IUCN Red List finds 26,000 species under extinction threat...

Photo: Greg Hume / Cincinatti Zoo

 More than 26,000 of the world's fauna species are now threatened, according to the latest red list of the assessment of the natural world, adding to fears the planet is entering the sixth wave of extinctions.   The Blue-crowned Laughing Thrush (Garrulax courtoisi) pictured above is one such species.   Jonathon Watts, writing in Britain's Guardian newspaper says scientists have warned loss of biodiversity is more of a threat than climate change because it erodes the earth's capacity to provide clean air, fresh water, food and a stable weather system.   The red list now includes 93,577 species, of which 26,197 are classified as vulnerable, critical or endangered.   Since 2017, six species have been declared extinct, taking the total to 872.   Another 1,700 species are listed as critically endangered, some possibly extinct.  Recent research showed the world's 7.6 billion people represent just 0.01% of all living things, yet have caused the loss of 83% of all the wild mammals and half of the plants.   Meanwhile livestock and pets abound.   The problem is in our laps, but the solution seems beyond every horizon.

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BarrytheBirder