**Abstract**

This chapter presents the conservation status and threat of the European goldfinch *Carduelis carduelis* in Algeria. Many selective pressures run into this passerine, mainly human pressure due to keeping and hatching the birds in captivity. Illegal trading is actively carried out between countries of North Africa (mainly the pathway Morocco – Algeria – Tunisia). This situation is clearly expounding a threatened status of this songbird. A scientific survey was done in north center of Algeria to assess the captivity rate of goldfinch. Systematic sampling was done in several houses of Bouira district. Goldfinch breeder's age varies between 20 and 40 years. No income and no fixed job are the main reasons for these breeders. Results exposed serious threat of this species in center of Algeria. Management plan and conservation directions have been proposed for this species.

**Keywords:** Algeria, conservation, status, goldfinch, *Carduelis carduelis*

## **1. Introduction**

The human-animal relationship is defined as the degree of proximity or distance between animal and human, this mutual perception which develops is expressed in their mutual behavior [1]. We are currently living in an area marked mainly by a drastic erosion of biological diversity, although we do not know the real number of species inventoried in our planet. Their rate of extinction is estimated to the order of 100 to 1000 times greater than normality. In addition, several thousand endangered wild animals are poached by humans for: furs, tusks, scientific experiments, and domestic collections. Many species are endangered, according to the IUCN report: every day around the world 15% of all species are threatened [2]. There have always been species that have disappeared throughout the history of the earth (such as mammoths, dinosaurs, ammonites or more recently dodos and great penguins) and other current species that are in danger of disappearing like pandas, gorillas, orangutans, tigers, rhinos, and several species of birds. For example, it has been estimated that 50,000 monkeys, 350 million fish, 10 million reptile skins, 15 million mammal skins and 5 million birds are sold each year [2]. 47% of the wildlife captured for illegal trading come from South America, while the United States is the main market for this trade. A scientific report published in 2014 concluded that in 40 last years, more than half of the wild animals of the planet have faced this brutal situation. Alarming findings are well exposed in this report, because of the changes in the method of calculating the LPI (Living Planet Index) which offer a more faithful representation of the global distribution of vertebrate species [2]. The rest of the report is just as alarming, indeed, between 1970 and 2016, the monitoring of 21.000 mammals, birds, reptiles, amphibians, and fish population showing a decline rate of 68% [2].

An endangered species is defined by scientific authorities as: a species whose number of individuals has fallen sharply or will decline in future years if nothing is done to protect it. Depending on the greater or lesser danger in which a species is found, it is classified into one of three categories: critically endangered, endangered, or vulnerable [3]. Throughout ancient history, the evolution in social organization, human race has been articulated around two vital elements: water and food. In contemporary history, biodiversity has taken on a more important dimension in the space of human exchanges, linked to growth and reverse on the availability of biological resources and their sustainability. In contrast, we are currently living a new shift in concepts, and according to the eminent American environmentalist and writer Edward O. Wilson (1975): "The 'backbone' of biodiversity is being eroded. A small step up the Red List ladder is a giant leap towards extinction. This is just a snapshot of the ongoing losses globally".

Several scientists are proposing other regional indices for species conservation for more efficiency and more meaning. Among the animals that are experiencing a decline in their status and population, birds have experienced several forms of extinction and several species are disappearing each year. The European goldfinch *Carduelis carduelis* which was the subject of this study is critically endangered in Algeria and classified in the Bern Convention (Annex 2 - strictly protected species). In the contrast, its global status according to the IUCN red list is least concern "LC" [3].

In Algeria, population size of the European goldfinch has been declining gradually for several years. In East of country (mainly in Guelma and Souk Ahras forests), this passerine was known as a regular breeder [4, 5]. According to Algerian Forest Department report, the goldfinch which attracts by coloring of its plumage and its songs, is threatened by intensive hunting/poaching, and remains captured in cages for human pleasure of the ears and eyes. Poaching (during the breeding season) for domestic breeding of European goldfinches have been the main causes of the collapse of their numbers in the wild and the drop in their nesting success rate [5]. In addition, it is still considered as a cage bird which has caused its regression nationwide [6].

In 1970, need to reverse the trend of biodiversity erosion, many countries legislated creation of national parks. Since 1983, Algerian environment department started the creation of national parks and natural reserves. In 2002, during National parks of North Africa and the Middle East direction meeting, Algeria held first place in terms of the number of protected areas classified in these regions [7]. Indeed, Algeria has created eleven national parks to conserve heritage specimens in variety of ecosystems such as landscapes and forests. The creation of these protected natural environments aims to find sustainable balance between the biotopes and biocenosis that constitute them.
