http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/topstories/2008/05/17/our-dying-planet-1-in-3-animals-lost-in-past-35yrs-89520-20420228/

Our dying planet... 1 in 3 animals lost in past 35yrs

Almost a third of the world's wildlife has been lost in the past 35 years, a report reveals.

The number of animals per species fell an average 27 per cent between 1970 and 2005 - with land animals down 25 per cent, marine 28 per cent and freshwater 29 per cent.

And one of the big reasons is the expansion of humankind - our population is up to 6.5 billion from 4 billion and we are using 25 per cent more resources than we replace.

Jonathan Loh, author of the report, said the fall was "unprecedented in terms of human history", adding: "You would have to go back to the extinction of the dinosaurs to see a decline as rapid as this."

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The main threats to species are pollution, habitat destruction, over-exploitation, invasive species and climate change.

The Living Planet Index, produced by WWF, the London Zoological Society and the Global Footprint Network tracks 4,000 species including nearly 241 fish, 83 amphibian, 40 reptile, 811 bird and 302 mammal species..............