# Wildlife Populations Plummet Globally

> Global wildlife populations have dropped 73% over 50 years, but green sea turtles and tigers show recovery.
- Title: Wildlife Populations Plummet Globally · Mother Jones
- Summary: Global wildlife populations have dropped 73% over 50 years, but green sea turtles and tigers show recovery. Global wildlife populations have declined 73%…
- Keywords: living planet report, green sea turtle, tiger population, conservation efforts, biodiversity loss, vertebrate species, world wildlife fund, zoological society of london, climate change, habitat loss, freshwater species, bluefin tuna
- Source: Mother Jones — https://motherjones.com/environment/2026/10/new-report-wildlife-populations-decline
- Author: Kiley Price
- Published: 2026-10-12T14:55:12+00:00
- Read time: 1 min
- Topics: living planet report, green sea turtle, tiger population, conservation efforts, biodiversity loss, vertebrate species, world wildlife fund, zoological society of london, climate change, habitat loss, freshwater species, bluefin tuna
## 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.
## Key takeaway

Global wildlife populations have declined 73% since 1970, though green sea turtles and tigers are rebounding due to conservation.