The Latest Breaking News from Extinction

'Extinction risk': federal backing for feral horse cull

A federal inquiry says NSW must allow the aerial culling of brumbies in the Australian Alps, saying they pose an immediate extinction risk for native species.

AAP · Oct 13, 2023

A tooth that rewrites history? The discovery challenging what we knew about Neanderthals – podcast

For generations, Neanderthals have been a source of fascination for scientists. This species of ancient hominim inhabited the world for around 500,000 years until they suddenly disappeared around 40,000 years ago. Today, the cause of their extinction remains a mystery.

The Conversation · Oct 12, 2023

Australia doing a poor job of protecting unique plants

Australia is doing a very poor job of working out if its unique plants are in danger of extinction, scientists warn.

AAP · Oct 9, 2023

Bison are sacred to Native Americans − but each tribe has its own special relationship to them

The American bison, or American buffalo as they are commonly called, were once close to extinction. Their numbers dropped from 30-60 million to around 500 because of overhunting in the 19th century.

The Conversation · Oct 6, 2023

Is there really a 1 in 6 chance of human extinction this century?

In 2020, Oxford-based philosopher Toby Ord published a book called The Precipice about the risk of human extinction. He put the chances of “existential catastrophe” for our species during the next century at one in six.

The Conversation · Oct 5, 2023

It's not just Victoria's iconic mountain ash trees at risk – it's every species in their community

When we think of extinction, we think of individual species. But nature doesn’t operate like that. Entire communities and even whole ecosystems are now so compromised they could be lost entirely. Australia now has about 100 ecological communities at risk.

The Conversation · Oct 5, 2023

Two of every five amphibians threatened with extinction, reveals study

Climate change is emerging as a major threat to frogs, salamanders, and caecilians, according to a new study. Data from over 8,000 species showed that two out of five amphibians are threatened with extinction, with climate change being the primary threat for 39%. Habitat destruction and degradation, disease, and overexploitation…

The Hindu · Oct 5, 2023

Scientists looked at nearly every known amphibian type. They're not doing great

A new global assessment of the world's amphibians finds that more than 2 of every 5 known species is at risk of extinction. Habitat loss, disease and climate change are the main drivers.

WEKU · Oct 4, 2023

Aussie frogs in hot water from climate, other threats

More than 40 per cent of the world's amphibians are threatened with extinction and Australia's once bountiful frogs are among those in strife, scientists warn.

AAP · Oct 4, 2023

‘Watching extinction in real time’: conservationists losing hope for Australia’s swift parrot if logging continues

Experts predict there will be fewer than 100 individuals of the species by 2031 as the rate of decline in population grows faster

The Guardian - AU · Oct 1, 2023