Explanation of Threat Levels
The threat levels used in this guide are based on the opinions of WDCS experts using the available information. As such they should not be used instead of a vigorous assessment of a species or population and are merely for guidance and will be regularly reviewed and updated. They do not take into account the fact that threats may act together synergistically.
RED This is a predominantly critical threat that unless addressed threatens the survival of the populations or species.
ORANGE This threat also appears to be significant and should be addressed.
YELLOW This threat is apparently at a low-level and needs monitoring and may need action.
Additional explanation of Captivity Threat Level
RED Currently exploited by live captures and/or held in captivity
ORANGE Previously exploited by both captures and captivity
YELLOW No threat from captures or captivity
Our aim
Is to develop the WDCS Species Guide into the best freely available online resource for cetacean information. However, as you will see, there are several species that have no images attached. If you can help fill these gaps then please get in touch! Future plans for the guide include surface behaviour drawings, videos and acoustics; again, if you can help, please get in touch!
Good images of cetaceans at sea are hard to come by and take a lot of patience and dedication and WDCS would like to thank all the contributors to the guide to date we wouldn't have been able to bring it to you without them! To all the researchers in the field
THANK-YOU!
If you have suggestions and/or comments or are interested in contributing material, photographs, acoustics or footage, please email
here.
WDCS hopes that this guide will also prove a useful tool for journalists looking for detailed information on particular species. If you are a journalist and have a specific media enquiry, or require further assistance regarding any aspect of the guide, please contact the WDCS press office
here.
IUCN (International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources) Categories explained
EXTINCT (EX)
A taxon is Extinct when there is no reasonable doubt that the last individual has died. A taxon is presumed Extinct when exhaustive surveys in known and/or expected habitat, at appropriate times (diurnal, seasonal, annual), throughout its historic range have failed to record an individual. Surveys should be over a time frame appropriate to the taxon's life cycle and life form.
EXTINCT IN THE WILD (EW)
A taxon is Extinct in the Wild when it is known only to survive in cultivation, in captivity or as a naturalized population (or populations) well outside the past range. A taxon is presumed Extinct in the Wild when exhaustive surveys in known and/or expected habitat, at appropriate times (diurnal, seasonal, annual), throughout its historic range have failed to record an individual. Surveys should be over a time frame appropriate to the taxon's life cycle and life form.
CRITICALLY ENDANGERED (CR)
A taxon is Critically Endangered when the best available evidence indicates that it meets any of the criteria A to E for Critically Endangered (see Section V), and it is therefore considered to be facing an extremely high risk of extinction in the wild.
ENDANGERED (EN)
A taxon is Endangered when the best available evidence indicates that it meets any of the criteria A to E for Endangered (see Section V), and it is therefore considered to be facing a very high risk of extinction in the wild.
VULNERABLE (VU)
A taxon is Vulnerable when the best available evidence indicates that it meets any of the criteria A to E for Vulnerable, and it is therefore considered to be facing a high risk of extinction in the wild.
NEAR THREATENED (NT)
A taxon is Near Threatened when it has been evaluated against the criteria but does not qualify for Critically Endangered, Endangered or Vulnerable now, but is close to qualifying for or is likely to qualify for a threatened category in the near future.
LEAST CONCERN (LC)
A taxon is Least Concern when it has been evaluated against the criteria and does not qualify for Critically Endangered, Endangered, Vulnerable or Near Threatened. Widespread and abundant taxa are included in this category.
DATA DEFICIENT (DD)
A taxon is Data Deficient when there is inadequate information to make a direct, or indirect, assessment of its risk of extinction based on its distribution and/or population status. A taxon in this category may be well studied, and its biology well known, but appropriate data on abundance and/or distribution are lacking. Data Deficient is therefore not a category of threat. Listing of taxa in this category indicates that more information is required and acknowledges the possibility that future research will show that threatened classification is appropriate. It is important to make positive use of whatever data are available. In many cases great care should be exercised in choosing between DD and a threatened status. If the range of a taxon is suspected to be relatively circumscribed, and a considerable period of time has elapsed since the last record of the taxon, threatened status may well be justified.
NOT EVALUATED (NE)
A taxon is Not Evaluated when it is has not yet been evaluated against the criteria. For further information click
here
CMS (Convention on Migratory Species) Listings explained
Appendix I Endangered migratory species
Migratory species that have been categorized as being in danger of extinction throughout all or a significant proportion of their range are listed on Appendix I of the Convention.
Appendix II - Migratory species conserved through Agreements
Migratory species that have an unfavourable conservation status or would benefit significantly from international co-operation organised by tailored agreements are listed in Appendix II to the Convention. For this reason, the Convention encourages the Range States to conclude global or regional Agreements for the conservation and management of individual species or, more often, of a group of species listed on Appendix II. For more information click
here.
CITES (Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora) Listings explained
Appendix I lists species that are the most endangered among CITES-listed animals and plants. They are threatened with extinction and CITES prohibits international trade in specimens of these species except when the purpose of the import is not commercial, for instance for scientific research. In these exceptional cases, trade may take place provided it is authorized by the granting of both an import permit and an export permit (or re-export certificate).
Appendix II lists species that are not necessarily now threatened with extinction but that may become so unless trade is closely controlled. It also includes so-called "look-alike species", i.e. species of which the specimens in trade look like those of species listed for conservation reasons. International trade in specimens of Appendix II species may be authorized by the granting of an export permit or re-export certificate. No import permit is necessary for these species under CITES (although a permit is needed in some countries that have taken stricter measures than CITES requires). Permits or certificates should only be granted if the relevant authorities are satisfied that certain conditions are met, above all that trade will not be detrimental to the survival of the species in the wild.
For more information click
here.