Wildlife Populations Plummet Globally, Study Finds
New Report Shows 69% Decline Since 1970
Mammals, in Particular, Hard Hit
The World Wildlife Fund (WWF) released its 2022 Living Planet Report on Thursday, and the news is not good for wildlife. The report found that global wildlife populations have plummeted by 69% on average since 1970. This means that nearly 7 out of every 10 animals have disappeared from the planet in the past 50 years.
The report's findings are based on data from the WWF's Living Planet Index, which tracks the abundance of more than 32,000 populations of 5,230 species. The index showed that wildlife populations are declining in all regions of the world, but the decline is most pronounced in tropical regions. The report identifies several factors contributing to the decline in wildlife populations, including habitat loss, overexploitation, pollution, and climate change.
The report highlights the plight of mammals, which have been particularly hard hit by the decline in wildlife populations. Tigers, chimpanzees, and Asian elephants are just a few of the mammal species that are now endangered. The report also notes that the decline in wildlife populations is having a ripple effect on other species, as well as on human societies.
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