Thousands of species ‘are facing extinction’

HUMANITY’S exploitation of wildlife and destruction of habitats is threatening to kill off more than 15,500 species of plants and animals - from frogs to sharks - unless urgent steps are taken to ensure their survival, conservationists warned yesterday.

The World Conservation Union said ahead of international talks held every four years to share research and draft protection guidelines that species are declining at unprecedented rates.

“What we are presenting to you today is serious, it is extremely serious, and it is a wake-up call to the world,” said Achim Steiner, the group’s director general.