Can you believe that at least one in five reptile species in the world are threatened with extinction? Yes, that is what the first major global assessment of the world’s cold blooded creatures reveals. Let’s look at the findings.
At least one in five reptile species are threatened with extinction, including more than half of turtles and crocodiles, according to the first major global. assessment of the world’s so-called cold-blooded creatures.
Catastrophic declines in biodiversity across the world are increasingly seen as a threat to life on Earth- and as important as the interrelated menace of climate change.
Threats to other creatures have been well documented. More than 40 percent of amphibians, 25 percent of mammals and 13 percent of birds could face extinction. But until now, researchers did not have a comprehensive picture of the proportion of reptiles at risk.
HOW MANY SPECIES ASSESSED
In a new global assessment. published in the journal Nature, researchers assessed 10,196 reptile species and evaluated them using criteria from the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List of threatened species.
They found that at least 1,829. 21 per cent were either vulnerable, endangered or critically endangered. “It’s just overwhelming the number of species that we see as being threatened,” said co-author Neil Cox, who manages the IUCN-Conservation International Biodiversity Assessment Unit and co-led the study. “Now we know the threats facing each reptile species, the global community can take the next step…. and invest in turning around the often too under-appreciated and severe biodiversity crisis.”
TOOK 15 LONG YEARS
Young said the reptile assessment. which involved hundreds of scientists from across the world, took around 15 years to complete because of a lack of funding.
“Reptiles, to many people, are not charismatic. And there’s just been a lot more focus on some of the more furry or feathery species of vertebrates for conservation,” he said. Researchers hope the new assessment will help spur international action to halt biodiversity loss. Almost 200 countries are currently locked in global biodiversity talks to try to safeguard nature, including a key milestone of 30 percent of Earth’s surface protected by 2030.
“Through work like this, we advertise the importance of these creatures. They’re part of the tree of life, just like any other and equally deserving of attention,” Young said. AFP. Crocodiles and turtles were found to be among the most at-risk species, with around 58 percent and 50 percent of those assessed found to be under threat respectively. Crocodiles are killed for their meat and to remove them from human settlements. Turtles are targeted by the pet trade and used for traditional medicine. The Komodo dragon of the Indonesian islands is threatened with extinction, researchers say.
WHERE ARE THEY FOUND?
Threatened reptiles were largely found concentrated in Southeast Asia, Western Africa, northern Madagascar, the Northern Andes and the Caribbean. Reptiles restricted to arid habitats such as deserts, grasslands, and savannas are significantly less threatened than those in forest habitats, the study says.
THE KING IS IN DANGER
Another well-known species at risk is the fearsome king cobra, the world’s largest venomous snake. It has been classified as vulnerable, indicating it is very close to extinction”, according to the research. “It’s a real iconic species in Asia and it’s such a shame that even widespread species such as this are really suffering and in decline”. Logging and deliberate attacks by humans were among the biggest threats to the snake.
WHAT ARE THE THREATS THEY FACE?
Agriculture. logging. invasive species and urban development were found to be among the threats to reptiles, while people also target them for the pet trade or kill them for food or out of fear.
Climate change was found to pose a direct threat to some 10 per cent of reptile species. Longer-term threats such as sea level rise, or indirect climate-driven dangers such as fire, and from things like disease also have an impact.
Picture Credit : Google
