WWF: World has lost more than half its wildlife in 40 years

By Ivana Kottasova, CNN
Updated 2112 GMT (0412 HKT) September 30, 2014
Sumatran elephants come into conflict with humans due to the rapid expansion of palm oil plantations which destroy their habitat.
The world's critically endangered species 12 photos
Sumatran elephant – Sumatran elephants come into conflict with humans due to the rapid expansion of palm oil plantations which destroy their habitat.
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Sumatran tigers are the smallest surviving tiger species and are protected by law in Indonesia. But despite increased efforts in tiger conservation, they remain critically endangered.
The world's critically endangered species 12 photos
Sumatran tiger – Sumatran tigers are the smallest surviving tiger species and are protected by law in Indonesia. But despite increased efforts in tiger conservation, they remain critically endangered.
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Leatherback turtles are the largest sea turtle species and also one of the most migratory, crossing both the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans. According to WWF, their numbers have seriously declined during the last century as a result of intense egg collection and fishing.
The world's critically endangered species 12 photos
Leatherback turtle – Leatherback turtles are the largest sea turtle species and also one of the most migratory, crossing both the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans. According to WWF, their numbers have seriously declined during the last century as a result of intense egg collection and fishing.
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Western lowland gorillas are critically endangered species. Because of poaching and disease, their numbers have declined by more than 60% over the last 20 to 25 years, according to the WWF's report.
The world's critically endangered species 12 photos
Western lowland gorilla – Western lowland gorillas are critically endangered species. Because of poaching and disease, their numbers have declined by more than 60% over the last 20 to 25 years, according to the WWF's report.
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The population of Yangtze finless porpoises is declining rapidly. The freshwater dolphins are suffering due to pollution and hunting.
The world's critically endangered species 12 photos
Yangtze finless porpoise – The population of Yangtze finless porpoises is declining rapidly. The freshwater dolphins are suffering due to pollution and hunting.
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Sumatran rhino populations are extremely threatened by poaching, the WWF says.
The world's critically endangered species 12 photos
Sumatran rhino – Sumatran rhino populations are extremely threatened by poaching, the WWF says.
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Poachers and hunters are responsible for the early decline of black rhino population. The world's animal population has halved in 40 years as humans put unsustainable demands on Earth, according to <a href="http://www.cnn.com/2014/09/30/business/wild-life-decline-wwf/index.html">a 2014 report from the World Wide Fund for Nature</a>.
The world's critically endangered species 12 photos
Black rhino – Poachers and hunters are responsible for the early decline of black rhino population. The world's animal population has halved in 40 years as humans put unsustainable demands on Earth, according to a 2014 report from the World Wide Fund for Nature.
Hide Caption
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The existence of Hawksbill sea turtles have been traced back 100 million years. Now they are critically endangered, the WWF says.
The world's critically endangered species 12 photos
Hawksbill sea turtle – The existence of Hawksbill sea turtles have been traced back 100 million years. Now they are critically endangered, the WWF says.
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As humans move more into the mountain gorillas' territory, the gorillas have been pushed farther up into the mountains, forcing them to endure dangerous and sometimes deadly conditions, the WWF report on the planet says.
The world's critically endangered species 12 photos
Mountain gorilla – As humans move more into the mountain gorillas' territory, the gorillas have been pushed farther up into the mountains, forcing them to endure dangerous and sometimes deadly conditions, the WWF report on the planet says.
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Amur Leopard, a rare species of leopard living on the borders of Russia and China, was the winner of the 2013 WWF award dedicated to the positive evolution of an endangered species, but remains critically endangered.
The world's critically endangered species 12 photos
Amur leopard – Amur Leopard, a rare species of leopard living on the borders of Russia and China, was the winner of the 2013 WWF award dedicated to the positive evolution of an endangered species, but remains critically endangered.
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Sumatran orangutans are losing their natural habitats to mining, palm oil and paper plantations.
The world's critically endangered species 12 photos
Sumatran orangutan – Sumatran orangutans are losing their natural habitats to mining, palm oil and paper plantations.
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The South China tiger is considered "functionally extinct," as it has not been sighted in the wild for more than 25 years.
The world's critically endangered species 12 photos
South China tiger – The South China tiger is considered "functionally extinct," as it has not been sighted in the wild for more than 25 years.
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Sumatran elephants come into conflict with humans due to the rapid expansion of palm oil plantations which destroy their habitat.
The world's critically endangered species 12 photos
Sumatran elephant – Sumatran elephants come into conflict with humans due to the rapid expansion of palm oil plantations which destroy their habitat.
Hide Caption
7 of 12
Sumatran tigers are the smallest surviving tiger species and are protected by law in Indonesia. But despite increased efforts in tiger conservation, they remain critically endangered.
The world's critically endangered species 12 photos
Sumatran tiger – Sumatran tigers are the smallest surviving tiger species and are protected by law in Indonesia. But despite increased efforts in tiger conservation, they remain critically endangered.
Hide Caption
8 of 12
Leatherback turtles are the largest sea turtle species and also one of the most migratory, crossing both the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans. According to WWF, their numbers have seriously declined during the last century as a result of intense egg collection and fishing.
The world's critically endangered species 12 photos
Leatherback turtle – Leatherback turtles are the largest sea turtle species and also one of the most migratory, crossing both the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans. According to WWF, their numbers have seriously declined during the last century as a result of intense egg collection and fishing.
Hide Caption
9 of 12
Western lowland gorillas are critically endangered species. Because of poaching and disease, their numbers have declined by more than 60% over the last 20 to 25 years, according to the WWF's report.
The world's critically endangered species 12 photos
Western lowland gorilla – Western lowland gorillas are critically endangered species. Because of poaching and disease, their numbers have declined by more than 60% over the last 20 to 25 years, according to the WWF's report.
Hide Caption
10 of 12
The population of Yangtze finless porpoises is declining rapidly. The freshwater dolphins are suffering due to pollution and hunting.
The world's critically endangered species 12 photos
Yangtze finless porpoise – The population of Yangtze finless porpoises is declining rapidly. The freshwater dolphins are suffering due to pollution and hunting.
Hide Caption
11 of 12
Sumatran rhino populations are extremely threatened by poaching, the WWF says.
The world's critically endangered species 12 photos
Sumatran rhino – Sumatran rhino populations are extremely threatened by poaching, the WWF says.
Hide Caption
12 of 12
Poachers and hunters are responsible for the early decline of black rhino population. The world's animal population has halved in 40 years as humans put unsustainable demands on Earth, according to <a href="http://www.cnn.com/2014/09/30/business/wild-life-decline-wwf/index.html">a 2014 report from the World Wide Fund for Nature</a>.
The world's critically endangered species 12 photos
Black rhino – Poachers and hunters are responsible for the early decline of black rhino population. The world's animal population has halved in 40 years as humans put unsustainable demands on Earth, according to a 2014 report from the World Wide Fund for Nature.
Hide Caption
1 of 12
The existence of Hawksbill sea turtles have been traced back 100 million years. Now they are critically endangered, the WWF says.
The world's critically endangered species 12 photos
Hawksbill sea turtle – The existence of Hawksbill sea turtles have been traced back 100 million years. Now they are critically endangered, the WWF says.
Hide Caption
2 of 12
As humans move more into the mountain gorillas' territory, the gorillas have been pushed farther up into the mountains, forcing them to endure dangerous and sometimes deadly conditions, the WWF report on the planet says.
The world's critically endangered species 12 photos
Mountain gorilla – As humans move more into the mountain gorillas' territory, the gorillas have been pushed farther up into the mountains, forcing them to endure dangerous and sometimes deadly conditions, the WWF report on the planet says.
Hide Caption
3 of 12
Amur Leopard, a rare species of leopard living on the borders of Russia and China, was the winner of the 2013 WWF award dedicated to the positive evolution of an endangered species, but remains critically endangered.
The world's critically endangered species 12 photos
Amur leopard – Amur Leopard, a rare species of leopard living on the borders of Russia and China, was the winner of the 2013 WWF award dedicated to the positive evolution of an endangered species, but remains critically endangered.
Hide Caption
4 of 12
Sumatran orangutans are losing their natural habitats to mining, palm oil and paper plantations.
The world's critically endangered species 12 photos
Sumatran orangutan – Sumatran orangutans are losing their natural habitats to mining, palm oil and paper plantations.
Hide Caption
5 of 12
The South China tiger is considered "functionally extinct," as it has not been sighted in the wild for more than 25 years.
The world's critically endangered species 12 photos
South China tiger – The South China tiger is considered "functionally extinct," as it has not been sighted in the wild for more than 25 years.
Hide Caption
6 of 12
WWF Black rhino
WWF Hawksbill turtles
WWF mountain gorilla
WWF Amur Leopard
WWF orangutan
WWF China tiger
WWF elephant
WWF sumatran tiger
WWF leatherback turtle
WWF gorilla lowland
wwf porpoise
WWF sumatran rhino

Story highlights

  • WWF said 52% of wildlife disappeared between 1970 and 2010
  • The decline in animals living in rivers, lakes and wetlands is the worst
  • The alarming trend could cost the world billions in economic losses.
The world's animal population has halved in 40 years as humans put unsustainable demands on Earth, a new report warns.
The World Wide Fund for Nature's Living Planet Index, released Tuesday, revealed the dramatic decline in animal species, and said the trend could cost the world billions in economic losses.
Humans need one and a half Earths to sustain their current demands, it said.
The index, which draws on research around WWF's database of 3,000 animal species, is released every two years. This year's has the starkest warning yet of the risks associated with the decline of wildlife.
WWF: Wildlife declines by half in 40 yrs
WWF: Wildlife declines by half in 40 yrs 00:10
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Wildlife population decline
Wildlife population decline
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Main threats to wildlife
Main threats to wildlife
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WWF: Wildlife crime escalating
WWF: Wildlife crime escalating03:59
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Rare porpoise in danger of extinction
Rare porpoise in danger of extinction 02:12
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Tracking earth's largest land mammal
Tracking earth's largest land mammal 08:13
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The fund notes that it's relying on a never-before-used methodology in this year's report, "which aims to be more representative of global biodiversity."
The index showed shows a 52% decline in wildlife between 1970 and 2010, far more than earlier estimates of 30%. It is due to people killing too many animals for food and destroying their habitats.
"We are eating into our natural capital, making it more difficult to sustain the needs of future generations," the report said.
Researchers from the Zoological Society of London looked at changes in populations of more than 3,000 species of mammals, birds, reptiles, amphibians and fish, tracking over 10,000 different populations.
Photos: Spectacular wildlife around the world
The decline in animals living in rivers, lakes and wetlands is the worst -- 76% of freshwater wildlife disappeared in just 40 years. Marine species and animals living on land suffered 39% decline in their populations.
Animals living in tropics are the worst hit by what WWF calls "the biggest recorded threats to our planet's wildlife" as 63% of wildlife living in tropics has vanished. Central and South America shows the most dramatic regional decline, with a fall of 83%.
And while the animals are suffering now, the long-term impact will be on people, the report said.
Marco Lambertini, director general of WWF International, said "protecting nature is not a luxury....it is quite the opposite. For many of the world's poorest people, it is a lifeline."
According to Lambertini, the threat to oceans could create economic losses of up to $428 billion by 2050. The global fishing sector employs more than 660 million people, and fish provide more than 15% of protein in people's diet.
Global food security is under threat as the demands of growing population drain the resources. Forests provide water, fuel and food for more than billion people, including 350 million of the world's poorest people.

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