At present, there are more than 44,000 species around the world that are facing the possibility of extinction. Keeping a watchful eye over them is the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), composed of governments and civil society organisations. Since 1964, the IUCN has compiled the Red List of Threatened Species, a comprehensive guide to the state of nature and the likelihood of plant and animal extinction. From ‘least concern’ to ‘extinct’, each species that’s assessed by the IUCN is placed on the scale to indicate their conservation status.
For example, to be categorised as ‘critically endangered’ a species needs to meet specific conditions, such as fewer than 250 mature individuals, a population reduction of 70 per cent or more in the past ten years or a population that continues to decline by 25 per cent or more over three years. This informative tool not only lists species’ status in the world, but also acts as a reference for many different agencies and organisations to enact policy changes and protections in the hopes of protecting wildlife.
The IUCN list is filled with 157,100 species, of which 28 per cent are ‘threatened with extinction’. The IUCN aims to assess a further 160,000 species and transform the IUCN Red List into a ‘barometer of life’. Here are just some of the many critically endangered animals that are facing extinction.
DUSKY GOPHER FROG (RANA SEVOSA)
Denne historien er fra Issue 190-utgaven av How It Works UK.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
Allerede abonnent ? Logg på
Denne historien er fra Issue 190-utgaven av How It Works UK.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
Allerede abonnent? Logg på
RESCUE IN SPACE
Fortunately, space emergencies are a rare occurrence, but astronauts and space agencies need to be prepared for any eventuality that might arise
NEANDERTHAL LIVING
Why our prehistoric cousins were pioneers, not clueless apes
BUILDING ONE WORLD TRADE CENTER
One World Trade Center rose from the ashes of the Twin Towers. Now, as the tallest building in New York City, it looks to the skies and the future. Here's how this sustainable and secure record-breaker was built
BECOME A SMARTPHONE SCIENTIST
Amazing tips and tricks to transform your smartphone into a bug-finding, star-spotting, data-gathering device
LIFTING THE LID ON ANTARCTICA
What was the coldest continent like without ice?
URBAN WILDLIFE
How wild animals have evolved to thrive alongside humans in towns and cities
WHAT IS SUNBURN?
How solar rays can leave us red, sore and irritated
ALL ABOUT FAT
Fat is a complex, active organ. Here's how genetics, evolution, lifestyle and diet dictate how much we have beneath our skin
The Space Force is launching lasers into orbit
The Space Force aims to better pinpoint the location of Earth's true centre using lasers on GPS satellites, slated to launch in 2025. A set of Laser Retroreflector Arrays, or LRAS, will be installed onto two GPS III satellites, SV9 and SV10, as part of NASA's Space Geodesy Program. The lasers are designed to make precise sub-centimetre measurements using a technique called Satellite Laser Ranging, which will allow researchers to more accurately determine Earth's centre.
Eating too much sugar may accelerate cellular ageing
A nutrient-rich diet with few added sugars may slow the rate of biological ageing in women. Scientists found that middle-aged women who ate more foods packed with vitamins, minerals and antioxidants had 'younger looking' cells than those who consumed less nutrient-rich diets.
