horrible news - One in five mammals threatened with extinction

[ensho]

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/environment/article6901077.ece


A fifth of the world’s known mammals, a third of amphibians and reptiles and more than two thirds of plants are threatened with extinction, according to the latest “Red List” of endangered species.

Of the 5,490 mammal species that have been identified by scientists, 79 are extinct or extinct in the wild, 188 are critically endangered, 449 are endangered and 505 are classed as vulnerable, the International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN) said.

The annual Red List, published yesterday, also shows that 70 per cent of identified planets, 35 per cent of invertebrates, 37 per cent of freshwater fish, 30 per cent of amphibians, 28 per cent of reptiles and 12 per cent of birds are under threat. The survival of a total of 17,921 species is in jeopardy.

“This year’s IUCN Red List makes for sobering reading,” Craig Hilton-Taylor, manager of the IUCN Red List Unit, said. “These results are just the tip of the iceberg. We have only managed to assess 47,663 species so far; there are many more millions out there which could be under serious threat.

-snip-

“It’s time for governments to start getting serious about saving species and make sure it’s high on their agendas for next year, as we’re rapidly running out of time.”
-----------------------------


a sad tick of the clock

[imdjh]

1. There can only be one

[Richardo]

2. Crap! There are six people in my family!

Which one will it be?

[mike_c]

3. mammals, meh....

A minor group within a minor phylum. There's what, about 4500 mammal species world wide? There's probably more species of arthropods within shouting distance of my backyard. Mammals are SO overrated!


Note for the humor impaired: This is IRONIC HUMOR. :rofl: See?

[The2ndWheel]

4. "It’s time for governments to start getting serious..."

A human institution that requires growth to survive, and which barely listens to the humans that give it power, is going to give a damn about non-humans which have no money and can't vote?

[joeybee12]

5. Yup, animals are on the bottom of the list, even after teh gays...n/t

[ensho]

6. and there you have it in a nutshell

nt

[T Wolf]

7. If this one-in-five is the 20% that still loves Bush, I'm all for their extinction. By any means.

[SammyWinstonJack]

12. +1

:evilgrin: :thumbsup:

[Warpy]

8. This is what one of the earth's periodic dieoffs looks like

It doesn't end with a bang, more like a prolonged groan.

Face it, we are probably the rough draft for intelligent life on the planet and will be killed off by our own selfish and violent impulses.

[dana_b]

16. makes you wonder how intelligent we are. n/t

[Altoid_Cyclist]

9. Video of a mutt acting as a surrogate mother for 9 African Painted Dog orphans.

PITTSBURGH -- A mutt from a city animal shelter is acting as a surrogate mother for nine African painted pups born at the Pittsburgh Zoo and PPG Aquarium.

http://www.thepittsburghchannel.com/video/21513532/index.html

Another newspaper article about story:
http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/09308/1010601-455.stm

[MilesColtrane]

10. Damn....where is Jack in the Box going to get it's "beef" from now?

[The Straight Story]

11. Whether it is an animal or human, we have too many living things on the planet

Support zero population growth, eat more chickens and cows :evilgrin:

[mimitabby]

13. our children and grandchildren will have an uglier world, for sure

[Shell Beau]

14. That is so scary too. As if it isn't ugly enough these days.

[BolivarianHero]

15. Who gives a damn?

Jesus will come back in a glorious flash of light and beam us up to Heaven before environmental degradation and mass extinction become a serious threat.

:sarcasm:

[dana_b]

17. I know that climate change

is not one of the biggest issue for people now (that's why it's easier to make silly jokes about this article) but it will quickly become a top priority once we all see how this affects our ability to survive.

more than a sad tick - it's going to become desperate soon.

[timeforpeace]

18. At least it's from an unbiased source that doesn't have anything to gain from hyperbole.