystems to the brink, said WWF UK's chief Tanya Steele, adding that critical habitats such as the Amazon rainforest and coral reefs are nearing dangerous tipping points.
River dolphins, for instance, are vanishing at an alarming rate due to the degradation of their habitats.
The report, which is based on the Living Planet Index, tracks over 5,000 populations of birds, mammals, amphibians, reptiles, and fish over 50 years.
Among the findings, it reveals that pollution, mining, and civil unrest have contributed to the loss of 60% of Amazon pink river dolphins.
Despite the bleak overall picture, the report also highlights some conservation successes.
For instance, mountain gorilla populations in the Virunga Mountains of East Africa grew by about 3% per year between 2010 and 2016.
Still, WWF emphasized that such isolated wins are insufficient in the face of widespread habitat destruction.
Tom Oliver, an ecology professor at the University of Reading, who was not involved with the report, stated that when combined with other data—such as on insect populations—it presents a concerning picture of global biodiversity decline.
Despite conservation gains for species like the mountain gorilla, which have benefited from decades of protective measures, the outlook for wildlife remains grim.
The study found that habitat destruction remains the greatest threat to species, followed by overexploitation, invasive species, disease, climate change, and pollution.
Mike Barrett, WWF’s chief scientific adviser and the lead author of the report, said human-driven economic activities have greatly diminished natural habitats.
"Human actions, particularly the way we produce and consume food, are causing us to lose more and more natural habitats," Barrett explained.
The report also warns that the loss of biodiversity, coupled with climate change, is pushing the planet closer to irreversible tipping points, including the potential collapse of the Amazon rainforest, which could lose its capacity to sequester carbon and mitigate climate impacts.
Hawksbill turtle populations are also shrinking, with a 57% decrease in nesting females in north-east Queensland, Australia, over a span of 28 years.
Barrett urged people not to be discouraged by the decline of wildlife but to recognize that the situation poses a serious threat to humanity, demanding urgent action.
Valentina Marconi, from the Zoological Society of London’s Institute of Zoology, said the natural world is in a "fragile state," but with swift, coordinated efforts by world leaders, there is still hope for reversing the damage.
The report also notes declining bird populations, including chinstrap penguins in Antarctica.
This wake-up call for global biodiversity comes ahead of the United Nations Biodiversity Conference in Colombia, where leaders will discuss strategies to restore nature.