A new United Nations (UN) study has revealed that one in five migratory species under international protection is at risk of extinction. A report by the Convention on the Conservation of Migratory Species of Wild Animals (CMS) found that 22 out of 1,189 species on the CMS list are threatened with extinction and 44 are showing population declines, with many under unsustainable pressure from habitat loss and overexploitation.

There is a high risk of extinction for 97 % sharks, rays and sturgeons on the list, with populations declining by 90 % since 1970, the UN report says.

The research was released as governments met last week to summit in Samarkand, Uzbekistan to discuss how to better protect the world's migratory species. (More on weforum.org)