The threat of disappearing: top 10 endangered animals in the world
From leopards to tigers and gorillas, these are the top 10 endangered animals across the world according to studies.
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It’s no secret current times are marked by escalating resource demands and shrinking natural habitats.
As we continue to extract the most out of our habitats, the plight of wildlife intensifies, reflected in the animal life.
The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) red list, a crucial barometer of species vulnerability, currently identifies over 41,000 species as facing the ominous threat of extinction. Within this distressing panorama, we turn our attention to the top 10 endangered animals in the wild, each grappling with the pressing challenges imposed by human activities.
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Top 10 endangered animals across the world
1. Javan Rhinos
The Javan rhino, once thriving across south-east Asia, has witnessed a profound decline in numbers, primarily attributed to relentless hunting and habitat destruction. Remarkably, the lone surviving population of Javan rhinos, comprising approximately 75 individuals, remains secluded on the island of Java, Indonesia.
The Ujung Kulon National Park, a designated World Heritage Site, stands as the last bastion for these rhinos. However, the encroachment of the Arenga palm poses an additional threat, diminishing both their food sources and habitat.
Moreover, the minuscule Javan rhino population confronts heightened vulnerability to extinction, with perils stemming from natural disasters, diseases, poaching, and potential inbreeding.
The precarious status of the Javan rhinos underscores the urgency of addressing these multifaceted challenges to safeguard one of the top 10 endangered animals in the world.
2. Amur Leopard
Ranked among the rarest big cats globally, the Amur leopard faces a critical status, with a dwindling population of merely around 100 individuals remaining in the wild. Despite apparent stability and a slight increase in their numbers, this leopard subspecies has clung to its critically endangered classification since 1996.
The plight of the Amur leopard is exacerbated by its exclusive presence in a relatively confined region spanning the far east of Russia and north-eastern China. The survival of the remaining Amur leopards is imperiled by a myriad of threats, encompassing habitat loss, fragmentation, prey scarcity, and the encroachment of transportation infrastructure, such as roads.
Nevertheless, a glimmer of hope emerges for this rare big cat, as approximately 75% of its habitat lies within protected areas in Russia and China, with signs of adaptation to suitable environments beyond these sanctuaries.
3. Sunda Island Tiger
The Sunda Island tiger, also known as the Sumatran tiger, holds the distinction of being the smallest tiger subspecies globally, with a weight of up to 140kg. In comparison, the Amur region’s tigers stand as the largest of all big cats, with males weighing up to twice as much as their Sunda Island counterparts.
This diminutive tiger subspecies is exceptionally rare, boasting an estimated population of around 600 individuals, exclusively inhabiting the Indonesian island of Sumatra. However, since the 1980s, the human population in south-east Asia has nearly doubled, surging from 357 million to approximately 668 million in 2020.
This demographic upswing has cast a shadow over tiger numbers, diminishing alongside their shrinking habitats. The expansion of human settlements in the region elevates the likelihood of human-tiger conflicts for Sunda Island tigers.
Moreover, the scourge of tiger poaching and the illicit trade of tiger parts and products compound the challenges threatening their survival. The Sunda Island tiger finds itself at the forefront of concerns surrounding the top 10 endangered animals, grappling with an uncertain future amidst human encroachment and illicit activities.
4. Mountain Gorillas
Within the list of top 10 endangered animals, Mountain gorillas stand out as a subspecies of the eastern gorilla, thriving in two distinct populations within the elevated forests of the volcanic, mountainous regions spanning the Democratic Republic of Congo, Rwanda, and Uganda. Another enclave resides in Uganda’s Bwindi Impenetrable National Park.
The Virunga Landscape, home to these majestic creatures, has weathered a history of political instability and pervasive poverty. This landscape poses a formidable threat to mountain gorilla populations as human settlements encroach upon their habitat for sustenance, shelter, and space—currently accommodating over 500,000 people in close proximity to mountain gorilla habitats.
Despite these challenges, conservation efforts, coupled with interventions from local and international partners, including the WWF through the International Gorilla Conservation Programme, have kindled a promising recovery for mountain gorillas.
Presently classified as endangered, their population hovers just above 1,000 individuals in the wild. However, numerous threats persist, potentially impeding the progress of recovery for this species.
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5. Tapanuli Orangutan
In the realm of the top 10 endangered animals, the Tapanuli orangutan emerges as a recently described species, officially recognized in 2017. This unique orangutan species is confined to a solitary, isolated population within the lush tropical forests of the Batang Toru ecosystem on Sumatra, Indonesia.
Currently teetering on the brink of extinction, Tapanuli orangutans face critical endangerment, with fewer than 800 individuals remaining in the wild, marking them as the most endangered great ape species globally.
The primary peril threatening their survival is habitat loss, driven by the conversion of tropical forests into agricultural land, mining operations, and hydroelectric and geothermal development.
Disturbingly, between 1985 and 2007, over 40% of the forests in North Sumatra, the province housing the Tapanuli orangutan, succumbed to loss—a concerning trend further exacerbating the vulnerability of this unique species.
6. Yangtze Finless Porpoise
In the compilation of the top 10 endangered animals, the Yangtze Finless Porpoise stands as a unique member of its family, being the sole living freshwater porpoise globally. This aquatic mammal currently inhabits the Yangtze River in China and holds a precarious status as a critically endangered species.
Despite the Yangtze River’s pivotal role in maintaining a healthy ecosystem, persistent environmental degradation, overfishing, and water pollution in the region have inflicted severe consequences on various animal species calling it home.
In a bygone era, Yangtze river dolphins coexisted with finless porpoises, but alas, sightings of freshwater dolphins have become nonexistent for the past two decades.
This unfortunate reality serves as a poignant indicator of what may loom ahead for numerous endangered species, including the Yangtze finless porpoise. Recognizing the urgency of protection, China elevated finless porpoises to ‘first level protected species’ in 2021, representing the highest level of safeguarding within the country.
As of 2018, their population hovered around 1,000 individuals, showing signs of stabilization in the wild.
7. Black Rhinos
In the context of the top 10 endangered animals, black rhinos faced a harrowing period between 1960 and 1995 when large-scale poaching decimated their populations, leaving a mere 2% to withstand the relentless onslaught.
Subsequent rhino conservation efforts have yielded positive results, with numbers more than doubling across Africa since the 1990s.
Despite this encouraging trend, black rhinos continue to bear the weight of a critically endangered status, with approximately 5,630 individuals remaining in the wild. The unfortunate demise of the western black rhino in 2011 serves as a stark reminder of the challenges these magnificent creatures confront.
Currently, a staggering 95% of black rhinos concentrate in just four countries: Kenya, Namibia, South Africa, and Zimbabwe. However, the persistent menace of poaching for their horns remains the primary threat to the surviving population.
Over the past decade, nearly 10,000 African rhinos have fallen victim to illegal activities fueling the illicit rhino horn trade.
8. African Forest Elephant
Deep within the lush, humid forests of West and Central Africa, the elusive forest elephant, a distinguished member of the African elephant species, resides. Despite the challenge of pinpointing their exact numbers due to their elusive nature, it is indisputable that African forest elephants face critical endangerment, experiencing an alarming 86% decline over a span of 31 years.
The predominant factor contributing to this decline is pervasive and intense poaching, particularly prevalent in Central Africa.
Beyond the grim toll of elephant poaching, the encroachment of habitat loss and land-use changes for agriculture has resulted in fragmented habitats, exacerbating human-elephant conflicts and posing threats to both parties involved.
Currently, African forest elephants occupy a mere 25% of their historic range, dispersed across 20 different African nations, with primary populations found in Gabon and the Republic of Congo.
9. Sumatran Orangutan
In the realm of the top 10 endangered animals, the Sumatran orangutan holds a precarious position, exclusively inhabiting the island of Sumatra, Indonesia. Presently, the IUCN deems them critically endangered, with a dwindling population of less than 14,000 individuals in the wild.
Similar to their Bornean and Tapanuli counterparts, Sumatran orangutans grapple with a myriad of threats, ranging from rampant logging, expansive agricultural plantations, and the relentless march of infrastructure development to the insidious illegal pet trade.
These magnificent creatures necessitate expansive, interconnected forest expanses for their survival. However, between 1985 and 2007, a staggering 60% of their forest habitat vanished, underscoring the urgency of conservation efforts. Notably, the northernmost tip of Sumatra in the Leuser Ecosystem stands as a vital bastion for the majority of these orangutans, encompassing crucial tropical lowland rainforests and steamy peatland swamps.
10. Hawksbill Turtles
Among the illustrious roster of the top 10 endangered animals, the Hawksbill turtle emerges as a distinctive marine species, inhabiting nearshore tropical and subtropical waters across the Atlantic, Indian, and Pacific Oceans.
While estimating their true population remains challenging due to their oceanic nomadism, current approximations suggest a range between 20,000 and 23,000 nesting turtles.
Over the past three decades, global hawksbill turtle populations have weathered an alarming 80% reduction, primarily attributable to incidental capture in fishing gears, habitat degradation in nesting areas, coral reef damage, and the illicit trade of hawksbill shells and related products.
Human-induced threats, including plastic pollution, climate change, and rising sea levels, loom ominously on the horizon, potentially exacerbating the decline of this species. Presently, Hawksbill turtles carry the weighty designation of being critically endangered.
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