The 20 most endangered animals in the world

April 3, 2024

Nature is full of fascinating life forms, but the balance between them is delicate. Rapid changes in a natural habitat can cause their populations to vary rapidly, which translates, among other things, into the disappearance of some of them: their extinction. Therefore, today there are lists of animals in danger of extinction around the world: species that in a short time could cease to exist in the entire planet.

In this article we will see what are several of the animals in danger of extinction in the world .

Related article: "The 10 branches of Biology: its objectives and characteristics"

Animals in danger of extinction: extreme cases

Although there are hundreds of animals in danger of extinction, here we will focus on the large animals most in danger of extinction.

1. Java rhinoceros

The Java rhino is one of the single-horned rhino species that live in Asia. Its great size, the destruction of their habitat and poaching they have caused their population to drop to below 60 individuals.

2. Mountain gorilla

Although in recent years its population has grown slightly, this ape is still in a very vulnerable state of conservation. It is believed that there are around 100 in nature, in reserves of the central area of Africa.

3. Leopard of the Amur

This leopard of cold areas does not reach even the 40 individuals living in freedom . It lives in some northern areas of the Korean Peninsula and in its limit with its union with the rest of the Asian continent.

4. Black rhinoceros

This is another example of the extent to which large animals are in a situation of almost complete disappearance in our day. There are less than 6000 members of this species in the wild, and it has reached the point of cutting their horns preventively to prevent poaching.

5. Bornean orangutan

In the last 20 years more than half of the territory that once was the habitat of this ape has been devastated by exploitation by humans, so it is not surprising that it appears on the list of animals in danger of extinction.

6. Malay tiger

This subspecies of tiger is a recent discovery that could have come too late , because it is in critical danger of extinction. It lives mainly to the south of the Malay Peninsula.

7. Saola

This small bovine more similar to the antelopes than the oxen lives divided between Laos and Vietnam, and was only discovered as a species in the 90s.

8. Elephant of Sumatra

This endemic elephant from the island of Sumatra is relatively small, reaching just over two meters in height. It could disappear in less than three decades.

9. Vaquita marina

This cetacean, a close relative of the dolphins, lives exclusively in the Gulf of California, Mexico. Only a few dozen specimens remain in the wild.

10. Axolotle

The axolotl is one of the most amazing amphibians, since it is capable of regenerating practically any part of your body, including your brain. Unfortunately, the destruction of their habitat (lakes of the Valley of Mexico) has made that today there are probably many more individuals in captivity than in the wild .

Maybe you're interested: "Ajolote: the Mexican animal that regenerates its brain"

11. Real carpenter

This bird has become so rare that it is not known exactly if it continues to exist or has already disappeared from the face of the planet. Like the rest of the birds in his group, he lives creating holes in tree trunks to eat his insects.

12. Large lemur of bamboo

This type of primate belonging to the family of lemurs only lives in certain areas of the island of Madagascar. It is believed that there are only about 500 specimens released .

13. Giant Chinese salamander

This is another animal in danger of extinction that belongs to the group of amphibians, such as the axolotl. Specifically, it is the largest amphibian in the world, reaching almost two meters long. He is being hunted for his meat.

14. Paloma manumea

This bird is possibly the closest relative of the Dodo that still exists. Like the latter, it may end up disappearing because of hunting and the destruction of its habitat.

15. Pondicherry shark

This shark of medium size has been reduced to some areas of Sri Lanka , island whose rivers it is able to overcome.

16. Olive ridley turtle

Trawling is destroying this species of aquatic reptile from the Caribbean Sea and the eastern coast of North America.

17. Lemur jumper of Sahafary

The body of this small primate measures less than 20 centimeters, and the eucalyptus crop that is sweeping many areas of Madagascar can lead to extinction.

18Electric stripe

This fish related to sharks is capable of generating an electric field of up to 230 volts around it. The few specimens that remain of this species live scattered in areas of the Atlantic Ocean. .

19. Iberian lynx

This species of lynx only lives in several areas of southeast Spain and Portugal. The main cause of their disappearance is the destruction of their habitat caused by the construction of roads without safe passage.