"'Today's Red List update, launched at the IUCN Congress in Abu Dhabi, shines a light on both the urgent challenges and the powerful possibilities before us,' said Dr Grethel Aguilar, IUCN Director General."
"'While species like Arctic seals and many birds face growing threats, the recovery of the green turtle reminds us that conservation works when we act with determination and unity.'"
"'Each year in Svalbard, the retreating sea ice reveals how threatened Arctic seals have become, making it harder for them to breed, rest and feed,' she explained."
The IUCN Red List now includes 172,620 animal species, with 48,646 classified as threatened with extinction. Three Arctic seal species have moved closer to extinction: the hooded seal is Endangered, and the bearded and harp seals are Near Threatened. Pressures on seals include shipping, noise, oil and mineral exploitation, hunting, and bycatch, with climate change identified as the primary threat. The update reports that 61 percent of bird species are in decline, up from 44 percent in 2016. Conservation actions have produced gains for some species, including an approximate 28 percent population increase for the green sea turtle. The update was launched at the IUCN Congress in Abu Dhabi.
Read at Mail Online
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