By Nneka Nwogwugwu
The Covid-19 pandemic ravaging the world has not only affected human lives but has led to full-blown extinctions in the animal world.
Environmental experts have long been warning that we are entering a sixth ‘extinction event’ – and the realities of those fears have become ever clearer in 2020, with countless types of animals now considered extinct.
A latest report by the International Union for Conservation of Nature’s (IUCN) has revealed that more than a quarter of the species it has on its Red List are now ‘threatened with extinction’ – some 35,765 out of 128,918 species.
It comes as the World Wildlife Fund (WWF) warned that animal populations have declined by an average of almost 70% in less than 50 years, as eco-systems break down and animals struggle to cope in a rapidly changing world.
Climate change, human actions, a loss of habitat and other factors have combined to leave many animals facing a bleak future – and some facing none at all.
Here, we take a look at five species that have been officially labelled extinct in 2020.
1.Splendid poison frog: This wonderfully-named creature is one of three Central American frog species to have been newly declared extinct. The tiny red animal, from Panama, was highly sought after for the pet trade, and the IUCN has admitted it does not know if the animal could still be alive in a private collection.
Elsewhere, 22 frog species across Central and South America were listed as critically endangered. The main driver of the declines is said to be a disease called chytridiomycosis.
2.Smooth Handfish: Greenpeace highlight how this species, which lived on the sea floor, is the first marine species to be declared extinct in ‘modern times’.
Remarkably, the animal was last seen in 1802 and, despite extensive searches, has not been found since.
That highlights how difficult it is to officially declare a species ‘extinct’ and suggests many other types of fish may well never be seen again, despite not yet falling into the same category. Will McCallum, Head of Oceans at the environmental pressure group, explained: ‘The smooth handfish, declared extinct this year, was the first marine species to be declared extinct in modern times, unfortunately showing that even the seafloor is not safe from the extinction crisis.
‘For ocean life to recover and thrive we need to put at least 30% of the oceans off limits to all human activities. It’s vital that the world’s governments also commit to legally binding national biodiversity objectives.’
- Jalpa false brook salamander: The newt-like creature used to be relatively common in Guatemala but has not been recorded for decades. Females used to guard their clutch of eggs in the highlands and only lived in the Jalapa region. There are very few pictures available of the little creatures, who have slightly curved tails and various cousins in the false brook subspecies. Since the Jalpa lived in trees and wood, logging and farming activities are believed to have been a major contributor to its decline.
4.Spined dwarf mantis: This insect lived in shrubland in central Italy and confirmation this year that it is extinct bodes badly for other similar creatures around the world. Only one specimen was ever found, in Tolentino, many decades ago. But the praying mantis has countless sub species and a high number of them are concerning experts at the IUCN. The closely-related Canary Dwarf Mantis, found only on La Palma in the Canary Islands, is in decline and endangered. There is better news, however, for the Giant Asian Mantis, which is now increasing in number and in the category of least concern.
5.Bonin pipistrelle bat: Like the handfish, this animal is also likely to have actually died out years ago. Only one specimen has ever been found but it was only officially classed as extinct in this year’s Red List. London’s Natural History Museum has that specimen – though it is not on display to the public because of its scientific importance.
- Militants threaten to commence bombing of oil facilities as talks with FG fail
The Reformed Niger Delta Avengers has threatened to begin bombing of oil facilities in the Niger Delta region as a result of failed peace talks with the Federal government.
The militant group which is a coalition of nine militant groups accused President Muhammadu Buhari of not doing well for Niger Delta and illegally appointing Mr Akwa Okon as Sole Administrator of Niger Delta Development Commission, NDDC.
The National Coordinator of RNDA, self-styled “Major General Johnmark Ezonebi, in a statement, said: “The peace talk was recently threatened by the appointment of Mr Akwa Effiong Okon as sole administrator for NDDC, and the non-recognition of Niger Delta in the policy statements by President Buhari during the January 1 broadcast to the nation.”
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The militants threatened that with effect Wednesday, January 06, 2021, its strike force units in the nine states of the zone “will kick start bombing and destruction of oil facilities and oil pipelines and major oil ships and vessels coming from Lagos to the creek of Niger Delta.
“The major vessels and ships are advised to withdraw their services to Warri, Escravos waters to Bonny NLNG Port Harcourt waters from the Gulf of Guinea to Nigeria waterways, henceforth. Any of the ships and the vessels that refuse to comply with our directive will be met with the fire power attack from the dreaded strike force units of the RNDA militant groups.
“The operation is code named Operation No Mercy Alfa Piper Zero Oil to save NDDC from the hands of politicians, including the Minister of Niger Delta Affairs, Senator Godswill Akpabio; the sole administrator, Mr. Akwa Effiong Okon, and some presidential aides involved in the plot to hold Niger Delta to ransom.”
“We commend those genuinely agitating for the practical development of the zone and salute the neglected emancipated long suffering and most oppressed citizens of Nigerian state, who are from the oil-rich Niger Delta.
“Though the Commander-in-Chief, President Buhari, refused to acknowledge that the most significant zone in this country that has been sustaining the economy of this nation for all these years should be given proper attention before any other region. “And for issues concerning the overall development of the entire Niger Delta, it is noted that Mr President refused to address these issues, including that of Niger Delta Development Commission. RNDA wants to say that President Buhari does not mean well for the development of the Niger Delta.
“The fact that Mr. President kept quiet and refused to take any action on the inauguration of a substantive NDDC board, which had been screened and confirmed by Mr President himself before now, and for him to keep quiet and allow his aides around him to plot a coup against the people of Niger Delta is mind blowing. Solution “The only solution to the issue on ground is for President Buhari to listen to the clarion call and agitations of the Niger Delta people.
“The RNDA has decided to declare war and to blow up all the major oil pipelines and attack all the oil vessels entering Nigeria waters that is bringing in NNPC fuel tankers to the Lagos high sea.
“For this reason, RNDA has decided to declare curfew with the expiration date of 21 days in the entire Nigerian water ways from the Lagos sea Atlas Cove manifold, NLNG Bonny waters to the gulf coast of Guinea to Nigeria waters. “Any foreign vessels that refuses to obey this directive from the RNDA is on its own and whatever happens to any of the vessels and the foriegners, the country’s vessel owners should hold Sen Godswill Akpabio, Minister of Niger Delta Affairs and Mr Akwa Effiong Okon responsible for whatever happens to them in the creek.”
- OPEC announces oil production increase by 0.5mb/d in January
The Organisation of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) and the non-OPEC countries have agreed to increase crude oil production by 0.5 million barrels per day (mb/d) in January.
The group reached the agreement at the 13th OPEC and non-OPEC Ministerial Meeting (ONOMM), held via videoconference, on Tuesday in Vienna.
The meeting acknowledged the need to gradually return two mb/d to the market, with the pace being determined according to market conditions.
It reconfirmed the decision made at the 12th ONOMM to increase production by 0.5 mb/d starting in January 2021, and adjusting production to 7.7 mb/d from 7.2 mb/d.
The adjustments to the production level for February and March 2021 will be implemented as per the distribution detailed in a table.
It noted that production adjustments for April and subsequent months would be decided during the monthly ONOMM following the criteria agreed upon in the 12th ONOMM.
The meeting reiterated the need to continue closely monitoring market fundamentals, including non-DoC supply and its impact on the global oil balance and overall market stability.
It further noted that high conformity levels had contributed significantly to market rebalancing and stability.
“Between May and November, participating OPEC and non-OPEC countries contributed to reducing the global supply by approximately 1.9 billion barrels, including voluntary adjustments, and this has been key to the rebalancing of the market.
The meeting requested all underperforming participating countries to submit their plans for implementation of the required compensation for the overproduced volumes to the OPEC Secretariat by Jan. 15, 2021.
It welcomed Dr Mohammad Alfares, Kuwait’s new Minister of Oil and Minister of Electricity and Water, and expressed its appreciation to his predecessor, Dr Khaled A. Al-Fadhel, for his dedication to the DoC process.
It further decided to hold the next Joint Ministerial Monitoring Committee (JMMC) Meeting on Feb. 3, 2021, followed by a JMMC Meeting on March 3, 2021.
