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73% Global Wildlife Population Decline Since 1970
The World-Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) releases the Living Planet Report 2026, produced in collaboration with the Zoological Society of London (ZSL). The report uses the Living Planet Index and reports a 73% decline in the average size of monitored wildlife populations worldwide between 1970 and 2022.
WWF Living Planet Report 2026:
| Dimension | Key Details |
|---|---|
| Living Planet Index (LPI) | The Living Planet Index is a biodiversity indicator used to track changes in the relative abundance of monitored vertebrate populations over time. |
| India-specific observation | India documents population increases in several key wildlife species: tigers, Asiatic lions, and greater one-horned rhinoceroses. |
| Major threats to wildlife | The report lists major threats: habitat loss and ecosystem degradation; overexploitation of wildlife populations and natural resources; anthropogenic climate change; environmental pollution; introduction and spread of invasive alien species; emergence and transmission of wildlife diseases. |
| Broader challenges | These pressures are interconnected with broader challenges in food production, energy infrastructure, and financial systems. |
| River dolphin survey coverage | The survey encompasses 8,507 kilometers across 28 rivers between 2021 and 2023. |
| Ganges river dolphin estimate | A science-based estimate identifies 6,324 Ganges river dolphins within the surveyed range. |
| Asia-Pacific regional finding (1970-2022) | The report documents an average 49% decline in monitored vertebrate populations in Asia and the Pacific from 1970 to 2022. |
| Asia-Pacific index composition | The regional index comprises 4,664 monitored populations representing 787 species. |