A leading zoologist urged British politicians to tackle the challenge of population growth, warning that mankind was becoming a "voracious monoculture".

Aubrey Manning said the sheer number of humans on the planet was the greatest menace the world faced.

"Of the many million species on the planet, humans are among just a handful whose population is increasing. Human domination comes at a long term cost to ourselves," said Prof. Manning.

He warned that by clearing land, draining wetlands, depleting fish stocks and warming the earth, mankind was destroying the species that were the "very foundation" of its own survival.