A quarter of animal species are threatened – especially river dolphins, lynxes and huchens – bright spots in tigers and locusts – WWF calls for ambitious EU restoration law
Vienna (OTS) – The global extinction of species continued to progress rapidly in 2023. According to the latest update of the Red List of the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), more than a quarter of the listed species are threatened – especially freshwater fish and amphibians, but also mammals suffer greatly from human activities worldwide. The WWF nominates some of the species as losers in the animal kingdom: The populations of river dolphins, Atlantic salmon and huchen, as well as lions, lynxes and Humboldt penguins are particularly worrying this year. “Global warming, development, overfishing and poaching are making it difficult for them and many other species to survive. Worldwide, more than a quarter of the animal and plant species on the Red List are classified as threatened – that is a dramatic testimony,” says Georg Scattolin, Head of the International Program at WWF Austria. The nature conservation organization warns of a “catastrophic escalation in the global extinction of species” and calls for more political commitment to nature conservation in Austria and beyond. Because where animals and their habitats are actively protected and restored, successes can also be seen this year – for example with Saiga antelopes, tigers, bison, white rhinos, snow leopards in Bhutan and Sarus cranes. In Austria, the locusts in the March-Thaya floodplains are an example of successful species protection. “The animal winners give hope. They show what is possible in times of species extinction and climate crisis if we protect and restore habitats,” says Georg Scattolin from WWF Austria.
The WWF is therefore calling for the implementation of an ambitious EU renaturation law. In Austria, the horrendous consumption of land and the development of valuable nature – such as free-flowing rivers in particular – must be stopped. There is particular potential in restoring areas that have already been destroyed, such as blocked rivers. “Amphibians such as frogs and toads, but also numerous freshwater fish, are seriously threatened. At the same time, it is becoming increasingly clear that Austria needs to learn how to use water in a new way in times of global warming. We need intact moors, riparian forests and river landscapes so that they can provide their irreplaceable ecological services,” says Scattolin. The WWF is therefore also calling for a halt to expansion plans at the Kaunertal power plant in Tyrol at the turn of the year.
ANIMAL KINGDOM LOSERS 2023:
Flussdelfine: All six river dolphin species are among the most endangered mammals in the world. This year has been particularly hard for the animals in the Amazon: Well over 200 river dolphins have died in Lago Tefé in the Brazilian state of Amazonas since September – both the pink river dolphin and the tucuxi, which is gray and slightly smaller, are affected. Ten percent of the river dolphin population in Lake Tefé died in just one week. High water temperatures of up to 39.1 degrees Celsius probably led to the death of the river dolphins. In addition to hydroelectric power plants and mercury pollution, freshwater dolphins are now also directly affected by the climate crisis. The WWF launched a rescue operation on site. At the same time, a global declaration was signed in October to halt population declines in South America and double river dolphin populations in Asia.
Amphibians: The great die-off in the kingdom of frogs, toads and salamanders will continue in 2023: According to the Red List, over 40 percent of all amphibian species worldwide are acutely threatened. Mainly due to the destruction of their habitats and climate change. This makes them the most endangered class of vertebrates – ahead of mammals, reptiles or birds. Salamanders are the most endangered group among amphibians. More than every second salamander species is threatened. Four amphibian species have been declared extinct in the last three years. 185 amphibian species are now listed as “possibly extinct.”
Huchen: The Huchen is one of the largest and most attractive representatives of salmon-like fish and is only found in the Danube catchment area. The species is one of the big losers of the biodiversity year. Populations of migratory fish have been declining for years due to the heavy development of our rivers. Now, of all places, a new hydroelectric power station is planned in the stretch of river on the Upper Mur, which is home to the very last intact population. This is fatal because a hydroelectric power station would have massive effects by damming up, diverting water and, above all, by interrupting the river.
Atlantic salmon: According to the new Red List, the Atlantic salmon is considered “potentially endangered” globally. The global population has shrunk by 23 percent in recent years. The fish species, which hatches in rivers and then migrates to the sea, suffers from many threats: dams and other barriers block access to spawning and feeding grounds, while water pollution and sedimentation, especially from logging and agriculture, lead to higher mortality among young lead salmon. In addition, the salmon louse, which often infests salmon farms, also threatens wild stocks.
African lions: The lion population in Africa is estimated at around 23,000. Between 2006 and 2018, the population of African lions fell by a quarter. Thanks to increased protective measures, the downward trend was slowed but not stopped. From 2018 to 2023, the total population fell by a further 8 percent, with the largest declines expected to be in West and Central Africa. For example, the WWF works on habitat protection and human-lion conflicts in the KAZA protected area complex.
Humboldt penguins: Bird flu also swept through the animal kingdom in 2023, reaching even the most remote regions of the world. As a result of the current bird flu crisis, around 3,000 of the approximately 10,000 endangered Humboldt penguins breeding in Chile have died by October, as have more than 18,000 maned seals. Now conservationists fear that the deadly virus will spread to Antarctica and the Galapagos Islands, which are home to many species that only occur there.
Cod in the North Sea: Cod will once again be among the losers in 2023. In the EU’s agreements with Norway and Great Britain, the new permitted catch levels are above the scientific recommendations. The cod in the North Sea continues to be overfished. There is also a lack of space for relaxation in the Danish maritime area of Kattegat. The decided reduction in the catch by ten percent will be of little use, as plaice fishing in the same area will be increased by 19 percent. There the cod ends up in the net as bycatch.
Lynxes: The maximum of 40 native Eurasian lynxes live in small, isolated populations and are once again threatened with regional extinction due to illegal persecution, land consumption and genetic impoverishment. This year a lynx was poached again in Carinthia.
Wolves: While herd protection continues to be inadequately promoted and applied, most Austrian federal states rely on regulations that violate EU law to shoot wolves. Since the first regulations came into force, 13 wolves have already been killed, 12 of them in the current year. With a population of around 70 individuals, this means a significant weakening of the population.
ANIMAL KINGDOM 2023 WINNERS:
Saiga Antelopes: The saiga antelope, native to Central Asia, is no longer listed as “threatened with extinction” on the Red List. The population in Kazakhstan, where 98% of all saigas live, has increased from almost 40,000 to around 1.3 in recent years thanks to intensive conservation efforts million animals increased. And populations also recovered in Mongolia. The species is very susceptible to disease outbreaks and was affected by large mass deaths in 2010, 2011, 2015 and 2016. Illegal and legal hunting also remains a problem.
Breitmaulnashörner: The number of white rhinos has increased again for the first time after ten years of decline – by a good five percent to a total of around 16,800 individuals. In addition, the nature conservation organization African Parks acquired the largest rhino breeding project in the world in 2023. More than 2,000 white rhinos are to be released into the wild. Although the pachyderms remain threatened by poaching, the positive news is still encouraging, because in 2022 the WWF still rated the white rhinos as losers.
Bison in the Caucasus: Exactly 100 years ago, a rescue program began for the bison, who were then extinct in the wild. With success: over 8,000 European bison are now roaming through the forests again. And in 2023 there will be more again: In November, ten bison left the Berlin Zoo and the “Alte Fasanerie” Hanau wildlife park for Azerbaijan, where they will find a new home in the Shahdag National Park. As part of the WWF reintroduction project, 36 bison have been released there so far. The animals have already multiplied and the population has grown to 50. A total of 100 animals are to be released into the wild by 2028.
Snow leopards in Bhutan: During a survey in Bhutan, 134 snow leopards were counted. In 2016 there were only 96 individuals. As part of the national snow leopard study, over 300 wildlife cameras were placed across an area of 9,000 km².
Tiger: The number of big cats has increased positively in some Asian countries: in Bhutan it has increased from 103 to 131 since 2015. India reported over 3,600 tigers in 2023 – and thus has two thirds of the global population within its borders. Hope that tigers are not lost in Southeast Asia despite small populations is also captured by wildlife cameras in Malaysia.
Sarus cranes in Nepal: Thanks to intensive conservation efforts, the number of Sarus cranes in Nepal has doubled since 2010 to over 700 specimens. At that time there were only 350 of the majestic birds left in the country. The word “Sarus” actually comes from the Sanskrit term “Saras” (crane). In Nepalese society and culture, birds symbolize love, faith and devotion. However, the species is still considered “endangered” worldwide.
Locusts in the March-Thaya floodplains: Since the introduction of grazing in the Marchegg floodplain reserve by WWF Austria, the species range of locusts has expanded significantly. It now also includes a number of species that were not previously known from the area. 40 different species of grasshoppers as well as the praying mantis can now be found here. The density of individuals among locusts has also increased – and bird species that rely on large insects for food, such as storks and red-backed shrikes, are benefiting from this. This makes the pasture area in the WWF floodplain reserve one of the most species-rich areas in Lower Austria, with a strikingly large number of endangered and specialized species of grasshoppers.
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Questions & Contact:
Valentin Ladstätter, press spokesman for WWF Austria, +43 676 83488 257, valentin.ladstaetter@wwf.at