Using the most up to date research, the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species™ has announced today that the Wild Camel, Camelus ferus, has been reclassified as ENDANGERED. Nonetheless, the species remains highly threatened with extinction. Find out more below ⬇
The last IUCN Red List assessment for the Wild Camel was conducted in 2008. At this time, it was given the “Critically Endangered” status due to the criteria of population reduction. This IUCN Red List criterion requires “a population size reduction of at least 80% within the next three generations”. Since then, with an increase in research and conservation action on this elusive species, thankfully this predicted devastating population decline has not happened.
The new IUCN Red List assessment, led by the IUCN SSC Antelope Specialist group , has determined that the Wild Camel is considered Endangered due to its small size and fragmented population. Although this may seem a positive step, the species is still highly threatened with extinction.
Our focus on learning more about the Wild Camel has allowed us to show the population decline to be less than predicted. Although this is good news, the Wild Camel is not safe, and we cannot stop our crucial conservation work.
There are still many threats facing the continued survival of the Wild Camel including continued climate change and habitat destruction, loss and fragmentation. Continued competition and hybridisation from the domestic Bactrian Camel (Camelus bactrianus), which as a separate species, may also threatens the Wild Camels genomic integrity.
The species remains dependent on continued conservation action, and we remain committed to saving it from extinction.
Leave a Reply