Pondicherry shark may have become extinct, fear scientists:

Pondicherry shark may have become extinct, fear scientists:

Context:

• Three marine species, the Pondicherry Shark, the Red Sea Torpedo and the Tentacled Butterfly Ray might have become possibly extinct in the waters of the Arabian Seas Region (ASR).
• Scientists are also worried about the possible disappearance of other species from the region even before they were known to science.

The scenario of the marine extinction in details:

• The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Species Survival Commission Shark Specialist Group reviewed the extinction risk and conservation status of all chondrichthyans naturally reproducing  in the region
• The assessment revealed that 27 species were near threatened and 19 others were of least conservation concerns.
• It was also known that less was known about 29 to evaluate their risk of extinction.
• The assessors were of the view that the increasing decline in the extent and quality of habitat as a result of coastal development and other anthropogenic disturbances.
• Particularly for those critical habitats that many species depend on coral reefs, mangroves, sea grasses pose a serious threat to the survival of many species.

What is IUCN?

• The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), officially International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources is an international organization working in the field of nature conservation and sustainable use of natural resources.
• It is involved in data gathering and analysis, research, field projects, advocacy, and education.
• IUCN’s mission is to influence, encourage and assist societies throughout the world to conserve nature and to ensure that any use of natural resources is equitable and ecologically sustainable.
• With time, IUCN has widened its focus beyond conservation ecology and now incorporates issues related to sustainable development in its projects.

The IUCN Programme 2017–2020 identifies three priority areas:

1. Valuing and conserving nature.
2. Promoting and supporting effective and equitable governance of natural resources.
3. Deploying Nature Based Solutions to address societal challenges including climate change, food security and economic and social development.

What are the reasons for extinction?

• Scientists have narrowed down several of the most likely causes of mass extinction. Some of them are as follows:
• For many years, killing by human was a major factor of extinction. Humans kill other species for many reasons including food, recreation, and to protect themselves and their properties.
• For example, exploitation is responsible for 55% of the main extinction threat to North American marine fishes.
• Biological, physical and chemical factors in most ecosystems are tightly intertwined. Hence changes in one of these factors can result in changes of others.
• Exploitation of habitat can therefore profoundly influence many components of a system.
• More recently, climate change such as global warming has increased local water temperatures beyond the suitable range of many species.