Did you know that there are many animals that are in danger of becoming extinct? These animals come from all over the world, and various factors threaten them. If humanity as a whole does take steps to protect them, they could be gone forever. In this article, you will a bit more about 10 of these amazing creatures. Each one is unique and deserves attention!
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Borneo Pygmy Elephant
The Borneo Pygmy is a subspecies of elephants found only on the island of Borneo, Indonesia, and Malaysia. They have smaller ears compared to other elephants as well as more roundish eyes with thicker eyelashes than most mammals! These features make them distinctively different from their African cousins, who share similar body shapes but not an evolutionary link due to geographic separation over millions of years ago!
Poachers are still killing these animals for their ivory tusks even though they’ve been protected under CITES since 1977 when it became illegal internationally to trade any part or product derived from endangered species. Habitat loss due to deforestation and development projects is also a major threat to their survival. Only about 2500-2700 Borneo Pygmy elephants are remaining in the wild today.
Sumatran Elephant
The Sumatran elephant is a critically endangered subspecies of Asian elephant that lives in the forests and swamps of Indonesia on the island of Sumatra. It has smaller ears compared to other elephants as well as tusks that point downward instead of outwards. These features make them distinctively different from their African cousins, who share similar body shapes but not an evolutionary link due to geographic separation over millions of years ago!
Poachers are the main threat to the Sumatran elephant, as they kill them for their ivory tusks. Forest loss due to illegal logging and palm oil plantations is also a major problem for these elephants, as it destroys their natural habitat. Sadly only about 2500-2700 Sumatran elephants are remaining in the wild today.
Tigers
Tigers are one of the most beautiful animals in the world. There has been a huge decline in tiger population over the last century, and they are now on the verge of extinction. The main reason why their numbers have declined is due to hunting for sport or fur trade. Another big reason is habitat loss because people keep destroying forests where these majestic creatures live by cutting down trees for wood or other reasons.
There are about 4000 tigers left in the wild now. Only 1000 of those live outside protected areas like national parks or reserves where hunting isn’t allowed anymore. However, poaching still occurs sometimes, even within these zones, due to lack of enforcement.
Snow Leopard
Snow leopards are beautiful animals that live in the mountains of Asia. They have thick white fur to keep them warm, and their feet act like snowshoes for walking on deep powdery snow or ice without sinking down too far! They’re very adaptable animals, so they can live in many different habitats, including semi-arid mountains, rugged alpine areas, and cold forests.
But as the human population continues to grow and encroaches on their territory, snow leopards are losing their homes and becoming increasingly rare. There are only about 4000-6000 snow leopards left in the wild. Snow leopards are endangered because they’re hunted by poachers who want their pelts (which can sell for a high price), and their natural habitat is being destroyed.
Amur Leopard
The Amur leopard is a critically endangered species of big cat that lives in the forests and mountains of Russia and China. They’re distinguished from other subspecies by their thick black fur, which helps them stay warm during winter months when temperatures can drop below -30 degrees Fahrenheit (-34 Celsius).
There are only about 30 remaining wild populations due to poaching for their beautiful coats as well as habitat loss caused by human activity such as logging or agriculture activities. These animals have been protected under CITES since 1977, but it’s still not enough! Please help us save these animals before they become extinct forever with World Wildlife Fund (WWF) today so we can ensure there will always be plenty more where these came from, and we can keep the “big cat” in big cats!
Polar Bear
The polar bear is an iconic symbol of Canada’s Arctic region, where they’ve been known to roam since the Ice Age. They are an important part of indigenous culture, and their pelts were once traded for food or clothing among Inuit communities. But now they’re endangered because climate change has melted much of their habitat away; this means that fewer seals are available as prey items, making it harder for polar bears to survive on their own. The ice melting also means that more ships pass through the Arctic Ocean and disturb their habitat with pollution. There are about 26,000 polar bears left in the wild today.
The Red Panda
The Red panda is a small, arboreal mammal that is found in the Himalayas and parts of China. They are considered endangered because their natural habitat is being destroyed. The primary threat to these animals is deforestation, which reduces their available food supply and destroys their home range. They are hunted for their pelts by poachers, who can sell them on the black market for high prices. There are estimated to be only about 6000-10000 red pandas remaining in the wild.
Pangolins
These strange-looking creatures may not look like much to us humans, but they’re actually one of the most trafficked animals on Earth! Their scales can sell for as much as $20 per gram – which means that poachers will go to great lengths just for one pangolin. Pangolins are also killed in large numbers because some people believe their meat makes a good aphrodisiac (this is not true!). The most common way these animals die at the hands of humans is through hunting, but they’re also sometimes killed when they get caught in traps set for other animals. All eight species of pangolin are currently threatened with extinction, and there are only about 400,000 left in the wild.
Hawksbill Sea Turtle
The Hawksbill sea turtle (Eretmochelys imbricate) is an endangered species of marine reptile. This guy is found in all tropical regions except Australia, where they’ve never inhabited due to distance away from other land masses like Asia or South America. They’re named after their curved beaks shaped like a hawk’s bill. These turtles also have two claws on each flipper which helps them dig holes when nesting on sandy beaches. The hawksbill is critically endangered because its shells are prized for jewelry making and other decorative items they’d also hunted as food by humans in some cultures.
Hawksbills have been protected under CITES since 1977. Although illegal poaching continues at an alarming rate worldwide due to a lack of enforcement efforts across borders, these animals may migrate between countries during the breeding season. Or while seeking new habitats due to habitat loss/destruction from human activities such as farming practices that destroy coastal wetlands where they nest annually. This causes sea turtles’ population numbers to drop dramatically unless we take action now! Only about 30,000 remain worldwide today.
Vaquita
The Vaquita (Phocoena sinus) is the world’s smallest cetacean, which is a group of marine mammals that includes whales, dolphins, and porpoises. They’re found near the Gulf of California in Mexico and have distinctive markings on their dark gray skin-they look like they’re wearing mascara! These shy creatures were once abundant but now face imminent extinction, with only about 30 left in the wild as of 2016.
The main threats to the Vaquita are bycatch from gillnets used to catch other species like shrimp and fish, habitat loss due to human development projects onshore or offshore (e.g., drilling platforms), pollution such as plastic waste dumped into ocean waters where they live; boat strikes when people are careless while boating through these fragile ecosystems. The Vaquita has been listed as critically endangered by IUCN since 1996 because there are so few left in the wild.
These Animals Deserve Attention!
In all, it’s important to be aware of the many different animals that are currently endangered and do your part to help protect them. There is a huge problem with poaching across the globe, especially in Africa. It is illegal to kill or capture these animals, but people still do it because they can get a lot of money for their ivory tusks and furs! Conservation efforts are needed so the world doesn’t lose any more species forever due to human greed.