The World Wildlife Fund (WWF) has warned of impending mass extinction “within the next decade—the largest since the dinosaur age,” that could push millions of animals and plants to the brink of extinction.

The stark prediction was made by the WWF’s Germany wing in its report “Winners and Losers of 2021,” which documents a list of animals whose existence is now acutely under threat, as well as conservation victories.

“Around one million species could go extinct within the next decade —which would be the largest mass extinction event since the end of the dinosaur age," the organization said in a statement.

There are currently 142,500 animal and plant species on the Red List of the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), in which 40,000 of them are “threatened with extinction.”

It is the largest number of species to be included on the Red List since it was established in 1964, according to WWF Germany.

Among the animals who are most acutely threatened are the African forest elephant, whose population has declined by 86 per cent within just 31 years, according to the WWF report.

Polar bears made the list as well, as the rapid melting of pack ice in the Arctic Ocean is making it impossible for the animals to adapt.

Experts estimate the Arctic Ocean could be completely ice-free in the summer of 2035, WWF Germany said.

Germany's tree frogs and toads are also under threat, with 50 per cent of Germany’s native amphibian species currently listed as endangered on the national Red List.

Unabated construction is limiting their habitats while roads have become death traps, the report noted.

Grey cranes and migratory fish that move on land, as well as the noble pen shell — the largest clam in the Mediterranean Sea—also earned a spot on the list.

The WWF also pointed out there was some “ray of hope” in the world of environmental conservation this year.

The WWF said it achieved success in efforts to conserve the Indian rhinoceros population in Nepal.

As part of a cooperation with the government, stricter protection measures were implemented — which have helped the rhino's population grow by 16 per cent since 2015.

Bearded vultures, blue whales and crocodiles in Cambodia also saw their population numbers grow, the report said.

(With inputs from agencies)

The World Wildlife Fund (WWF) has warned of impending mass extinction “within the next decade—the largest since the dinosaur age,” that could push millions of animals and plants to the brink of extinction.

The World Wildlife Fund (WWF) has warned of impending mass extinction “within the next decade—the largest since the dinosaur age,” that could push millions of animals and plants to the brink of extinction. The stark prediction was made by the WWF’s Germany wing in its report “Winners and Losers of 2021,” which documents a list of animals whose existence is now acutely under threat, as well as conservation victories. “Around one million species could go extinct within the next decade —which would be the largest mass extinction event since the end of the dinosaur age," the organization said in a statement. There are currently 142,500 animal and plant species on the Red List of the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), in which 40,000 of them are “threatened with extinction.” It is the largest number of species to be included on the Red List since it was established in 1964, according to WWF Germany. Among the animals who are most acutely threatened are the African forest elephant, whose population has declined by 86 per cent within just 31 years, according to the WWF report. Polar bears made the list as well, as the rapid melting of pack ice in the Arctic Ocean is making it impossible for the animals to adapt. Experts estimate the Arctic Ocean could be completely ice-free in the summer of 2035, WWF Germany said. Germany's tree frogs and toads are also under threat, with 50 per cent of Germany’s native amphibian species currently listed as endangered on the national Red List. Unabated construction is limiting their habitats while roads have become death traps, the report noted. Grey cranes and migratory fish that move on land, as well as the noble pen shell — the largest clam in the Mediterranean Sea—also earned a spot on the list. The WWF also pointed out there was some “ray of hope” in the world of environmental conservation this year. The WWF said it achieved success in efforts to conserve the Indian rhinoceros population in Nepal. As part of a cooperation with the government, stricter protection measures were implemented — which have helped the rhino's population grow by 16 per cent since 2015. Bearded vultures, blue whales and crocodiles in Cambodia also saw their population numbers grow, the report said. (With inputs from agencies)

WWF warns of impending mass extinction that may be largest since dinosaur age

The coelacanth – a giant, mysterious fish from the time of the dinosaurs&nbsp;can live for 100 years, according to the findings of a recent study.

Nicknamed “living fossil”, the coelacanth is a slow-moving fish&nbsp;which can grow to be the size of a human although the rate of growth is at a very slow pace.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/do-rhinos-scare-you-well-this-one-was-taller-than-a-giraffe-392421">Do rhinos scare you? Well, this one was taller than a giraffe</a>

The study by French scientists has made some strange discoveries. While earlier the scientists believed that the fish can only survive for up to 20 years, it was discovered that the average lifespan of this fish is 100 years.

They also discovered that pregnancy in this fish lasts for approximately five years and that while the females of the species don’t reach sexual maturity until their late 50s, male coelacanths achieve sexual maturity at the age of 40 to 69 years old.

The average lifespan was deduced by applying a standard technique for dating commercial fish. The findings of the French scientists’ study have been published in the journal Current Biology.

The species is&nbsp;so endangered&nbsp;that scientists can only study specimens already caught and dead.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/watch-wild-bear-shot-dead-by-hunters-in-japan-ahead-of-tokyo-olympics-392377">Watch: Wild bear shot dead by hunters in Japan, ahead of Tokyo Olympics</a>

The technique used to calculate the fish age involves lines that are present on a very specific scale on the coelacanth’s body. Earlier scientists were calculating fish ages by counting the big lines on this scale. But the French scientists involved in this study discovered that they’ve been missing smaller lines, which were only visible under polarised light.

Bruno Ernande, co-author of the study, said that inspection under polarised light revealed that there were five smaller lines for every big one. Using this information, the researchers concluded that the smaller lines correspond better with a year of coelacanth age, which then led them to ascertain that the age of their oldest specimen was 84 years old.

The scientists also used this technique to study two embryos. They calculated that the largest one was five years old and the youngest nine years old. Based on this, they calculated that pregnancy lasts at least five years in coelacanths.

According to Harold Walker of Scripps Institution of Oceanography in San Diego, California, a five-year gestation is “very strange” for fish or any animal. He was not part of the research.

According to Ernande, even though coelacanths are not genetically related to deep-sea creatures such as sharks and rays, the species’ share similar slow aging. &nbsp;Similar to the ‘living fossil’, sharks can also live to be hundreds of years old.

He added that, “They might have evolved similar life histories because they are sharing similar type habitats,”.

The coelacanth – a giant, mysterious fish from the time of the dinosaurs can live for 100 years, according to the findings of a recent study. Nicknamed “living fossil”, the coelacanth is a slow-moving fish which can grow to be the size of a human although the rate of growth is at a very slow pace.

The coelacanth – a giant, mysterious fish from the time of the dinosaurs can live for 100 years, according to the findings of a recent study. Nicknamed “living fossil”, the coelacanth is a slow-moving fish which can grow to be the size of a human although the rate of growth is at a very slow pace. Also read | Do rhinos scare you? Well, this one was taller than a giraffe The study by French scientists has made some strange discoveries. While earlier the scientists believed that the fish can only survive for up to 20 years, it was discovered that the average lifespan of this fish is 100 years. They also discovered that pregnancy in this fish lasts for approximately five years and that while the females of the species don’t reach sexual maturity until their late 50s, male coelacanths achieve sexual maturity at the age of 40 to 69 years old. The average lifespan was deduced by applying a standard technique for dating commercial fish. The findings of the French scientists’ study have been published in the journal Current Biology. The species is so endangered that scientists can only study specimens already caught and dead. Also read | Watch: Wild bear shot dead by hunters in Japan, ahead of Tokyo Olympics The technique used to calculate the fish age involves lines that are present on a very specific scale on the coelacanth’s body. Earlier scientists were calculating fish ages by counting the big lines on this scale. But the French scientists involved in this study discovered that they’ve been missing smaller lines, which were only visible under polarised light. Bruno Ernande, co-author of the study, said that inspection under polarised light revealed that there were five smaller lines for every big one. Using this information, the researchers concluded that the smaller lines correspond better with a year of coelacanth age, which then led them to ascertain that the age of their oldest specimen was 84 years old. The scientists also used this technique to study two embryos. They calculated that the largest one was five years old and the youngest nine years old. Based on this, they calculated that pregnancy lasts at least five years in coelacanths. According to Harold Walker of Scripps Institution of Oceanography in San Diego, California, a five-year gestation is “very strange” for fish or any animal. He was not part of the research. According to Ernande, even though coelacanths are not genetically related to deep-sea creatures such as sharks and rays, the species’ share similar slow aging. Similar to the ‘living fossil’, sharks can also live to be hundreds of years old. He added that, “They might have evolved similar life histories because they are sharing similar type habitats,”.

Study finds Coelacanth, a human-sized Dinosaur era fish can live for 100 years

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WWF warns of impending mass extinction that may be largest since dinosaur age

Study finds Coelacanth, a human-sized Dinosaur era fish can live for 100 years