According to the latest Living Planet Index, published on October 8, 2026 by the WWF, the average size of populations of wild vertebrates tracked has decreased by 73% between 1970 and 2022. This report, produced every two years by the World Wildlife Fund (WWF), is a key indicator of global biodiversity. It compiles data from 35,803 population trends across 5,790 vertebrate species found on all continents. The data includes populations that are increasing, decreasing, or stable. The most significant declines are observed in freshwater ecosystems, where tracked vertebrate populations have decreased by an average of 85% over the study period, followed by terrestrial and marine ecosystems, which have decreased by 69% and 59%, respectively. The loss and degradation of wild habitats are the most frequently reported threat to wildlife populations, followed by overexploitation, climate change effects, pollution, invasive species, and diseases. These habitat losses are driven by three main human-related factors: the food system, the energy system, and the financial system. The food system alone is responsible for nearly 30% of greenhouse gas emissions, and the environmental costs it creates are estimated to be nearly 12% of global GDP. In 2023, approximately 7,300 billion dollars were directed toward activities harmful to nature, compared to about 220 billion toward protection or restoration activities. Despite the generally negative global trend, approximately half of the tracked populations are stable or increasing. These results show that certain populations can recover when effective conservation measures are implemented, even if the overall trend remains negative. "The Living Planet Report once again reminds us of the harsh reality: our natural environment is severely degrading, but recovery is possible if we scale up the proven solutions," said Ester Asin Martinez, director of the WWF European Union, in a statement. India is cited in the report as an example of success in the conservation of certain species. After experiencing a major decline during the 20th century, the population of Bengal tigers (Panthera tigris tigris) in India was estimated at 3,682 individuals in 2022. This progress in India is part of the increase in the global tiger population, which has grown by more than 70% since 2010. The country's conservation efforts have also contributed to increasing the populations of Indian rhinoceroses (Rhinoceros unicornis) and leopards (Panthera pardus) to more than 3,300 and 13,874 individuals, respectively. The population of Asian lions (Panthera leo persica) has also increased from 674 in 2020 to 891 in 2025, while the first national assessment of snow leopards in India estimated their population at 718. "India demonstrates exemplary professionalism in the conservation of the five great cats and is undoubtedly a global example of wildlife conservation," said SP Yadav, general director of the International Big Cat Alliance, to Down to Earth. However, some experts note that these results mainly rely on data from protected areas and that animals living outside these areas do not benefit from sufficient protection. "India achieves good results in species conservation through protected areas, but we need to develop and implement conservation strategies adapted to animals living mainly outside these areas, such as the great Indian bustard, the Indian wolf, foxes, etc.," said YS Jhala, a biologist and wildlife advocate, to the newspaper. He recommends increasing efforts in non-protected areas, especially for animals forced to live increasingly close to urbanized or human-exploited areas.