Its numbers have been severely depleted by fishing, river damming and water pollution.
The small gray dolphin is mostly found in the Amazon river system. The European bison population has seen a recovery, thanks to continued conservation efforts. To tackle global threats such as unsustainable fisheries, land clearing for agriculture, and invasive species, conservation needs to happen around the world and be incorporated into all sectors of the economy." "Yet the growing list of extinct species is a stark reminder that conservation efforts must urgently expand. The bison and 25 other species recoveries documented "demonstrate the power of conservation," Bruno Oberle, IUCN director-general, said in a statement. Europe's largest land mammal, the European bison, has moved from vulnerable to near threatened. There is at least some positive news in this week's report. Of the 128,918 species included on the updated list, released Thursday, 35,765 are threatened with extinction as of December, according to the conservation organization.Īnd 31 plant and animal species have gone extinct, including all 17 freshwater fish species found mostly in Lake Lanao and its outlet in the Philippines. I should have just kept on staring at the green mosque and setting sun so as not to get distracted by what floated beneath my feet and assailed my nostrils.With the small gray dolphin moving into the endangered category on the IUCN's latest Red List of Threatened Species, all of the world's freshwater dolphin species are now listed as threatened. At some of the stops we took, the view of mosques standing beside the lake was spectacular.Īt one point, I was just was not sure who was guarding who when I stared at one green mosque that seemed to be floating in the lake’s still waters.Īt sunrise, the mosque glistened with the lake’s gentle warmth and at sunset, it was the lake that seemed to seek comfort at the prayers blaring from the mosque’s green turrets. Not even Safeguard with its 99 percent germ-killing power, I suppose.īut Lake Lanao is a view to behold. Only high heat and chlorine can kill e.coli, not soap. So upon seeing a couple take their morning bath in the lake-complete with shampoo and facial wash, I was beyond being just dumbfounded. The waters of Lake Lanao seem to be in such distressed state that only two of its 18 endemic species are existing according to a study by the Mindanao State University and according to the National Power Corporation, e.coli is thriving in its waters.Į.coli or Escherichia coli, a germ or bacterium that lives in the digestive tracts of humans and animals is passed on by coming into contact with feces, or stool, of humans or animals. I would not have been surprised if I dove into its depths and found a whole kitchen sink. Then there were diapers, sanitary napkins, broken plates, cans, water bottles that provided stark contrast to the sea grass. sharing space in the water with fish traps. While waiting for sunrise at the view deck of Lake View Resort, I looked at the water immediately below me and identified a rice cooker, men’s shoes, kid’s flip flops, trousers, etc. Then there’s trash.Īt any of the short stops that we took, there was always trash lining the shore, floating in the water, or visibly settling in the lake’s waters. Despite having watersheds that rely on forests for sustenance, there is rampant timber poaching and farm conversions that have harshly reduced water flowing to and from the lake.
Though the rest of the country may not have the same cultural affinity to Lake Lanao as the Maranaos, it is an important resource to the country as it is the major source of hydroelectric power of the country- around 60 percent of the total electricity of Mindanao.īut whatever value it has to the people of Mindanao, the same does not seem to have been extended to the lake. It is so huge that it has five watersheds and about thirty rivers feeding its water. Lake Lanao has an area of around 36,000 hectares making it the largest freshwater lake in the Philippines.
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