- Scientific name: Panthera pardus orientalis
- Location: Eastern Russia
- Population: Less than 40
- Scientific name: Elephas maximus
- Location: India and Southeast Asia
- Population: 25,000 to 32,000
- Scientific name: Balaenoptera physalus
- Location: All the world's oceans
- Population: 30,000
- Scientific name: Pongo abelii
- Location: Northern Sumatra
- Population: 7,300
- Scientific name: Eretmochelys imbricata
- Location: Throughout the tropics and subtropics
- Population: 8,000 nesting females
- Scientific name: Diceros bicornis
- Location: Southwest Africa
- Population: 4,000
- Scientific name: Gorilla beringei beringei
- Location: Central Africa
- Population: 700
- Scientific name: Ailuropoda melanoleuca
- Location: South-central China
- Population: 1,864 as of 2014
- Scientific name: Pan paniscus
- Location: Central Africa
- Population: 5,000 to 60,000
- Scientific name: Panthera tigris altaica
- Location: Russian Far East, possibly small border areas of China and North Korea.
- Population: 450
In
a survey (note: this link goes to an independent website's archived
copy; the museum's original link no longer exists) of biologists conducted by
New York's American Museum of Natural History, 70% of the biologists surveyed
believe that 20% of all living animal populations could become extinct by
2028. Science has only identified about 2 million species, but it is estimated
that this is only a small fraction of the number that have yet to be
discovered or that have already gone extinct. Over the past 400 years,
89 mammalian species have gone extinct, and another 169 are threatened with
extinction.
Because
of human destruction of their habitats, tropical rainforest species are at the
highest risk, as are top-of-the-food-chain carnivores, other species whose
geographical range is already small, and marine coral reef species.
While
the fossil record shows that the loss of biodiversity due to
extinctions is a phenomenon that can be recovered from, the time for recovery
in the past has been on the order of millions of years. If we humans don't
take action to maintain our planet's biodiversity, we might be the ones facing
extinction if the future.
Here
are 10 of the world's most endangered species. There are many more species
that are endangered or threatened with becoming endangered, but most of these
are considered to be at extreme risk of extinction.
1. The Amur Leopard
Amur Leopard Facts
Once
ranging from all over Eastern Asia, the Amur leopard, or Far Eastern Leopard,
is now extinct in China and the Korean Peninsula.
Poaching and human encroachment into the habitat of the
Amur leopard have led to their drastic reduction in numbers. With such a small
population, genetic anomalies due to inbreeding pose a further threat to the
population.
2. The Asian Elephant
Asian Elephant Facts
The
main threat to Asian elephants is conflict with humans. Since elephants are
grazing animals, they need large tracts of land to feed and survive. Because
of this, elephants and people cannot co-exist in regions where most of the
land is used for agriculture.
The
habitat of the Asian elephant lies within Asia, the area of the world with the
greatest human population growth, so their habitat is under serious threat
from human encroachment.
3. The Fin Whale
Fin Whale Facts
In the
20th century, over 750,000 fin whales were killed by commercial whalers. This
second largest living animal (after the blue whale) was hunted almost to
extinction until the International Whaling Commission's ban on killing them in
1976. Except for a small number of allowed kills for Norway, Japan, and
Iceland, the hunting of this whale has been banned.
4. The Sumatran Orangutan
Sumatran Orangutan Facts
Sumatran
orangutans exist only on the Indonesian island of Sumatra. Over the last 75
years, their population has been diminished by 80% due to human encroachment
of their forest habitat, especially for timber and agriculture.
Although
their numbers were stabilizing for several years, logging increased as people
cut down trees to rebuild damaged infrastructure following the 2004 tsunami.
5. The Hawksbill Turtle
Hawksbill Turtle Facts
With a
range that covers all the world's tropical and sub-tropical seas, the
hawksbill turtle population has decreased by 80% over the last three
generations.
The
major threat facing the hawksbill turtle is the tortoiseshell trade. In the
last 100 years, millions have been killed for their shells. Habitat
destruction by human beach front development, excessive collection of their
eggs, and poaching for meat are other major threats to their survival.
6. The Black Rhino
Black Rhino Facts
The
black rhino was once the most numerous rhino species, ranging throughout
southwestern Africa. Due to excessive hunting, the population has been reduced
by over 90% in just the last 70 years.
The
greatest threat to the black rhino is poaching. They are hunted simply for
their for horns, which are used in traditional Chinese medicine, as well as
for trophies and ornamental use.
Increased
law enforcement and conservation programs are helping increase their numbers,
but they are still considered critically endangered.
7. The Mountain Gorilla
Mountain Gorilla Facts
The
sub-species of gorilla known as the mountain gorilla exists in the wild in two
small regions: the Virunga Volcanoes region at the borders of Uganda, Rwanda,
and the Democratic Republic of Congo, and the Bwindi Impenetrable National
Park in Uganda.
These
animals are threatened by hunting and human encroachment for agriculture and
timber. While eco-tourism may help to protect these small populations, there
is a risk of spreading human illnesses to the animals.
8. The Giant Panda
Giant Panda Facts
One of
the most familiar endangered species in the world, the giant panda spends half
its day eating, and bamboo makes up 99% of their diet. While poaching is no
longer considered a threat, the main threat to the giant panda is loss of
habitat and fragmentation of their habitat due to agriculture.
9. The Bonobo Ape
Bonobo Ape Facts
Bonobos
are members of the great ape family and are found only in the rainforests of
the Democratic Republic of Congo. They are closely related to the more
familiar chimpanzee, with longer legs, shorter arms, and smaller trunk. Like
chimpanzees, bonobos are remarkably social, but bonobos tend to be more
peaceful than chimps.
The
greatest threat facing bonobos, aside from the limited range of their habitat,
is from poachers who kill the apes and sell them for bush meat.
10. The Siberian Tiger
Siberian Tiger Facts
Tigers
once ranged all over Asia, but today their numbers are dangerously low, and
more tigers exist in American zoos than in the wild in Asia. The Siberian, or
Amur, tiger is the sub-species closest to extinction in the wild. These are
the largest sized sub-species of tiger, as well as the largest of the world's
big cats.
The
major threats facing these big cats are poaching and loss of habitat due to
human encroachment. Much of the poaching is done to supply tiger parts for
traditional Chinese medicine, even though equivalent modern alternatives are
available and have been proven to be more effective.