Humans Pushing Everyone Else Off Planet

by Kimberley Coleman

The end of the year is a time for compiling statistics - and according to the World Conservation Union (IUCN), the year 2003 has been bad news for plants and non-human animals. Despite the efforts of conservationists, many species are now closer to extinction than ever before.

The IUCN has reclassified the status of several species, including the South African riverine rabbit and the Galapagos snail, from "endangered" to "critically endangered".

"Critically endangered" is the final stage before a species becomes extinct.

Each of the Earth's diverse species have taken millions of years to evolve into their current, unique form. Once a species disappears from the planet's delicately balanced web of life, there is no way of getting it back. Nothing exactly like it will ever exist again.

The African riverine rabbit, already rare, is the only rabbit in Africa that burrows and is distinguished by its long ears, a blackish-brown stripe on its jaw, and a dark fluffy tail. Unlike most rabbits, the African riverine only produces one offspring per year.

There are now only about 250 breeding pairs left on the planet.

The Galapagos Islands are home to many snail species. The Bulimulus ochsneri, in particular, has been "red listed".

Over thousands of years, these snails have survived volcanic eruptions and extreme drought; however, their battle to survive in the face of human housing development, non-native species introduced to the islands by humans, and tourism, may be the battle that they finally lose.

In 2002, approximately 11,100 species of animals and plants were listed as vulnerable or critically endangered. In 2003, that number has risen to more than 12,250.

Conservationists say these numbers are one to ten thousand times higher than they should be under "natural" conditions. And the primary force in the acceleration of extinction is human beings.

Earth's rapidly expanding human population continually devours more and more natural habitat. Increased fishing, agriculture, and trapping as well as expanding cities and towns have already contributed to the extinction of thousands of species, with more plants and animals edging ever closer to being gone forever.

The Red List, maintained by conservation experts from all areas of the globe, shows that in the last five hundred years, 762 known species have already disappeared from the planet, with an additional 58 species now existing only in captive settings, such as zoos and conservation parks.

© 2003 Animal News Center, Inc.