There are several different levels used by the IUCN (International Union for Conservation of Nature) to describe how endangered an animal is:
- Least Concern: The animal is widespread and abundant, or is very unlikely to become endangered.
- Near Threatened: The animal may become endangered in the future.
- Vulnerable: The animal is at high risk of becoming endangered, and may eventually go extinct.
- Endangered: At risk of going extinct in the wild.
- Critically Endangered: Very high risk of going extinct in the wild.
- Extinct in the Wild: No living individuals in the wild, but some left in zoos or wildlife sanctuaries
- Extinct: No living individuals on Earth.
Animals are becoming endangered and extinct so often because of human activity that we are all living in a sixth mass extinction which began 11,700 years ago, in the Stone Age. The most recent other mass extinction occurred 66 million years ago, and was the well-known extinction event that killed the dinosaurs. In the sixth mass extinction, known as the Holocene Extinction, animals (and plants) are going extinct between 100 and 1,000 times as much as without human activity.
Amami Rabbit
Type: Mammal
Scientific Name: Pentalagus furnessi Conservation Status: Endangered The Amami rabbit is a species of rabbit that lives only on two small islands in Japan. They usually have a body length between 17 and 20 inches and weigh 5–6 pounds. They are sometimes called "living fossils" because they resemble early rabbits that once lived all throughout Asia, but went extinct. They live in forests, but are threatened because these forests are being cut down. Because Japan considers them a special natural monument, they cannot be hunted or trapped. Their population is also decreasing due to being hunted by dogs, cats, and mongooses, which were released in an attempt to control another species and have now become an invasive species. Amami rabbits are nocturnal and sleep during the day in caves and burrows. |
Asiatic Cheetah
Type: Mammal
Scientific Name: Acinonyx jubatus venaticus Conservation Status: Critically Endangered The asiatic cheetah is a rare subspecies of cheetah. Unlike most cheetahs, who live in Africa, the asiatic cheetah's habitat is in Iran. It is estimated that less than 100 asiatic cheetahs are alive in the entire world. Their diet includes cape hares, wild sheep, and gazelles. The asiatic cheetah has been hunted by humans, and livestock introduced by humans have eaten away the grass that the cheetah's prey depend on, limiting the asiatic cheetah's food options even more. |
Axolotl
Type: Amphibian
Scientific Name: Ambystoma mexicanum Conservation Status: Critically Endangered Axolotls are a very rare type of salamander that only live in Lake Xochimilco in Mexico. Axolotls are threatened because their only habitat is this one lake, and the lake is polluted. Around 2010, axolotls nearly went extinct because of water pollution and invasive species. The body of an adult axolotl is usually about 9 in (23 cm) long. The appearance of an axolotl can vary greatly based on its genes. Some are pale with black eyes, such as the one in the picture. Most axolotls are brown, while some others can also be completely black, golden, or gray. |
Bengal Tiger
Type: Mammal
Scientific Name: Panthera tigris tigris Conservation Status: Endangered The Bengal tiger is a subspecies of tiger that lives in India, Bhutan, Bangladesh, and Nepal. They usually hunt large mammals such as water buffalo and chital, as well as smaller animals such as wild boar. Due to poaching and habitat loss, their population is less than 2,500. They are poached for their skins and for their bones, which are used to make fake medicines. They have also lost habitat, and may lose up to 75% more of their habitat due to rising sea levels from global warming. Some people living near the tigers kill the tigers because they believe that the tigers are killing their livestock. |
Benton Cave Crayfish
Type: Crustacean
Scientific Name: Cambarus aculabrum Conservation Status: Critically Endangered The Benton cave crayfish is a type of crayfish that lives in caves in Arkansas and Missouri. It was not discovered until 1987 and is very small, with a body length of only 1.8 inches (48 mm). There are only four caves in the world where it lives. It feeds only on organic materials that are washed into the cave; however, the crayfish can also be washed out of the caves, leading to their death. Although gates have been placed in the entrances to their caves, humans sometimes trespass and step on them. They are also threatened by groundwater pollution, and there are only around 40 individuals left. |
Black-Footed Ferret
Type: Mammal
Scientific Name: Mustela nigripes Conservation Status: Endangered The black-footed ferret is a rare type of ferret that lives in central North America. In 1979, it was thought to be extinct until a small population of black-footed ferrets was found in 1981. After this population was devastated by disease, the remaining 18 ferrets were taken into captivity. More recently, they have been reintroduced to the wild in Canada, the United States, and Mexico. There are over 1,000 black-footed ferrets currently alive. Black-footed ferrets often live inside of prairie dog holes, and their main prey is prairie dogs. They will also eat small mammals such as mice and rabbits. They are threatened due to habitat loss, disease, and accidentally being poisoned in attempts to control prairie dog populations. |
Blue Iguana
Type: Reptile
Scientific Name: Cyclura lewisi Conservation Status: Endangered The blue iguana is a type of lizard that lives on the island of Grand Cayman. Blue iguanas live in rocky and sunny forested areas on the island. They are herbivores and eat fruits, flowers, and other plant parts. They are threatened due to the destruction of their habitat to make pastures for cattle. Many iguanas have also died to due to introduced species such as cats and dogs. They have very long lifespans for lizards, and can live almost 70 years. In 2004, the species nearly went extinct and there were only 12 animals left. However, captive breeding programs have allowed for over 700 blue iguanas to be released into the wild. |
Brown Spider Monkey
Type: Mammal
Scientific Name: Ateles hybridus Conservation Status: Critically Endangered The brown spider monkey is a type of New World monkey that lives in Colombia and Venezuela. Adult spider monkeys weigh between 17 and 20 pounds and are about 20 inches tall. They are usually found in the treetops and eat fruit, although they will sometimes return to the ground to drink water. They are hunted by jaguars, harpy eagles, and mountain lions. Their population has decreased by at least 80%, and are threatened by habitat loss from logging and clearing land to make farms. They are also sometimes hunted by humans for fun. The brown spider monkey is divided into two subspecies: Ateles hybridus brunneus and Ateles hybridus hybridus. The brown spider monkey has been included in "The World's 25 Most Endangered Primates" multiple times. Their population is still decreasing, and they are losing additional habitat from roads and railroads being built, and cities being built in their former habitat. In total, about 98% of their original habitat has been destroyed. |
California Condor
Type: Bird
Scientific Name: Gymnogyps californianus Conservation Status: Critically Endangered The California condor is a type of vulture that lives in California, Arizona, Utah, and Baja California. With its 9.8-foot wingspan, it is the largest bird in North America. The California condor is a scavenger and eats carrion, sometimes flying over 150 miles a day to find food. In the 1900s, many condors died due to their habitats being destroyed by humans as well as being hunted and poisoned. In 1987, the remaining 27 birds were taken into captivity for captive breeding. They have since been released back into the wild and there are 463 individuals remaining, with the population increasing. |
Chinese Alligator
Type: Reptile
Scientific Name: Alligator sinensis Conservation Status: Critically Endangered The Chinese alligator is a type of alligator that is native to China. Fully grown Chinese alligators are usually 5–7 feet (1.5–2.1 m) long and weigh 80–100 pounds (36–45 kg). They live in ponds and wetlands in subtropical areas. The Chinese alligator is one of only two alligators in the world, the other one being the American alligator. When the Yangtze River flooded in 1957, many Chinese alligators died. They have lost much of their habitat from rice farming, and have been hunted for their meat and organs by humans, which were thought to have medicinal properties. Farmers poisoning the alligators' prey, such as snails and mice. Because of their habitat loss, they often have to live in colder areas where their eggs may not survive. Although the Chinese alligator population got as low as 64 in 2015, they have recovered to around 300 individuals. |
Chinese Pangolin
Type: Mammal
Scientific Name: Manis pentadactyla Conservation Status: Critically Endangered The Chinese pangolin found in eastern Asia. They measure between 15 and 23 inches in length. They eat ants and termites by catching them with their sticky tongue. They are threatened by poachers, who kill them and sell their meat as a delicacy. Pangolin blood and scales are used in traditional medicine, even though these probably have no real health benefits. Although this poaching is illegal in many countries, the remains of over 10,000 pangolins are found by authorities every year. |
Common Skate
Type: Fish
Scientific Name: Dipturus batis Conservation Status: Critically Endangered The common skate is a type of skate (a type of cartilaginous fish). It is the largest skate in the world, with a body length of over 9 feet, and a weight of up to 249 pounds. They normally swim in the sunlight zone, between 300 and 600 feet below the surface. However, they have been sighted as low as 3,300 feet underwater, at the bottom of the twilight zone. They live in the Mediterranean Sea and nearby areas of the Atlantic Ocean. They are threatened because they are often caught and killed in fishing nets, often accidentally while people are trying to catch other types of fish, and this has been so severe that there are no common skates left at all in the Baltic Sea. Although it is illegal to fish for it, and common skates must be released if they are caught by accident, their population is still decreasing. |
Crested Gecko
Type: Reptile
Scientific Name: Correlophus ciliatus Conservation Status: Vulnerable The crested gecko is a type of gecko that is native to New Caledonia, which is an island in Oceania controlled by France. They are the largest known species of gecko, with a body length of up to 10 inches (25 cm). The crested gecko was first discovered in 1886 but was thought to be extinct at one point. Crested geckos are often kept as pets. Unfortunately, their population is decreasing due to the little fire ant, which has been introduced to the island by humans, attacks the geckos. The little fire ants also hunt some of the same animals as the crested gecko, meaning that the geckos now have to compete for food. |
Galápagos Penguin
Type: Bird
Scientific Name: Spheniscus mendiculus Conservation Status: Endangered The Galápagos penguin is a type of penguin that lives in the Galápagos Islands. Because the Galápagos Islands are located almost directly on the equator, the penguins live both above and below the equator. They swim into the ocean to hunt small fish and crustaceans, but food is more difficult to find during El Niño seasons. There are only around 1,200 Galápagos penguins left, making them the rarest species of penguin. On one island where the penguins live, humans have introduced animals such as cats and rats which attack penguins. Galápagos penguins are often accidentally caught by fishing nets while they are swimming, and are also threatened by oil getting into the water. |
Green Sea Turtle
Type: Reptile
Scientific Name: Chelonia mydas Conservation Status: Endangered The green sea turtle is a large species of sea turtle that mostly eats seagrasses. They can live up to 80 years in the wild. Green sea turtles and their eggs are hunted for food, even though this is illegal in most countries. They are also threatened by pollution of the water they live in. Baby turtles are also threatened by light pollution; when they hatch, they follow the light from the moon to get into the ocean. However, they may mistake city lights for moonlight, leading them away from the sea and into dangerous places like roads. |
Guam Kingfisher
Type: Bird
Scientific Name: Todiramphus cinnamominus Conservation Status: Extinct in the Wild The Guam kingfisher is a type of bird native to Guam, a territory of the United States. However, there are no surviving birds in the wild since 1988 due to the brown tree snake, an invasive species that kills Guam kingfishers. There are now less than 200 birds left in captivity, and they cannot be returned to the wild because of the snakes. Before they went extinct in the wild, they lived in forest habitats. Fully grown Guam kingfishers are 7.9–9.4 in (20–24 cm) in length. |
Kakapo
Type: Bird
Scientific Name: Strigops habroptilus Conservation Status: Critically Endangered The kakapo is a large flightless bird found in New Zealand. They weigh 2–9 pounds (0.95–4 kg) when fully grown. Although kakapos once lived all across New Zealand, there are now only 147 mature individuals left, and they only live on three islands: Whenua Hou, Anchor, and Hauturu Island. They have been threatened by species introduced to New Zealand by Europeans, such as ferrets, cats, and rats. Kakapos have also been hunted for hundreds of years by the Māori people, due to the fact that they cannot fly. They are nocturnal and have a strong sense of smell due to living in the dark. |
Koala
Type: Mammal
Scientific Name: Phascolarctos cinereus Conservation Status: Vulnerable The koala is a marsupial native to Australia. Koalas have an average body weight of 9–33 pounds (4–15 kg). Because they are marsupials, koalas carry their babies in pouches. Koalas live in eucalyptus forests and eat eucalyptus leaves, which are poisonous to humans. Koalas sleep for up to 20 hours every day. Koalas have been threatened by hunting, especially in the early 20th century. Another threat to the koalas is destruction of their habitat because koala habitats have been destroyed in order to make farms or cities. Fortunately, some koalas live in protected areas. Many koalas are also injured or killed by cars, and domestic dogs also kill up to 4,000 koalas every year. Many koalas were also harmed in the Black Saturday bushfires, which burned much of their habitat. |
Northern Bald Ibis
Type: Bird
Scientific Name: Geronticus eremita Conservation Status: Endangered The Northern bald ibis is a bird that lives in rocky, desert-like areas. Although it was once widespread across Eurasia, there are now very few birds left in the wild, with around 500 in Morocco and less than 10 in Syria. Fortunately, there are breeding programs working to reintroduce the ibis to Europe and other areas. They are threatened due to being hunted by humans, poisoning from pesticides, and habitat loss and have lost 98% of their total population. The Norhtern bald ibis mainly eats lizards and beetles, and also feeds on snails and small birds. |
Northern White Rhinoceros
Type: Mammal
Scientific Name: Ceratotherium simium cottoni Conservation Status: Extinct in the Wild The northern white rhinoceros is a subspecies of the white rhinoceros that once lived throughout East and Central Africa. The only two white rhinos left live in the Ol Pejeta Conservancy in Kenya, where they are protected from poachers by armed guards. Unfortunately, both of the northern white rhinos are females, which means that no new rhinos can be born. No northern white rhinos have been seen in the wild since 2011. The northern white rhinoceros is threatened by poachers, who kill them and sell their horns for large amounts of money. Rhinos in captivity often have their horns removed to protect them from poachers. |
Olm
Type: Amphibian
Scientific Name: Proteus anguinus Conservation Status: Vulnerable The olm, also known as the human fish, is a type of salamander that lives in caves in Europe and is thought to be able to live up to 100 years. Despite having eyes, it is completely blind. However, this blindness means that its smell and hearing are much better. Olms have gills and spend their entire lives underwater, and usually live in water with a temperature between 46–52 °F (8–11 °C). Olms hunt shrimps, snails, and insects for food. They swallow their food whole and do not chew, and can survive up to ten years without eating. Unfortunately, some people illegally steal olms from their caves and are threatened by toxic chemicals, such as pesticides and fertilizers, leaking into their water. |
Pondicherry Shark
Type: Fish
Scientific Name: Carcharhinus hemiodon Conservation Status: Critically Endangered The Pondicherry shark is a very rare type of shark that lives near shores around the Indian Ocean and near Indonesia. They are fairly small and only grow up to 3.3 ft (1 m). Even though they have over a dozen rows of teeth, Pondicherry sharks are harmless to humans, which is why they were hunted for food. By now, this shark is so rare that it was once thought to be extinct until one was seen near Sri Lanka. Pondicherry sharks eat small creatures such as fish, cephalopods, and crustaceans. |
Red-Belly Toad
Type: Amphibian
Scientific Name: Melanophryniscus admirabilis Conservation Status: Critically Endangered The red-belly toad is a species of toad that lives only in a very small area in Brazil. They live in wetlands and forests. Their population is decreasing due to being hunted and because of pesticide pollution from farming. They are usually about 1.18 to 1.57 inches (30-40 mm) in size. Another threat to red-belly toads is a hydroelectric dam that is being built upstream of their habitat. This will alter the flow of the river that they depend on, and will threaten their ecosystem. |
Socorro Dove
Type: Bird Scientific Name: Zenaida graysoni Conservation Status: Extinct in the Wild The Socorro dove is a dove that is extinct in the wild. It was endemic to Socorro Island in the Revillagigedo Islands off the west coast of Mexico. The last sighting in its natural habitat was in 1972. There are not more than 200 and probably fewer than 100 purebred birds in captivity. A reintroduction program is in the early stages of preparation. |
Sumatran Rhinoceros
Type: Mammal
Scientific Name: Dicerorhinus sumatrensis Conservation Status: Critically Endangered The Sumatran rhinoceros is the smallest species of rhinoceros, with a body length of 7.7 to 10.4 feet (2.36–3.18 meters). Sumatran rhinos can communicate through marking soil with their feet or by twisting saplings into different shapes. There are currently estimated to be less than 300 left in the world. Sumatran rhinos are threatened by poachers, who kill them to sell their horns, which are worth very high amounts of money. The rainforests that they live in are also being threatened by logging. |
Tapanuli Orangutan
Type: Mammal
Scientific Name: Pongo tapanuliensis Conservation Status: Critically Endangered The Tapanuli orangutan is a rare species of orangutan that lives on the island of Sumatra in Indonesia. Their habitat covers only an area of around 390 square miles and there are thought to be less than 800 remaining individuals. They are threatened because they are losing their habitat due to farming and because they are being hunted. The loss of trees is especially dangerous to them because they only live in trees and never descend to the ground. They are also threatened by a hydroelectric dam that would impact up to 10% of the Tapanuli orangutan's habitat. |
Vaquita
Type: Mammal
Scientific Name: Phocoena sinus Conservation Status: Critically Endangered The vaquita is a type of small porpoise that lives in the Gulf of California, near Mexico. After the Yangtze River Dolphin went extinct in 2006, it is considered the most endangered cetacean in the world, with the IUCN estimating that only 18 are left alive in the world, and their population is still decreasing. Vaquitas eat deep-water fish such as sea trout. Vaquitas are often caught by accident in fishing nets, and are also threatened by pollution and invasive species. Fortunately, Mexico has placed limitations on fishing, in order to prevent remaining vaquitas from being accidentally killed in fishing nets. |
Whale Shark
Type: Fish
Scientific Name: Rhincodon typus Conservation Status: Endangered The whale shark is the largest living species of shark, and is the largest fish in the world. Although they can grow up to 59 feet in size, they are not hunters and do not attack humans. Instead, they feed by swimming through clouds of microscopic creatures such as plankton and pushing the food and water into their mouthes. Because whale sharks are very friendly, human divers often swim with them, such as in the picture show on the right. Whale sharks are endangered because they are sometimes accidentally caught and killed when people are fishing for other animals. In 2010, nearly 5 million barrels of oil were spilled in the Gulf of Mexico, where many whale sharks live. |
Photo used under Creative Commons from Mike Licht, NotionsCapital.com