Over 44,000 species are currently at risk of extinction, as reported by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN).
Habitat loss and overhunting are the primary causes of higher extinction rates.
More than a quarter of Earth’s animals might become extinct by the end of the 21st century.
From majestic mammals to tiny amphibians, there are currently more than 44,000 species threatened with extinction in their native environments, according to the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN).
With overhunting, habitat loss, and climate change considered the main extinction causes, a 2022 study from Australia’s Flinders University predicts that the planet will lose around 10 percent of its animals and plants by 2050, rising to 27 percent by 2100.
In this initial segment of a two-part listicle, let’s take a look at nine examples of the planet’s most endangered animals.
1. Amur Leopard
Named after the Amur River, which flows along the border of the Russian Far East and Northeastern China, the Amur leopard (Panthera pardus orientalis) faced substantial population declines in the last century, and its numbers reached as low as 30 individuals during the 1970s.
However, conservation efforts have raised this figure to about 125 individuals as of this year, with the majority of Amur leopards currently residing in the Land of the Leopard National Park, a protected area in Russia.
It is estimated that only around 100 Amur leopards remain in the wild.
Known for their beautiful golden-yellow fur, large black spots, and white underbelly, Amur leopards have been listed as ‘Critically Endangered’ on IUCN’s Red List as of 1996.
“From my perspective, the leopards’ exact number is not the big question,” says Pavel Fomenko, a biodiversity conservation program coordinator at the Far-Eastern branch of the World Wildlife Fund (WWF) in Russia, in a press statement. “What is really important is that the predator is on the brink of extinction.”
This is due to relentless poaching, inbreeding due to their small population, and habitat loss through unsustainable logging, human-induced fires, and industrial development.
2. Orangutans
Native to tropical rainforests and mossy mountain areas, orangutans (whose name is derived from the Malay words meaning “person” and “forest”) are among the most intelligent primates.
However, habitat loss, in addition to hunting and fires, is also the greatest threat to all three orangutan species – the Sumatran (Pongo abelii), the Bornean (Pongo pygmaeus), and the Tapanuli orangutan (Pongo tapanuliensis).
All three orangutan species are critically endangered, mostly because of habitat loss.
Yet, findings from 2015 suggest that the survival of these great apes could be even further jeopardized unless conservation efforts reintroduce them into natural environments with high-energy food sources to ensure their survival.
“If animals can’t obtain enough energy, reproductive output and population sizes will suffer,” says Erin Vogel, PhD, an evolutionary anthropologist at Rutgers University, in the USA, in a statement.
While determining the exact global orangutan population is challenging, estimates suggest just over 104,000 Bornean, fewer than 14,000 Sumatran, and less than 800 Tapanuli orangutans are left.
3. Rhinoceros
At the start of the 20th century, Africa and Asia were home to 500,000 rhinos. However, the rhino population decreased to 70,000 individuals by 1970. Today, less than 27,000 rhinos exist in their natural habitats. However, this is an increase over an estimated 16,803 rhinos at the end of 2022.
The Black rhino (Diceros bicornis), Javan rhino (Rhinoceros sondaicus), Sumatran rhino (Dicerorhinus sumatrensis), and Greater one-horned rhino (Rhinoceros unicornis) are all critically endangered. White rhinos (Ceratotherium simum), whose population was down to just two individuals at one point, are only faring slightly better.
While estimates say there are around 6,487 black rhinos in the wild, both Javan and Sumatran count fewer than 80 individuals. The International Rhino Foundation reports that the Sumatran rhino may now be down to its last few individuals.
Habitat loss, as well as poaching and illegal trade of rhino horn, which reaches U.S. $20,000 per kilogram, are the main reasons for the very low population numbers.
There are around 6,487 black rhino individuals in the wild as of the end of 2022.
Also known as the Asian unicorn, the saola (Pseudoryx nghetinhensis) is native to the Annamite Range in Vietnam and Laos. The forest-dwelling bovine has one of the smallest ranges of any large mammal and inhabits wet evergreen or deciduous forests, with a preference for river valleys.
The saola is classified as critically endangered by the IUCN and has been known to science only since 1992. It is estimated that there are no more than 750 individuals in existence.
A major danger to the species is hunting — its sharp horns, found on both males and females, are considered prized trophies in the north of the animal’s range.
The species is also targeted for the illegal trade of its fur, traditional medicine purposes, and meat, which is in high demand in restaurants and food markets in the region.
5. Vaquita
This porpoise (Phocoena sinus) is native to the northern Gulf of California. It is the smallest species of cetacean in the world, ranging from four to five feet in length.
It is on the brink of extinction, with no more than 10 individuals remaining.
The vaquita has been severely affected by human activity. They frequently become entangled and die in the large mesh gillnets used by poachers who illegally target the totoaba, a protected and highly prized marine fish valued for its medicinal properties.
“Interestingly, we found the vaquita is not doomed by genetic factors, like harmful mutations, that tend to affect many other species whose gene pool has diminished to a similar point,” said Christopher Kyriazis, a UCLA doctoral student in ecology and evolutionary biology, in a statement. “Outlawed fishing remains their biggest threat.”
The researchers believe these critically endangered marine animals might stand a chance at recovery if the fishers switch to sustainable gear and the threat of gillnets is eliminated.
6. Pygmy three-toed sloth
Notably smaller than other species of sloths, Pygmy three-toed sloths (Bradypus pygmaeus) can only be found on the Isla Escudo de Veraguas, a small island off the Caribbean coast of Panama.
Aside from living on the edge of the island’s red mangroves, they also inhabit the area’s forested interior, suggesting that their population size is most likely somewhere between 500 to 1,500 individuals.
“In any case, this is an extremely small number for an entire species,” says Bryson Voirin, a researcher at Germany’s Max Planck Institute of Ornithology, in a press release.
Critically Endangered pygmy three-toed sloths are one of the species that relies on mangrove habitats.
These arboreal creatures are significantly vulnerable to disruptions in their habitat and human development, posing as the main threat to all sloth species due to the ongoing deforestation of their rainforest homes.
Additionally, poaching poses another danger, driven by the high demand for sloths in the illicit pet trade.
7. Wild Bactrian camel
Wild Bactrian camels (Camelus bactrianus ferus) are another of the most severely endangered large mammals. They inhabit some of the most remote desert locations in northern China and southern Mongolia.
Most live in China’s Lop Nur Wild Camel National Nature Reserve, while a smaller number can be found in the Great Gobi A Strictly Protected area.
With a wild population of around 950 individuals, according to the IUCN, these animals are critically endangered due to habitat loss resulting from anthropogenic activities such as hunting, mining, and agricultural expansion.
In addition to the demand for their meat and hides, their limited range makes conservation efforts crucial for their survival.
8. North Atlantic right whale
The North Atlantic right whale (Eubalaena glacialis) is a critically endangered baleen whale listed under the Endangered Species Act since 1970.
With a mere 356 individuals left, including fewer than 79 reproductively active females, their population is decreasing at an alarming pace, predominantly due to human activities. Additionally, the number of new calves has been consistently below average in recent years.
North Atlantic right whales have been listed as endangered under the Endangered Species Act since 1970.
Climate change, vessel collisions, and entanglement in fishing gear are considered the leading causes of North Atlantic right whale mortality.
“Fishing gear entanglements in this population are unfortunately fairly common, and entanglements resulting in attached gear and severe injuries have been generally increasing over the past several decades,” says Joshua Stewart of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) in California, USA.
Increasing ocean noise levels from human activity are also a concern since the noise can disrupt communication among right whales and elevate their stress levels.
9. African forest elephant
Inhibiting humid tropical forests in West Africa and the Congo Basin, African forest elephants (Loxodonta cyclotis) are continuously poached for ivory tusks.
Due to a spike in illegal hunting activities and illicit trade, the species was declared Critically Endangered by the IUCN in 2021 after its population declined by more than 86 percent over a period of 31 years.
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Georgina Jedikovska Georgina Jedikovska, journalist, plant engineer, oenophile and foodie. Based in Skopje, North Macedonia. Holds an MSc. degree in Horticultural Engineering, with a specialization in viticulture and oenology. Loves travelling, exploring new cultures, a good read, great food and flavorful wines. Enjoys writing about archaeology, history, and environmental sciences.
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