WASHINGTON: The gradual decline of large carnivores such as lions, wolves or pumas is threatening the Earth´s ecosystems, scientists warned Friday as they launched an appeal to protect such predators.
More than 75 percent of 31 large carnivore species are on the decline, and 17 of them now occupy less than half of their former ranges, says a study published in the American journal Science and dated January 10.
Large carnivores have already been largely exterminated from much of the developed world including western Europe and the United States.
And this hunt is happening around the world, the scientists said, bemoaning that the animals play a crucial role in maintaining the delicate balance of ecosystems.
For instance, avoiding overpopulation of herbivores allows forest flora to develop more and sequester more carbon dioxide, the main green house gas responsible for global warming. But the authors of the study say it will be very hard to convince people to accept a large scale restoration of large carnivore populations. People are afraid of them and have fought them to protect their livestock and their communities, they said. American conservationists failed to agree on opposing the lifting of federal protection granted to wolves in Montana and Idaho in 2011. This was followed in 2012 by Wyoming, under pressure from ranchers. (AFP)
For instance, avoiding overpopulation of herbivores allows forest flora to develop more and sequester more carbon dioxide, the main green house gas responsible for global warming. But the authors of the study say it will be very hard to convince people to accept a large scale restoration of large carnivore populations. People are afraid of them and have fought them to protect their livestock and their communities, they said. American conservationists failed to agree on opposing the lifting of federal protection granted to wolves in Montana and Idaho in 2011. This was followed in 2012 by Wyoming, under pressure from ranchers. (AFP)
