Med. dolphins on list of endangered species

The World Conservation Union (IUCN) red list of threatened species, published this month, includes the common dolphins and turtles of the Mediterranean among endangered species.

Through its Species Survival Commission, the IUCN has for more than four decades been assessing the conservation status of species, subspecies, varieties and even selected subpopulations on a global scale.

This system is designed to determine the relative risk of extinction, with the main purpose of the list being to catalogue and highlight species facing a higher risk of global extinction, listing them as critically endangered, endangered, or vulnerable.

The red list reveals ongoing decline of the status of plants and animals. The number of known threatened species world wide is 16,119. The ranks of those facing extinction are joined by familiar species like the polar bear, hippopotamus and desert gazelles, together with freshwater fish and ocean sharks.

Bicref, the Malta-based Biological Conservation Research Foundation, said that besides the well known and studied species there were many others whose condition was unknown. The foundation has been working towards promoting local conservation research and action.

In particular it has pushed forward research and awareness on species that are vulnerable, such as sharks and rays, turtles, dolphins and whales and coastal biodiversity.

Bicref will this year again hold training courses and conservation research projects for members on various habitats and species. Anyone interested may contact the organisation.

bicref@hotmail.com
http://sites.keyworld.net/bicref/