Facts about endangered animals

The number of endangered animals is rapidly growing because different environmental issues such as climate change, pollution, habitat loss and deforestation are becoming more and more serious.

The latest reports suggest that today there are more than 5,000 endangered animals in the world.

In average, at least one animal species becomes extinct each year according to U.S. scientists. 

Habitat loss and climate change are the two main reasons why many animals are becoming endangered. 

Humans are mainly responsible for both of these issues.

Having more protected areas where animals can roam freely is one of the best solutions to save many endangered animals from extinction.

The extinction of animals happened even before humans (for instance, dinosaurs) but humans have vastly contributed to the current massive biodiversity loss, and many scientists are already mentioning yet another upcoming mass extinction event, this time with humans solely to blame.

Humans have so far caused extinction of at least 500 animal species.

The currently ongoing conservation efforts won't be enough for many animals to save them from extinction.

The list of endangered animals includes some very famous animals such as tigers, cheetahs, rhinos, penguins, gorillas, pandas, etc.

Today there are just around 12,400 cheetahs remaining in the wild.

12 penguin species are considered to be "at risk" or endangered.

African Cross gorilla is one of the most endangered animals in the world with only 250-300 Cross River gorillas still living in the wild.

Giant pandas are also at the risk of going extinct, even despite the serious efforts from the Chinese government. Today there are only about 1600 pandas still living in the wild.

Many coral species are also heading to extinction, primarily because of the rapidly rising acidity of our oceans.

5 great whale species are also listed as the endangered species.

In many parts of the world invasive species are responsible for the native species becoming endangered. Invasive species have even reached our planet’s most remote areas such as Antarctica.

Three rhino species, Javan, Sumatran and Black rhinos are being listed as critically endangered. The factor that mostly contributed to their massive decline in population is poaching (because of rhino horns that achieve huge prices on Chinese black market).

Sumatran elephants also belong to endangered animals with only around 2.500 individuals still living in the wild. They have been mercilessly hunted because of the valuable tusks.

Polar bears are having tough time to survive, mostly because of the climate change issue.  In business as usual scenario polar bears could become extinct by 2050.

Tigers are also endangered because of the reduced habitats. Current estimates say there are less than 10000 tigers on entire planet still living in the wild.

Even the great predators of the sea, sharks, haven't been spared with many shark species heading to extinction.