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Species extinction underestimated: species could be wiped out 100 times faster

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Endangered species could become extinct 100 times faster than estimated. According to scientists, methods previously used to predict when species will die out are not accurate and dramatically underestimate the speed at which species become extinct.

Species such as the western gorilla, the Sumatran tiger and the Malayan sun bear may become extinct much sooner than feared. According to ecologist Brett Melbourne, "some species could have months instead of years left, while other species that haven't even been identified as under threat yet should be listed as endangered."

One of the factors overlooked in previous attempts to predict extinction risks is the proportion of males compared with females in a population and the differences in reproductive success between individuals in a group. As soon as these factors were included by scientists, it emerged that the threat of extinction could be imminent. "The older models could be severely overestimating the time to extinction. Some species could go extinct 100 times sooner than we expect," Melbourne said.

According to a 200y IUCN report, more than 16,000 species worldwide are threatened with extinction. An updated list will be published in October.
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30 responses // Species extinction underestimated: species could be wiped out 100 times faster

  • How could they not take gender and reproductive speed into consideration? That just seems stupid to me. I hope people finally wake up!
    dadapapa
  • We're next on the list.
    Neghie
    1 response to this
  • If Bush is writing the endangered Species Act, then we can expect extinction to go a lot quicker and oil production to rise!
    christina71
    1 response to this
  • maybe there is an alternate universe somewhere and there the government cares about the REAL meaning of biodiversity
    suffolkbikes
  • watch this comment being used here, here, here, here, here and here
    What a scary thought for most animals to be gone! Theres a certain balance Mother Earth keeps and with these animals gone its going to throw nature off...(not like we havent already thrown it off). Its a worrying thought for me.
    Azucena
  • Almost every day we are seeing more and more evidence that our ecosystem is falling apart. I think there was a huge underestimation in how destructive we have really been to our environment. The thought of so many different species becoming extinct in such a short time, is a frightening thought. I hope we can still do something to turn this around.
    marcus854
  • It's weird to think that all of those Animal Planet specials could very well soon become historical documents.
    Adumbration
    1 response to this
  • This is very near and dear to my hearty as I am a wildlife conservationist, its also a very sad and very truthful statment. Man is destroying every living thing on this earth and by so doing destroying himself, we're all connected. And still with millions of people on the planet knowing this, we are still domed, facing an up hill battle. It is not as if the battle will'll be facing is one with the envirnment but a battle with ourselves and this is a very sad thing!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
    Witch_King
  • It is disgusting that we cannot learn to share this planet with other species. We will only realise what we are doing when it is too late and we are affected ourselves ... sad! And scary!
    dadapapa
  • This is horrible. When will we wake up and stop destroying everything around us?
    shernu
  • So... in the face of extinction, how do people feel about mass-cloning as an option to keep these species alive?
    richjm
    1 response to this
  • the cloning idea sounds like a good one to me
    Ben_Traffic_UK
  • Again???
    Blackfoot777
  • Mass cloning might lead to some horrible Isle of Dr Monroe type incident.

    I'm all for it, I think mankind should push science as far as it will go, and maybe in time we will be able to play God.
    phillyharper
  • .. you reckon that hairy Gorilla would let me hug him?
    Mr_Costello
  • Physically strong animals are getting killed by the gun. The human animal is a sissy without the tools needed for simple survival. Why should we kill and conquer everything?
    dontipo
  • The next generation can just watch re-runs of Steve Irwin.
    clayjj05
  • Wild Life Refuges and National Forests need to remain human free. All over the world. This would allow other creatures some "SPACE" to reproduce without getting shot.
    Killing for body parts by hunters used for arousal shames me as a species. To think that we would remove an entire population of beautiful creatures to enhance performance is unbelievable.
    SNJ
    • SNJ
    • 3 months ago
  • We should seriously think about using our intelligence to help other beings, not destroy them.
    ximalim
  • Soon it will be to late...a huge population of animals will be gone, and there will be NO way to bring them back...sadly, maybe this is the only way to show people that there needs to be a change, and there needs to be change fast!
    24ciao7
  • That blows, but the world keeps on turning.
    cerealforeal
  • Wiping out the planet's biodiversity is a crime. It's great to see so many comments expressing concern. I don't know who said, "Inspiration without action is merely entertainment" but I think that's true. If you feel strongly about this, please do something. Write a letter to your political representative, donate to the World Wildlife Fund, Greenpeace, or another wildlife organization of your choice. You'll feel better for doing something and believe it or not, it does make a difference.
    stratfestfan
  • I am stunned by my own human arrogance.
    1779fleet
  • honestly, i don't care.

    take cell samples, store them for cloning later.

    once we find a few new earths we can bring back all the animals peta wants
    diode
  • this is super sad, but don't we always find new species in random places around the world? in the balance of things it seems like we find new animals quicker than we kill them off.
    cali_is_gorgeous
  • I agree with Neghie.

    After doing off with every other living species all that we'll have left to destroy is ourselves.
    Le_Bambi_Noir

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