Will lions soon face extinction? A shocking 23,000 animal species now nearing extinction

International Union for the Conservation of Nature released an updated list on animals near extinction.

The king of the jungle, the mighty lion, the African Golden Cat, the New Zealand Sea Lion and two crab species, namely Karstama balicum and Karstama emdi, are just a few out of nearly 23,000 species now facing extinction, according to the International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN).

MUNTINLUPA, PHILIPPINES (Catholic Online) - The number of lions all over the world, including the ones in western and eastern Africa, are alarmingly declining, due to the decrease in available prey and because of illegal hunting.

The species is declared "critically endangered" on the IUCN's "Red List" of threatened species. The biggest threat to these lions is the ongoing trade in selling lion bones. The lion's bones and its other body parts are being sold by merchants and used for traditional medicines in Asia and Africa.

Aside from lions, other mammals also face extinction because of destruction of their habitats, and also because of overhunting.

The New Zealand Sea Lion is now considered endangered because of constant disease and changes in its habitat, from fishing, making it one of the most rare sea lion species globally.

The African Golden Cat, double the size of a house cat, found in central Africa, was noted by the IUCN as "vulnerable," as its number is also declining.

Discovered in a single cave on the island of Bali are two different species of crab, namely Karstama emdi and Karstama balicum. These crabs face extinction because of the various religious ceremonies held in the cave and the place's growing tourism. The crabs are reduced in number and are declared by IUCN as "critically endangered."

"Our natural world is becoming increasingly vulnerable," stated IUCN chief Inger Andersen, encouraging people to increase their efforts in saving the planet's endangered species.

IUCN noted efforts they have tried in the past to increase the population of critically endangered species, including the world's most endangered feline, the Iberian Lynx, and the Guadalupe Fur Seal.

IUCN has increased the number of rabbits for large cats to prey on. They have also worked on conservation breeding methods and monitoring illegal trapping of these animals. Because of the efforts made by the IUCN to save these species from dying out, the "critically endangered species" in their Red List have moved down to "endangered species." As Andersen noted, "effective conservation can yield outstanding results."

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