The worst of times

As if it weren't already fairly obvious that the world is going to hell, further evidence was presented Wednesday in the form of the 2007 Red List of Threatened Species presented by the World Conservation Union. Prepare to be depressed.

Of the 15 million currently known/recognized species worldwide, the IUCN assesses some 41,000. Things don't look good.

Despite a possible, but unconfirmed, sighting last month, the Yangtze River Dolphin hasn't been seen since 2002 and is considered extinct. No chance of recovery, even if a few individuals still survive.

The Redheaded Vulture jumped from "near threatened" to "critically endangered" status.

There are only 182 Gharial crocodiles left in the wilds of India and Nepal - a drop of nearly 60% in just 10 years.

Of all those monitored, the status of only 1 species improved. But even then, the Mauritius Echo Parakeet edged from critically endangered to just endangered, and that only via captive breeding and careful management.

A combination of illegal hunting (including the commercial bushmeat trade) and the virulent Ebola virus has also forced the Western Gorilla to critically endangered status, wiping out nearly 70% of the remaining population in recent years. Unless something changes soon, it seems certain they will be extinct inside of 15 years. Seriously.

So, in summary, at least 785 species are known to have disappeared over the last 500 years and 65 others are now found only in captivity. According to Wednesday's report, an additional 16,306 species are threatened with extinction -- 188 more than last year. Broken down a little further, 1 in 4 mammals are in jeopardy, 1 in 8 of all the world's birds, a third of all amphibians, and a full 70 percent of the plants that have been studied.

Cheered you right up, didn't it?