Highly Endangered Animals

According to National Marine Fisheries Service, a species of animal is considered endangered if it is in danger of extinction through all or a significant portion of its range. This may depend on the habits and biology of an animal, such as how many offspring they produce, how long they typically live, and how many an ecosystem can support at one time. Some of the most endangered species are at risk of going extinct in our lifetime.

  1. Black Rhino

    • The black rhino is the most endangered animal as of 2010, and since 1990, the black rhino population has decreased by over 90 percent. It is believed that about 3,000 of this species of rhino remain. Their population plummeted primarily due to the ivory trade and hunting in Africa.

    Giant Panda

    • Worldwildlife.org states that there are fewer than 2,500 mature specimens of giant panda in their native China as of 2010. While China has established many panda reserves, human development continues to prey upon the areas that produce the bamboo they consume. Additionally, pandas have proven difficult to breed in mass numbers, making restoring the population difficult.

    Tigers

    • Fewer than 6,000 tigers exist in the wild today. This is mainly because many Asian cultures believe their body parts and bones are medicinal in nature. Tigers are often thought of as predatory, but very few humans are killed by tigers every year, and tigers rarely attack humans without provocation.

    Beluga Sturgeon

    • These fish have been around for hundreds of thousands of years. They are highly valued for their pearl-like eggs. Native to the Caspian sea, the beluga sturgeon is close to extinction.

    Alligator Snapping Turtle

    • The alligator snapping turtle is the largest freshwater turtle in North America. It is sought after by poachers and fisherman for its rare meat, and it's in high demand in Asian markets. It is also commonly kept as a pet in Japan. Habitat loss and dredging have also killed many of this species, especially around the Mississippi Delta area.