IUCN Red List | Saiga Antelope

Context:

Release of updated Red List of threatened species by International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN).

Key findings:

• 44000 species (increased by 2000 from last year) are threatened with extinction.
• Saiga – moved from Critically Endangered to Near Threatened.
• 25% of freshwater fish are at risk of extinction, with at least 17% affected by climate change.
• 1^st global freshwater fish assessment – 25% of freshwater fish are at risk of extinction
• 4 freshwater subterranean fish species (found in water bodies under the surface) from Kerala included in list – Shaji’s Catfish, Abdulkalam’s Blind Cave Catfish, Pangio Bhujia, Gollum snakehead

IUCN Red List:

• A critical indicator of the health of the world’s biodiversity.
• Information provided on – range, population size, habitat and ecology, use and trade, threats, and conservation actions.
• Categories (Decreasing order of risk) – Extinct, Extinct in the Wild, Critically Endangered, Endangered, Vulnerable, Near Threatened, Least Concern, and data deficient.

• Criteria used to determine the risk of species –
  • Population size reduction
  • Restricted geographical range
  • A small population and declining
  • Very small or lives in a restricted area
  • Quantitative analysis of extinction risk

Saiga Antelope:

• An antelope roamed the earth since the last Ice Age
• Medium-sized hoofed (animals with a hard, nail-like case called a hoof covering each toe on their feet) mammal.
• Once found throughout the Eurasian Steppe grassland
• Presently found – Kazakhstan, Mongolia, the Russian Federation and Uzbekistan (according to the Saiga Conservation Alliance)

International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN):

• Created in 1948.
• Not an organ of the United Nations
• Headquarters – Gland, Switzerland
• Membership Union composed of both government and civil society organizations.
• Provides public, private, and non-governmental organizations with the knowledge and tools that enable human progress, economic development, and nature conservation.

Source: Down to Earth

---

Previous Year Question

The “Red Data Books” published by the International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources (IUCN) contain lists of
1. Endemic plant and animal species present in the biodiversity hotspots.
2. Threatened plant and animal species.
3. Protected sites for conservation of nature and natural resources in various countries.
Select the correct answer using the codes given below.

[UPSC Civil Services Exam – 2011 Prelims]

(a) 1 and 3
(b) 2 only
(c) 2 and 3
(d) 3 only

Answer: (b)
Explanation:
Red Data Book contains information about the species that are on the verge of extinction. It divides species into nine categories: Not Evaluated, Data Deficient, Least Concern, Near Threatened, Vulnerable, Endangered, Critically Endangered, Extinct in the Wild and Extinct.

---