Global scale assessment of the human-induced extinction crisis of terrestrial carnivores

Torres-Romero, Erik Joaquín (author), Eppley, Timothy M. (author), Ripple, William J. (author), Newsome, Thomas M. (author), Krofel, Miha (author), Carter, Neil H. (author), Ordiz, Andrés (author), Oliveira, Tadeu G. de (author), Selva, Nuria (author), Penteriani, Vincenzo (author)

Human impacts on carnivores are a persistent conservation challenge worldwide. We present a global analysis showing the overlap of conservation lands and the cumulative impact of humans on the distribution ranges of 257 terrestrial carnivore species. Our findings reveal that 64% of carnivore ranges overlap with areas characterized by high human pressures. We found that Indigenous peoples’ lands emerge as crucial for carnivore population viability, potentially safeguarding 26% of carnivore ranges globally, while protected and wilderness areas cover roughly 10 and 16% of carnivore ranges, respectively. These three areas combined cover 35% of the global range of carnivores. Reducing human pressure on conservation lands and managing them to protect carnivores are therefore critical, yet challenging. The extent of carnivore ranges outside these areas underscores the necessity to expand the network of conservation lands, which are a pivotal component of global conservation planning, alongside broader proactive species-specific conservation measures.

• Language: English
• Work type: Article
• Typology: 1.01 - Original Scientific Article
• Organization: BF - Biotechnical Faculty
• Publication status: Published
• Publication version: Version of Record
• Year: 2025
• Number of pages: 13 str.
• Numbering: Vol. 11, iss. 29, article no. eadq2853
• PID: 20.500.12556/RUL-170911
• UDC: 591.531.2:502.172
• ISSN on article: 2375-2548
• DOI: 10.1126/sciadv.adq2853
• COBISS.SI-ID: 243215619
• Publication date in RUL: 21.07.2025

Record is a part of a journal

• Title: Science advances
• Publisher: American Association for the Advancement of Science
• ISSN: 2375-2548
• COBISS.SI-ID: 523392025

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• License: CC BY-NC 4.0, Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International
• Link: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/
• Description: A creative commons license that bans commercial use, but the users don’t have to license their derivative works on the same terms.