The International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN) is well-known for producing its 'Red list' of endangered species (https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2020/jul/09/caterpillar-fungus-and-european-hamster-on-brink-of-extinction). Although the Covid-19 pandemic has delayed some of IUCN's planned meetings, they have still been able to indicate some of the species causing great concern. Some appear to be predictable, whereas others are less so. The North Atlantic right whale has been reduced to around 2 dozen animals which looks to be terminal. Many of the unique Prosimians of Madagascar (including the impressively-named Madam Berthe's mouse lemur) are also on the brink of extinction. More surprisingly, the European hamster (once common over that continent and into Russia) appears to be seriously endangered. Somewhat weirdly, the Caterpillar fungus (only found on the Tibetan plateau) is threatened by Chinese medicine (like the Tiger and the Rhinoceros). The fungus receives its name because its life-cycle includes a stage where it grows through the body of a buried Ghost moth larva. Some Chinese believe it has beneficial effects on the lungs and the kidneys. This results in the fungus being over-collected as it sells for very high prices. Humans retain their place as the top cause of extinctions.
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