State Parks Survey

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Mammals in Peril Globally

Published today in the journal, Science, was an article that concludes one in four mammals is threatened with extinction. More than 100 researchers contributed to the report.

Mammals in particularly danger are primates, tapirs, hippos, bears, pigs and hogs, moles, opossums and bats. Larger mammals are more threatened than smaller ones.

Habitat loss is the main threat to most species across the tropics and in the Arctic. For marine mammals the main threat is accidental death, especially in fisheries by-catch and vessel strike.

On a more positive note, scientists stated that new species are also being found each year. Since 1992 there are 19% more species being tracked. About 5% of previously or currently threatened species are showing signs of recovery including the black-footed ferret, grey wolf, and wild horses.