Australian study warns older animals in decline globally

Human activity is responsible for the decline of old animals in the wild, on land and at sea, exacerbating the impacts of habitat loss, disease and extreme climate events, according to an Australian study.

The study, which was published on Friday by Charles Darwin University (CDU) in Australia's Northern Territory, found that on land, poaching, trophy hunting, predator hunting and recreational harvests are responsible for the loss of older animals, with lions and elephants among the wide range of species where older individuals are over-exploited.

In freshwater and ocean environments, the oldest fish in most populations have been depleted and extremely old coral has been harvested.

Keller Kopf, lead author of the study from CDU's Research Institute for the Environment and Livelihoods, said that older animals must be protected.

"In addition to their intrinsic biodiversity value and slower rate of recovery in response to human activities, the loss of old animals ultimately threatens the long-term sustainability and stability of ecosystems on which humans depend," he said in a media release on Friday.

"Old individuals of long-lived species such as elephants, whales and humans accumulate knowledge over long time-periods, and – among many other benefits – this allows them to provide better care of their off-spring or grand-offspring."

The research team called for a long-term approach with dedicated policy directives and management strategies to conserve older animals around the world.