From previously being considered a “viable” species, porcupines are now categorized as “near threatened” in Europe.
It appears on the international red list for threatened species, as the nature conservation organisation IUCN stands behind. The category is the second highest risk on the IUCN’s ranking.
Several European countries have experienced a decline in the porcupine population of over 30 per cent in the last ten years.
– It is terrible that there are so many fewer porcupines, but it is also time for the status change to come, says porcupine researcher at Oxford University and the University of Aalborg, Sophie Lund Rasmussen, to Ritzau.
She is among the researchers behind the report in which the porcupine is designated as a more endangered species.
The fact that more and more porcupines are disappearing is particularly due to a lack of habitat, as agriculture, residential areas and new roads take over more and more natural areas.
Lack of habitat means that the porcupines also come closer to humans.
– The porcupines are full of pesticides from the gardens. We are talking about both mouse and rat poison and herbicides, says the porcupine researcher.
At the same time, around one in three porcupines is hit on European roads each year, according to Rasmussen.
As Europe’s only porcupine researcher, she will speak about the porcupine crisis in the EU Parliament in November.
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