Armageddon for wildlife: Half world’s animals vanish

Any objective assessment of our stewardship of the world around us must reach conclusions so disheartening that it is often easier to look away in shame and wonder what any individual can to to try to slow or even reverse the consequences of centuries of destruction.

The latest indictment — the WWF’s Living Planet Report — is no different. It records that wildlife populations have more than halved since 1970 because of human consumption. This is not by any means the first or last doom-laden warning that our species is having an inordinate and unacceptable impact on all other lifeforms sharing our planet. Yet we do very little of any real meaning or weight to try to end our destruction.

WWF records that mammals, birds, reptiles, amphibians, and fish have declined on average by 52% between 1970 to 2010. Information on 10,380 populations of 3,038 species was used to reach these dire conclusions. The decline in freshwater species is even more spectacular and frightening. Population falls of more than three-quarters (76%) were recorded. The main threats to wildlife are loss or damage to habitat and exploitation through uncontrolled hunting or industrial-scale commercial fishing.

It would be nice to think these dreadful figures might give us pause for thought but as we have shown time and time again not only are we the most destructive species we are the most selfish. Just how many warnings do we need?