The golden-headed or Cat Ba langur, shown here at the Endangered Primate Rescue Center in Vietnam's Cuc Phuong National Park, is a critically endangered primate. Earth's species are rapidly dwindling, due largely to habitat destruction and climate change.
The world is on the brink of a sixth great extinction of species, a new study says. Species of animals and plants are currently dying out at least 1,000 times faster than they would without human interference.
Before humanity became dominant on earth, an average of one species per 10 million became extinct each year. But now between 100 and 1,000 per million cease to exist annually, says a study by a group of authors led by biologist Stuart Pimm of Duke University.
"We are on the verge of the sixth extinction," Pimm said. "Whether we avoid it or not will depend on our actions."
