Alarming Development: Hedgehog Considered Endangered for the First Time
This year has been a mixed one for endangered species. This is the conclusion drawn by the conservation organisation WWF, which has named the "winners and losers of the animal kingdom 2024". Corals, Borneo elephants and spectacled penguins are faring dramatically worse. Wolves in Europe are expected to be on the shooting list more often with a lowered protection status, the WWF Austria reminded. Even the native hedgehog is struggling and is considered "potentially endangered" for the first time.
Hedgehog listed as "loser of the animal kingdom 2024" according to WWF
The number of Western European hedgehogs, also known as brown-breasted hedgehogs, is declining sharply. The destruction of rural habitats due to intensification of agriculture, roads and urban development is leading to a steady decline, the WWF explained on Friday in a press release. The Western European hedgehog is found in large parts of Central Europe, including Germany, Austria, Switzerland, and also in the UK. Over the past ten years, the number has decreased by an estimated 16 to 33 percent depending on the country.
Conservation Offensive Demanded by Politics
"Wildlife is disappearing from our planet at a record pace and all causes are man-made: habitat destruction, overuse and poaching, invasive species, pollution and the climate crisis," listed WWF species protection expert Georg Scattolin. The WWF is therefore calling for a conservation offensive from politics. "The protection of biodiversity and the climate must become a higher priority worldwide. There are always glimmers of hope where people actively commit to protecting nature," Scattolin emphasised.
Neither the World Nature Conference nor the World Climate Conference have made the necessary progress this year, according to the WWF. In Europe, the conservationists fear further destruction of species-rich rainforests due to the postponement of the EU deforestation regulation. On the other hand, the decision on the important EU re-naturalisation regulation was groundbreaking. In Austria, "above all, the consumption of soil is alarming" - with fatal consequences for biodiversity, the WWF stated.
Bright Spots in Species Protection for Tigers, Sea Turtles and Sea Eagles
However, the WWF's annual report also highlights winners of the year. Tigers are doing better thanks to intensive species protection work, Siamese crocodiles, sea turtles and tuna are returning to their traditional habitats. In Austria, sea eagles and white storks are on the rise. "The winning species of 2024 show that our commitment to protecting endangered species and ecosystems is worthwhile and that there are always opportunities for nature despite setbacks," Scattolin explained.
(APA/Red)
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