The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) and the Zoological Society of London recently released a list of the 100 Most Threatened Species at the IUCN World Conservation Congress in South Korea.
The list was a part of the Priceless or Worthless? report, which "hopes to push the conservation of 'worthless' creatures up the agenda that is set by NGOs from around the globe," according to the IUCN.
The 100 threatened species live in 48 different countries around the globe, and include animals, plants, and fungi. Some notable additions to the list are the pygmy three-toed sloth, the saola, and Tarzan's chameleon. The two organizations are concerned that without "obvious benefits" to humans, the species may die out, reported AP.
ZSL's Ellen Butcher, who co-authored the report, said in a statement, “all the species listed are unique and irreplaceable. If they vanish, no amount of money can bring them back."
Although some of the species on the list may seem obscure, Dr. Simon Stuart, chair of the IUCN's Species Survival Commission says that while “the value of some species may not appear obvious at first, all species in fact contribute in their way to the healthy functioning of the planet.”
Below is the list in full. Information courtesy of the International Union for Conservation of Nature and the Zoological Society of London.
