BERLIN (dpa): Some animals fared better than others this year, with antelopes, lynxes, koalas and turtles having a better year than white rhinos, arctic seals, and corals, the World Wildlife Fund (WWF) Germany said in a report released on Sunday.
Many birds also fared worse worldwide, with bird flu particularly affecting cranes in Germany, the organization said. The decline in phytoplankton also threatens a key food element of the oceans, according to the WWF report.
The main causes of species extinction are habitat destruction, poaching, overuse, invasive species, environmental pollution, and the climate crisis, said Kathrin Samson, director of nature conservation at WWF Germany.
"But that also means that humans hold the key to solving this crisis."
This year's update of the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List of endangered species shows a "worrying trend" for birds in particular, with 61% of all bird species declining. The negative trend for the entire bird class is "alarming," the report said.
In addition, for thousands of cranes, the southward migration over Germany became their last due to bird flu.
In October, three Arctic seal species were also upgraded on the Red List. The situation is particularly critical for the hooded seal, which is now considered "critically endangered."
It has not been a good year for white rhinos either. According to a survey, their population fell by 11% in 2025.
Tropical coral reefs were already among the WWF Germany's losers last year, where large scale destruction continues.
Many such reefs may be lost forever if the international community does not take swift action against rising temperatures, the report stated. - dpa
