WWF: Africa's wildlife population declines by 76% since 1970

The population of Africa's iconic wildlife species, including mammals, reptiles, fish, amphibians and birds, declined by 76 percent in the past 50 years, a wildlife conservation group said in a report released Friday in Nairobi, the capital of Kenya.

The World Wide Fund for Nature Kenya (WWF-Kenya), in its 2024 Living Planet Report, cited habitat loss and degradation, overexploitation, climate change, pollution, invasive species and diseases as leading causes of wildlife population decline on the continent between 1970 and 2020.

"This alarming trend highlights the urgent need for transformative action to safeguard Africa's natural ecosystems and the livelihoods that depend on them," says the 15th edition of the report.

A comprehensive science-based overview of trends in global biodiversity and the health of the planet is contained in the report, which also tracks how species populations are faring globally.

This year's edition reveals that the freshwater ecosystem has suffered the greatest decline at 85 percent, followed by terrestrial and marine species at 69 percent and 56 percent, respectively.

It warns that a rapid decline in wildlife population points to possible extinction that could destabilize ecosystems and deprive African communities of their main source of livelihood.

The report suggests that if African nations meet their nature, climate and sustainable development targets, they will be better placed to reverse a decline in wildlife populations.

Stabilizing the continent's wildlife population calls for a systemic shift in production and consumption models besides investments in community-led conservation efforts, the report says, urging African governments, industry and bilateral partners to expand terrestrial and marine ecosystems under protection to allow charismatic wildlife species to thrive.

Mohamed Awer, chief executive officer at the WWF-Kenya, said nature restoration, intensifying action on the climate crisis and sustainable use of biological diversity will be key to reversing the loss of African wildlife.

Awer said a whole-of-society approach that focuses on mobilizing resources and community empowerment will help avert the loss or extinction of rare species.

Jackson Kiplagat, head of conservation programs at the WWF-Kenya, said flagship species such as the African lion, the African elephant and the black rhinoceros are threatened, while robust conservation measures will help stabilize their populations.

(Cover: African penguins at the coast of Simon's Town in Western Cape, South Africa, September 7, 2024. /CFP)