"Most Threatened" Species Category Doesn't Include Animals that Need the Most Help

Hundreds of endangered species not listed in most threatened endangered species category. Because they are hopeless?

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The International Union for the Conservation of Nature released a report early last month that included categorizations of the most threatened species in the world, including well over 600 primate species that are at risk due primarily to human activities; primarily the degredation of their natural environments. While this information is certainly eye-opening and motivates individuals worldwide to try and make changes to help the threatened species; something was seriously lacking in this report.

In reality, there are far more than the 635 primate species that have received the “most threatened” categorization. The reason that they weren’t included is both shocking and disappointing. The primate species that have made the list are only those that are at risk, but have a fate that may be reversed. The ones omitted are beyond help at this point, so they’re left out of the equation because we can’t help them.

While to some degree, it is important that The International Union for the Conservation of Nature focus upon the species that we can help in order to spread further environmental awareness; by failing to mention those species that are nearing extinction, likely due to human impact, we’re failing to take accountability for our actions. If these primate species were included on the most threatened list, we might not be able to help them, but it would help educate the world on just how detrimental our actions can be, and this would provide the opportunity to learn in order to better preserve those resources that other primate species at risk rely upon so heavily for their survival.

What do you think about this threatened species classification controversy? Should we be sweeping errors of the past under the rug by failing to acknowledge those species who have a fate that’s anything but promising? Or should they make the tally to show just how widespread the issue really is and accept accountability so we can move forward?

Image via: Flickr User Law_Keven with a Creative Commons License

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