Wildlife populations around the world more than halved in the 40 years to 2010, a survey released Tuesday showed.
The report from environmental lobby group WWF International blames unsustainable human consumption patterns for an average 52-per-cent drop in 10,380 populations of the 3,038 species surveyed.
“This latest edition of the Living Planet Report is not for the faint-hearted,” WWF International chief Marco Lambertini said. “We’re using nature’s gifts as if we had more than just one Earth at our disposal.”
The report, drawn up jointly with the Zoological Society of London (ZSL), found the loss was greatest in the poorest countries – 58 per cent – while the richest countries had lifted numbers of mammals, birds, reptiles, amphibians and fish by 10 per cent.
Creatures that live in water fared the worst, with average population declines of 76 per cent. Animals on land dropped an average 39 per cent.
The report blames loss of habitat, hunting and fishing for the losses.
ZSL director of science Ken Norris said the damage was “not inevitable but a consequence of the way we choose to live,” adding that “there’s an enormous disconnect between going to a supermarket and putting fuel in your car and the global statistics we’re talking about here.”
GNA
