Arctic Seals Threatened, Birds Decline Globally; Green Sea Turtle Rebounds
Press release • 10 Oct 2025 • Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates
The latest IUCN Red List update reported status changes for Arctic seals, a global trend of declining bird populations, and a rebound for the green sea turtle.
Supporting context on marine wildlife and habitats is available via related coverage on Arctic underwater noise and bird habitat watchlists.
Sea ice loss was named as the primary threat. Other pressures include shipping, noise, oil and mineral activity, hunting, and bycatch.
“Each year in Svalbard, the retreating sea ice reveals how threatened Arctic seals have become,” said Dr Kit Kovacs.
Hooded Seal Endangered
Cystophora cristata moved from Vulnerable → Endangered.
Bearded Seal Near Threatened
Erignathus barbatus moved from Least Concern → Near Threatened.
Harp Seal Near Threatened
Pagophilus groenlandicus moved from Least Concern → Near Threatened.
Context
Rapid Arctic warming shortens sea ice seasons and affects access to breeding, resting, foraging, and moulting platforms.
BirdLife International completed reassessments for 1,360 species. Out of 11,185 species, 1,256 (11.5%) are globally threatened. Habitat loss from agriculture and logging was listed as the most prevalent driver.
Madagascar
14 endemic forest birds were uplisted to Near Threatened; three to Vulnerable (e.g., Schlegel’s asity).
West Africa
Five species were assessed as Near Threatened (e.g., black-casqued hornbill). Hunting and trade were recorded as additional pressures.
Central America
Northern nightingale-wren was moved to Near Threatened due to forest loss.
Ecosystem Roles
Birds contribute to pollination, seed dispersal, pest control, scavenging, and habitat engineering.
Green sea turtle (Chelonia mydas) moved from Endangered → Least Concern. An estimated ~28% global increase since the 1970s was reported, with variation among subpopulations.
Nesting Protection
Beach protection for nesting females and eggs, community actions to reduce non-subsistence take, and curbs on trade.
Fisheries Measures
Turtle Excluder Devices and other bycatch-reduction measures were cited.
Sites With Gains
Ascension Island, Brazil, Mexico, and Hawai’i reported strong rebounds, with some sites nearing pre-exploitation levels.
Ongoing Risks
Direct take, bycatch, coastal development, and climate impacts on nesting beaches (e.g., Raine Island).
Christmas Island Shrew
Crocidura trichura
Cone Snail
Conus lugubris
Slender-billed Curlew
Numenius tenuirostris
Diospyros angulata
Plant species in the ebony genus
Australian Mammals
Perameles myosuros; Perameles notina; Perameles papillon
Delissea sinuata
Plant native to the Hawaiian Islands
Quick Check
Further Reading
The press release outlined status changes for Arctic seals, global bird reassessments, green sea turtle trends, and species listed as Extinct. The sections above summarise the update.
