Assimilated and Written by
John Cox M.A. C/M
When we started to look at a few research papers, as well as technical reports, et al, in regard to wildlife and wilderness areas, we found many severe errors — A lot of obviously misinformed and misinterpreted information.
Especially from those associated with exploitation of wildlife, e.g. wild horses, wolves, bears, mountain rams, and the list goes on. Basically we found 95% of the over-population discussions and data, to be outright lies. The data as well as swayed-statistics, conflicted directly with the resolutions provided. Worse, they were paid for by many organizations or government entities, or non-profits, that quite obvious, assumed profit over truth — sacrifice over sustainability, and formed severe disinformation campaigns from their lie-dynamic of presentation.
We can honestly implicate several lobby groups, for example, ranching, hunting, gun manufacturing, oil and gas industry, trapping, and many organizations that tell the public they are “Conservationists”. . . Or, non-profits that state they are “Saving” Wilderness and Wildlife, but involved within the same profit-based dynamic as many others, who merely remain Exploiting Wildlife and Wilderness areas.
Yet the wilderness areas or lands in discussion, are suffering, some destroyed, and directly related to today’s awkward terminology of “Conservationist” lies. E.g. Over hunted, over fished, some wildlife near extinction, other necessary wildlife beneficial to wilderness areas killed, until not enough left to fulfill their benefits given by them, directly to Ecological Areas. The list goes on and on.
Rather than go into lengthy detail, the very foundation of “Conservationist” is established on a lie. The same with their “Harvesting” terminology to cover-up they “kill” a lot of wildlife unnecessarily. Harvesting means replenishment, which is a direct conflict to “killing” something, either almost to extinction, or to extinction.
There is extensive evidence showing global wildlife populations are declining, and claims of overpopulation are largely misleading, and often outright lies, from government and other exploiters of both wilderness and wildlife.
While some localized instances of species overabundance can occur, the claim of general wildlife overpopulation is a persistent misconception that is directly contradicted by decades of credible and truthful scientific research.
Evidence for wildlife decline:
Major conservation organizations report staggering decreases in wildlife populations:
Massive global decline:
The World Wildlife Fund’s (WWF) Living Planet Report 2024 found a catastrophic 73% decline in the average size of monitored wildlife populations between 1970 and 2020.
Vertebrate species are in free-fall: The declines are observed across mammals, birds, fish, amphibians, and reptiles, with freshwater species experiencing the worst drop (85% decline).
Mass extinction event: This sharp and rapid decline has led the vast majority of ecologists to conclude that the planet is in the midst of a sixth mass extinction event.
The idea that wildlife is overpopulated stems from a few factors & sources:
Localized examples: Certain species, particularly white-tailed deer and geese in some areas, can have overabundant populations due to the eradication of their natural predators. This is an exception, not the rule, and is often misconstrued as a widespread phenomenon.
Media misinterpretation:
Headlines have sometimes wrongly suggested that the decline numbers reported by organizations like the WWF mean a specific percentage of all individual animals have been lost. The numbers, however, refer to the average decline across thousands of monitored populations.
Animal farming and pets: When considering total animal biomass, humans and their domesticated livestock now account for 95% of the total mammal biomass on Earth. Claims of wild animals “spiraling out of control” often overlook that the vast majority of commonly consumed animals are artificially bred for human use, not reproducing in the wild.
Misleading blame: Some have used the idea of wildlife overpopulation to justify practices like hunting or to deflect blame for biodiversity loss from human activities.
The primary threats to wildlife populations are all linked to human activity
Habitat loss and degradation:
The conversion of natural land for agriculture, cities, and infrastructure is the biggest driver of wildlife population decline worldwide.
Over-exploitation:
Excessive hunting, fishing, and poaching, including the illegal wildlife trade, are emptying forests and oceans of animals, especially large species.
Climate change: Rising temperatures, changing weather patterns, and the disruption of ecosystems, such as coral reefs and polar regions, threaten numerous species.
Pollution:
Pollution from pesticides, plastics, and other industrial waste is contaminating habitats and poisoning animals. Fertilization Management and Experimentation on Federal Lands and Public Lands.
Invasive species:
The introduction of non-native species, often through human travel and trade, can devastate local wildlife populations.
Quite obvious, until we deny the circumstances of outright lies, to essentially promote exploitation and profits within related organizations that aspire to profits, all the while sacrificing and killing our wildlife and wilderness areas, sustainability nor improvements within any environmental landscape, will lack the benefits of Nature. Human Kind is simply not responsible enough, today, to be honest about the things that need to be accomplished.
John Cox, M.A. C/M — Preservation of America’s Wildlife
Photojournalist - Journalist 