Top 10 Animals on the Verge of Extinction

Slowly and gradually there have been number of animals that have already vanished while some of the other popular ones have come at the verge of extinction.

Animals are a beautiful creation of nature. It is sorry state when any news approaches regarding species of animals and birds vanishing slowly. When talking about the term, “endangered”, it makes you remind of the lovely plants and animals that are slowly dying out. Some reports also suggest that all the species that are present on earth are considered to be endangered because of the serious environmental threat that is growing at an alarming rate

Scientists and conservationists warn that the animals and plants that are currently disappearing rapidly from the natural ecosystem due to some or the other major reason and the rate of extinction is a major cause for concern. Scientifically, it has been said that if the rate of disappearing remains the same then chances are that more and more species will end up being extinct, as all animals and plants are somehow linked in an ecosystem.

People today are aware about various species that are getting extinct but it is very important to understand the reasons behind them getting disappeared.

Let’s have a better understanding about the top ten animal species that are actually endangered today:

Siberian Tigers

Photo: Daisyree Bakker http://www.flickr.com/photos/27875041@N02/4290290036/

With the Chinese and Korean populations nearly extinct, Siberian Tigers are considered to be Critically Endangered. Less than 200 are left on earth. It has also been estimated that tigers have lessened to an extent of 7 percent on the earth. Tigers were once considered as most dangerous animals and have been chosen as national symbols for many countries.  

Ivory Billed Woodpecker

Photo: KC BIRD FAN http://www.flickr.com/photos/nvarvel/6583113791/in/photostream/

The Ivory-billed Woodpecker (Campephilus principalis) is or was one of the largest woodpeckers in the world, at roughly 20 inches in length and 30 inches in wingspan. This top ranking endangered species (possibly extinct already), used to live in Southern part of US as well as Cuba. Due to habitat destruction, and to a lesser extent hunting, its numbers have dwindled to the point where it is uncertain whether any remain. There are various resources which state that the last time when ivory billed woodpecker was sighted was in year 2004.  

Amur Leopard

Photo: Spencer Wright http://www.flickr.com/photos/spencer77/6112672273/in/photostream/

The Amur leopard (Panthera pardus orientalis) is a leopard subspecies native to the southwestern Primorye region of Russia, and is, as of 15 February 2012, classed as Critically Endangered. As few as 25 to 34 left in the wild make Amur or Far Eastern leopard, world's most endangered cat. Amur leopards are threatened by poaching, encroaching civilization, new roads, exploitation of forests and climate change.

Javan Rhinoceros

Photo: Digo Souza http://www.flickr.com/photos/caochopp/4626175134/in/photostream/

Once the most widespread of Asian rhinoceroses, the Javan Rhinoceros ranged from the islands of Java and Sumatra, throughout Southeast Asia, and into India and China. Now you can hardly find 40 of them left. Rest have already disappeared. The species is now critically endangered, with only one known population in the wild, and none in zoos. A second population of it in Cat Tien National Park in Vietnam was confirmed as extinct in 2011. It is possibly the rarest large mammal on earth.

Greater Bamboo Lemur

Photo: Leonora Enking http://www.flickr.com/photos/33037982@N04/3440065674/in/photostream/

The Greater Bamboo Lemur, which is about the size of a cat, had been thought to be extinct until a survey in 1986 found a few survivors along with a completely new species, the golden bamboo lemur (Hapalemur aureus), and resulted in the development of Madagascar's Ranomafana National Park. It is said that lemurs Madagascar was once the special hometown for a large number of lemurs but as on date, they are available only in fewer numbers.

Northern Right Whale

Photo: Ocean Alliance http://sero.nmfs.noaa.gov/pr/RightWhaleConservation.htm

Nothern Right Whale, the most endangered of all the world’s whale species, numbers around 350 individuals that travel the Atlantic coasts of Canada and the US. During the whaling days of the 19th century, the right whale got its name because whalers considered it the “right” whale to kill, as it not only was full of valuable whale oil, but it floated after it was dead, which made it easy to handle and process. These whales are still living but there are various sources which say that they are continuously being hunted to the level of extinction.  

They are protected under the U.S. Endangered Species Act of 1973 and the Marine Mammal Protection Act of 1972. Vessel strikes and entanglement in fixed fishing gear are the two greatest threats to their recovery. 

Western Lowland Gorilla

Photo: Rennett Stowe http://www.flickr.com/photos/tomsaint/4242223817/in/photostream/

Western lowland Gorillas or the Mountain Gorillas are among the most famous of all endangered animals. These majestic animals live in the tropical mountain forests in central Africa, but they are lately finding it very hard to survive, and a couple of years back they were brought at the brink of extinction. Forest loss is gradually destroying gorilla habitat and they are being hunted down to extinction. Large-scale farming and grazing is also shrinking forest areas that have been their natural habitat.  Zoos worldwide have a population of 550 western lowland gorillas and the Cincinnati Zoo leads the United States in western lowland gorilla births. 

Leatherback Sea Turtle

Photo: http://www.flickr.com/photos/thailandecoportal/4763218964/in/photostream/

Leatherback Turtle are the longest-living marine species to ever ply the world's oceans. They survived catastrophic asteroid impacts and outlived the dinosaurs. But this largest turtle in the world, is on the brink of extinction, and scientists question whether the animal will survive into the next decade. Over the last 22 years their numbers have declined in excess of 95 percent.

Large-scale hunting and poaching of sea turtle eggs has pushed this beautiful species to the verge of extinction. 

Kakapo Parrot

Photo: Chris Birmingham http://www.flickr.com/photos/docnz/6502677219/

Native of New Zealand, the ancient, flightless Kakapo is the world's rarest and strangest parrot. It does not fly and is a nocturnal bird, which makes it relatively easy to poaching by humans and other animals. There were only 62 left, when they were shifted to safe habitat, where their population is now growing slowly.

Chinese Giant Salamander

Photo: http://www.flickr.com/photos/toluju/4509692935/in/photostream/

The Chinese Giant Salamander (Andrias davidianus) is the largest salamander in the world, reaching a length of 180 cm (6 ft), although it rarely – if ever – reaches that size today. Endemic to rocky mountain streams and lakes in China, it is considered critically endangered due to habitat loss, pollution, and over-collecting, as it is considered a delicacy and used in traditional Chinese medicine.