ZSL works to conserve globally threatened species
Friday 5 May 2006
The annual publication of the Red List of Threatened Species demonstrates the importance of ZSL’s international conservation and research programmes in maintaining global biodiversity.
The World Conservation Union (IUCN) Red List of Threatened Species classifies the world’s species according to their extinction risk and the 2006 publication demonstrates the ongoing global decline of the status of plants and animals.
The report reveals that the number of known threatened species has reached 16,119, whilst the ranks of those facing extinction are joined by familiar species like the polar bear, hippopotamus and desert gazelles; together with ocean sharks, freshwater fish and Mediterranean flowers.
ZSL plays a key role in international conservation work by undertaking scientific research and practical in-situ field work and by holding living collections of endangered species at both London Zoo and Whipsnade Wild Animal Park.
A diverse range of ZSL conservation and research programmes focus on many species featured in the IUCN report, including the Dominican mountain chicken, the Mongolian Przewalski horse, Indian vultures, Partula snails and the Amur leopard.
Professor Georgina Mace, Director of ZSL’s Institute of Zoology, said ‘This publication is of fundamental importance to the world as a clear indication that our global environment and its inhabitants are still facing extensive and extremely serious threats.
ZSL is dedicated to working, both as a key individual organisation, and in partnership, to conserve our astonishing but dwindling biodiversity.'
