Context:

The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) recently released its newest Red List, painting a worrying picture for Arctic seals and bird species globally. The update, unveiled at the IUCN World Conservation Congress in Abu Dhabi on 10 October 2025, shows that climate change, habitat loss, and human activity are driving many species closer to extinction.

Key Findings:

1.       Scale of Threatened Species

o    The Red List now includes 172,620 species evaluated, of which 48,646 are considered threatened with extinction.

o    Among birds, 61% of all species globally are experiencing population declines — up from about 44% in 2016.

2.      Seals Under Pressure

o    Three Arctic seal species have had their status worsened:

§  Hooded seal (Cystophora cristata): moved from Vulnerable to Endangered

§  Bearded seal (Erignathus barbatus): moved from Least Concern to Near Threatened

§  Harp seal (Pagophilus groenlandicus): also moved from Least Concern to Near Threatened

o    The primary threat is sea ice loss driven by global warming. Sea ice is essential for breeding, resting, moulting, foraging, and pup rearing. As ice thins and its seasonal coverage shortens, these seals face shrinking habitat, reduced access to food, and increased exposure to human disturbances. Other threats for seals include increased maritime traffic, oil and mineral extraction, industrial fishing bycatch, noise pollution, and hunting.

3.      Birds in Steep Decline

o    Of ~11,185 bird species assessed, 1,256 (~11.5%) are now classified as globally threatened.

o    The decline in bird populations is widespread and accelerating, with tropical regions particularly hard hit. Regions like Madagascar, West Africa, and Central America are facing serious habitat loss, especially in tropical forests, due to logging, agricultural expansion, and land‑use change.

o    Among birds, there are also newer categories of “Near Threatened” and “Vulnerable” uplistings for some species, indicating worsening status.

Conclusion:

The latest IUCN Red List update is a sobering reminder that the biodiversity crisis is still intensifying. For Arctic seals, the threat is existential and tightly bound to climate change and loss of sea ice. For birds, the decline is widespread and driven by habitat loss, land‑use change, and human intervention. But while the outlook is grave, there are clear models of recovery and hope — if concerted global action is taken soon.