A catastrophic 73 percent decline has been spotted in the average size of monitored wildlife populations in 50 years from 1970 to 2020, said a World Wild Fund for Nature (WWF) report released on Thursday.
According to the Living Planet Report 2024, which runs statistical analysis of more than 5,000 species of birds, mammals, amphibians, reptiles and fish, populations of various wildlife are decreasing sharply from elephants in tropical forests to hawksbill turtles off the Great Barrier Reef.
The steepest declines in monitored wildlife populations were recorded in Latin America and the Caribbean, Africa and the Asia-Pacific region, by 95, 76 and 60 percent respectively.
Habitat loss and degradation, driven primarily by the human food system, is the most reported threat to wildlife populations around the world, followed by over-exploitation, invasive species, disease, climate change and pollution.
Mike Barrett, the report's lead author and WWF chief scientific adviser, said that the human beings, particularly through the way of producing and consuming food, are increasingly damaging natural habitat.
The report warns that the reducing natural resources and climate change are driving the world to an irreversible tipping points.
The catastrophic consequences of losing some of the most precious ecosystems around the world, such as the Amazon rainforest and coral reefs, would be felt by people and nature around the world.
Some populations have stabilized or increased due to effective conservation efforts over the past few years. However isolated successes are not enough, the report noted.
Wildlife population plummets 73 percent in 50 years: WWF report
The Iranian government is focusing on public concerns and maintaining stable supplies of essential goods amid recent protests, Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian said in a televised interview on Sunday.
In the city of Karaj, northwest of the capital Tehran, daily life has largely continued as normal. A video filmed by a local resident on Sunday shows food stores open and grocery shelves fully stocked.
"This is the block near my home, and there are some food stores here. Daily life continues here. Last night we did not see many protests in Karaj. Right now the city is very safe. This is a grocery store close to my home. All the food is available; nothing is in shortage. Here are noodles and different types of beans. Here are dairy products, cheese, and yogurt. I also checked other grocery stores and didn't see any shortages. Everything is available," said local resident Ali Reza.
Iranian officials have described recent disturbances as acts orchestrated by the "enemy," including some carried out by well-trained and armed "terrorists." The incidents have caused casualties among security personnel and civilians, as well as property damage.
The Secretary of Iran's Supreme National Security Council Ali Larijani has directed authorities to severely punish the "terrorists."
Meanwhile, Iran's police chief Ahmad-Reza Radan said on Sunday that the police had raised alert levels and arrested several leaders of the troublemakers during the operations on Saturday.
President Pezeshkian noted in the interview that the normal demands of the Iranian people are reasonable and justified, but they must realize that triggering riots and carrying out terrorist acts are the enemy's attempts to undermine the country. He urged the public to remain vigilant.
Also on Sunday, Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf warned that Tehran would regard U.S. and Israeli bases and facilities in the Middle East as "legitimate targets" if Washington takes military action against Iran. His remarks followed media reports saying U.S. President Donald Trump is "seriously considering authorizing a strike" against Iran.
Iranian state media reported that at least 109 members of Iran's security forces have been killed in clashes since the protests began 14 days ago. Meanwhile, human rights groups based outside the country said the number of protesters killed has exceeded 200, though the figure could not be independently verified.
The protests initially erupted over a sharp depreciation of the rial and sweeping subsidy reforms. Iranian authorities have blamed the unrest on foreign-linked agents and sanctions imposed by the United States.
Iranian president says government focusing on ensuring supplies amid protests
