Top 10 Most Endangered Animals

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Many new species are being added to the endangered animal list all of the time. Much of this is a result of the destruction of their natural habitats from humans. Despite efforts all around the world to protect endangered species, there has been an unprecedented number of animals on the brink of extinction. Check out the list below for the top 10 most endangered animals.

#10: The Chinese Giant Salamander

The Chinese Giant Salamanders can be found naturally in watersheds and wild rivers. However, it is one of the top endangered animals due to it being a popular dish consumed by many Chinese people on a daily basis. This amphibian can grow more than a meter in length and is caught in its millions for Chinese delicacies. In addition, the Chinese Giant Salamander is going extinct because it is both easily susceptible to different diseases and is losing much of its natural habitat.^[1]Mongabay – Chinese Giant Salamander: millions farmed, nearly extinct in the wild The Chinese Giant Salamander has been around since the time of the giant Dinosaurs. In addition, to losing this wonderful creature, its extinction will spell the doom for a big industry in China.

#9: The Tiger

The tiger is the biggest cat in the world. Unfortunately, the rate at which this endangered animal is declining calls for serious concern. Researchers have shown that there are less than 3,000 tigers in the entire world.^[2]National Geographic – Three Thousand Wild Tigers This is due to their natural habitats decreasing by as much as 40% in the last 20-30 years.

Another extremely disturbing reason why tigers rank so highly on the endangered animals list is because people hunt them for their skin and other body parts. Tiger’s body parts are found in many Asian medicines. The skin is used in the making of leather bags and shoes. Additionally, climate change has been a big factor for their extinction in countries like Bangladesh and India.

#8: The Leatherback Sea Turtle

The leatherback sea turtle is the biggest turtle in the world. In addition, this species has survived for more than 100 million years. The turtle main habitat is Pacific. Right now there are less than 2,300 reproductive females in existence. While the Atlantic turtles have stable population, marine scientists predict that they may become extinct in the next few years due to large numbers of adult leatherback turtles being caught by fishing fleets.

Aside from being caught in fishing nets, the rising sea levels and extreme weather conditions are also contributing to the decline in the number of leatherback sea turtles. There are ongoing efforts to decrease fishing activities that catch leatherback sea turtle. This includes the identification of leatherback sea turtle migration paths.^[3]Save the Turtles – Leatherback Turtle (Dermochelys Conacea) Los Baulus (Spanish)

#7: The Saola (Asian Unicorn)

The Saola is very rare to sight. In fact, it is so rare that many Asians believe that it is a mythological animal. Additionally, scientist only officially discovered the animal around 26 years ago. The Saola is mostly found in the Annamite mountain ranges of Vietnam. Currently, there are less than 100 Saola in the world.^[4] Saola Working Group – Saving the saola from extinction One of the major reasons for its small numbers is due to poaching. Fortunately, efforts are being put in place to reduce the rate at which the Saola are being snared by human poachers. Hopefully, it is not too little too late for this beautiful but endangered animal.

#6: The Western Lowland Gorilla

The Western lowland gorillas are gentle giants that are always a delight to watch. The Western lowland gorillas has coarse hair, large nostrils with small eyes and large muscles, especially in the jaw area. Western Lowland Gorillas can weigh between 150 and 400 pounds and they usually line in a group of 30-40.

Constant hunting and disease are quickly killing off their number, making them one of the most endangered animals in the world. Hunters kill the Western lowland gorillas for bushmeat in the forest, especially in East and Central Africa. According to the United Nations, the Western lowland gorilla is one of the animals that deserve urgent care and protection. If hunters continue to kill them at the same rate, they will go extinct in less than 10 years.^[5]Green Global Travel – ENDANGERED SPECIES SPOTLIGHT: WESTERN LOWLAND GORILLA

#5: The Northern Sportive Lemur

The Northern Sportive Lemur is one of the most endangered animals in Madagascar. In fact, scientists believe that there may be less than 20 northern sportive lemurs in the whole country.^[6]All About Wildlife – THE NORTHERN SPORTIVE LEMUR The reason for the sharp decline of this animal is due to excessive hunting and the logging activities that destroyed a tremendous amount of their natural habitats. The typical Northern sportive lemur is very tiny in nature, with a total weight of fewer than 2 lbs. The animal does have large eyes that provide it with a wider vision.

In addition to the northern sportive lemur, most other lemur species are among the most endangered animals by the IUCN (International Union for Conservation of Nature). For example, the bamboo lemur is one of the most endangered animals in the world with less than 100 remaining.

#4: The Javan Rhinoceros

There are less than 60 Javan Rhinoceros in the world today. This makes them one of the most endangered animals on the planet. The Javan Rhinoceros have their natural habitat in the swamp of the Southeast Asia. This animal’s habitat is mostly in the Indonesian Island and Java. However, they sometimes migrate to other countries like Cambodia, Vietnam, and Laos. The adult Javan Rhinos can weigh between 1500 and 2000 kilograms. They eat the bark of trees and branches.

Of all the species of rhinoceroses in the world, the Javan Rhino has the highest risk of going extinct. Due to the massive deforestation on their homelands, these rhinos are migrating long distances to settle somewhere else. In addition, poachers hunt them for their horns. Asian culture believe that Javan Rhino horns create some potent medicine for all sorts of ailments.^[7]Konica Minolta – Javan Rhinoceros

#3: The Amur Leopard

This is one of the rarest cats in the world. Its habitat includes the secluded regions of the Far East of Russia. Scientists believe that there are only 40 Amur Leopards existing today. This puts them high on the list of most endangered animals.

The Amur Leopard enjoys a solitary lifestyle in the wild. It hunts sika deer, roe, badgers, and and other small animals for food. It is one of the biggest cats in the world. Adult males weigh up to 106 pounds while the adult females weigh up to 94 pounds. The Amur Leopard typically gives birth to 2 cubs at a time. However, sometimes their cubs may not survive long due to other predators and sickness. In the wild, these cats can live up to 15 years but when domesticated, they can live for up to 20 years.

Hunters typically kill these cats with the use of snares. Their skins and corpses then go from Russia and China to other parts of Asia where they become expensive bags, shoes, and medicines.

The negative impact of inbreeding has been another major factor why these animals are going into extinction. The reduced population and lifespan of the animals are as a result of some deadly diseases. Infrastructural projects such as rail lines, gas lines and ports have also contributed to the extinction of Amur Leopards.^[8]Nature’s Crusader’s – Critically endangered Amur leopard only 35 left in wild

#2: The Vaquita

The Vaquita means “small cow” in Spanish. It is one of the smallest and rarest species of marine animals. They live in the northern region of California’s coastal waters. The adult measure up to 1.5m in length and normally live up to 60m under the ocean. They enjoy staying close to the silt and clay bottoms of the sea and rarely come to the surface.

Scientists believe there to be as few as 30 left in the world today, despite many efforts by conservation organizations to save them.^[9]WWF – VAQUITA One of the main reasons the Vaquita is going extinct is because it often gets tangled in nets and drowns in them. In 1975 Mexico declared the animals as critically endangered while the United States of America declared it endangered in 1979. However, if we don’t take greater measures, the Vaquita could go extinct within the next 2-3 years.

#1: The Northern Right Whale

The Northern Right Whale is one the most endangered species of whales in the world. Their main habitat is off the coast of the state of Florida. The Northern Right Whale adult can weigh up to 70 tons, and can measure up to 55 ft in length^[10]WWF – NORTH ATLANTIC RIGHT WHALE The whale adult is quite noticeable even from afar by its dark gray body. The animal feeds by simply swimming through millions of Plankton at a time.

Their endangered status is due mainly to injuries they sustained from heavy ships. Currently, poachers do not heavily hunt this whale. But, the activities of ships make them susceptible to mechanical injuries and death. However, in the 1930s, humans seriously exploited the Northern Right Whale. Today, the World Wildlife Fund (WWF) says that unless these whale species are protected, they may go extinct by the year 2018.