October 2007
Spotlight Feature2007 Red List of Threatened Species
A silverback Western lowland gorilla at a zoo in Miami, Florida.
On September 12, the World Conservation Union released its annual list of threatened species. The group evaluates the state of over 41,000 species of animals and plants. This year, 13,306 species are threatened with extinction.
Included on the list are gorillas and orangutans, which are being killed off by poachers, disease, and forest clearing. The western lowland gorillas, for example, have been classified as critically endangered. Their numbers have declined 60% in the last 25 years. They could become extinct in the next ten years.
One fourth of all mammals, one eighth of all birds, and one third of all amphibians are currently in jeopardy, according to the group. In addition, the group could not find several species of coral, which help to create an ecosystem in the sea. They believe the coral may have become extinct.
The World Conservation Union believes that these trends can be reversed. They feel that people must be more aware of how important biodiversity is to the environment. Governments, they feel, must do more to conserve the habitats of endangered species. Individuals can also make a difference; the group feels, by trying to live in a more environmentally friendly way.
Related Links
- 2007 IUCN Red List of Threatened Species
The World Conservation Union’s site, announcing the release of the Red List. Includes case studies, maps, photo galleries, and video footage of some of the species on the list. (Source: The World Conservation Union, September 2007) - Gorillas head race to extinction
Report from the BBC on the Red List and some of the species on it. Includes links to more information on threatened species and what is being done about the problem. (Source: BBC, September 12, 2007) - Conservation union finds 13,600 species threatened
Overview of the list and highlights from it. Includes information about how climate change is contributing to the problem. (Source: Reuters, September 12, 2007)
Critical Thinking Questions
- Causes and Effects What were the causes of the decline in the population of western lowland gorillas, and how did this decline change the gorillas’ classification on the Red List?
- Draw Conclusions The inclusion of several species of coral is mentioned prominently in most news coverage of the Red List. Of the 16,306 species on the list, why do you think the coral is so important?
- Form and Support Opinions Do you think that anything you do can have a positive effect on the problem of threatened species? Why or why not?
