The planet is home to an incredible variety of species, but many animals are now facing the threat of extinction.
Human activities such as deforestation, habitat destruction, poaching, and climate change have accelerated the decline of numerous species around the world.
This article is for general knowledge only and is based on information from online sources. Conservation statuses and population numbers can change over time.
1. Amur Leopard
With fewer than 100 individuals remaining in the wild, the Amur leopard holds the unwanted title of world’s most endangered big cat. These solitary hunters once roamed throughout Korea, northern China, and the Russian Far East.
Habitat fragmentation, poaching for their stunning spotted coats, and declining prey populations have decimated their numbers. Despite their critically endangered status, conservation breeding programs and protected reserves offer a glimmer of hope for these magnificent predators.
2. Javan Rhino
The mysterious Javan rhino exists only in Indonesia’s Ujung Kulon National Park, with fewer than 75 animals remaining. Unlike their African cousins, these rhinos have a single horn and folded skin that creates an armored appearance.
Poaching drove their near-extinction, as their horns fetch astronomical prices in traditional medicine markets. The entire population now lives in a single area vulnerable to disease outbreaks, tsunami risks, and limited genetic diversity. Conservation efforts focus on habitat expansion and protection from human encroachment.
3. Northern White Rhino
The northern white rhino stands at extinction’s doorstep, with only two females remaining worldwide. The last male, Sudan, died in 2018, effectively dooming natural reproduction for the subspecies.
Scientists race against time, harvesting eggs from the surviving females and storing sperm from deceased males. Through advanced reproductive technologies, they hope to create embryos for surrogate southern white rhinos to carry. This heartbreaking situation resulted from decades of relentless poaching for rhino horn.
4. Sumatran Orangutan
With their soulful eyes and remarkable intelligence, Sumatran orangutans share 97% of human DNA. Yet fewer than 14,000 remain in the wild, confined to northern Sumatra’s fragmented forests.
Palm oil plantation expansion devastates their habitat daily. These great apes cannot survive without intact rainforest canopies where they build nests and find fruit. Rescue centers across Indonesia care for orphaned orangutans, teaching them survival skills before releasing them into protected areas.
5. Kakapo
The kakapo breaks all parrot rules: it cannot fly, is active at night, and can live over 90 years. These chubby, moss-colored birds once thrived across New Zealand until introduced predators decimated their population.
Today, about 200 kakapo live on predator-free islands under intensive conservation management. Each bird has a name, wears a tracking transmitter, and receives supplemental feeding during breeding seasons. Their unusual mating ritual involves males creating ground-level “bowls” where they inflate like balloons and boom calls across the forest.
6. Hawksbill Sea Turtle
The hawksbill sea turtle’s beautiful shell has brought it to the edge of extinction. Hunted for centuries to make jewelry, ornaments, and trinkets, these ancient mariners have disappeared from much of their historic range.
Recognizable by their pointed beaks and overlapping shell plates, hawksbills play crucial roles in maintaining coral reef health by eating sponges. Climate change threatens their nesting beaches, while plastic pollution and fishing gear entanglement cause many deaths. Conservation efforts focus on protecting nesting sites and reducing illegal trade.
7. Cross River Gorilla
Fewer than 300 Cross River gorillas remain hidden in the remote highlands along the Nigeria-Cameroon border. These shy primates avoid humans, having learned the dangers of encounters through generations of hunting pressure.
Physically distinct from other gorilla subspecies, they have shorter skulls and limbs. Their mountain forest habitat continues shrinking as farming and logging expand. Recent community conservation efforts have reduced hunting, giving hope that these gorillas might slowly recover if their forest homes receive adequate protection.
8. Amami Rabbit
Found only on two Japanese islands, the primitive Amami rabbit represents an evolutionary missing link between ancient and modern rabbits. These stocky, dark brown rabbits have tiny ears, short legs, and curved claws for digging.
Unlike typical rabbits, Amami mothers build nests for single offspring rather than producing large litters. Introduced mongooses, originally released to control venomous snakes, became their primary predators. Conservation efforts, including mongoose removal programs, have helped stabilize their population, though fewer than 5,000 individuals remain.
9. Philippine Eagle
The majestic Philippine eagle ranks among the world’s largest and most powerful birds of prey. With a wingspan reaching seven feet and distinctive shaggy crest feathers, these raptors require vast territories of undisturbed forest to survive.
Fewer than 400 breeding pairs remain across four Philippine islands. Deforestation has destroyed 95% of their habitat, while shooting and trapping continue despite legal protection. These eagles mate for life and raise only one chick every two years, making population recovery extremely slow even under ideal conditions.
10. Gharial
With its distinctive long, narrow snout tipped by a bulbous growth, the gharial looks like a creature from prehistoric times. These specialized fish-eating crocodilians once thrived in rivers across the Indian subcontinent.
Today, fewer than 1,000 adult gharials survive, primarily in India and Nepal. River pollution, dam construction, and sand mining have destroyed their habitat. The males’ bulbous nose tip, called a ghara, makes underwater bubbling sounds during mating season. Conservation breeding programs have released thousands of hatchlings, but survival rates remain low.
