UN Says One-fifth of Migrating Animals at Risk of Extinction
2024-02-17
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1A new United Nations report says one-fifth of the world's migrating animals are at risk of disappearing.
2Animals that migrate move from one area to another at different times of the year.
3The report, called State of the World's Migratory Species, was released February 12.
4It blames population drops on environmental changes linked to human activities.
5The threats the animals face include habitat loss, illegal hunting and fishing, pollution and climate change.
6Many kinds of migratory animals - including songbirds, sea turtles, whales, sharks and others - move to different environments as the seasons change.
7The U.N. report says about 44 percent of migratory species around the world are decreasing in population.
8In addition, about one in five of 1,200 species watched by the U.N. are at risk of becoming extinct, or completely disappearing.
9Kelly Malsch was the lead writer of the report.
10She told The Associated Press, "These are species that move around the globe.
11They move to feed and breed and also need stopover sites along the way."
12Malsch said any habitat loss or other threats during their trip can make animal populations fall.
13"Migration is essential for some species. If you cut the migration, you're going to kill the species," said Stuart Pimm.
14He is an ecologist at Duke University in North Carolina who was not part of the report.
15The researchers examined existing data, including information from the International Union for Conservation of Nature's Red List.
16The list identifies wildlife across the world currently facing threats.
17The report was presented at a meeting of the U.N.'s Convention on the Conservation of Migratory Species of Wild Animals in Samarkand, Uzbekistan.
18Attendees of the gathering are examining proposals for conservation measures.
19They are also working to identify new species of concern.
20Susan Lieberman is vice president for international policy at the nonprofit Wildlife Conservation Society.
21She told the AP, "One country alone cannot save any of these species."
22Lieberman noted that eight South American governments at the meeting are expected to propose the addition of two threatened catfish to the U.N.'s list of species of concern.
23The catfish live in the Amazon River basin, the world's largest freshwater system.
24If the habitat there can be saved, the catfish will do well, Lieberman said.
25"It's about protecting the habitat," she added.
26The report found habitat loss affected up to 75 percent of the species studied.
27The report said this shows a big need for more connectivity between separated ecosystems.
28It urges governments to take steps to avoid harming habitats and migration paths when building dams, pipelines or wind power equipment.
29"We need to look at the top levels of government decision-making," said Amy Fraenkel.
30She is executive secretary of the U.N. Convention on the Conservation of Migratory Species.
31Fraenkel told Reuters news agency the goal is to consider the best ways animals and humans can have their needs met.
32"We all need to survive," Fraenkel added.
33She noted the problems migratory animals face are also linked to temperature changes across the planet.
34These changes, Fraenkel added, hurt the timing of migrations, cause heat stress and drive increasingly destructive weather-related events.
35She said, "The changes that had been already predicted some years ago are now happening."
36I'm Bryan Lynn.
1A new United Nations report says one-fifth of the world's migrating animals are at risk of disappearing. 2Animals that migrate move from one area to another at different times of the year. 3The report, called State of the World's Migratory Species, was released February 12. It blames population drops on environmental changes linked to human activities. 4The threats the animals face include habitat loss, illegal hunting and fishing, pollution and climate change. 5Many kinds of migratory animals - including songbirds, sea turtles, whales, sharks and others - move to different environments as the seasons change. 6The U.N. report says about 44 percent of migratory species around the world are decreasing in population. In addition, about one in five of 1,200 species watched by the U.N. are at risk of becoming extinct, or completely disappearing. 7Kelly Malsch was the lead writer of the report. She told The Associated Press, "These are species that move around the globe. They move to feed and breed and also need stopover sites along the way." 8Malsch said any habitat loss or other threats during their trip can make animal populations fall. "Migration is essential for some species. If you cut the migration, you're going to kill the species," said Stuart Pimm. He is an ecologist at Duke University in North Carolina who was not part of the report. 9The researchers examined existing data, including information from the International Union for Conservation of Nature's Red List. The list identifies wildlife across the world currently facing threats. 10The report was presented at a meeting of the U.N.'s Convention on the Conservation of Migratory Species of Wild Animals in Samarkand, Uzbekistan. Attendees of the gathering are examining proposals for conservation measures. They are also working to identify new species of concern. 11Susan Lieberman is vice president for international policy at the nonprofit Wildlife Conservation Society. She told the AP, "One country alone cannot save any of these species." 12Lieberman noted that eight South American governments at the meeting are expected to propose the addition of two threatened catfish to the U.N.'s list of species of concern. The catfish live in the Amazon River basin, the world's largest freshwater system. If the habitat there can be saved, the catfish will do well, Lieberman said. "It's about protecting the habitat," she added. 13The report found habitat loss affected up to 75 percent of the species studied. The report said this shows a big need for more connectivity between separated ecosystems. It urges governments to take steps to avoid harming habitats and migration paths when building dams, pipelines or wind power equipment. 14"We need to look at the top levels of government decision-making," said Amy Fraenkel. She is executive secretary of the U.N. Convention on the Conservation of Migratory Species. Fraenkel told Reuters news agency the goal is to consider the best ways animals and humans can have their needs met. "We all need to survive," Fraenkel added. 15She noted the problems migratory animals face are also linked to temperature changes across the planet. 16These changes, Fraenkel added, hurt the timing of migrations, cause heat stress and drive increasingly destructive weather-related events. 17She said, "The changes that had been already predicted some years ago are now happening." 18I'm Bryan Lynn. 19The Associated Press and Reuters reported on this story. Bryan Lynn adapted the reports for VOA Learning English. 20__________________________________________ 21Words in This Story 22migrate - v. travel from one place to another at the same time each year 23globe - n. the world 24habitat - n. the natural environment of a plant or animal 25species - n. a group of animals or plants that are similar and can produce young animals or plants 26breed - v. to produce young animals 27essential - adj. completely necessary 28ecologist - n. a person who studies the relationship between living things and the environment 29conservation - n. an organized effort that aims to protect animals and natural resources 30ecosystem - n. all the living things in a particular area, as well as the ways the things affect each other and the environment