University researchers confirm disputed World Wildlife Fund estimate of 68% decline in vertebrate numbers over past 50 years, say drop was likely even higher

By STUART WINERToday, 3:55 pm  

https://www.timesofisrael.com/steep-global-wildlife-decline-may-be-worse-than-feared-israeli-study-finds/

Image: Some of the extremely declining species in the Living Planet Report. Top Left- The Mountain Nyala (photo credit: Charles J Sharp – link), Top right – The Yosemite Toad (photo credit: Maierpa – link), Bottom left – The White-rumped Vulture (photo credit: Ravi Sangeetha- link), and bottom right – The Gharial (photo credit: Charles J Sharp – link). All images from Wikimedia Commons via Ben Gurion University of the Negev)

A new paper by Israeli researchers has not only confirmed a disputed estimate that wildlife populations have declined by over two-thirds in the past 50 years, but showed that the true drop may have been even more severe, according to a Monday statement.

The study, published last week…