2. ENDANGERED SPECIES
An endangered species are species of organisms that
face a very high risk of extinction. The phrase is used
vaguely in common parlance for any species fitting this
description, but its use by conservation biologists typically
refers to those deigned Endangered in the iuc Red List, where
it is the second most severe conservation status for wild
populations, following Critically Endangered. There are
currently 3079 animals and 2655 plants classified as
Endangered worldwide, compared with 1998 levels of 1102
and 1197, respectively. The amount, population trend, and
conservation status of each species can be found in the Lists
of organisms by population.
3. WHAT IS AN ANIMAL EXTINCTION?
The extinction of an animal species occurs
when the last individual member of that
species dies. Although a species may be "extinct
in the wild," the species is not extinct until
every individual, regardless of location,
captivity, or ability to breed, has died.
Example:
The extinction of dodo bird is usually blamed
on overhunting.
4. THE MOST ENDANGERED
ANIMALS SPECIES
Among them we can find :
1. Siberian Tiger
2. Polar Bear
3. Pacific Walrus
4. Magellanic Penguin
5. Leatherback Turtle
6. Bluefin Tuna
7. Mountain Gorilla
8. Monarch Butterfly
9. Javan Rhinoceros
10. Giant Panda
5. SIBERIAN TIGER
New studies indicate that there may be as few as 3,200
tigers (Panthera tigris) left in the wild. Tigers occupy less
than seven per cent of their original range, which has
decreased by 40 percent over the past ten years. Continuing
deforestation and rampant poaching could push some tiger
populations to the same fate as its now-extinct Javan and
Balinese relatives in other parts of Asia. Tigers are poached
for their body parts, which are used in traditional Asian
medicine, while skins are also highly prized.
6. POLAR BEAR
The Arctic’s polar bears (Ursus maritimus) have
become the iconic symbol of early victims of climate-
induced habitat loss. Designated a threatened species
for protection by the Endangered Species Act in the
US, many polar bear populations will be vulnerable to
extinction within the next century if warming trends
in the Arctic continue at the current pace.
7. PACIFIC WALRUS
The Arctic’s Bering and Chukchi Seas are home to the
Pacific walrus (Odobenus rosmarus divergens), one of
the latest victims of climate change. In September of
this year, up to 200 dead walruses were spotted on the
shore of the Chukchi Sea on Alaska's northwest coast.
These animals use floating ice for resting, birthing
and nursing calves, and protection from predators.
8. MAGELLANIC PENGUIN
Once threatened primarily by oil spills, Magellanic
penguins (Spheniscus magellanicus), now face a larger
threat as fish are displaced by warming ocean currents,
forcing the birds to swim farther to find food. Last year
hundreds of Magellanic penguins washed up on beaches
around Rio de Janeiro, many emaciated or dead. Scientists
have speculated that changes in ocean currents or
temperatures, which may be related to
climate change, could have been responsible
for their movement more than a thousand
miles north of their traditional nesting
area in the southern tip of Argentina.
9. LEATHERBACK TURTLE
The largest marine turtle and one of the largest living
reptiles, the leatherback turtle, (Dermochelys coriaceathe) has
survived for more than a hundred million years, but is now
facing extinction. Recent estimates of numbers show that
this species is declining, particularly in the Pacific where as
few as 2,300 adult females now remain, making the Pacific
leatherback the world's most endangered marine turtle
population
10. BLUEFIN TUNA
The Atlantic bluefin tuna (Thunnus thynnus) is a large
migratory fish found in the western and eastern Atlantic
and the Mediterranean Sea. Bluefin tuna is the source of
highest grade sushi. Bluefin tuna fisheries are near collapse
and the species at serious risk of extinction if unsustainable
fishing practices in the Eastern Atlantic and Mediterranean
are not stopped.
11. MOUNTAIN GORILLA
Scientists consider mountain gorillas (Gorilla beringei
beringei) to be a critically endangered gorilla subspecies,
with about 720 surviving in the wild. More than 200 live in
the Virunga National Park, located in the eastern part of the
Democratic Republic of Congo, bordering Rwanda and
Uganda. War has been waged in areas around the park, with
gorillas subject to related threats such as poaching and loss
of habitat.
12. MONARCH BUTTERFLY
Every year millions of delicate monarch butterflies (Danaus
plexippus) migrate from North America to their winter
habitat in Mexico. A well conserved and protected high-
altitude pine and fir forest in Mexico is essential for the
survival of the overwintering of monarchs, which has been
recognized as an endangered biological phenomenon.
13. JAVAN RHINOCEROS
Listed as Critically Endangered on the IUCN Red List
(2009), the Javan rhino (Rhinoceros sondaicus) is considered
to be one of the most endangered large mammals in the
world with only two populations existing in the wild, for a
total number of less than 60 animals.
14. GIANT PANDA
The giant panda is a medium-sized black-and-white bear that
lives only in the mountainous temperate forests of southwest
China. Giant pandas eat a diet of bamboo. The giant panda
is one of the most endangered animals on Earth. Only about
1,600 of these rare bears are left. This number includes more
than 160 pandas living in zoos and breeding centers around
the world, mostly in China.
15. THE MOST ENDANGERED
PLANTS SPECIES
1. Bois Dentelle
2. Dragon Tree
3. African Baobab Tree
4. Clanwilliam Cedar
5. Honduras Rosewood
6. Monkey Puzzle
7. African Blackwood
8. St. Helena Gumwood
9. Hinton’s Oak (Encino of Hinton)
10. Loulu
16. BOIS DENTELLE
The Bois Dentelle is a truly beautiful tree; sadly there are
only two of these trees in existence today (both in
Mauritius). This tree is not huge like others on this list;
instead, the Bois Dentelle is pretty small, but the flowers that
it provides are one of a kind.
17. DRAGON TREE
Dragon Tree is considered endangered. However, Brava and
Santiago, two places in Cape Verde, consider the tree to be
extinct. Due to animals that eat the seedlings of the tree, such
as goats, rats, and rabbits, it’s extremely hard for the tree to
regenerate. Fires have also been a problem for these trees.
18. AFRICAN BAOBAB TREE
TheBaobab tree is on the endangered list for many
reasons. For one, droughts within the tree’s habitat
have caused them to not have enough water to grow
properly. Also, these trees are often cut down so that
people can use the trunks to store water in, which
can hold about 2376 gallons of water. The fruit is
also used for making porridge as well as the leaves,
which can be used to make a salad.
19. CLANWILLIAM CEDAR
Like many other trees on this list, the Clanwilliam cedar is
on the endangered list of trees because of the wide need for its
timber. The timber that the tree provides is often used for
building because it is rot-resistant, as well as for telegraph
poles and even for furniture.
20. HONDURAS ROSEWOOD
The timber made from the Honduras rosewood is highly
valuable. A lot of this wood is used to create musical
instruments such as guitars and various other stringed
instruments. It is most used to create claves and xylophones
due to the fact that the timber is said to be heavy and very
durable which allows it to provide a very loud but clear note.
21. MONKEY PUZZLE
Because of things such as logging, grazing, and fires, the
forests once made up of Monkey Trees are slowly
diminishing. The timber is often used for building bridges,
roofs, boat structures, furniture, and plenty of other things,
but this is mostly due to the fact that it is resistant to
fungal decay and also has a lot of mechanical resistance.
22. AFRICAN BLACKWOOD
The extremely dark heartwood of the Blackwood is definitely
one of the most widely sought after timbers in the entire
world. Some of the highest class instruments, mostly
woodwinds, are made of this wood. It is also used to make
furniture as well as for carving purposes.
23. ST. HELENA GUMWOOD
When it comes to the St. Helena gumwood tree, the
main problem is humans. Many people who have
access to these trees often cut them down and use
them for building as well as for firewood. This has
probably happened since the beginning of 1659
when the island was first settled. Also, some type of
animal often accompanies settlers.
24. HINTON’S OAK
Due to the growing need of agricultural locations in Mexico,
the Hinton’s Oak is declining in numbers. Road
construction, more planting fields, and coffee plantations
have all taken over the land that was once inhabited by the
Hinton’s Oak.
25. LOULU
The Loulu tree has been living on the Hawaii Islands for
around 40,000 years. The Polynesians who used it for
making spears and thatching first brought it there. The trees
flourished until the ancient Hawaiians arrived, bringing
pigs and other animals with them that either ate the seeds or
ruined the roots of young trees.
26. POSSIBLE SOLUTIONS
Put law on hunting animals
Provide safe habitats for animals
reduce the amount of Global Warming
- Recover and protect (at least) important areas (and
respective habitat) in the living cycle of that specie
Protect essential elements of the system (key
species) and not only the species isolately.
