▲ Endangered species'Galapagos Turtle'


The sixth major extinction is currently underway on Earth, and the rate of extinction has accelerated, warning that over 500 species of terrestrial vertebrates are in danger of extinction in the next 20 years.

Professor Paul Ellrich of Stanford University and Dr. Gerard Kevalos of the National Institute of Ecology of the National University of Mexico said in the International Journal of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS) that over 500 species of terrestrial vertebrates are on the verge of extinction. Of human activity.

The team also warned that the rate of the sixth mass extinction seems to be much faster than previously thought, which in turn would destroy ecosystem functions and endanger human happiness.

Professor Erich's team previously reported in 2015 that the sixth major extinction is under way on Earth.

The results of this study, which follow, have a darker outlook and are urging the world to take immediate action to protect endangered animals.

The researchers estimated that at least 543 terrestrial vertebrates disappeared during the 100th century of the 20th century, and that a similar number of species would be extinct over the next 20 years.

They use the World Conservation Union's Red List of Endangered Species and data from the international bird protection organization'Birdlife International' to accurately understand the current threats of animals, and the population of 2,400 species. Habitat, etc. were analyzed.

As a result, it was found that the number of land vertebrates that are currently on the brink of extinction, with less than 1,000 remaining, is 515 species, 1.7% of the total.

About half of these species were found to have fewer than 250 individuals.

Of these 515 animal species, 237,000 have disappeared since 1900, and during this period, 77 mammals and birds were found to have decreased by 94% of the total population.

The habitats of severely endangered species are mostly concentrated in tropical or subtropical areas that are greatly affected by human activity.

There are also 388 species with fewer than 5,000 populations, and 84% of these species overlap with 515 habitats with less than 1,000 populations.

Researchers feared that the disappearance of one endangered species could cause chains to other species in the same ecosystem, exacerbating one species' risk of ecological instability, further exacerbating the risk of extinction.

They said that'extinction produces extinction' and that all species with fewer than 5,000 remaining must be included in the'Severe Endangered Species' list of the World Union for Conservation (ICUN) red list.

They pointed out that the cause of corona19, a pandemic that spread to humans through bats and pangolins, as indiscriminate wildlife capture, hunting, and trading, should be emphasized that countries around the world should immediately stop doing this.

Professor Erlich said, "Annihilation of other species means that mankind cuts down the branches on which they sit and destroys their life-sustaining devices." We have to deal with it on an urgent agenda."

"The next 20 years, how we will deal with the threat of animal extinction will determine the fate of millions of other species," said Dr. Kevalos, research director. "Mankind is the last to ensure that many of nature's services are not completely destroyed." "We are facing an opportunity."

(Photo = provided by Gerardo Ceballos, Yonhap News)