A third of species on brink of extinction

Vulnerable
Endangered
Critically endangered

Uncontrolled fishing, logging, mining and agriculture are pushing 22,413 of the world’s plant and animal species to the brink of extinction, reports the latest IUCN Red List, which now assesses 76,199 species

1 Pacific Bluefin Tuna Extensively targeted for Asian sushi and sashimi markets

2 Chinese Cobra: Exported from mainland China to Hong Kong for food market

3 American Eel: Used in East Asia to replenish seed stocks following decline of Japanese Eel

4 Black Grass-dart Butterfly Found only on coast of northern New South Wales, Australia. Threatened by invasive weeds and coastal deveolpment

5 Chinese Pufferfish Global population down by 99.99% over last 40  years due to overfishing

6 Giant East Usambara Blade-horned Chameleon: Native to Tanzania. Threatened by habitat destruction as are all other 66 chameleon species

DECLARED EXTINCT

7 Giant Earwig: World’s largest earwig up to 80mm long, native to St Helena Island. Last live adult seen in May 1967

8 Plectostoma sciaphilum: Snail from single limestone hill in Malaysia extinct following destruction of hill by quarrying company

3  1  2 4 7 8 6 5

Source: IUCN Red List

Pictures: Getty Images,
Fir0002/Flagstaffotos,
Natural History Museum