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The IUCN Red List
Pangolin takes top spot
Amphibians
19 December 2012 | Article
Birds
Freshwater
Early in 2012, The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species™ Facebook Fungi
page was launched. Featuring a new Amazing Species every week
Invertebrates
and sharing the latest IUCN Red List news, the page is a new way
Mammals
for people to engage with The IUCN Red List. As the year draws to a
Marine Species
close we have compiled a list of the five most popular posts.
The IUCN Red List on
Facebook
IUCN SSC Pangolin
Specialist Group
IUCN SSC Anteater, Sloth
and Armadillo Specialist
Group
IUCN SSC Iguana
Specialist Group
Plants
Reptiles
First place goes to a Chinese Pangolin (Manis pentadactyla) -
IUCN SSC Shark
Biodiversity Indicators
announcing the launch of IUCN’s Species Survival Commission’s
Specialist Group
Climate Change & Species
(SSC) Pangolin Specialist Group website. Pangolins are an unusual
Conservation Action - the Sir
looking group of insect-eating mammals that are covered in scales
Peter Scott Fund
and found in Asia and Africa. However, pangolins in Asia are
Conservation Breeding
threatened by poaching for illegal international trade as their meat is
Conservation Planning
considered a delicacy and their scales are used in traditional
Invasive Species
Chinese medicine. The IUCN SSC Pangolin Specialist Group are Regional Initiatives
working to raise awareness of pangolins, carry out scientific research
Re-introductions
and develop conservation strategies.
Species and Policy
Species Trade & Use
Wildlife Health
Who we are
About the IUCN Global
Species Programme
About the Species Survival
Commission
SSC Specialist Groups and
The second most popular post is a photo of a species that looks
remarkably similar to a pangolin, but in fact is not related. Curled up
into a protective ball, a Three-banded Armadillo (Tolypeutes tricinctus)
caught the attention of many people and is set to become even more
famous as it has been chosen as the mascot of the 2014 FIFA World
Chinese Pangolin (Manis
pentadactyla)
Photo: Gary Ades
Cup. Listed as Vulnerable on The IUCN Red List, this species is
threatened by heavy hunting pressure and habitat loss but it is hoped
that being selected as the next FIFA World Cup mascot will help raise
awareness of this species and initiate more conservation action.
Red List Authorities Directory
News
On-the-ground conservation success is the focus of the third most Publications
popular post of 2012. Thanks to the efforts of the Blue Iguana
Contacts
Recovery Programme, the Grand Cayman Blue Iguana (Cyclura
Donate Now
lewisi) was downlisted from Critically Endangered to Endangered on
The IUCN Red List in October. In 2002 there were only between 10
and 25 Grand Cayman Blue Iguanas left in the wild but today there
are an estimated 750 individuals and conservationists are confident
that a long term goal of restoring at least 1,000 Grand Cayman Blue
Brazilian Three-banded Armadillo
(Tolypeutes tricinctus)
Photo: Joares May
Iguanas to the wild will be accomplished.
Another unusual looking species took the number four spot. The
Narrowsnout Sawfish (Pristis zijsron) is a marine species with a sawlike beak called a rostrum and is just one of seven species of sawfish
listed on The IUCN Red List. There was once a time when so many
sawfishes were caught in areas of Pakistan that people made fences
with the rostrums but today all seven species are listed as Critically
Endangered. In an effort to stop these spectacular species
disappearing from our oceans forever the IUCN SSC Shark Specialist
Group gathered a group of experts at the IUCN 2012 World
Conservation Congress to share information about the best ways to
raise awareness and implement a conservation strategy that has
Grand Cayman Blue Iguana (Cyclura
lewisii)
Photo: John Binns
been developed by the Specialist Group.
An info-graphic designed by the IUCN SSC Grasshopper Specialist
Group comparing a grasshopper, a katydid and a mantis to
mammals is the fifth most popular post on The IUCN Red List
Facebook page. The info-graphic highlights how varied and
interesting invertebrates can be and includes; the Rhinoceros Katydid
(Copiphora rhinoceros) which is green, eats snails and has a horn; a
Monkey Grasshopper (Euschmidtia congana) with large eyes; and a
Tiger Mantis (Omomantis zebrata) with stripes!
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In 2013 The IUCN Red List Facebook page will continue to share the
latest IUCN Red List news about animals, plants and fungi as well
the best species and conservation news from IUCN and the IUCN
SSC Specialist Groups. If you would like to join the IUCN Red List
Facebook community, you can find us at
www.facebook.com/iucn.red.list.
Narrowsnout Sawfish (Pristis zijsron)
Photo: Andy Murch
Protecting the Exceptional
Photo: IUCN SSC Grasshopper
Specialist Group
SERVICES
SUBSCRIPTION
Page last updated: December 19, 2012. © All photos/graphics remain the copyright of IUCN
// CONCEPT, DESIGN AND TECHNOLOGY BY GETUNIK.COM
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