As you probably already know, there are many animals on planet Earth that are struggling. Ultimately, human beings are the greatest threat to the survival of endangered species with poaching, habitat destruction, and the effects of climate change causing a lot of the problems.
Today, we decided to show you the most endangered animals.
Top 6 Most Endangered Animals
#1: Vaquita:
The number one on our list of the most endangered animals is the vaquita.
Classified as Critically Endangered by the IUCN since 1996, and in 2018, there were only around 6 to 22 vaquitas left. The latest estimate, from July 2019, suggests there are currently only 9. The vaquita is both the smallest and the most endangered marine mammal in the world.
Take a look at our alphabetical list of animals.
#2: Amur Leopard:
The number 2 on our list of the most endangered animals is the Amur leopard. Classified as Critically Endangered on the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species, and between 2014 and 2015, there were only around 92 Amur leopards left within their natural range. That number is now estimated to be less than 70.
Humans are their biggest threats because thee animals feature beautiful coats hat are used with poachers. Besides, their bones are also frequently sold for use in traditional Asian medicine.
#3: Kakapo:
Coming from New Zealand, the kakapos are nocturnal parrots and they are critically endangered with only around 140 individuals remaining, each one with an individual name.
One of the main threats to Kakapos is predation from introduced species such as cats and stoats that hunt using scent. A kakapo’s natural reaction is to freeze and blend in with the background when threatened. It is effective against predators that rely on sight to hunt but not smell. Females also leave the nest unattended when finding food, leaving the eggs freely available to predators.
Check out our alphabetical list of animals.
#4: Gharial:
Featuring long thin snouts with a large bump on the end which resembles a pot known as a Ghara, the Gharials live mainly on India.
They spend most of their time in freshwater rivers, only leaving the water to bask in the sun and lay eggs. There are only around 100 to 300 left in the wild and heir decline is due to several issues. From habitat loss to pollution and entanglement in fishing nets, these are just some of the biggest threats.
#5: Tooth-Billed Pigeon:
Tooth-billed pigeons only live on Samoa and there are currently 70 to 380 left in the wild, with no captive populations to aid conservation efforts. Very little is actually known about tooth-billed pigeons since they are elusive and very rarely seen.
In the past, hunting has played a big part in their decline and has killed thousands of individuals. Currently, one of their main threats is habitat loss.
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#6: North Atlantic Right Whale:
The North Atlantic right whales are gentle giants that stay close to coasts and spend a lot of time at the surface skim feeding on zooplankton. This ends up making them a target for hunters.
There are currently only around 400 of them left, and only about 100 breeding females. They are now protected, and hunting is illegal, but population recovery is slow. Females don’t breed for the first ten years of their life and then will give birth to a single calf every six to ten years.