The International Union for Conservation of Nature has warned that more than 48,000 animal species are now threatened with extinction, highlighting an accelerating biodiversity crisis driven by climate change and habitat loss.
The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) has issued a stark warning that 48,646 animal species are now at risk of extinction, signalling a deepening global biodiversity crisis.
In its latest Red List update, the IUCN revealed that three species of Arctic seals—the hooded, bearded, and harp seals—have moved closer to extinction, primarily due to climate change and the loss of sea ice.
“Each year in Svalbard, the retreating sea ice reveals how threatened Arctic seals have become,” said Dr. Kit Kovacs, Co-Chair of IUCN’s Pinniped Specialist Group. “Their plight is a stark reminder that climate change is not a distant problem—it is unfolding here and now.”
The report also showed that 61 percent of bird species worldwide are declining, up sharply from 44 percent in 2016, largely because of habitat destruction from agriculture and logging. However, the IUCN noted some progress: green sea turtles have rebounded by about 28 percent, improving from “Endangered” to “Least Concern” status after decades of conservation efforts.
IUCN Director General Dr. Grethel Aguilar said the findings underscore both the urgency and the hope in conservation, urging global leaders to take decisive action ahead of next month’s UN Climate Conference in Brazil.