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20 beautiful animals on the verge of extinction – one is from Pakistan
Scientists recognise that species continually disappear at a background extinction rate estimated at about one species per million per year, with new species replacing the lost in a sustainable fashion.
Today we’re living through the sixth great extinction, sometimes known as the Holocene extinction event.
But, as harmful as our forebears may have been, nothing compares to what’s under way today. Throughout the 20th century the causes of extinction – habitat degradation, overexploitation, agricultural monocultures, human-borne invasive species, human-induced climate-change – increased exponentially, until now in the 21st century the rate is nothing short of explosive.
When we hear of extinction, most of us think of the plight of the rhino, tiger, panda or blue whale. But these sad sagas are only small pieces of the extinction puzzle. The overall numbers are terrifying. Of the 40,168 species that the 10,000 scientists in the World Conservation Union have assessed, one in four mammals, one in eight birds, one in three amphibians, one in three conifers and other gymnosperms are at risk of extinction.
Markhor
The markhor straight out of a fantasy book and it’s easy to see why it is the national animal of Pakistan. His high status and incredible style surprise and they were a perfect target for trophy hunters and now there are only about 2,500 remaining.
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