Endangered Animals

Species assessed as ‘Endangered’ by the IUCN (International Union for Conservation of Nature) are likely to become extinct if one does not take proper conservation measures. Of the several reasons why most animal species are becoming endangered, a common cause is habitat loss. This happens when most of their living space is cleared for agricultural farming, the construction of roads, and other purposes. The introduction of invasive species and the poaching of animals are the other reasons for a significant population decline in some species.

According to IUCN’s data, the IUCN Red List has over 41,000 species, of which around 16,000 are endangered and at risk of extinction. Around 41% of the endangered animals are amphibians, 27% mammals, 13% birds, 37% sharks and rays, and 21% reptiles. The vaquita is the most endangered animal in the world at present with just 10 of them left in the wild.

The onus lies on humans to save and conserve their population. Protecting their natural habitat is one of the main initiatives needed to be taken. Zoos have significantly saved several animals from extinction by adopting proper conservation strategies and spreading awareness.

List of Animals that are Endangered

World’s Most Endangered Animals
Name of the Animal	IUCN Red List Conservation Status	Approximate Population in the wild (as of 2022)	Native to
Amur Leopard	Critically Endangered	70	Russian Far East and parts of China
Black-footed Ferret	Endangered	350	Central North America
Blue-throated Macaw	Critically Endangered	200-300	Northern Bolivia
California Condor	Critically Endangered	500	California, southern Utah, Mexico, Arizona, Baja California
Hawaiian Monk Seal	Endangered	300	Northwestern Hawaiian Islands
Javan Rhinoceros	Critically Endangered	60-80	Java, Indonesia
Kakapo	Critically Endangered	250	New Zealand
North Atlantic Right Whale	Endangered	350	Western North Atlantic Ocean
Siberian Tiger	Endangered	350-400	Northeast China, Russian Far East, North Korea
Sunda Island Tiger	Endangered	250-400	Sunda Islands, Indonesia;
Tapanuli Orangutan	Critically Endangered	750-800	North Sumatra, Indonesia
Tooth-billed Pigeon	Critically Endangered	70-380	Samoan Island
Vaquita	Critically Endangered	10	Northern portion of Gulf of California, Baja California , Mexico
White-Cheeked Spider Monkey	Endangered	250	Amazon Basin, central Brazil
Whooping Crane	Endangered	75	North America
Axolotl	Critically Endangered	50-1000	Lake Xochimilco, Valley of Mexico
Arabian Leopard	Critically Endangered	200	Arabian Peninsula
Philippine Eagle	Critically Endangered	<500	Philippines
Tamaraw	Critically Endangered	500	Mindoro Island, Philippines
Other Endangered Animals
African Penguin	Endangered	140,000	Coast of Southern Africa
Asian Elephant	Endangered	20,000 -40,000	India, Southeast Asia
Black Buck	Near Threatened	25,000	India, Nepal, Pakistan
Black Rhinoceros	Critically Endangered	6,100	Kenya, Zimbabwe, Namibia, South Africa
Blue Whale	Endangered	10,000—25,000	North Atlantic Ocean
Cheetah	Vulnerable	6,000-7,000	East Africa, South Africa
Gharial	Critically Endangered	1,500	Bangladesh, India, Bhutan, Pakistan, Nepal, Myanmar
Giant Panda	Vulnerable	1800	Central and southwest China
Golden Lion Tamarin	Endangered	2500	Southeast Brazil
Hawksbill Sea Turtle	Critically Endangered	20,000- 25,000	Indian Ocean, Indo-Pacific Ocean, west Atlantic Ocean
Irrawaddy Dolphin	Endangered	6,500-7,500	Coastal regions of South Asia and Southeast Asia
Kirtland’s Warbler	Near Threatened	2,500-3,000	Michigan, Wisconsin, Ontario, Cuba, The Bahamas, Hispaniola
Hawaiian Hawk	Near Threatened	1,500-2,000	Hawaii
Hyacinth Macaw	Vulnerable	5,000-6,500	South America
Komodo Dragon	Endangered	1300-1400	Indonesia
Leatherback Sea Turtle	Vulnerable	30,000-35,000	Atlantic Ocean, Indian Ocean, Pacific Ocean
Lion-tailed Macaque	Endangered	3,000-4,000	Western Ghats hills, southwestern India
Loggerhead Turtle	Endangered	50,000	Atlantic Ocean, Pacific Ocean, Indian Ocean, Mediterranean Sea
Mountain Gorilla	Endangered	1000	Democratic Republic of Congo, Uganda, Rwanda
Northern Quoll	Endangered	100,000	North Australia, Western Australia
Numbat	Endangered	1000	Western Australia
Polar Bear	Vulnerable	20,000-30,000	Arctic Circle
Sea Otter	Endangered	3,000	Eastern and northern parts of the North Pacific Ocean
Seychelles Palm Frog	Critically Endangered	<20,000	Silhouette Island, Seychelles
Snow Leopard	Vulnerable	4,000-6,000	Mountainous terrain of Northern. and Central Asia
South American Tapir	Vulnerable	3,000-4,500	Northern America, central South America
Spectacled Bear	Vulnerable	6,000-10,000	South America
Steller Sea Lion	Near Threatened	50,000-52,000	Japan, China, U.S
Sumatran Orangutan	Critically Endangered	7,000-7,500	Sumatra, Borneo
Tasmanian Devil	Endangered	10,000-25,000	Tasmania, Australia
Woylie	Critically Endangered	12,000-1,8000	Western Australia, South Australia
Yangtze Finless Porpoise	Critically Endangered	1,000	Central China, East China
Proboscis Monkey	Endangered	7000	Borneo
Red Panda	Endangered	10,000	Nepal, China, India, Bhutan, Myanmar

Facts about Endangered Animals

Endangered sea animals: Vaquita, hawksbill sea turtle, sea otter

Endangered Amazon rainforest animals: Golden lion tamarin, white-cheeked spider monkey, South American tapir

Endangered Arctic animals: Polar bear

FAQs

Q. Why are tigers endangered?

A. Tigers suffer endangerment because of the destruction of their habitat due to human activities, which involve clearing forests for agriculture, farming, and building roads.

Q. Which animals are no longer endangered?

A. Louisiana black bear (classified as threatened between 1992 and 2016); American alligator (was on the list of endangered species in 1967)

Q. Is the fisher endangered?

The fishers were endangered in the 1900s because of overtrapping and a change in their habitat. Their population has stabilized, and the IUCN classifies them as Least Concern.