Endangered Species: Hippos

House of Lords written question – answered at on 15 May 2006.

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Photo of Lord Jones of Cheltenham Lord Jones of Cheltenham Liberal Democrat

asked Her Majesty's Government:

What assessment has been made by the international bodies responsible of the possible addition of the hippopotamus to the list of endangered species.

Photo of Lord Rooker Lord Rooker Minister of State, Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, Minister of State (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs) (Sustainable Farming and Food), The Minister of State, Northern Ireland Office, Deputy Leader of the House of Lords

Her Majesty's Government were not involved in the assessment on the conservation status of common hippos, which resulted in their being added to the IUCN (World Conservation Union) Red List of Endangered Species.

The IUCN publishes a full analysis of the data held on their Red List every three to four years, using their own categories and criteria for classifying species at risk.

We understand that the common hippo was added to the 2006 Red List, following a population and status assessment undertaken by the Hippo Subgroup—a specialist group of the Pigs, Peccaries and Hippos Species Survival Commission (SSC), one of many SSCs established by the IUCN.

Common hippos are considered by the IUCN to be threatened by human settlements and agricultural development, both of which have compromised much of the wetland habitats on which hippos rely. Poaching for meat and ivory has also contributed to reductions in common hippo populations.

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No5 people think not

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