At the 14th meeting of the Conference of the Parties to the Convention on the Conservation of Migratory Species of Wild Animals (CMS COP14) held in Samarkand, Uzbekistan, on Monday, the United Nations released a concerning report on the state of migratory species across the globe.
As reported by the European news outlet Euronews, a wide array of migratory animals, including birds, marine turtles, whales, sharks, and others that traverse diverse habitats throughout the seasons, are under threat due to habitat loss, illegal hunting, fishing, pollution, and climate change.
According to the UN report, 44% of migratory species worldwide have seen a decline in their populations, with more than a fifth of the 1,200 species monitored by the United Nations facing the threat of extinction.
Kelly Malsch, the lead author of the report released at the United Nations Wildlife Conference in Samarkand, Uzbekistan, stated, "The report shows that the trends are moving in the wrong direction."
The report draws upon existing data, including information from the International Union for Conservation of Nature's Red List, to help determine whether a species is at risk of extinction.