Global Wildlife Populations Decline by 73% Over 50 Years

In October 2024, WWF's Living Planet Report highlighted a significant 73% decline in global wildlife populations over the last five decades due to habitat loss, climate change, and invasive species.

Key Points

Alarming Decline of Indian Vultures: India's white-rumped vulture, Indian vulture, and slender-billed vulture populations have seen a severe decline.
Tracking Animal Population Trends: The report tracked 35,000 population trends across 5,495 species, with freshwater populations seeing the steepest decline at 85%.
Key Drivers of Decline: Wildlife decline is driven by habitat loss from agriculture, fragmentation, climate change, pollution, and invasive species.
Ecosystem Impacts: The decline disrupts crucial ecosystem functions like pollination, grazing, and nutrient cycling, potentially leading to ecosystem tipping points.