The slender-billed curlew (Numenius tenuirostris) has been officially declared extinct following its inclusion in the “Extinct” category of the IUCN Red List, updated on October 10, 2025, during the IUCN World Conservation Congress held in Abu Dhabi. This is only the third bird species from the Western Palearctic to be declared extinct since 1500. Warnings about the species’ decline date back to 1912, and the possibility of extinction had already been acknowledged since 1940.
In the article published by Público, José Alves, researcher at CESAM/DBio, acknowledges that the decision was not a surprise but rather the formal recognition of a devastating loss. He emphasizes, however, that this case should “serve as a lesson”: although warning signs had been evident for decades, conservation action came too late. “It took more than 40 years for the species to be declared threatened, and another 16 before it was considered critically endangered. By the time action began, it was already too late,” he laments.
José Alves warns that many other bird species — particularly waders and migratory birds — are currently facing a similar decline. The researcher stresses the need for earlier action, reducing the gap between scientific evidence and on-the-ground conservation measures. He also highlights the importance of effective coordination between countries, to ensure the protection of migratory species that depend on multiple territories across different regions of the world.
Currently, the IUCN Red List includes 172,620 species, of which 48,646 are threatened with extinction. Among bird species, the situation is particularly alarming: 61% show declining populations, a significant increase compared to 2016, when the figure stood at 44%.
Read the full article here: https://www.publico.pt/2025/10/15/azul/noticia/acabou-esperanca-macaricodebicofino-ave-declarada-extinta-2150945
Image © Jamie Harron/Papilio/Corbis