Global Scans · Biodiversity · Weekly Summary

• [New] Reintroducing some recently extinct species to their old habitats might improve biodiversity locally, but government-funded conservation for 11 focal extinct species in New Zealand would sacrifice conservation for nearly three times as many (31) extant species. UQ News
• [New] Climate change and habitat loss could cause more than 500 bird species to go extinct in the next 100 years. Mirage News
• [New] Climate change has an impact on the distribution of numerous species around the world, which for many signifies an increase in the risk of extinction. SpringerLink
• [New] A study done by the Center for Biological Diversity found that of the 1,121 species of bees studied, 24% are at risk of extinction, and an additional 52% are showing population decline. Center for Nutrition Studies
• [New] The cosmic rays, gamma rays and X-rays they produce could wreak havoc in our solar system with increased radiation and the potential to cause a mass extinction on Earth. EarthSky | Updates on your cosmos and world
• Indian pangolin is currently characterized by very low genetic diversity, highly elevated levels of inbreeding, and increased genetic load, all of which are strong indicators of reduced viability and elevated extinction risk. Federal Register
• The Chinese pangolin is currently characterized by small effective population sizes, reduced genetic diversity, elevated levels of inbreeding, and increased genetic load, all of which are strong indicators of reduced viability and elevated extinction risk. Federal Register
• As of 2024, climate change threatens over 14,000 species on the IUCN Red List, and projections suggest that if global temperatures increase by 2 °C by 2100, about 18% of all species on land will face a high risk of going extinct. Climate Cosmos
• One million species are now at risk of extinction, with climate change amplifying other threats like habitat loss and pollution. Climate Cosmos
• Of the 28% of species globally classified as threatened with extinction, parasites are among the 72% that are almost entirely absent from the IUCN Red List and assessment. Springer Nature Switzerland
• Hundreds of tech leaders signed onto a statement that said, Mitigating the risk of extinction from AI should be a global priority alongside other societal-scale risks such as pandemics and nuclear war. UPI
• Almost one in six Australian birds are threatened with extinction, so recognising the economic value of bird tourism could drive more investment in conservation. ABC News
• India's rich biodiversity offers unique opportunities for Colossal Biosciences to revive extinct species like the woolly mammoth, thylacine, and dodo. The Economic Times
• Wild bee species are faring even worse, with an estimated 25% of species at risk of extinction in Europe. Animals Around The Globe
• Almost a third of shark species are threatened or near threatened with extinction and the value of world trade in shark parts is almost $1bn a year. The Guardian
• The loss of wetlands has resulted in the decline of 81% of inland wetland species and 36% of coastal and marine species since 1970.The extinction risk for both plant and animal species associated with wetlands is increasing globally, highlighting the urgency of conservation efforts. Vajiram & Ravi
• Australia has more than 300 species of native freshwater fish, of which between 60 and 90 species are in danger of extinction. Australia Post Collectables
• Amphibians are the most globally threatened vertebrates, facing a particularly high risk of extinction in some regions, such as the Mediterranean basin. BioMed Central
• Species in island biodiversity hotspots made up of a lot of small islands are more at risk of local or global extinction. The Conversation
• Forecasters have predicted the likelihood of existential risk from an AI catastrophe, often arriving between a 0 and 10% chance that AI causes humanity's extinction by 2100. Scientific American
• The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) has classified nearly 16% of vertebrate pollinators as threatened with global extinction. Animals Around The Globe
• One-third of all marine mammals and reef-forming corals are threatened with extinction globally while more than half of coral reefs have been lost due to climate change. Center for Nutrition Studies
• Just a few months ago, the World Biodiversity Council IPBES revealed to the world that up to one million animal and plant species are being threatened with extinction, including many pollinators. ScienceDaily

Last updated: 29 June 2025