Endangered animals are those animals that are under great threat of becoming extinct in the near future. When an animal or species is marked as endangered, it simply means that they are vanishing fast or the population is not large enough to stand the test of time. Here is a list of some of the threatened animals:
- Siberian Tiger- The cold, snowy climate of Siberia is the natural habitat of the Siberian tiger, the largest members of the cat family. It is a highly endangered species with approximately 540 of them at present. Loss of habitat and hunting of Amur tigers have been responsible for the reduction in their numbers. Another area of concern is that there is not much genetic diversity in the existing population, enhancing their vulnerability.
- Black Rhino- Black Rhino of Africa is a critically endangered species at the moment. A shocking report revealed that there were 70,000 black rhinos in the 1960s and only 2410 of them in the year 1995. The biggest reason behind the extinction of these animals is poaching as the horn of rhino is used to prepare Chinese medicine. After that, measures have been taken to stop poaching and selling of their horns to countries such as Vietnam and China.
- Mandarin Duck- The mandarin duck is among the most beautiful- looking ducks, often spotted on the lakes and ponds in Britain. However, the native habitats of these bright- colored ducks are China, eastern Asia, Japan, and Korea. With forests being cut down, they are having difficulty to survive.
- Mountain Gorilla- Mountain gorillas reside along the borders of Rwanda, Uganda, the Democratic Republic of Congo, and Uganda’s Bwindi Impenetrable National Park. Not discovered until 1902, the mountain gorillas have endured a lot due to human activities such as war, hunting, habitat destruction, and unlawful pet trade. In 1989, the total number of mountain gorillas left was 620. Thanks to diligent conservation efforts, the population has started increasing and the current number is 880.
- Blue Whale- Blue whale is the largest animal to have inhabited planet Earth and also among the endangered animals. They live mainly in the ice-cold waters of the Antarctic Ocean and the Arctic Ocean where there is an abundance of plankton for their sustenance. In the whaling season between1930 and 1931, the Antarctic whalers killed 30,000 of them. The community of blue whales needs at least 10 decades of protection to reach a number which will diminish threats of extinction.
- Komoda Dragon- The Komoda dragons are the largest members of the lizard family and they are found in the islands of Indonesia. These giant lizards can be as long as 3 metres and are considered to be powerful predators. They prefer to live in uninhabited islands are therefore, are at a constant threat from human beings.
- Loggerhead Turtle- Loggerhead turtle is a threatened reptile living in the Mediterranean Sea, the Atlantic Ocean, and the Black Sea. In ancient times, the main dangers to loggerhead turtles were hunting for their meat and shell. At present times, tourists crowding the sandy beaches preferred by turtles for nesting have been responsible for their small population. Again, increased temperature of sand results in birth of more females, thereby disturbing the balance.
- Lion- tailed Macaque- If you want to spot some of these small monkeys you have to travel all the way to the tropical rainforests in the south- western part of India. Unlike several other animals residing there, the long-tailed macaque face difficulties adapting to the changed habitat. Poachers have also captured thousands of baby macaques in the past, often killing the parents while doing so.
What are we doing to save the endangered species? The United States of America passed the US Endangered Act or ESA in the year 1973 with the aim of recovering and protecting imperiled species along with the ecosystems that are crucial to their survival. The ESA has acted as a safety net for the endangered animals and has been successful in preventing the extinction of more than 90 percent of the species under its effective care. Many species bald eagle, Stellar sea lion and grizzly bear are on the path to recovery, thanks to this law.
