In Focus

05 December 2008 03:44 BST

Mammals under threat

The populations of half the world's mammals are in decline and more than a third are facing extinction, a new publication has claimed.

The International Union of Conservation for Nature's (IUCN) Red List of Threatened Species published today claims that the biggest threat to mammals is the loss of habitat, including deforestation.

This year's list looked at 5,487 mammals and found that 1,141 are currently threatened with extinction.

"Within our lifetime hundreds of species could be lost as a result of our own actions, a frightening sign of what is happening to the ecosystems where they live," Julia Marton-Lefèvre, IUCN director general, said

"We must now set clear targets for the future to reverse this trend to ensure that our enduring legacy is not to wipe out many of our closest relatives."

The IUCN says the situation could be a lot worse, as 836 mammals are listed as "data deficient" and with better information more species could be in danger of extinction.

"The reality is that the number of threatened mammals could be as high as 36 per cent," says Jan Schipper, of Conservation International.

"This indicates that conservation action backed by research is a clear priority for the future, not only to improve the data so that we can evaluate threats to these poorly known species, but to investigate means to recover threatened species and populations."

The results show 188 mammals are in the highest threat category of critically endangered, including the Iberian lynx, which scientist believe has a population of between 84 and 143 adults and has continued to decline due a shortage of its prey, the European rabbit.

There are also 29 species named as critically endangered possibly extinct, including Cuba's little earth hutia, which has not been seen in nearly 40 years.