Every 3rd Friday of May each year, the world commemorates the Endangered species day. This day is aimed at creating awareness about the endangered species and suggesting solutions to be implored to stop poaching and illegal trade of these species and their products that have greatly threatened their existence and heavily reduced their numbers. This day highlights some of those that are threatened and are at the verge of extinction. The International Union For the Conservation of Nature (IUCN) came up with along list of the animals whose population is on a serious decline and are anticipated to face extinction if measures to protect them are not put in place. The list is termed as the Red list and features an array of animals .
There are more than 2 million animal species living on planet earth according to scientists, but 1000 species are endangered and have been protected in over 3500 protected areas world wide that include; parks, wildlife refugees and other reserves.
This year’s celebration will be on 16th May and is focusing on among others; the Mountain Gorilla which exist only in Uganda, Rwanda and Cong and less than 800 are said to be living in the world. Below are some of the most endangered animals as listed by the All about Wildlife Site
1 Ivory-Billed Woodpecker
This North American bird is so endangered that it may actually be extinct
2 Amur Leopard
The world’s rarest cat is critically endangered and Only 40 individuals are estimated to be left in Russia’s Far East
3 Javan Rhinoceros
No more than 60 of these swamp-dwelling Asian rhinos exist
4 Northern Sportive Lemur
It is the scarcest of Madagascar’s fast-dwindling lemur species
5 Northern Right Whale
Hunted to near extinction, about 350 right whales still swim the Atlantic
6 The Saola—An Asian Unicorn
So rare it is almost mythological, the saola hangs on by its hoof tips in a forest full of poachers’ snares
7 Leather back Sea Turtle
The population of the world’s largest turtle is dropping at an alarming rate
8 Siberian (or Amur) Tiger
The world’s biggest cat weighs as much as 300 kilos (660 pounds) and has been critically threatened for its bones and skins that are believed to have medicinal value in Asia.
9 Chinese Giant Salamander
Humans are eating the world’s largest amphibian into extinction
10 The Little Dodo Bird
Samoa’s little dodo bird is in immanent danger of following the large dodo into extinction.
11 The Mountain Gorilla
Endemic to Uganda, Rwanda and Congo, this gentle giant ape has been critically endangered that less than 800 individuals survive in the world
12 Sumatran Rhinoceros
This species of Rhinos is the smallest of all and about 275 of them are estimated to be remaining in the world.
The above list is from different sights and it should be noted that the species listed are not in a chronological order. the Endangered species are very many and therefore listing them down according to their degree of endangerment is quite difficult. More of these species and their details, can be found on the links below;
1. http://www.allaboutwildlife.com/ten-most-endangered-animals
2. http://www.iucnredlist.org/
