Earth is losing wildlife at faster rate than at any time in history. This is according to new "Living Planet Report" from World Wildlife Fund. The report says global wildlife population shrank by 60 per cent between 1970 and 2014. WWF warned that: "Earth is losing biodiversity at rate seen only during mass extinctions." Researchers state that most of decline in our animal population is because of "exploding human consumption". There are more and more humans on this planet. We are eating more, overfishing, cutting down trees for beef production, consuming more, and using more energy and natural resources. This has resulted in massive loss of habitat for animals.
report estimates that only quarter of world's land has been untouched by humans. This means human activity has greatly affected animals on three-quarters of Earth's surface. Researchers tracked more than 4,000 species of mammals, birds, reptiles, fish and amphibians. They say loss of animal life is worst in South and Central America. These regions saw 89 per cent loss in population of vertebrates in past four decades. The WWF wrote: "The astonishing decline in wildlife population...is [depressing] reminder, and perhaps ultimate indicator, of the pressure we [put] on the planet." It warned: "We can be generation that had its chance and failed to act; that let Earth slip away.
