WWF report finds monitored wildlife populations declined 73% on average since 1970
publishers 20articles 21first reported 7 Oct, 23:01 UTCdeveloping since 8 Oct · 8 editions
The average size of monitored vertebrate wildlife populations fell 73% between 1970 and 2022, according to WWF’s Living Planet Report 2026. The measure tracks changes in the relative abundance of selected populations and does not mean that 73% of individual animals or wildlife populations disappeared.
The Living Planet Index, produced by the Zoological Society of London, covers 35,803 population trends across 5,790 species of mammals, fish, birds and amphibians. Freshwater populations recorded the steepest average decline, at 85%, followed by terrestrial populations at 69% and marine populations at 59%. Africa’s monitored wildlife populations declined by an average of 80%, according to Mongabay.
WWF identified habitat loss and degradation, resource overexploitation, climate change, invasive species, pollution and disease as leading pressures. It said food production and consumption are the largest driver of biodiversity loss, contributing to habitat destruction, overharvesting and greenhouse gas emissions.
Despite the overall decline, WWF said half of the populations included in the index were stable or increasing. The report cited recoveries among green turtles, bluefin tuna, tigers and southern African elephants as evidence that sustained conservation can work. Global wild tiger numbers rose from about 3,200 in 2010 to roughly 5,700 in 2025. Mountain gorilla numbers have also recovered to more than 1,100 across Uganda, Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of the Congo after decades of protection, research and community involvement.
HOW THIS STORY WAS MADE
Written from 8 articles, 2 with the publisher's own text; 8 independent newsrooms once syndicated copies count as one; this version written 12 h after the record first saw the story; the editor kept it as written.
- Publishers
- 20
- Source articles
- 21
- Given to the writer
- 8, 2 with the article's own text
- Independent newsrooms
- 8
- This version written
- 12 h after the record first saw the story
- Second model (editor)
- kept as written
- Publication gate
- passed
- Human review
- none
WHAT THE EDITOR DID
The second model checked the writer's draft against the same sources and published it as written.
Written by a language model from the sources above, then checked by a second model that may only cut, attribute or correct. How it works →