Eighty percent of all wild cat species are experiencing population declines, as are 25 percent of wild canids - the family of foxes, wolves and wild dogs. The report looks beyond the raw numbers and delves into the plight of 15 of these species that are considered ecologically vital, detailing their current numbers in the wild, changes to the population in the last ten years, and conservation solutions for improving their status.

“Under a cloud of corruption allegations the IWC is taking a safe course, opting for a cooling off period that protects the moratorium and other IWC conservation measures,”  said Patrick Ramage, Director of IFAW’s Global Whale Campaign. “Had it been done here, this deal would have lived in infamy.”

IFAW estimates approximately 450-500 dogs live in the township and has already vaccinated 429 dogs and 50 cats, to prepare them for the surgery. The last remaining dogs and cats are being vaccinated by the Department of Agriculture this week.

A team of four veterinarians, two vet nurses, animal welfare assistants and volunteers will arrive in the Prince Albert on Monday, ready to begin the marathon task.

The radio-collars will help rehabilitators track the movement of the cubs as they become completely independent of human care and begin exploring on their own. 

An extremely shy, nocturnal, and tree-dwelling species found in India’s northeast region, the clouded leopard (Neofelis nebulosa) is in peril today with only about 10,000 remaining in the wild. The clouded leopard is listed in Schedule I of the Indian Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972 and is classified ‘vulnerable’ in IUCN Red List of threatened species.

“CITES Parties voted by the slimmest of margins to protect porbeagle sharks, but rejected all other shark proposals at this meeting,” said Dr Ralf Sonntag, Director IFAW Germany. “An Appendix II listing would have given sharks a fighting chance against the devastation that shark finning is causing around the world.”

“Sharks have been sold out today. Short-term profits have won again at CITES.”

With more than 100 million sharks caught each year, some species are estimated to have declined by as much as 80 per cent in the past decade.