The staggering 73% collapse of global wildlife populations since 1970
In short: We are witnessing a biological contraction of unprecedented proportions. Since 1970, the average size of wildlife populations has plummeted by nearly three-quarters. While some species show signs of recovery, the vast majority are being squeezed out by a resource-intensive modern society that shrinks their natural world.
The 2024 Living Planet Report highlights a critical trend: while some conservation successes exist, the overall trajectory for wildlife is one of severe decline. This is primarily driven by unsustainable human-led activities and the shrinking of natural spaces as our global society becomes more resource-intensive. Currently, the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) has assessed more than 47,000 species as being under threat of extinction on its red list.
Specific cases illustrate the severity of this crisis. The Amur leopard, for instance, remains critically endangered since 1996. While its wild population of around 130 individuals shows some stability and growth, it is confined to a small region in the far east of Russia and north-eastern China. Its survival is threatened by habitat fragmentation, prey scarcity, and transportation infrastructure, though 90% of its current range is now covered by protected areas.
Other species face different pressures, such as the Sunda pangolin. Often hunted to excess, these elusive night-dwelling creatures provide meat for elite markets and scales for ancient healing remedies. Despite international trade in Sunda pangolins being illegal, seizures of thousands of animals suggest that the actual scale of trafficking remains significantly higher.
The scale of these threats is underscored by the extreme rarity of certain animals. The vaquita has fewer than 10 individuals left on Earth, and there are only two last northern white rhinos remaining. These figures represent the final stages of a trend where entire species can be counted on one hand.
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Sources
- Summary by Intellect · source: 15 of the World's Rarest and Most Endangered Animals
- Also: 10 of the world's most endangered animals
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