Global Scans · Species · Weekly Summary

• [New] Globally about one third of all known species are threatened with extinction. National Wildlife Federation
• [New] The IUCN Species Survival Commission's Primate Specialist Group recognises well over 500 primate species, and recent assessments indicate that around 63 to 65% of them are threatened with extinction. Awareness Days
• [New] Continued closures at the Strait of Hormuz could trigger a super-spreader event of invasive species as marine organisms attach to the idle vessels and get transported to other ecosystems around the world. ABC News
• [New] The combination of extensive biofouling growth, species accumulation and the sheer number, size and global reach of affected vessels has created an immense international biosecurity threat. ABC News
• [New] Invasive quagga mussels, as well as golden mussels, a new invasive species now spreading in California, could hitchhike into Texas on or in boats. Texas Parks and Wildlife
• [New] The ESA will still prohibit acts such as pursuing, shooting and trapping protected species. Capital Press
• Roughly one million of the planet's estimated eight million plant and animal species face extinction risks. DataDrivenInvestor
• The closure of the strait of Hormuz has created conditions for an extreme global biodiversity threat, with scientists warning that thousands of stranded ships could spread invasive marine species across the world's oceans once they begin sailing again. The Guardian
• Tree and woodland cover across England will have reached 16.5%, including productive softwoods and broadleaf species. GOV.UK
• India plans to convert Prosopis juliflora, among the world's top 100 invasive species, into green methanol for marine fuel, linking ecological control with clean energy. UnderStand UPSC
• The current rate of species extinction is estimated to be 100 to 1,000 times higher than the natural background rate, prompting scientists to warn that the Earth may be on the brink of a sixth mass extinction. DataDrivenInvestor
• Economic systems centered on continuous growth are accelerating global biodiversity loss, with roughly one million of the planet's estimated eight million plant and animal species facing extinction risks. DataDrivenInvestor
• More than 48,000 species are currently at risk of extinction, and assessments suggest that close to half of all migratory species are in decline. Awareness Days
• Over one-third of plants and animals in the US are at risk of extinction, in large part due to human activities that destroy habitat, overexploit and kill species, pollute water systems, and speed up climate change. Sierra Club
• As with many other insect species, butterflies and moths in the U.S. are experiencing significant declines: 19% are at risk of extinction - including species with special habitat needs and generalist species that were once widespread. Xerces Society
• The Global Picture: Species Under Threat The IUCN Red List has now evaluated more than 172,600 species, a remarkable scientific achievement that nonetheless covers only around 2% of Earth's estimated 8.7 million eukaryotic species. Pixcellence

Last updated: 10 August 2026