Skip to content

Conservation

One of the world's biggest birds is in grave danger

by Lucy Brake 07 Jun 2011
One of the world's biggest birds is in grave danger

As the world becomes more crowded with people, the larger species of birds seem to be losing the fight for space. Birdlife International, a partner of the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List of Threatened Species, has just released the updates to the list for bird species.

This year's Red List for birds has seen another 13 species of birds added as threatened species. The revision of the threat list for birds means that now an astonishing 13% of the total species of birds in the world are threatened.

The update has also resulted in the threat level for the Great Indian Bustard being upgraded to Critically Endangered, the highest level of threat. BirdLife believes that there may only be around 250 individuals of the Great Indian Bustard remaining.

One of the world's biggest birds, the Great Indian Bustard is nearly a metre tall and weighs almost 15kg. This species used to be found all throughout the grasslands of Pakistan and India, but now remains in small areas. Disturbance and loss of the Great Indian Bustard's habitats, as well as hunting, means this magnificent bird is now in grave danger.

"In an ever more crowded world, species that need lots of space, such as the Great Indian Bustard, are losing out," says BirdLife's Director of Science and Policy, Dr Leon Bennun. "However, we are the ones who lose in the long run, as the services that nature provides us start to disappear".

Another species added to the Red List this year is the Bahama Oriole, a large black and yellow Caribbean bird, which is now listed as Critically Endangered. Some of the recent research puts the population of this bird species at less than 200 individuals.

It is not all bad news and there are several bird species where their fortunes have been turned around and their threat status downgraded as a direct result of intense conservation programmes, including the Campbell Island Teal in New Zealand and three species of Atlantic island pigeon

According to Dr Stuart Butchart, BirdLife's Global Research and Indicators Co-ordinator, birds provide plenty of insight into the state of the rest of nature: "They are very useful indicators of ecosystem health: if they are faring badly, then so is wildlife more generally". The changes documented this year by BirdLife show that overall the world's birds are not doing so well, and so it would seem this not good news for the rest of nature.

Top Image Credit: © Vinod Bartakke


Trending Eco-Friendly Clothing

Love My Planet Women's Relaxed Fit Hoodie
Earth
Quick Add
Close
Notify me
Notify me
Love My Planet Women's Relaxed Fit Hoodie
Love My Planet women's eco-friendly relaxed fit hoodieSize Guide Centimeters 8 10 12 14 16 18 Bust 84 88 92 97 103 108 Waist 66 70 75 80 85 91 Hips 91 95 99 104 109 116 Bust: Measure around the fullest part of...
£38.00
£38.00
Close
Notify me
Notify me
Penguins Hate Push-Ups Men's Pullover Hoodie
Earth
Quick Add
Close
Notify me
Notify me
Penguins Hate Push-Ups Men's Pullover Hoodie
Penguins Hate Push-Ups men's eco-friendly pullover HoodieSize Guide Centimeters XS S M L XL XXL Height 171 175 179 183 189 195 Chest 86 93 99 104 116 129 Waist 71 76 81 89 99 112 Chest: Measure all round your chest just below...
£38.00
£38.00
Close
Notify me
Notify me
Lightning Bolt Kids Long Sleeve T-Shirt
Earth
Quick Add
Close
Notify me
Notify me
Notify me
Lightning Bolt Kids Long Sleeve T-Shirt
Lightning Bolt kids eco-friendly long sleeve t-shirtSize Guide Centimeters 3-4yrs 5-6yrs 7-8yrs 9-10yrs 11-12yrs Height 98 112 125 136 147 Chest 60 66 70 75 84 Chest: Measure all around your chest just below your armpits. Height: Your natural height If you fall between...
£18.00
£18.00
Close
Notify me
Notify me
Notify me
Union Jack Tote Bag
Earth
Quick Add
Close
Notify me
Notify me
Union Jack Tote Bag
Union Jack eco-friendly colour tote bagProduct Specification Organic Cotton Tote Bag. Twill Weave (170gsm). 37 x 42 cm (7cm gusset.) Made in India / Designed on the Isle of Wight. Wash Cool, Hang Dry.
£16.00
£16.00
Close
Notify me
Notify me
Prev Post
Next Post

Eco-Friendly Shop

Women's Clothing

Eco-Friendly Clothing for Women Our online shop offers a wide range of sustainable women’s clothing products, including t-shirts, hoodies, vests, sweaters, shorts, and...
Shop Now

Men's Clothing

Eco-Friendly Clothing for Men Our online shop offers a wide range of sustainable men’s clothing products, including t-shirts, hoodies, vests, sweaters, shorts, and...
Shop Now

Kids Clothing

Eco-Friendly Clothes for Kids Our online shop offers a wide range of sustainable kids clothing products, including t-shirts, hoodies and jumpers. Our garments...
Shop Now
Someone recently bought a
[time] ago, from [location]

Thanks for subscribing!

This email has been registered!

Shop the look

Choose Options

Earth Times
Sign up for exclusive updates, new arrivals & insider only discounts

Recently Viewed

Edit Option
Back In Stock Notification
this is just a warning
Login
Shopping Cart
0 items

Before you leave...

Take 20% off your first order

20% off

Enter the code below at checkout to get 20% off your first order

CODESALE20

Continue Shopping