10 of the World's Critically Endangered Animals & How Species Make the Endangered List
by www.SixWise.com
There are currently at least 16,119 species throughout the
world that are in danger of global extinction. However, fewer
than 3 percent of the world's known 1.9 million species have
been assessed, meaning that the actual number of endangered
animals could be much, much higher.
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Of the 1.9 known animals species in the world, less
than 3 percent have been assessed for threat of extinction.
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The World Conservation Union (IUCN) is the organization in
charge of tracking endangered species. They maintain a Red
List of Threatened Species, which is updated every four years.
Experts assess species based on rate of decline, population
size, distribution, range and more, then place them into one
of nine categories, from least concerning to most at risk:
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Not evaluated
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Data deficient
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Least concern
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Near threatened
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Vulnerable
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Endangered
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Critically endangered
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Extinct in the wild
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Extinct
Sadly, the number of species falling into the vulnerable,
endangered or critically endangered categories has been rising
among almost all the major species groups, according to IUCN.
What's Endangering the World's Animals?
Overwhelmingly, humans are the ones causing declines in animal
species around the world; 99 percent of threatened species
are at risk from human activities.
"Humans are the main cause of extinction and the principle
threat to species at risk of extinction," IUCN says.
The leading threat has to do with habitat loss and degradation,
which is affecting 86 percent of all threatened birds, 86
percent of threatened mammals, and 88 percent of threatened
amphibians.
Meanwhile, things like pollution, disease, human-induced
climate change, over-exploitation (hunting, fishing, extracting
resources), and introduction of alien species (including cats,
rats, and other organisms) are seriously threatening a significant
portion of the world's animals.
In all the major species groups, anywhere from 12 percent
to 52 percent are threatened, including:
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One in eight bird species (12 percent)
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One in four mammals (23 percent)
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One in three amphibians (32 percent)
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42 percent of turtles and tortoises
10 Animals on the Critically Endangered List
While it's impossible to determine which of the 3,071 species
on the critically endangered list (the highest threatened
category) are the most in danger, all of them in this category
face a high risk of extinction in the wild unless changes
are made. Here is a sampling of 10 animal species from the
list.
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Chinese Alligator:
Threatened by habitat destruction and killing by local
farmers because it damages agricultural land.
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Bonin Fruit Bat:
Threatened by hunting and increasing habitat loss through
deforestation of the remote Japanese islands where they
live.
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Brazilian Guitarfish:
Threatened by over-fishing.
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Philippine Eagle:
Threatened by loss of old-growth forest habitat.
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Kouprey:
Threatened by hunting for subsistence and trade (especially
horns and skulls), habitat loss and land mines.
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Chestnut-Bellied Hummingbird:
Threatened by habitat loss and degradation.
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Variegated Spider Monkey:
Threatened by habitat loss and degradation, along with
hunting and trapping.
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Bushman Hare:
Threatened by habitat loss, trapping, hunting and feral
cats and dogs.
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Lear's Macaw:
Threatened by habitat loss and hunting/trapping for
trade.
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Red Wolf:
This species was extinct in the wild in 1980, but was
reintroduced in North Caroline in small numbers. It
continues to be threatened by accidental death (vehicle
collisions), persecution and hybridization with coyotes
or red wolf/coyote hybrids.
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What's Being Done to Save Endangered Species?
Conservation measures including planning, management, monitoring
and increasing public awareness about endangered species are
currently underway. Certain species have already been saved,
but many more are still at risk.
If you would like to get involved, either by volunteering
or making a donation, here are several conservation groups
focused on protecting animal species throughout the world:
Recommended Reading
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Worldwide Threat to Coral Reefs and Why It Should Matter to
Everyone
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of America's Most Dangerous Wild Animals -- How to Beware!
Sources
The
World Conservation Union (IUCN)