World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) says, wildlife populations worldwide have decreased by over 70 percent in the past fifty years, reports Alzajeera.
On Thursday, the conservation charity released an assessment of over 5,000 species of mammals, birds, amphibians, reptiles, and fish, warning that habitats such as the Amazon rainforest are approaching "tipping points" that could have "catastrophic consequences" for most species.
The Living Planet Report revealed that 35,000 populations under review had fallen 73 percent since 1970. Freshwater species had the worst of it, followed by terrestrial and marine vertebrates.
The report also revealed a sharp decline in the populations of pink river dolphins and tucuxi dolphins in Brazil's Amazonas state, with reductions of 65% and 57%, respectively. The primary cause of this decline is hunting, while climate change further endangers their survival.
In Gabon, the number of forest elephants had declined by 78 to 81 percent. This decline was considered a “considerable setback” for the future of the species.
The report found that habitat loss is the greatest threat to wildlife populations globally. This is followed by overexploitation, invasive species, and disease.
“This is not just about wildlife, it’s about the essential ecosystems that sustain human life,” said Daudi Sumba, chief conservation officer at WWF.
“The changes could be irreversible, with devastating consequences for humanity,” further said the chief conservation officer, using the example of deforestation in the Amazon, which could “shift this critical ecosystem from a carbon sink to a carbon source”.
