Looking through various old books in my room today, I found this supplement which was released at some point in the 1980s in the Mail on Sunday, aiming to illustrate the species which - in the opinion of the authors - were most likely to be extinct by the turn of the century. Looking through it, there are indeed a few extinct species - some which were likely extinct before the supplement was even published - but also a good few success stories.
So, I thought it would be illuminating to list the various species discussed, and note their current conservation status. It may also be interesting to hear which ones we have seen, whether this is in the wild or in zoos. I'll have to do this in several posts though
Any I have seen will be marked in bold.
Marsican Brown Bear (Ursus arctos marsicanus) - The current population is estimated to be as low as 30 indivisuals. Not currently an IUCN recognised subspecies.
Wolf (Canis lupus) - distributed worldwide. Some populations have become extinct in the past 3 decades, however other populations have enjoyed sizeable increases due to improved protection. IUCN Least Concern
Maned Wolf (Chrysocyon brachyurus) - IUCN Near Threatened
Blackfooted Ferret (Mustela nigripes) - Declined in the late 1970's to point it was declared extinct, however the rediscovery of a small population and the ensuing captive breeding and reintroduction programme means there are now over 1,000 mature, wild-born individuals in the wild in 18 states of the USA. IUCN Endangered.
Spectacled Bear (Tremarctos ornatus) - IUCN Vulnerable.
Polar Bear (Ursus maritimus) - Global population of polar bears is 20,000 to 25,000, and declining. IUCN Vulnerable.
Giant Panda (Ailuropoda melanoleuca) - Approximately 1,590 individuals in the wild, with roughly 250 in captivity. IUCN Endangered.
Iberian Lynx (Lynx pardinus) - Total population is estimated to be 99 to 158 adults. IUCN Critically Endangered.
Ocelot (Leopardus pardalis) - IUCN Least Concern
Jaguar (Panthera onca) - IUCN Near Threatened
Asiatic Lion (Panthera leo indica) - Wild population estimated at 411. IUCN Endangered
Amur Leopard (Panthera pardus orientalis) - Less than 25 individuals left in the wild. IUCN Critically Endangered.
Tiger (Panthera tigris) - Two subspecies have become extinct since the publication of the partwork, the Caspian and the Javan, with surviving subspecies ranging from IUCN Extinct in the Wild to IUCN Endangered.
Cheetah (Acinonyx jubatus) - IUCN Vulnerable. The Asiatic Cheetah is IUCN Critically Endangered, with less than 100 left in the wild.
Snow Leopard (Uncia uncia) - Total population estimated at 6,590 individuals. IUCN Endangered.
Walrus (Odobenus rosmarus) - IUCN Least Concern
Mediterranean monk seal (Monachus monachus) - Roughly 450 individuals in the wild. IUCN Critically Endangered.
So, I thought it would be illuminating to list the various species discussed, and note their current conservation status. It may also be interesting to hear which ones we have seen, whether this is in the wild or in zoos. I'll have to do this in several posts though
Any I have seen will be marked in bold.
Marsican Brown Bear (Ursus arctos marsicanus) - The current population is estimated to be as low as 30 indivisuals. Not currently an IUCN recognised subspecies.
Wolf (Canis lupus) - distributed worldwide. Some populations have become extinct in the past 3 decades, however other populations have enjoyed sizeable increases due to improved protection. IUCN Least Concern
Maned Wolf (Chrysocyon brachyurus) - IUCN Near Threatened
Blackfooted Ferret (Mustela nigripes) - Declined in the late 1970's to point it was declared extinct, however the rediscovery of a small population and the ensuing captive breeding and reintroduction programme means there are now over 1,000 mature, wild-born individuals in the wild in 18 states of the USA. IUCN Endangered.
Spectacled Bear (Tremarctos ornatus) - IUCN Vulnerable.
Polar Bear (Ursus maritimus) - Global population of polar bears is 20,000 to 25,000, and declining. IUCN Vulnerable.
Giant Panda (Ailuropoda melanoleuca) - Approximately 1,590 individuals in the wild, with roughly 250 in captivity. IUCN Endangered.
Iberian Lynx (Lynx pardinus) - Total population is estimated to be 99 to 158 adults. IUCN Critically Endangered.
Ocelot (Leopardus pardalis) - IUCN Least Concern
Jaguar (Panthera onca) - IUCN Near Threatened
Asiatic Lion (Panthera leo indica) - Wild population estimated at 411. IUCN Endangered
Amur Leopard (Panthera pardus orientalis) - Less than 25 individuals left in the wild. IUCN Critically Endangered.
Tiger (Panthera tigris) - Two subspecies have become extinct since the publication of the partwork, the Caspian and the Javan, with surviving subspecies ranging from IUCN Extinct in the Wild to IUCN Endangered.
Cheetah (Acinonyx jubatus) - IUCN Vulnerable. The Asiatic Cheetah is IUCN Critically Endangered, with less than 100 left in the wild.
Snow Leopard (Uncia uncia) - Total population estimated at 6,590 individuals. IUCN Endangered.
Walrus (Odobenus rosmarus) - IUCN Least Concern
Mediterranean monk seal (Monachus monachus) - Roughly 450 individuals in the wild. IUCN Critically Endangered.
Exactly 50 years after the death of the last known individual. And now National Threatened Species Day each year