Scientists have described how human activity has contributed to the extinction of many animals.
Humans have had a significant impact on species extinction, and many animals have suffered from this impact. Exact figures on how many animal species have become extinct vary, making it difficult for scientists to give a definitive answer.
However, there are some estimates and studies that help approximate the scale of the problem. Since the beginning of modern times, approximately 777 animal species have become extinct since 1500, according to the IUCN Red List.
Although some disappearances were natural, human influence likely played a key role.
Historical records of extinctions before that time are scarce, but it is known that human influence on nature began long before 1500. The IUCN estimates that only about 5% of known species are extinct, meaning there are many extinctions that have not yet been recorded.
According to a study by Robert Cowie of the University of Hawaii, published in the journal Biological Reviews, between 150,000 and 260,000 known species may have disappeared from Earth in the past 500 years.
The study found that the number of animal extinctions ranged from 150 to 260 extinctions per million species per year (E/MSY), with an average of about 100 E/MSY.
This means that of the approximately 2 million known species, approximately 100,000 have become extinct in the past 500 years, not including unknown species.
Scientists estimate that more than 380,000 human-caused extinctions have occurred over the past 500 years, although this figure is only an estimate. John Elroy of Macquarie University in Australia noted that it is extremely difficult to accurately calculate extinction rates in modern times.
According to the scientist, to accurately understand the overall extinction rate, researchers need to know the number of extant species. Many wild animals, especially in understudied areas such as the tropics, remain unknown to science, making assessment difficult.
Elroy believes that, despite current estimates, humans are helping to accelerate extinctions, and that the actual number of extinct species is significantly higher than the 777 recorded by the IUCN.
