Red data book is the document established by IUCN for documenting the rare and endangered species of plants, animals, fungi and also a few local species that exist within a state or country. It is beneficial for providing detailed information for studies and research.
It also helps in monitoring programs on rare and endangered species. It thus helps in protecting the species that are on the verge of extinction. This article contains more details about the Red Data Book and why you should pay attention to it.
- What is Red Data Book?
- What is Meant by Red Data Book?
- Who has Written Red Data Book?
- Who Maintains Red Data Book in India?
- What are the Aims and objectives of the Red Data Book
- What are the Advantages and Disadvantages of the Red Data Book
- What is the Red Data List?
- What is Blue Data Book?
- What is the Green Data Book?
- What is Black Data Book?
- Who Published Red List?
- How Many Animals are There in Red Data Book?
- Why Red Data Book is Important?
- How Many Categories are There in Red Data Book?
What is Red Data Book?
The Red Data Book refers to a document maintained by a state or a nation that is established to record and document the rare and endangered species of plants and animals that exist within the boundary of that respective state or nation. All the known endangered species and sub-species of plants, fungi, and animals are recorded in the Red Data Book.
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The Red Data Book helps to provide detailed information for studies and research regarding the endangered species and subspecies of animals. In addition to that, it also helps in coordinating and developing monitoring programs on these endangered and rare species. It is of great help in designing effective measures that could help in protecting various endangered species.
The Red Data Book is maintained by the IUCN (International Union for Conservation of Nature). This organization had been founded in the year 1965 and works toward the “conservation of nature and the sustainable use of the natural resources.”
What is Meant by Red Data Book?
The Red Data Book is a public document that is created for recording endangered and rare species of plants, animals, fungi as well as some local subspecies that are present in a particular region.
The Red Data Book helps us in providing complete information for research, and studies and also for monitoring the programs on rare and endangered species and their habitats.
This book is mainly created to identify and protect those species which are on the verge of extinction.
Who has Written Red Data Book?
The organization which has published a red data book is the International Union for conservation of nature and natural resources (IUCN).
Red data book includes a red list in which the names of all endangered plants and animals are provided for public information. The main aim is to provide information for research and analysis.
IUCN- It emphasizes on sustainable use of natural resources and nature conservation. There are seven categories in the IUCN red list-
• Extinct
• Extinct in the wild
• Critically endangered
• Endangered
• Vulnerable
• Near threatened
• Least concerned
It depicts the information in color-coded form. The following colors depict the following information-
• Black represents the species that are totally confirmed to be extinct.
• Red represents species that are referred to as endangered.
• Amber color is assigned to those species whose status is considered to be vulnerable.
• White is assigned for rare species.
• Green is assigned for the species that were formerly endangered, but now they have started to recover.
• Grey color is assigned to the species that are classified as vulnerable, endangered, or rare but insufficient information is available to classify them properly.
National environmental engineering research and Institute-(NEERI)- It focuses on water supply, communicable diseases, sewage, etc, and is situated in Nagpur.
National Wildlife Action plan(NWAP)- This plan emphasizes genetic diversity and sustainable development.
Convention on international trade in endangered species of wild fauna and flora- It is an international agreement between the governments and it aims at threat-free international trade of specimens of wild animals and plants.
Who Maintains Red Data Book in India?
The first-ever Red Data Book was developed by Russian biologists and was based on extensive research carried out from 1961 to 1964. This book contained the list of all endangered species of plants, animals, and fungi existing within the Russian Territorial Jurisdiction. Hence, it was called the Red Data Book of the Russian Federation (RDBRF).
Since its establishment in 1964, the IUCN has been maintaining the Red Data Book. It has a complete record of every species on the planet. The Red Data Book is considered one of the most definitive sources with respect to the present status of biodiversity across the globe.
Besides the IUCN, individual countries and states maintain national and regional red data books. These national and regional red data books provide information about the complete list of threatened species existing within their regional boundaries.
What are the Aims and Objectives of the Red Data Book
According to the IUCN (1966), the aim and objectives of the Red Data Book are:
- To provide evidence-based information with respect to the situation of all species and subspecies worldwide.
- To provide valuable insights into biodiversity so that effective actions are taken to conserve biological diversity.
- To highlight the pace at which species are becoming endangered and extinct.
- To serve as a basis for research and studies of all endangered species on the planet.
The Red Data Book consists of colour-coded information sheets where each colour represents a specific meaning.
- Black colour represents all extinct species.
- Red colour represents all endangered species.
- Amber colour represents all vulnerable species.
- White colour represents all rare species.
- Green colour represents all species that are out of danger. The species which were previously endangered but whose number started to recover fall under this category.
- Grey colour represents all endangered, rare, and vulnerable species, but enough information is unavailable to accurately classify them.
What are the Advantages and Disadvantages of the Red Data Book?
Advantages
- It helps in identifying all animals, birds and other species about their conservation status.
- It is used to evaluate the population of a particular species.
- The data available in this book can be used to evaluate the taxa at the global level.
- With the help of this book, we can estimate the risk of taxa becoming globally extinct.
- Provides a framework or guidelines for implementing protective measures for endangered species.
Disadvantages
- The information available in the Red Data Book is incomplete. Many species, both extinct and extant are not updated in this book.
- The source of the book’s data has been speculated and has been mired in controversy.
- This book maintains the complete record of all animals, plants, other species but it has no information about the microbes.
What is the Red Data List?
The IUCN Red List is a critical indicator of the health of the world’s biodiversity. Far more than a list of species and their status, it is a powerful tool to inform and catalyze action for biodiversity conservation and policy change, critical to protecting the natural resources we need to survive.
It provides information about a range, population size, habitat and ecology, use and/or trade, threats, and conservation actions that will help inform necessary conservation decisions.
The IUCN Red List is used by government agencies, wildlife departments, conservation-related non-governmental organizations (NGOs), natural resource planners, educational organizations, students, and the business community.
The Red List process has become a massive enterprise involving the IUCN Global Species Program staff, partner organizations and experts in the IUCN Species Survival Commission and partner networks who compile the species information to make The IUCN Red List the indispensable product it is today.
To date, many species groups including mammals, amphibians, birds, reef-building corals and conifers have been comprehensively assessed. As well as assessing newly recognized species, the IUCN Red List also re-assesses the status of some existing species, sometimes with positive stories to tell.
For example, good news such as the downlisting (i.e. improvement) of a number of species on the IUCN Red List categories scale, due to conservation efforts. The bad news, however, is that biodiversity is declining.
Currently, there are more than 142,500 species on The IUCN Red List, with more than 40,000 species threatened with extinction, including 41% of amphibians, 37% of sharks and rays, 34% of conifers, 33% of reef-building corals, 26% of mammals and 13% of birds.
Despite the high proportions of threatened species, we are working to reverse, or at least halt, the decline in biodiversity. Increased assessments will help to build The IUCN Red List into a more complete ‘Barometer of Life’. To do this, we need to increase the number of species assessed to at least 160,000. This will improve the global taxonomic coverage and thus provide a stronger base to enable better conservation and policy decisions.
The IUCN Red List is crucial not only for helping to identify those species in need of targeted recovery efforts but also for focusing the conservation agenda by identifying the key sites and habitats that need to be protected. Ultimately, The IUCN Red List helps to guide and inform future conservation and funding priorities.
The Red Data Book of India consists of information about all species and subspecies that are endemic to the Indian subcontinent. All the information furnished in this book is taken from studies carried out by the Zoological Survey of India and the Botanical Survey of India.
According to the Red Data Book of India, the following categories of critically endangered, endangered, and vulnerable species have been identified.
Critically Endangered Species:
- Pygmy Hog – It is a mammal. There are only 150 Pygmy Hogs in India.
- Malabar Civet – It is a mammal. It’s scientifically called Viverra civettina.
- Podophyllum – It is a perennial plant and is also called mayapple.
- Spoon Billed Sandpiper – It is a bird whose scientific name is Eurynorhynchus pygmeus.
Endangered Species:
- Red Panda – Found only in Kanchenjunga (Sikkim).
- Blue Whale
- Lion-tailed Macaque – Found in the Western Ghats of India.
- Asiatic Wild Ass – Found in the Rann of Kutch.
- Siberian Crane – Found in the Ghana National Park.
- Lemur – Found in Madagascar.
Vulnerable:
- Black Buck – Found in the Ghana National Park.
- Clouded Leopard – Found in South-East China.
- Nilgiri marten – It is a mammal whose scientific name is Martes gwatkinsii.
What is Blue Data Book?
The Blue Book is a consumer-driven book, where drivers can look to see what they can expect to pay or receive for their vehicle. The Black Book, on the other hand, is a dealer-driven book. The pricing deals with wholesale values and the most up-to-date car sales.
In some other fields, however, the Blue Data Book notes species that are stabilized from endangered species to somewhat better.
What is the Green Data Book?
A Green Databook is a book with a list of rare plants growing in protected areas like botanical gardens. A Green databook is actually a small pocket-sized data book that contains environmental data of quite 200 economies.
In the green book, the key indicators are arranged under the headings of agriculture, forestry, biodiversity, energy, emission and pollution, and water and sanitation. This data book is published each year with the latest data composition.
A green databook is a small-sized book that provides complete information related to environmental data. It is based on world development indicators. Agriculture, biodiversity, forestry, pollution, and sanitation are the key indicators of the green data book.
Let’s learn the differences between the red data book and the green data book.
| Red Data Book | Green Data Book |
| Definition | |
| A book that is documented and created for registering endangered and rare species of plants, animals, fungi and other living species. | A book that is mainly based on world development indicators. |
| Type of Book | |
| It is the state documentation. | A small pocket-sized data book. |
| Contains | |
| The complete lists of endangered and extinct plants and animals. | The complete list of rare plants growing in botanical gardens. |
| Maintained by | |
| IUCN – International Union for Conservation of Nature | World Bank Group |
What is Black Data Book?
Carbon Black World Data Book is an essential resource for anyone involved in the carbon black industry. Published annually and updated quarterly, the report provides extensive proprietary data on carbon black capacity, capacity utilization, production, trade, demand, market share, and pricing.
The report includes these components:
- Annual Report
- Comprehensive Spreadsheet of all Data
- Quarterly Updates
- Monthly Price Report
- Special Topic Reports
Annual Report:
The Carbon Black World Data Book provides an up-to-date overview of the $10 billion global market for carbon black, a reinforcing filler and pigment used mainly in the rubber, plastics, paint, and ink industries.
The report provides historical data from 2007 to 2017 and forecasts for all years from 2018 to 2022, as well as 2027.
Data provided for each country and region include carbon black capacity by company and plant, capacity utilization, production, imports, exports, demand, markets (passenger tires, truck/bus tires, other tires, non-tire rubber, and specialty applications) and grades (tread, carcass, and other), as well as average pricing and total market value.
Comprehensive Spreadsheet:
The subscription includes an Excel spreadsheet that includes all of the report’s statistical data as well as substantial additional data. Data sets provided include:
- Carbon black capacity by plant, company, region, and country
- Recent capacity expansions and plant closures, as well as status updates for future expansions, including their effect on capacity
- Company sales and market share in US dollars for North America, South America, European Union, Eastern Europe, Asia (China, India, and Japan), and Africa/Middle East
- A comprehensive listing of recent & proposed tire plant capacity expansions including company, location, tire types, budget, and ramp-up schedule
- Motor vehicle production and motor vehicles in use by region & major country
Quarterly Updates:
The subscription includes three issues of the Carbon Black Quarterly Update, published in November 2017, and January 2018, and April 2018. The quarterly report updates global supply and demand, industry news, and capacity developments.
Monthly Price Report:
The subscription includes the Carbon Black Price Report, a monthly update of prices for major carbon black grades for the United States, the European Union, Brazil, and China. Subscribers to the 2018 report will receive monthly pricing updates through May 2018.
Special Topic Reports:
The subscription period will include several Special Topic reports based on client requests. One recent report provided an in-depth analysis of the current supply/demand situation in the United States.
Regions/Countries Covered:
- North America: Canada, Mexico, United States
- South America: Argentina, Brazil, Other
- European Union: Czech Republic, France, Germany, Hungary, Italy, Netherlands, Poland, Spain, United Kingdom, Other
- Eastern Europe: Russia, Other
- Asia: China, India, Indonesia, Japan, Malaysia, South Korea, Taiwan, Thailand, Other
- Africa/Middle East: Egypt, South Africa, Turkey, Other
Companies Mentioned
- Aditya Birla Group
- An Lun Chemical (Sunshine Coking)
- Baohua Carbon Black
- Best Chemical
- Bestar Carbon Black Factory
- Birla Carbon
- Boao Carbon Black
- Bridgestone Corporation
- Cabot Corporation
- China Synthetic Rubber Corp.
- Columbian Chemicals Company
- Gazprom Pererabotka
- Guangrao Aolong Carbon Black
- Himadri Specialty Chemicals
- Huadong Rubber Material
- Iran Carbon Co. & Doodeh Sanati Pars
- Jiangxi Black Cat Carbon Black
- Jinneng Science & Technology
- Kremenchug Carbon Black
- Liaobin Carbon Black Factory
- Longxing Chemical Group
- Mitsubishi Chemical Corp.
- Negroven SA
- Nicest Carbon Black
- Nizhnekamsk Carbon Black
- NSCC Carbon
- OCI Corporation
- Omsk Carbon Group
- Orion Engineered Carbons
- Panther Carbon Black
- Phillips Carbon Black Limited
- Sanqiang Carbon Black
- Sid Richardson Carbon & Energy
- Stakhanov Carbon Black
- Tokai Carbon
- Tuimasy Ivanovsky Techuglerod
- Xinxing Chemical Carbon
- Yaroslavl Carbon Black
- Yongdong Chemical Industry
- Yunnan Coal Chemical (Yunwei)
- Zhongyi Coal Chemical Industry
Who Published Red List?
The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List of Threatened Species (also known as the IUCN Red List or Red Data Book), founded in 1964, is the world’s most comprehensive inventory of the global conservation status of biological species. It uses a set of precise criteria to evaluate the extinction risk of thousands of species and subspecies.
These criteria are relevant to all species and all regions of the world. With its strong scientific base, the IUCN Red List is recognized as the most authoritative guide to the status of biological diversity. A series of Regional Red Lists are produced by countries or organizations, which assess the risk of extinction to species within a political management unit.
The aim of the IUCN Red List is to convey the urgency of conservation issues to the public and policy makers, as well as help the international community reduce species extinction.
According to IUCN the formally stated goals of the Red List are to provide scientifically based information on the status of species and subspecies at a global level, to draw attention to the magnitude and importance of threatened biodiversity, to influence national and international policy and decision-making, and to provide information to guide actions to conserve biological diversity.
Major species assessors include BirdLife International, the Institute of Zoology (the research division of the Zoological Society of London), the World Conservation Monitoring Centre, and many Specialist Groups within the IUCN Species Survival Commission (SSC). Collectively, assessments by these organizations and groups account for nearly half the species on the Red List.
The IUCN aims to have the category of every species re-evaluated at least every ten years, or every five years if possible. This is done in a peer-reviewed manner through IUCN Species Survival Commission Specialist Groups, which are Red List Authorities responsible for a species, group of species or specific geographic area, or in the case of BirdLife International, an entire class (Aves).
How many Animals are There in Red Data Book?
Established in 1964, The International Union for Conservation of Nature’s Red List of Threatened Species has evolved to become the world’s most comprehensive information source on the global conservation status of animal, fungi and plant species.
The IUCN Red List is a critical indicator of the health of the world’s biodiversity. Far more than a list of species and their status, it is a powerful tool to inform and catalyze action for biodiversity conservation and policy change, critical to protecting the natural resources we need to survive.
It provides information about range, population size, habitat and ecology, use and/or trade, threats, and conservation actions that will help inform necessary conservation decisions.
The IUCN Global Species Programme working with the IUCN Species Survival Commission (SSC) has been assessing the conservation status of species, subspecies, varieties, and even selected subpopulations on a global scale for the past 50 years in order to highlight taxa threatened with extinction, and thereby promote their conservation.
The IUCN Global Species Programme working with the IUCN Species Survival Commission (SSC) has been assessing the conservation status of species, subspecies, varieties, and even selected subpopulations on a global scale for the past 50 years in order to highlight taxa threatened with extinction, and thereby promote their conservation.
Indian Bustard- Ardeotis nigriceps (Vigors) Great
The Great Indian Bustard (Ardeotis nigriceps) or Indian Bustard is a bustard found in India and the adjoining regions of Pakistan. Once common on the dry plains of the Indian subcontinent, today very few birds survive and the species is on the brink of extinction, being critically endangered by hunting and loss of its habitat, which consists of large expanses of dry grassland and scrub. They are confined mostly to the arid regions of Rajasthan, Gujarat and the Ahmednagar district of Maharashtra.
Jerdon’s Courser (Cursorious bitorquatus (Blyth)
It is one of the rarest birds of the world. It is listed as Critically Endangered by IUCN. Because it known only from one single site and the habitat in which it lives is also shrinking and degrading. This course is a restricted-range endemic found locally in India in Anantpur, Cuddapah, Nellore and Bhadrachalam in the Godavary valley in the Eastern Ghats of Andhra Pradesh.
Himalayan Monal, Pheasant – Lophophorus impejanus (Latham)
The Himalayan Monal secures a distinct position among pheasants due to its prominent build, brilliant plumage and strong association with local folklore. Its natural range spreads from eastern Afghanistan through the Himalayas including Kashmir region of Northern Pakistan, India (states of Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Sikkim and Arunachal Pradesh), Nepal, southern Tibet and Bhutan. There is also a report of its occurrence in Burma.
Sarus Crane (Grus Antigone Antigone)
It is a large non-migratory crane found in parts of the Indian Subcontinent, Southeast Asia and Australia. They are easily distinguished from other cranes in the region by the overall grey color and the contrasting red head and upper neck. They forage on marshes and shallow wetlands for roots, tubers, insects, crustaceans and small vertebrate prey.
Asiatic lion- Panthera leo persica (Meyer)
They are also known as babbar sher. The only place in the wild where this species is found is in the Gir Forest in Kathiawar of Gujarat, India. The Asiatic lion is one of the five major big cats found in India, the others being the Bengal tiger, the Indian leopard, the snow leopard and leopard.
The Asiatic lions once ranged from the Mediterranean to the north-eastern parts of the Indian subcontinent, but excessive hunting, habitat destruction, decline in natural prey and human interference have reduced their number.
Blackbuck – Antilope cervicapra (Linnaeus)
They (Antilope cervicapra) are an antelope species native to the Indian Subcontinent that has been classified as endangered by IUCN since 2003, as the blackbuck range has decreased sharply during the 20th century. Today, the blackbuck population is confined to areas in Maharashtra, Orissa, Punjab, Rajasthan, Haryana, Gujarat, Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu and Karnataka, with a few small pockets in central India.
Ganges River Dolphin – Platanista gangetica
It is listed on the Appendix I of CITES (Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora) and Schedule I of India’s Wildlife (Protection), Act, 1972. Therefore, hunting of the species and both domestic and international trade in the species and its parts and derivatives is completely prohibited.
Hoolock Gibbon (Hylobates hoolock)
Hoolock Gibbon is the only ape to be found in India. It is the most accomplished acrobat of all the apes. It lives in dense forests of north-eastern India. It is found in Bangladesh and in some parts of Burma and China. Its range extends into seven states covering Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Manipur, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Nagaland and Tripura.
Nilgiri langur (Presbytis johni)
They (Trachypithecus johnii) are found in the Nilgiri Hills of the Western Ghats in South India. Its range also includes Kodagu in Karnataka, Kodayar Hills in Tamil Nadu and many other hilly areas in Kerala and Tamil Nadu. The species is endangered due to deforestation and poaching for its fur and flesh, the latter believed to have aphrodisiac properties.
Wild Ass (Equus hemionus khur)
The Indian wild ass’s range once extended from western India, southern Pakistan (i.e. provinces of Sindh and Baluchistan), Afghanistan, and south-eastern Iran. Today, its last refuge lies in the Indian Wild Ass Sanctuary, Little Rann of Kutch and its surrounding areas of the Great Rann of Kutch in the Gujarat province of India.
The animal, however, is also seen in the districts of Surendranagar, Banaskantha, Mehsana, and other Kutch districts. Saline deserts (rann), arid grasslands and shrublands are its preferred environments.
Lion Tailed Macaque – Macaca silenus(Linnaeus)
The lion-tailed macaque (Macaca silenus) is endemic to the Western Ghats of South India. The tail is medium in length, and has a black tuft at the end, similar to a lion’s tail. The male’s tail-tuft is more developed than that of the female. It primarily eats indigenous fruits, leaves, buds, insects and small vertebrates in virgin forest.
Olive Ridley Sea Turtle – Lepidochelys olivacea
These turtles are solitary, preferring the open ocean. They migrate hundreds or even thousands of miles every year, and come together as a group only once a year when females return to the beaches where they hatched and lumber onshore, sometimes in the thousands, to nest. In the India Ocean, the majority of olive ridleys nest in two or three large bundles near Gahirmatha in the Orissa.
The Indian pangolin – Manis crassicaudata (Gray)
It is an insectivore that feeds on ants and termites, digging them out of mounds and logs using its long claws, which are as long as its forelimbs.
The Nilgiri tahr (Nilgiritragus hylocrius)
They are known locally as the Nilgiri ibex or simply ibex is an ungulate that is endemic to the Nilgiri Hills and the southern portion of the Western Ghats in the states of Tamil Nadu and Kerala in southern India. It is the state animal of Tamil Nadu. They are stocky goats with short, coarse fur and a bristly mane.
Males are larger than females and have a darker color when mature. Both sexes have curved horns, which are larger in the males; Adult males develop a light grey area on their backs and are thus called “saddlebacks”.
The leopard cat (Prionailurus bengalensis)
The leopard cat is a small wild cat of South and East Asia. Since 2002 it has been listed as Least Concern by IUCN as it is widely distributed but threatened by habitat loss and hunting in parts of its range. They are found in agriculturally used areas but prefer forested habitats.
They live in tropical evergreen rainforests and plantations at sea level, in subtropical deciduous and coniferous forests in the foothills of the Himalayas. They are solitary, except during breeding season.
Why Red Data Book is Important?
The Red Data Book is a public document that is created for recording endangered and rare species of plants, animals, fungi as well as some local subspecies that are present in a particular region.
It helps us in providing complete information for research, and studies and also for monitoring the programs on rare and endangered species and their habitats. Moreover, this book is mainly created to identify and protect those species which are on the verge of extinction.
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Red data book is beneficial for providing detailed information for studies and research. It also helps in monitoring programs on rare and endangered species. It thus helps in protecting the species that are on the verge of extinction.
- It helps in identifying all animals, birds and other species about their conservation status.
- Further, it is used to evaluate the population of a particular species.
- The data available in this book can be used to evaluate the taxs at the global level.
- With the help of this book, we can estimate the risk of taxa becoming globally extinct.
- Lastly, this book provides a framework or guidelines for implementing protective measures for endangered species.
How Many Categories are There in Red Data Book?
IUCN has classified species into categories of Extinct, Extinct in wild, Critically Endangered, Endangered, Vulnerable, etc based on data collected across the world. IUCN has a Red List which provides a systematic list of plants and animals into various categories.
Definition of Categories:
1. Extinct (EX)
A taxon is Extinct when there is no reasonable doubt that the last individual has died.
2. Extinct in Wild (EW)
A taxon is Extinct in the Wild when it is known only to survive in cultivation, in captivity or as a naturalized population (or populations) well outside the past range.
3. Critically Endangered (CR)
A taxon is Critically Endangered when the best available evidence indicates that it meets any of the criteria A to E for Critically Endangered (see Section V), and it is therefore considered to be facing an extremely high risk of extinction in the wild.
Criteria for Critically Endangered:
A. Reduction in population size:
1. Reduction of population ≥ 90% over the last 10 years or three generations, whichever is the longer, where the causes of the reduction are clearly reversible AND understood AND ceased.
2. Reduction of population ≥ 80% over the last 10 years or three generations, whichever is the longer, where the reduction or its causes may not have ceased OR may not be understood OR may not be reversible.
B. Geographic range in the form of either B1 (extent of occurrence) OR B2 (area of occupancy):
B.1. Extent of occurrence estimated to be less than 100 km2, and estimates indicating severely fragmented or known to exist at only a single location.
B.2. Area of occupancy estimated to be less than 10 km2, and severely fragmented or known to exist at only a single location.
C. Population size estimated to number fewer than 250 mature individuals and an estimated continuing decline of at least 25% within three years or one generation, whichever is longer.
D. Population size estimated to number fewer than 50 mature individuals.
E. Quantitative analysis showing the probability of extinction in the wild is at least 50% within 10 years or three generations, whichever is the longer (up to a maximum of 100 years).
Endangered (EN)
A taxon is endangered when the best available evidence indicates that it meets any of the criteria A to E for Endangered, and it is therefore considered to be facing a very high risk of extinction in the wild.
Criteria for Endangered:
A. Reduction in population size based on any of the following:
1. Reduction in population ≥ 70% over the last 10 years or three generations, whichever is the longer, where the causes of the reduction are clearly reversible AND understood AND ceased.
2. An observed, estimated, inferred or suspected population size reduction of ≥ 50% over the last 10 years or three generations, whichever is the longer, where the reduction or its causes may not have ceased OR may not be understood OR may not be reversible.
B. Geographic range in the form of either B1 (extent of occurrence) OR B2 (area of occupancy) OR both:
B.1. Extent of occurrence estimated to be less than 5000 km2, and severely fragmented or known to exist at no more than five locations.
B.2. Area of occupancy estimated to be less than 500 km2, and severely fragmented or known to exist at no more than five locations.
C. Population size estimated to number fewer than 2500 mature individuals and an estimated continuing decline of at least 20% within five years or two generations, whichever is longer.
D. Population size estimated to number fewer than 250 mature individuals.
E. Quantitative analysis showing the probability of extinction in the wild is at least 20% within 20 years or five generations, whichever is the longer.
Vulnerable (VU)
A taxon is Vulnerable when the best available evidence indicates that it meets any of the criteria A to E for Vulnerable, and it is therefore considered to be facing a high risk of extinction in the wild.
Criteria for Vulnerable:
A. Reduction in population size based on any of the following:
1. Reduction in population ≥ 50% over the last 10 years or three generations, whichever is the longer, where the causes of the reduction are: clearly reversible AND understood AND ceased.
2. Reduction of population ≥ 30% over the last 10 years or three generations, whichever is the longer, where the reduction or its causes may not have ceased OR may not be understood OR may not be reversible.
B. Geographic range in the form of either B1 (extent of occurrence) OR B2 (area of occupancy) OR both:
B.1. Extent of occurrence estimated to be less than 20,000 km2, and severely fragmented or known to exist at no more than 10 locations.
B.2. Area of occupancy estimated to be less than 2000 km2, and estimates indicating severely fragmented or known to exist at no more than 10 locations.
C. Population size estimated to number fewer than 10,000 mature individuals and an estimated continuing decline of at least 10% within 10 years or three generations, whichever is longer.
D. Population size estimated to number fewer than 1000 mature individuals.
E. Quantitative analysis showing the probability of extinction in the wild is at least 10% within 100 years.
Near Threatned (NT)
A taxon is Near Threatened when it has been evaluated against the criteria but does not qualify for Critically Endangered, Endangered or Vulnerable now, but is close to qualifying for or is likely to qualify for a threatened category in the near future.
Least Concern (LC)
A taxon is Least Concern when it has been evaluated against the criteria and does not qualify for Critically Endangered, Endangered, Vulnerable or Near Threatened.
Data Deficient (DD)
A taxon is Data Deficient when there is inadequate information to make a direct, or indirect, assessment of its risk of extinction based on its distribution and/or population status.
Not Evaluated (NE)
A taxon is Not Evaluated when it is has not yet been evaluated against the criteria.
IUCN Categories, and Some Animals in those Categories, Include:
Extinct: Examples: Atlas bear, Aurochs, Bali Tiger, Blackfin Cisco, Caribbean Monk Seal, Carolina Parakeet, Caspian Tiger, Dinosaurs, Dodo, Dusky Seaside Sparrow, Elephant Bird, Golden Toad, Great Auk, Haast’s Eagle, Japanese Sea Lion, Javan Tiger, Labrador Duck, Moa, Passenger Pigeon, Pterosaurs, Saber-toothed cat, Schomburgk’s deer, Short-faced bear, Steller’s Sea Cow, Thylacine, Toolache Wallaby, Western Black Rhinoceros, Woolly Mammoth, Woolly Rhinoceros.
Extinct in the Wild: captive individuals survive, but there is no free-living, natural population. Examples: Barbary Lion (maybe extinct), Catarina Pupfish, Hawaiian Crow, Northern White Rhinoceros, Scimitar Oryx, Socorro Dove, Wyoming Toad
Critically Endangered: It faces an extremely high risk of extinction in the immediate future. Examples: Addax, African Wild Ass, Alabama Cavefish, Amur Leopard, Arakan Forest Turtle, Asiatic Cheetah, Axolotl, Bactrian Camel, Brazilian Merganser, Brown Spider Monkey, California Condor, Chinese Alligator, Chinese Giant Salamander, Gharial, Hawaiian Monk Seal, Iberian Lynx, Island Fox, Javan Rhino, Kakapo, Leatherback Sea Turtle, Mediterranean Monk Seal, Mexican Wolf, Mountain Gorilla, Philippine Eagle, Red Wolf, Saiga, Siamese Crocodile, Spix’s Macaw, Southern bluefin tuna, Sumatran Orangutan, Sumatran Rhinoceros, Vaquita, Yangtze River Dolphin
Endangered: It faces a very high risk of extinction in the near future. Examples: African Penguin, African Wild Dog, Asian Elephant, Asiatic Lion, Blue Whale, Bonobo, Bornean Orangutan, Chimpanzees, Dhole, Ethiopian Wolf, Hispid Hare, Giant Otter, Giant Panda, Goliath Frog, Gorillas, Green Sea Turtle, Grevy’s Zebra, Hyacinth Macaw, Japanese Crane, Lear’s Macaw, Malayan Tapir, Markhor, Persian Leopard, Proboscis Monkey, Pygmy Hippopotamus, Red-breasted Goose, Rothschild Giraffe, Snow Leopard, Steller’s Sea Lion, Scopas tang, Takhi, Tiger, Vietnamese Pheasant, Volcano Rabbit, Wild Water Buffalo
Vulnerable: It faces a high risk of extinction in the medium term. Examples: African Elephant, American paddlefish, Clouded Leopard, Cheetah, Dugong, Far Eastern Curlew, Fossa, Galapagos Tortoise, Gaur, Blue-eyed cockatoo, Golden Hamster, Whale Shark, Crowned Crane, Hippopotamus, Humboldt Penguin, Indian Rhinoceros, Komodo Dragon, Lesser White-fronted Goose, Lion, Mandrill, Maned Sloth, Mountain Zebra, Polar Bear, Red Panda, Sloth Bear, Takin, Yak
Near Threatened: These species may be considered threatened in the near future. Examples: African Grey Parrot, American Bison, starry blenny, Asian Golden Cat, Blue-billed Duck, Emperor Goose, Emperor Penguin, Eurasian Curlew, Jaguar, Leopard, Magellanic Penguin, Maned Wolf, Narwhal, Okapi, Solitary Eagle, Southern White Rhinoceros, Striped Hyena, Tiger Shark, White Eared Pheasant.
Least Concern: There is no immediate threat to the survival of the species. Examples: American Alligator, American Crow, Indian Peafowl, Baboon, Bald Eagle, Brown Bear, Brown Rat, Brown-throated sloth, Canada Goose, Cane Toad, Common Wood Pigeon, Cougar, Common Frog, Orca, Giraffe, Grey Wolf, House Mouse, Human, Palm cockatoo, cowfish, Mallard, Meerkat, Mute Swan, Platypus, Red-billed Quelea, Red-tailed Hawk, Rock Pigeon, Scarlet Macaw, Southern Elephant Seal, Milk shark, Red howler monkey.
