Humans are putting one MILLION species at risk of extinction, shocking UN report shows
The rate of animals being lost is ‘tens to hundreds of times higher than it has been' over the last 10 million years
MAN'S impact on nature has been revealed in a new United Nations report and experts think a "mass extinction event" is already underway.
The report states that up to one million species are now at risk of extinction due to the behaviour of humans.
A draft of the report was obtained by and the full version will be released next month.
Robert Watson, chair of the UN-mandated body behind the report, told AFP: “We need to recognise that climate change and loss of Nature are equally important, not just for the environment, but as development and economic issues as well.
"The way we produce our food and energy is undermining the regulating services that we get from Nature.”
The figures in the report come with a warning that rates of species extinction are speeding up.
It states that the rate of animals being lost is ‘tens to hundreds of times higher than it has been, on average, over the last 10 million years.’.
Factors listed as contributing to the loss of animal life include the number of people in the world, their increasing ability to consume things, hunting, climate change and pollution.
Taking areas of wilderness and species habitats and destroying them for farming or other land purposes was also listed.
According to the report, 40% of the marine environment, 50% of inland waterways and 75% of land has been 'severely altered' due to humans.
The full UN report will be revealed on May 6.
The International Union for Conservation of Nature has a 'Red List' where it notes down all the animals that could disappear in our life time and noted that 27,000 species could disappear over the next few decades.
Once the UN findings are officially released this number could increase.
In other animal news, killer whales are squeezing great white sharks ";like tubes of toothpaste" to extract their livers after developing a terrifying new skill.
A study revealed that female dolphins may have better sex than human women – thanks to their well-placed clitorises.
And, butterflies have been filmed drinking turtle tears and human urine as they battle to find salt sources in the Amazon rainforest.
What do you think of the UN report? Let us know in the comments...
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