Humans Kill 1 Percent of Animal Species Annually

The polar bear, whose summertime Arctic hunting grounds have been greatly reduced by a warming climate, will soon be placed under the protection of the U.S. Endangered Species Act.

Human activities are causing the most rapid decline in species since the extinction of the dinosaurs, according to a new report issued by the World Wildlife Fund (WWF).

A census of wildlife conducted by the environmental group reveals that humans have eliminated about 1 percent of all animal species each year, causing one in four species to disappear over the past 35 years.

The Living Planet Index, which tracks nearly 4,000 populations of wildlife, shows an overall fall in population trends of 27% between 1970 and 2005.

"It's an absolutely alarming statistic, especially when you consider the rising awareness in environmental problems at the moment that we're still seeing substantial declines in every major part of the world, every major ecosystem in the world," said Colin Butfield, head of campaigns at WWF-UK.

Marine species such as swordfish and scalloped hammerhead were particularly hard hit, falling by 28% between 1995 and 2005. Seabird populations have suffered a rapid decline of about 30% since the mid-1990s.

WWF blames over-fishing and hunting, farming, pollution and urban sprawl for the wildlife losses.

Photo: NOAA
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