When powerful cyclones strike island nations, efforts rightly concentrate on saving human lives. However, these storms also pose a hidden danger — driving many unique animal species toward extinction, sometimes in an instant.

A recent investigation by researchers from Bangor University and the University of Birmingham, alongside the IUCN, analyzed all intense tropical cyclones (winds over 130 mph) from 1972 to 2022. They discovered that three-quarters of these devastating storms impacted island biodiversity hotspots — areas rich in species found nowhere else on Earth.

Worryingly, 95% of the cyclones that affected these hotspots occurred in just five regions: Japan, Polynesia-Micronesia, the Philippines, Madagascar and surrounding islands, and the Caribbean. Islands are especially vulnerable because many creatures have evolved in isolation, often existing in small populations with no refuge from storms.

The disappearance of the Bahama nuthatch after Hurricane Dorian in 2019 highlights how a single cyclone can erase an entire species.

The team created a list of 60 species that inhabit only one island and are highly susceptible to cyclone damage. Sadly, only 24 of these are currently under conservation protection, and a mere six benefit from captive breeding programs.

The authors call for an IUCN-led task force to boost readiness, swift action, and global cooperation to shield these fragile species from sudden extinction.