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2008 IUCN Red List of Threatened Species™

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October 6th 2008

Today, the IUCN released the 2008 IUCN Red List of Threatened Species". The Red List now includes 16,928 species that are threatened with extinction. Of these, 3,246 are Critically Endangered - the highest category of threat, 4,770 are Endangered and 8,912 are Vulnerable to extinction.

Iberian lynx - overview

IUCN Red List reveals the worlds mammals are in crisis

This year an extinction crisis has been confirmed, after the most comprehensive assessment of the worlds mammals has revealed that almost one in four species are at risk of disappearing forever. 1,141 of the 5,487 mammals known on Earth have been found to be threatened with extinction, with at least 76 mammals becoming extinct since 1500. However, the real situation could be even worse, as 836 mammals are listed as Data Deficient. With better information, more species may well prove to be in danger of extinction.

While the outlook may look grim, the results also show conservation can bring species back from the brink of extinction, with five percent of currently threatened mammals showing signs of recovery in the wild.

Sadly, it may be too late to save the 29 species that have been flagged as Critically Endangered (Possibly Extinct).

188 mammals are in the highest threat category of Critically Endangered, including the Iberian lynx (Lynx pardinus), which has a population of just 84 to 143 adults and has continued to decline due to a shortage of its primary prey, the European rabbit (Oryctolagus cuniculus).

Chinas P籥 Davids deer (Elaphurus davidianus), is listed as Extinct in the Wild. However, the captive and semi-captive populations have increased in recent years and it is possible that truly wild populations could be re-established soon.

Nearly 450 mammals have been listed as Endangered including the fishing cat (Prionailurus viverrinus), found in Southeast Asia, which has been moved from Vulnerable to Endangered due to habitat loss in wetlands.

The grey-faced elephant-shrew or sengi (Rhynchocyon udzungwensis) is only known from two forests in the Udzungwa Mountains of Tanzania, both of which are fully protected but vulnerable to fires. The species was first described this year and has been placed in the Vulnerable category.

But it is not all bad news. The assessment of the worlds mammals shows that species can recover with concerted conservation efforts. The black-footed ferret (Mustela nigripes) moved from Extinct in the Wild to Endangered after a successful reintroduction by the US Fish and Wildlife Service into eight western states and Mexico from 1991-2008.

Similarly, the wild horse (Equus ferus) moved from Extinct in the Wild in 1996 to Critically Endangered this year after successful reintroductions started in Mongolia in the early 1990s.

The African elephant (Loxodonta africana) moved from Vulnerable to Near Threatened, although its status varies considerably across its range. The move reflects the recent and ongoing population increases in major populations in southern and eastern Africa. These increases are big enough to outweigh any decreases that may be taking place elsewhere.

The longer we wait, the more expensive it will be to prevent future extinctions, says Dr Jane Smart, Head of IUCNs Species Programme. We now know what species are threatened, what the threats are and where we have no more excuses to watch from the sidelines.

More than mammals

New groups of species have appeared on the IUCN Red List for the first time, increasing the diversity and richness of the data.

For the first time, all 161 grouper species have been assessed, of which 20 are threatened with extinction. These fish are seen as a luxury live food and are typically fished unsustainably at their spawning aggregations, a major threat for many grouper species.

Amphibians are also facing an extinction crisis, with 366 species added to the IUCN Red List this year. A shocking 32 percent of amphibian species are now considered either threatened or extinct.

The Cuban crocodile (Crocodylus rhombifer) moved from Endangered to Critically Endangered because of population declines caused by illicit hunting for its meat and its skin, which is used in clothing.

A role for ARKive

ARKive is collaborating closely with the IUCN - researching and supplying footage of threatened species for use in the media to highlight the new Red List. ARKive strives to raise public awareness of the vast array of animals and plants that are threatened with the risk of extinction and now holds over 3,000 audio-visual species profiles of the world's threatened species. Powerful wildlife imagery is an emotive and effective means of building environmental awareness and engagement, and quick and easy access to this imagery is essential in the digital mass communications society we live in today.

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