Empty Landscape Looms, If Large Herbivores Continue to Die Out

From the BBC comes this depressing excerpt: Populations of some of the world's largest wild animals are dwindling, raising the threat of an "empty landscape", say scientists. About 60% of giant herbivores - plant-eaters - including rhinos, elephants and gorillas, are at risk of extinction, according to research. Analysis of 74 herbivore species, published in Science Advances, blamed poaching and habitat loss. A previous study of large carnivores showed similar declines. Prof William Ripple, of Oregon State University, led the research looking at herbivores weighing over 100kg, from the reindeer up to the African elephant. "This is the first time anyone has analysed all of these species as a whole," he said. "The process of declining animals is causing an empty landscape in the forest, savannah, grasslands and desert." Here's the study, published in Science Advances, on which the BBC article is based.

Comments

Herbivores dying out? Not cows I hope!

[HornWumpus]

I'm going to have a nice steak, while they're still available. I hadn't heard how badly Herbivores are doing.

Good thing whale populations are rebounding. It would suck not to be able to get a nice steak.

Soylent Green

[Frosty Piss]

Society as we know it is over.

Have a nice steak, and maybe hold off on the children, Soylent Geen is our future.

Goodbye...

Re:Empty landscape my arse

[Tablizer]

if you're just going down the highway the largest mammal you're likely to see is a fat guy whose having car trouble

And you didn't stop to help me, insensitive skinny clod!