Chart of the day: Australia named as fourth-worst country for animal extinctions

Updated

Australia has the fourth-highest level of animal species extinction in the world.

The latest update of the Red List of Threatened Species published recently by the International Union for Conservation of Nature has the number of extinct animal species in Australia at 40, with 106 also listed as critically endangered.

Australia's unique reptiles have been emphasised as particularly vulnerable, with 7 per cent threatened with extinction.

The United States holds the dubious record as the world's worst offender, with 237 species listed as extinct and 214 listed as critically endangered.

"Invasive species, changes to fire patterns, cyclones and human-wildlife conflict are just some of the many threats wreaking havoc on our planet's ecosystems," IUCN director-general Inger Andersen said.

"As species from Mauritius to Australia slip towards extinction, we risk losing a part of our culture and our identity, as well as the life-supporting benefits these species provide by pollinating our crops or preserving healthy soils."

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Topics: environment, animals, ecology, animal-science, australia, united-states, french-polynesia, mauritius, saint-helena, new-zealand, mexico, seychelles, sri-lanka, reunion

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