Endangered Animals in the Biomes

Biomes are a system of classifying different areas of the Earth by such criteria as climate, geography, communities of animals, plants and soil organisms. Biomes are also known as ecosystems, and certain animals in these ecosystems have become endangered, or at risk of extinction, because of several factors.

  1. Siberian Tiger

    • Siberian tigers are critically endangered.

      The Siberian tiger is an endangered species found in the Russian "taiga." A taiga is a type of biome, and means "marshy pine forest" in Russian. This biome is very cold, but animals here have adapted to it. Almost all wild Siberian tigers live in the Sikhote-Alin mountain range, in the Southeast corner of Russia. The reason Siberian tigers are endangered is over-hunting by poachers who want the animals for their highly prized fur, as well as other body parts used in traditional Chinese medicine. In 1993, this practice was declared illegal by the State Council of the People's Republic of China. However, because the trade in Siberian tiger parts was lucrative -- one tiger could sell for up to $50,000 on the international market -- this practice has not abated. The International Union for Conservation of Nature lists the Siberian tiger as a critically endangered species.

    Snow Leopard

    • Snow leopards are adapted to live in their biome.

      Snow leopards live in the tundra. The tundra is a type of biome characterized by extremely low temperatures and little precipitation. Snow leopards have adapted to live in this type of biome with their long, thick fur, small ears and stocky bodies, which help keep them warm. They also have wide paws, which helps distribute their weight better when walking on snow. Snow leopards are extremely secretive animals and are only very rarely sighted in the wild. They live in the high mountains of central and southern Asia. The reason snow leopards are endangered is conflict with farmers, who often kill the cats to protect their livestock. They also poach for their fur and other body parts used in traditional Asian medicine.

    African Elephants

    • African elephants live in the savanna.

      African elephants inhabit the savanna biome. The savanna is a type of biome that has rolling grasslands with shrubs and isolated trees. It is somewhere between a desert biome and a tropical rain forest biome. The African elephant is the largest land animal, and is endangered because of poaching for its valuable ivory tusks.

    African Rhinoceros

    • Rhinoceros are hunted for their valuable horns.

      African rhinos also live in the savanna biome. They are endangered because they are hunted for their horns, which are thought to have many medicinal properties. Most of the horns are sold in southeastern Asia's medicine markets. The International Union for Conservation of Nature says more than 800 African rhinos were killed for their horns between 2009 and 2010.