As our modern society uses more resources, the natural areas are getting smaller and few animals are left. According to one report, the average number of animals worldwide has decreased by 69% since 1970. Even though there have been many amazing and motivational success stories involving wildlife in the past, many species are still in danger today, mostly as a result of unsustainable human-led activities.
Here is the list of the Top 10 Endangered Animals in the World.
Top 10 World’s Most Endangered Animals
1. Javan Rhinos
There was a time when Javan Rhinos were common throughout south-east Asia. However, their numbers are declining because of hunting and habitat loss. Javan Rhinos are one of the rarest rhino species that only exist In one natural population of about 75 animals on the Island of Java in Indonesia. The Ujung Kulon National Park which is a UNESCO World Heritage site, is the last known safe haven for Javan rhinos.
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2. Amur Leopard
Amur Leopard is one of the most endangered big cats in the world that are left only around 100. Despite the fact that their wild population seems to be steady and increasing, this leopard subspecies has been classified as extremely endangered since 1996. There’s a good reason for it, too: Amur leopards are now only known to exist in a comparatively small region between north-eastern China and Russia’s far east.
3. Sunda Island Tiger
The Sunda Island Tiger which is also known as the Sumatran tiger is the smallest tiger subspecies in the world. They can weigh up to 140 kilograms. If we compare, the Amur region’s tigers with Sunda Island tigers then Amur Region’s tiger’s males can weigh up to twice as much as Sunda Island tigers. The Sunda Island tiger is left only 600 in the wild and can only be found on the Island of Sumatra in Indonesia.
4. Mountain Gorillas
The mountain gorilla is a subspecies of the eastern gorilla. Mountain Gorillas are only found in the high-altitude forests of the Congo, Rwanda, and Uganda. You can also find them at Bwindi Impenetrable national park in Uganda. Political unpredictability and extreme poverty have a long history in the Virunga Landscape. humans have migrated closer to mountain gorilla habitats in search of food, housing, and space, which poses a serious threat to the great apes’ numbers. At this time, over 500,000 humans reside nearby mountain gorilla habitats.
5. Tapanuli Orangutan
The Tapanuli Orangutan was identified and classified as a new orangutan species in 2017. The Batang Toru ecosystem’s tropical woods on the island of Sumatra, Indonesia, are the only place where Tapanuli orangutans may be found in the wild. Tapanuli Orangutan spices the most endangered great ape species in the world. These tree-dwelling monkeys are currently severely endangered with fewer than 800 remaining in the wild.
6. Yangtze Finless Porpoise
Being the only living freshwater porpoise in existence makes the Yangtze Finless Porpoise the odd one out of its family. This aquatic animal is a critically endangered species. Even though a healthy ecosystem depends on the Yangtze River, years of environmental degradation, excessive fishing, and water pollution in the region have had a negative impact on many animal species that live there.
7. Black Rhinos
Between 1960 and 1995, black rhino populations saw major decreases as a result of rampant poaching. The violent onslaught of the past was beaten back by about 2%. African rhino populations have considerably expanded since the 1990s as rhino conservation has gained momentum. According to the IUCN Only 5,630 black rhinos are still found in the wild which are making them a highly endangered species.
In 2011, the western black rhino was declared extinct by the government. There are now just three living black rhino subspecies. Currently, 95% of the black rhinos are only found in Kenya, Namibia, South Africa, and Zimbabwe in the world. Rhino horn poaching is the biggest threat to the remaining rhino population which has killed about 10,000 African rhinoceros in the past ten years.
8. African Forest Elephant
The secretive forest elephant, one of the two members of the African elephant species, is found deep within the thick, humid woods of West and Central Africa. The actual number of wild African forest elephants is still unclear due to their cautious nature. but they are a critically endangered species according to one report, their population has declined by an estimated 86% over the past 31 years. The primary cause of the reduction is poaching, which is pervasive and severe, especially in Central Africa.
9. Sumatran Orangutan
The Sumatran orangutan is unique to the island of Sumatra in Indonesia. The IUCN has given them the classification of critically endangered. According to some sources, there are less than 14000 of them left in the wild. Orangutans in Sumatra are also at risk from those who harm Bornean and Tapanuli orangutans. everything from agricultural plantations, infrastructure development, and logging to the illegal pet trade. But between 1985 and 2007, 60% of the orangutans’ forest habitat was gone. For orangutans to survive, huge, connected areas of forest are necessary.
10. Hawksbill Turtles
Hawksbill turtle is one of the seven marine turtle species that are found in the Atlantic oceans and the pacific oceans. Although it is challenging to determine their exact population numbers because sea turtles are the true ocean wanderers, their numbers are thought to be between 20,000 and 23,000 nesting turtles.
Conclusion
We have listed the top 10 endangered animals of the world. Future human-caused problems including climate change, plastic pollution, and increasing sea levels could worsen this species’ decline.
