How conservation status works

Status is a snapshot, not a permanent label

Every IUCN assessment describes a species at a moment in time. As habitats shrink or recover, as new field surveys are completed, and as assessment methods improve, species are reassessed and can move between categories. A “Vulnerable” listing today is not a promise about next decade. That is why FaunaHub never presents conservation status as fixed and always links to the live source.

Global status versus national status

IUCN Red List categories describe global extinction risk. A species can be globally threatened while remaining locally common in part of its range, or be globally secure but protected nationally. National and regional assessments — for example a country's own red list or endangered-species law — can differ from the global category and are maintained by separate authorities.

How source verification works here

For each record, FaunaHub records the species' common and scientific name, its category, and links to authoritative references. We confirm that each source link resolves during a review pass, and we flag how much of the record has been individually re-verified. We do not copy IUCN assessment text, maps, or datasets; we summarise categories in original language and point you to the original.

What the review date means

The review date is when FaunaHub last reviewed a record against its listed sources. It is not the date of the IUCN assessment, which may be older or newer and is shown separately where FaunaHub has checked the record against IUCN's published Red List data — with the date of that check. Because status can change between our reviews, the official IUCN Red List is always the current source of truth.

How existing animal profiles are linked

Where FaunaHub already publishes a profile about exactly one species — our tiger or red panda pages, for example — the Red List record links to that page instead of duplicating it, and the profile shows the assessment as its own. Some records point to a page about a group instead: the gorilla page covers both gorilla species, and the elephant page all three elephants. Those pages list each species' assessment separately and say plainly that no single status applies to the group.

Why not every record has a full page

FaunaHub deliberately does not publish a separate page for every species in this dataset. Many records are index entries: they appear in category lists with their status and sources, but do not get a standalone page unless there is enough verified material — and, where possible, a properly licensed photograph — to support one. This avoids thin, low-value pages and keeps the focus on accuracy over volume.

Always verify with conservation authorities

FaunaHub is an educational publisher, not a conservation authority. For decisions that depend on current status — research, policy, travel, or trade — confirm against the official IUCN Red List and the relevant national wildlife agency. Our role is to orient and to point you to the right source.