Reproductive problems are threatening the Sumatran Rhino closer to extinction. Some scientists believe these problems may be caused by habitat loss. The Rhino is one of the world’s most endangered species.
Lake Natron in northern Tanzania is an important breeding site for the lesser flamingos. They are now being threatened by the proposal of the construction of a soda-ash plant by Tata Chemicals, an Indian chemical group.
Development over the past 12 years in Costa Rica has put monkeys at risk, radically decreasing their numbers to nearly half.
Belgium has recently banned seal products from Canada to voice Belgium’s concern for the cruel slaughter of seals. In response, Canada has requested that the World Trade Organization lift this ban as Canada believes that it will violate obligations under WTO rules.
Rapid degradation to New York’s saltwater marshes, a valuable resource for birds and fishes, can disappear within five years.
The Beluga population in the St. Lawrence river remains at 1,000, the number it was 20 years ago, despite protection efforts. The failure to bring this number up raises concerns for many scientists.
“The Yangtze river dolphin, until recently one of the most endangered species on the planet, has been declared officially extinct following an intensive survey of its natural habitat.”
Conservation efforts across Europe have helped to bring Britain’s rarest bird populations back up by 50% to 70%, researchers claim.
The UK Biodiversity Action Plan consists of a list of species in need of protection due to their falling numbers. The plan, reviewed every 10 years, has doubled since 1997 and now includes 1,149 species. Of those, the house sparrow, cuckoo and hedgehog have recently been added to the list.
Researchers at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) say that sea ice loss in the Arctic is likely to surpass 40% according to computer models. This can have a profound effect on marine mammals.