Santa Cruz de Tenerife 9 Feb. (Europa Press) –
The Canary Islands currently harbour 38 endangered animal species, alongside 36 deemed to be in a “vulnerable” state. These statistics underscore that we are at a “critical” juncture, albeit also a “decisive” one, in addressing the necessary measures for their conservation, as highlighted by Luis Herrera, a professor in the Department of Environmental Biology at the University of Navarra and researcher from La Gomera.
In an interview with Europa Press, Herrera outlines the essential points of his latest book, ‘Fauna de Canarias in danger of extinction’, which provides a thorough examination and “update” of the biodiversity across the islands as well as the fauna species at risk inhabiting the archipelago, including those that have already been lost, amounting to twelve.
Furthermore, the book immerses the reader in the geological, bioclimatic, and ecological frameworks of the Canarian archipelago, presenting a classification of species according to their threat levels. It also assesses the effects of climate change, urban development, and human activities on local wildlife.
The researcher specifically notes some of the endangered species, such as the Canarian guirre or alimoche, whose presence is reportedly limited to a few specimens on the islands of Fuerteventura and Lanzarote.
According to Herrera, the guirre has vanished from the archipelago due to a decline in grazing. This practice provided food to the carcasses on which this bird, the only “scavenger” in the Canary Islands, relied: “If grazing diminishes, then there is no carrion available for them, and they disappear, as there is no sustenance.”
The expert continues his analysis by providing a general overview of the marine environment, where he takes time to underscore the status of cetacean species inhabiting the islands: while the total number of these species amounts to 30 across the archipelago, 9 are currently facing vulnerability.
Luis Herrera has not overlooked the necessity of addressing the vulnerability of these species through recovery plans and projects, which involve the Government of the Canary Islands, Cabildo de La Gomera, and the City Council of Valle Gran Rey.
Moreover, the professor of the University of Navarra also delves into the “microevolution” experienced by certain species that are critically endangered or in peril of extinction, akin to the Giant Lizard of the Canary Islands, whose diversification across the islands bears similarities to Darwin’s finches in the Galapagos Islands.
The giant tortoises of Tenerife and Gran Canaria
In a historical examination of species that are now extinct, researcher Luis Herrera recalls the giant terrestrial tortoises that once roamed Gran Canaria and Tenerife. In his book, he elaborates on their extinction, noting that it occurred “in a time long past” due to volcanic eruptions on the islands, rather than human impact.
He also mentions another extinct species, the giant rat of Tenerife, believed to have disappeared due to the first settlers of the islands, who likely consumed this wild animal amid food shortages.
“We are still on time”
Despite the concerning state of fauna in the islands, which he regards as “critical” and “decisive”, Herrera believes that “we are still in time” to implement the necessary measures that could “alter the circumstance of these species” in a perilous state. The challenge, in any case, lies in the “political will” surrounding this issue, as he cautions, “there is funding available.”
The scientist highlights the investments accessible from Europe regarding these matters, while also advocating for the imperative of mobilising local resources from the region itself to facilitate agreements with public universities in the Canary Islands to initiate conservation and preservation plans and projects.
