| On 11.04.09, In Uncategorized, by tilak |
MORE than a third of the 47,677 species of plant and animal surveyed this year by the International Union for Conservation of Nature were found to be at risk; reported by economist.com.
The new list features 293 reptiles which were not there last year, bringing the total threatened to 1,677, including 469 that face extinction and 22 are that are believed extinct.
The IUCN’s latest “Red List” includes 17,291 species in some degree of danger. This is an increase from 2008, although since more species are examined each year, more are found to be endangered.
One of the six species categorised this year as being extinct in the wild is the Kihansi Spray Toad, which was last seen in its natural habitat in Tanzania in 2004.
Nearly a third of all amphibians assessed by the IUCN are under threat, though that pales by comparison with the three-quarters of plant species found to be in danger.
Habitat loss or a change in land use are frequently to blame.
Kihansi Spray Toad; One of the six species categorized this year as being extinct in the wild which was last seen in its natural habitat in Tanzania in 2004.
We are living on a planet that has millions of undiscovered species, and we are killing these unidentified species faster than we can discover them.
It’s terrible to remove plants and animals from their wild habitats in order to protect them. But I fear that’s our only option at this point. One third of all amphibians are endangered?
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