If you think the U.S. has is bad, try being a Grey-Faced Sengi

Posted at 5:48 PM on October 6, 2008 by Sanden Totten

While we cringe at the latest financial news, something big and scary has been happening in the animal kingdom. No, it's not talking chihuahuas. One in four mammals are threatened with extinction.

I can haz "bailout" too? (Photo by guppiecat via Creative Commons)

25% of the worlds mammals. Wow. And it's not just obscure creatures like the grey-faced sengi. Iberian lynx, black-footed ferrets and wild horses also make the list. Cute little guys like this fishing cat are on the ropes too.

It's worse for amphibians, where it's estimated that 33% of the slimy species are in serious trouble. When global warming gets factored in, the whole scenario becomes even uglier. So, something should be done right? Well, thanks to the whole global financial mess, saving the environment might get postponed for a while, says Mike Lubell, director of public affairs for the American Physical Society:

"Unfortunately, a carbon tax, or anything with the word 'tax' in it, will be a very hard sell . . ."

My gut tells me he is right. And that's not good news, for the Sengi or us.

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