FWD: Animal species halved

[Guest guest]

This message was forwarded to you by yitzeling.

 

Comment from sender:

 

 

This article is from The Star Online

URL: http://thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2003/7/25/asia/5916931 & sec=asia

 

________________________

 

Friday, July 25, 2003

Animal species halved

 

 

SINGAPORE has lost about half its animal species in the last 200 years, and the

rest of the region is likely to follow suit, according to a landmark study.

 

Based on detailed documentation of the state of mammals, birds, fish and

butterflies on the island, it found that at least 881 of 3,196 recorded species,

or 28%, had vanished forever.

 

However, taking into account the probable number of animals here before

detailed records were made in the late 1800s, it predicted that this figure was

actually higher – about half of Singapore's animals.

 

The study, by researchers from the National University of Singapore (NUS) and

Australia's Northern Territory University, is in the science journal Nature, an

international weekly.

 

By looking at the extensive habitat loss in Singapore and the current rate at

which forests in the region are being felled, it predicted the loss of up to 42%

of animal populations in Southeast Asia by the end of this century. At least

half will be species unique to this region.

 

Rapid, large-scale habitat destruction for agriculture and urban development

were the main culprits behind the mass extinctions. But over-hunting and

fishing, and the heavy shelling of nature reserves during World War II, also

played a role.

 

Some of the animals most threatened with extinction were two mammals found only

in Singapore – the cream- coloured giant squirrel and banded leaf monkey, said

Assoc Prof Peter Ng of the NUS department of biological sciences, one of the

authors of the study.

 

Sadly, they are almost certain to become extinct because their populations have

shrunk to levels too small for them to be sustainable in the long run.

 

“These are effectively the living dead,” said Prof Ng, who is also director of

the Raffles Museum of Biodiversity Research.

 

Said Prof Ng: “It's imperative to hang on to all our protected areas.” – The

Straits Times/Asia News Network

 

<p><a href= " http://straitstimes.asia1.com.sg/home " target= " on_top " >For another

perspective from The Straits Times, a partner of Asia News Network, click

here.</a><p>

<p>

 

________________________

Your one-stop information portal:

The Star Online

http://thestar.com.my

http://biz.thestar.com.my

http://classifieds.thestar.com.my

http://cards.thestar.com.my

http://search.thestar.com.my

http://star-motoring.com

http://star-space.com

http://star-jobs.com

http://star-ecentral.com

http://star-techcentral.com

 

1995-2003 Star Publications (Malaysia) Bhd. All rights reserved.

Reproduction in whole or in part in any form or medium without express written

permission of Star Publications is prohibited.