More than a fifth of all reptile species are threatened with extinction, which could have a “devastating” impact on the planet, a new study warns. The largest ever analysis of the state of the world’s reptiles, published in Nature, found that 21% of reptile species are facing extinction. The study found 30% of forest-dwelling reptiles are at risk of extinction, compared with 14% in arid habitats. Hunting is also a major threat to reptiles, especially turtles and crocodiles, many of which are at risk of extinction. The UN Convention on Biological Diversity is scheduled to convene Cop15’s second phase in Kunming, China, later this year, where governments will negotiate new targets to protect biodiversity, including reptiles.

Source: The Guardian April 28, 2022 11:18 UTC