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More than three quarters of large carnivores now in decline
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-25675002
The reintroduction of wolves into Yellowstone national park has been a success for the ecosystem
Three quarters of the world's big carnivores - including lions, wolves and bears - are in decline, says a new study.
A majority now occupy less than half their former ranges according to data published in the journal, Science.
The loss of this habitat and prey and persecution by humans has created global hotspots of decline.
The researchers say the loss of these species could be extremely damaging for ecosystems the world over.
2 replies
= new reply since forum marked as read
= new reply since forum marked as read
Both good write-ups.
'Carnivore cleansing' is damaging ecosystems, scientists warn
Extermination of large predators such as wolves and bears has a cascading effect on delicate ecological balance
theguardian.com, Thursday 9 January 2014 14.00 EST
Carnivore extermination damaging ecosystems : Hunters skin a wolf.
Hunters skin a wolf killed in a forest in the Ukraine. Humans have waged a long-standing war with large carnivores that kill livestock and threaten rural communities. Photograph: Vasily Fedosenko/Reuters
A plea to restore populations of some of the world's most dangerous animals has been made by scientists who claim the loss of large carnivores is damaging ecosystems.
More than three-quarters of the 31 species of large land predators, such as lions and wolves, are in decline, according to a new study. Of these, 17 species are now restricted to less than half the territory they once occupied.
Large carnivores have already been exterminated in many developed regions, including western Europe and eastern United States - and the same pattern of "carnivore cleansing" is being repeated throughout the world, said scientists.
Yet evidence suggests carnivores play a vital role in maintaining the delicate balance of ecosystems which cannot be replaced by humans hunting the animals they normally prey on.
...
Extermination of large predators such as wolves and bears has a cascading effect on delicate ecological balance
theguardian.com, Thursday 9 January 2014 14.00 EST
Carnivore extermination damaging ecosystems : Hunters skin a wolf.
Hunters skin a wolf killed in a forest in the Ukraine. Humans have waged a long-standing war with large carnivores that kill livestock and threaten rural communities. Photograph: Vasily Fedosenko/Reuters
A plea to restore populations of some of the world's most dangerous animals has been made by scientists who claim the loss of large carnivores is damaging ecosystems.
More than three-quarters of the 31 species of large land predators, such as lions and wolves, are in decline, according to a new study. Of these, 17 species are now restricted to less than half the territory they once occupied.
Large carnivores have already been exterminated in many developed regions, including western Europe and eastern United States - and the same pattern of "carnivore cleansing" is being repeated throughout the world, said scientists.
Yet evidence suggests carnivores play a vital role in maintaining the delicate balance of ecosystems which cannot be replaced by humans hunting the animals they normally prey on.
...
http://www.theguardian.com/environment/2014/jan/09/carnivore-cleansing-damaging-ecosystems
