International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) updates the Red list of Threatened Species | Current Affairs | Vision IAS
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International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) updates the Red list of Threatened Species

Posted 11 Jul 2024

2 min read

IUCN Red List provides information about animal, plant, and fungus species which are at risk of extinction into nine categories.  (Refer to the infographic below).

  • List now includes Approx. 163,000 species, of which Approx. 45,000 are threatened with extinction.
  • Update shows, biodiversity faces increasing pressures, from poaching,climate change & invasive species.
A graphic showing categories of species conservation status: Extinct (EX), Extinct in the Wild (EW), Critically Endangered (CE), Endangered (EN), Vulnerable (VU), Near Threatened (NT), Least Concern (LC), Data Deficient (DD), and Not Evaluated (NE).

Key Updates:

Species with Improved status:

  • La Gomera giant lizard (Gallotia bravoana): Its status improved from Critically Endangered to Endangered. It is found in Canary islands.

Species with Declined Status:  

SpeciesUpdated statusLocation & Other specificatioThreat
Copiapoa cacti 82% of species are at risk of extinctionThey are ornamental Cacti, endemic to Atacama coastal desert in ChileIllegal trade and oceanic fog which hinders its reproduction
Gran Canaria giant lizard Critically Endangered (previously Least Concern)Endemic Reptile in Canary Island (Spain)Prey to the invasive California kingsnake
Gran Canaria skink Endangered (previously Least Concern)Endemic Reptile in Canary Island (Spain)Prey to the invasive California kingsnake
Ibiza wall lizardEndangered (previously Near Threatened)Islands of Ibiza and Formentera (Spain)Threat from invasive horseshoe whip snake
Bornean ElephantEndangered Smallest Elephant with wider face found in Borneo and Sumatra IslandAnthropogenic Activities
  • Tags :
  • IUCN
  • Red list of Threatened Species
  • Update Red List
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