Dozens of whales stranded on beach in Western Australia
Associated PressApr 28
The Facts
The average size of the world's monitored wildlife populations declined by 73% in 50 years, according to the World Wildlife Fund's (WWF) 2024 Living Planet Report.
WWF and the Zoological Society of London tracked 5,495 amphibian, bird, fish, mammal, and reptile species from 1970 until 2020, with the report attributing the decline primarily to human-related activities.
The Spin
Narrative A
The steep decline in global wildlife populations spells disaster for humanity. It threatens our very existence, jeopardizing vital ecosystem services we depend on. Clean air and water, pollination, carbon storage, and natural flood protection are all at risk. This ecological crisis demands immediate action to prevent irreversible damage to our planet and our own survival.
Narrative B
Alarmist statistics oversimplify complex ecological realities and misdirect conservation efforts. The calculation method used is often inherently biased toward showing declines due to its focus on proportional changes rather than actual abundance. This magnifies the impact of small, struggling populations while downplaying the stability or growth of larger ones.