The IUCN has announced that four of its six great-ape species are among 'critically endangered species'.
Once over giant pandas were in danger of extinction. However, decades of conservation efforts have yielded results, and giant pandas, whose numbers have started to increase again in China, have been removed from the endangered animal list. However, a new animal species has been added to the updated red list; Eastern gorillas are the largest living primate species. The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) noted that four of the six great-ape species are among "critically endangered species."
According to the news in Bianet, IUCN representatives stated that there are less than 5 thousand eastern gorillas in the world at the international congress held in Honolulu at the weekend.
"The IUCN's Red List shows that we are busy destroying one of our closest relatives, it is very sad," said IUCN's Inger Andersen. Of the 82,954 species on the IUCN Red List, 23,928 are in danger of extinction.
Four of 6 great ape species are critically endangered
According to IUCN data, four of the six great-ape species are on the red list of "critically endangered species": the eastern gorilla, the western gorilla, the Bornéo orangutan and the Sumatran orangutan.
Chimpanzees and bonobos are among the "endangered species".
Their populations have declined by 77 percent in 20 years.
Due to poaching and destruction of the animals' habitats, the eastern gorilla population has decreased by 77 percent in the last 20 years.
Found in the Republic of the Congo, northwest of Rwanda, and southwest of Uganda, the eastern gorilla has two subspecies: the Grauer gorilla and the Beringei gorilla.
The population of Grauer gorillas was 16,900 in 1994. In 2015, it was stated that this number decreased to 3 thousand 800.
Of the Beringei gorillas, only 880 survive.
Zebra population decreased 24 percent in 14 years
Zebras were also moved from the "least concern" category to the "almost threatened" category.
The zebra population, which was 660,000 14 years ago, decreased by 24 percent in 14 years to 500 thousand. It was stated that this decrease was due to the hunting of animals for their meat and fur.
good news from panda
Pandas, which were in the "endangered" category in the IUCN Red List, were included in the "susceptible" category.
IUCN emphasized that there has been a 17 percent increase in the panda population in the last 10 years, and that according to the last census in 2014, there are 1,864 pandas living in their natural habitat in China.
Stating that bamboo habitats of pandas will disappear in 80 years due to climate change, IUCN emphasized that the efforts of the Chinese government to protect pandas have been successful in the last 20 years.
WWF: Pandas are safer
WWF also made a press release on the subject. “Like the WWF logo, the panda has been a symbol of nature conservation around the world for over 50 years,” said WWF Director-General Marco Lambertini. Learning that the panda is one more step away from extinction today is exciting news for people dedicated to wildlife conservation. Improvement in the panda's condition; "It shows that if science, political will, and people living in relevant regions come together, we can protect the world's wildlife and increase biodiversity."
WWF has been working with the Chinese government to protect the panda and its habitat for nearly 40 years. Within the scope of this cooperation, various studies were carried out to create panda sanctuaries, reunite the separated panda populations and reduce their impact on the forest by creating sustainable livelihoods for the local people. As a result of these efforts, the number of panda sanctuaries, which contain approximately two-thirds of the panda population, has increased to 67. These areas also contribute to the protection of bamboo forests and therefore many different species.
news: t24.com.tr
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