Context:

• The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) on Monday released an updated red list classifying the different species.

What are the red list categories and what is it for?

• According to their website,the IUCN Red List Categories are intended to be an easily and widely understood system for classifying species at high risk of global extinction.

The categories are:

• EXTINCT — the last individual in the species has died.
• EXTINCT IN THE WILD — it now lives only in captivity and not in its natural habitat.
• CRITICALLY ENDANGERED — facing an extremely high risk of extinction in the wild.
• ENDANGERED — facing a very high risk of extinction in the wild.
• VULNERABLE — facing a high risk of extinction in the wild.
• NEAR THREATENED — likely to qualify for a threatened category in the near future.
• LEAST CONCERN — it is widespread and abuntant in the wild.
• DATA DEFICIENT — inadequate information.
• NOT EVALUATED — not yet been evaluated against the criteria.

Source:TH