Hundreds of mammal species facing extinction

Hundreds of wild mammal species are being “consumed to extinction” by humans.

Hunting and trapping is said to be driving a global crisis that threatens the future of 301 species, ranging from monkeys to bats.

Their decline is having a significant environmental impact and undermining the food security of millions of people in Asia, Africa and South America, according to a global assessment by experts.

The authors sounded the warning after analysing data from the International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List of threatened species.

Both large and small animals, including wild ox, camels, pigs, fruit bats, rhinoceroses, tapirs, deer, tree kangaroos, armadillos, pangolins, rodents and big cats, were found to be at risk.

Hunting endangered 126 primates, said the international team of researchers writing in the journal Royal Society Open Science.

Among the primates under threat were the lowland gorilla, chimpanzee, bonobo and many species of lemur and monkey.

Study leader Professor William Ripple, from Oregon State University in the United States, said: “Our goal is to raise awareness of this global crisis.

“Many of these animals are at the brink of extinction.

“The illegal smuggling in wildlife and wildlife products is run by dangerous international networks and ranks among trafficking in arms, human beings and drugs in terms of profits.”