From Mother Jones · Kiley Price · · 1m 30s
Wildlife Populations Plummet Globally
Global wildlife populations have dropped 73% over 50 years, but green sea turtles and tigers show recovery.
In brief
Global wildlife populations have dropped 73% over 50 years, but green sea turtles and tigers show recovery. Global wildlife populations have declined 73% since 1970, though green sea turtles and tigers are rebounding due to conservation. Originally reported by Mother Jones.
Global Wildlife Decline
Over the past half-century, populations of thousands of vertebrate species have decreased by 73 percent on average.
Conservation Successes
Green sea turtle populations increased by 80 percent from 2010 to 2025 through coordinated global efforts.
Regional Declines
Latin America and the Caribbean saw 95 percent population declines from 1970 to 2022, while Africa and Asia-Pacific experienced 80 and 49 percent drops.
Freshwater Species Crisis
Freshwater species declined 85 percent due to pollution, overharvesting, and habitat loss from infrastructure like hydropower dams.
Tiger Population Recovery
Tiger populations increased by nearly 80 percent from 2010 to 2025 through conservation initiatives.
Marine Species Challenges
Marine life faces major threats from overfishing, while terrestrial species experience habitat loss and degradation.
Conservation Funding Cuts
The Trump administration made deep cuts to U.S. conservation programs, impacting global wildlife protection efforts.
Systemic Change Needed
Experts say addressing food, energy, and finance systems is critical to reversing biodiversity loss and preventing extinction.
Financial Impact on Nature
In 2023, $7.3 trillion flowed into activities harming nature, more than 30 times the money spent on conservation.
Global Action Required
Countries must increase conservation funding while reducing investments in activities that undermine biodiversity.
The essence
Global wildlife populations have declined 73% since 1970, though green sea turtles and tigers are rebounding due to conservation.
