Wildlife is down 73% since 1970 — but the comebacks prove recovery is real

The WWF's 2026 Living Planet Report, tracking 5,790 species across 35,803 populations, finds monitored wildlife populations fell 73% on average since 1970. The same report carries the good news: tigers, Atlantic and Pacific bluefin tuna, southern African elephants, and green sea turtles are all rebounding where conservation acts. 'Amid these steep declines, there are grounds for hope, rooted in evidence,' says WWF's director general. 'Recovery is in reach.'