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| Species' extinction threat grows | Species' extinction threat grows |
| (about 9 hours later) | |
| More than a third of species assessed in a major international biodiversity study are threatened with extinction, scientists have warned. | More than a third of species assessed in a major international biodiversity study are threatened with extinction, scientists have warned. |
| Out of the 47,677 species in the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species, 17,291 were deemed to be at serious risk. | Out of the 47,677 species in the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species, 17,291 were deemed to be at serious risk. |
| These included 21% of mammals, 30% of amphibians, 70% of plants and 35% of invertebrates. | These included 21% of mammals, 30% of amphibians, 70% of plants and 35% of invertebrates. |
| Conservationists warned that not enough was being done to tackle the main threats, such as habitat loss. | Conservationists warned that not enough was being done to tackle the main threats, such as habitat loss. |
| "The scientific evidence of a serious extinction crisis is mounting," warned Jane Smart, director of the International Union for the Conservation of Nature's (IUCN) Biodiversity Conservation Group. | "The scientific evidence of a serious extinction crisis is mounting," warned Jane Smart, director of the International Union for the Conservation of Nature's (IUCN) Biodiversity Conservation Group. |
| At what point will society truly respond to this growing crisis? Professor Jonathan Baillie,Zoological Society of London In pictures: Threatened species | At what point will society truly respond to this growing crisis? Professor Jonathan Baillie,Zoological Society of London In pictures: Threatened species |
| "The latest analysis... shows that the 2010 target to reduce biodiversity loss will not be met," she added. | "The latest analysis... shows that the 2010 target to reduce biodiversity loss will not be met," she added. |
| "It's time for governments to start getting serious about saving species and make sure it's high on their agendas for next year, as we are rapidly running out of time." | "It's time for governments to start getting serious about saving species and make sure it's high on their agendas for next year, as we are rapidly running out of time." |
| The Red List, regarded as the most authoritative assessment of the state of the planet's species, draws on the work of thousands of scientists around the globe. | The Red List, regarded as the most authoritative assessment of the state of the planet's species, draws on the work of thousands of scientists around the globe. |
| The latest update lists amphibians as the most seriously affected group of organisms on the planet, with 1,895 of the 6,285 known species listed as threatened. | The latest update lists amphibians as the most seriously affected group of organisms on the planet, with 1,895 of the 6,285 known species listed as threatened. |
| Of these, it lists 39 species as either "extinct" or "extinct in the wild". A further 484 are deemed "critically endangered", 754 "endangered" and 657 "vulnerable". | Of these, it lists 39 species as either "extinct" or "extinct in the wild". A further 484 are deemed "critically endangered", 754 "endangered" and 657 "vulnerable". |
| The Kihansi Spray Toad (Nectophyrnoides asperginis) is one species that has seen its status change from critically endangered to extinct in the wild. | The Kihansi Spray Toad (Nectophyrnoides asperginis) is one species that has seen its status change from critically endangered to extinct in the wild. |
| It was only found in the Kihamsi Falls area of Tanzania, but its population had crashed in recent years from a high of an estimated 17,000 individuals. | It was only found in the Kihamsi Falls area of Tanzania, but its population had crashed in recent years from a high of an estimated 17,000 individuals. |
| Conservationists suggest that the rapid decline was primarily the result of of a dam being constructed upstream from the toads' habitat, which resulted in a 90% reduction in the flow of water. | Conservationists suggest that the rapid decline was primarily the result of of a dam being constructed upstream from the toads' habitat, which resulted in a 90% reduction in the flow of water. |
| "In our lifetime, we have gone from having to worry about a relatively small number of highly threatened species to the collapse of entire ecosystems," observed Professor Jonathan Baillie, director of conservation programmes at the Zoological Society of London (ZSL). | "In our lifetime, we have gone from having to worry about a relatively small number of highly threatened species to the collapse of entire ecosystems," observed Professor Jonathan Baillie, director of conservation programmes at the Zoological Society of London (ZSL). |
| "At what point will society truly respond to this growing crisis?" | "At what point will society truly respond to this growing crisis?" |
| The updated data from the 2009 Red List is being made publicly available on the IUCN website on Tuesday. | The updated data from the 2009 Red List is being made publicly available on the IUCN website on Tuesday. |