Major, Global Decline of Large Herbivores May Leads to an 'Empty Landscape'

Many populations of rhinoceroses, zebras, camels, elephants and tapirs are disappearing over time. In order to assess these populations, and others, researchers conducted a comprehensive analysis of data on the world's largest herbivores, which were more than 220 pounds on average. Their analysis included endangerment status, key threats and ecological consequences of populations decline.

In all, the researchers focused on 74 large herbivore species and found that without intervention, these herbivores will continue to disappear from numerous regions with enormous ecological, social and economic costs. About 25 of the largest herbivores only occupy 19 percent of their historical ranges.

"I expected that habitat change would be the main factor causing the endangerment of large herbivores," said William Ripple, one of the researchers, in a news release. "But surprisingly, the results show that the two main factors in herbivore declines are hunting by humans and habitat change. They are twin threats."

The risks, however, go well beyond forest landscapes. They also extend to savannahs and grasslands and deserts. This means that places where large herbivores are located may experience some major damage and could cause major declines in animal populations.

"We hope this reports increases appreciation for the importance of large herbivores in these ecosystems," said Ripple. "And we hope that policymakers take action to conserve these species."

The findings reveal the importance of conservation efforts in order to protect large herbivores. As poaching continues-especially for animals that are believed to have medicinal properties-it's crucial to halt these instances in order to preserve animal species.

The findings are published in the journal Science Advances.

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