Tiger populations have declined by more than 93% over the last 50 years.
More than 20,000 African elephants are killed each year to meet the demand for ivory.
Three rhinos are killed each day in South Africa alone for their horns.
More than one million pangolins have been trafficked in the last ten years.
The reality of our world today is disturbing. A U.N. report on biodiversity announced last year that 1 million species are at risk of extinction. Our planet's species can't survive in our degraded ecosystems, and this compromised state reduces nature's capacity to protect human life. WWF's mission is to create a future where people and nature can live in harmony. But there is no balance today, with nature severely compromised in ways that are impacting how we live our daily lives–devastating storms and forest fires, destruction of our forests and water ways, resource scarcity and infectious diseases.
WWF's recent Living Planet Report illustrates grim overall ecosystem health and how it not only impacts our wildlife, but how it impacts people. [You can download the report at https://livingplanet.panda.org/en-us/] The Living Planet Index shows an average 68% drop in the populations of mammals, birds, fish, amphibians, and reptiles since 1970. This 68% average includes:
–94% decline in the Amazon and surrounding tropical subregions of the Americas
–freshwater species have decline by 84%
With 1 million species at risk of extinction, the world as we know it will change drastically and forever.
But there are many ways we can help, with donors like you by our side. Your support enables WWF to fight climate change, restore our forests, end poaching and online wildlife trafficking, and eliminate plastic pollution.
Please donate today. Be the voice that nature so desperately needs. Your donation will support WWF's global conservation work.
