Endangered Animals: Encyclopedia & Action Guide

Gharial (Gavialis gangeticus): The Ultra-Narrow-Snouted Crocodilian on the Brink

Key TakeawaysStatus: Critically Endangered (IUCN). Roughly 650 adult gharials remain in the wild; >75% live in Nation···

Gobi Bear (Ursus arctos gobiensis): The World’s Rarest Brown Bear

Key TakeawaysOnly home: a small sector of Mongolia’s Gobi Desert, tightly tied to scarce springs and oases.Status: Crit···

Ili Pika (Ochotona iliensis): The “Magic Rabbit” Racing Time

Key Points at a GlanceWhere it lives: High ridges and cliffy talus in China’s Tian Shan MountainsSize: About 8 in (≈20···

Javan Rhino (Rhinoceros sondaicus): The Rarest Living Rhinoceros

Quick FactsStatus: Critically Endangered (CR)Wild population: Fewer than 100 individuals; all in Ujung Kulon National Pa···

Malayan Tiger (Panthera tigris jacksoni): A Critically Endangered Icon of Peninsular Malaysia

Key TakeawaysFewer than ~150 Malayan tigers are thought to remain in the wild; the subspecies is Critically Endangered.P···

Pangolin: Misunderstood “Scaly Mammal” and One of the Most Trafficked Animals on Earth

Key TakeawaysAll eight species are threatened (IUCN: from Vulnerable to Critically Endangered) and heavily targeted by i···

Gooty Sapphire Tarantula (Poecilotheria metallica): Features, Behavior, and Conservation

Key PointsNames: Gooty sapphire tarantula / Peacock tarantula; scientific name Poecilotheria metallica.IUCN Status: Crit···

5 Quetzal Species of Central & South America: ID, Habitat, Culture, and Conservation

Key TakeawaysQuetzals are jewel-toned trogons from Central & South America; the resplendent quetzal is the most icon···

Saola: The “Asian Unicorn” Fighting for Survival

Key TakeawaysStatus: Critically Endangered (CR); best estimates put fewer than 100 individuals left in the wild, and dec···

Sumatran Orangutan: Why This Great Ape Is on the Brink—and How We Can Help

Key Points (Quick Read)Status: Critically Endangered; most recent estimates put the wild population under ~14,000 and de···

Sunda Tiger (Sumatran Tiger): The Last Island Tiger on the Brink

At a GlanceWho it is: The Sunda tiger—better known as the Sumatran tiger (Panthera tigris sumatrae)—is the smallest li···

Yangtze Finless Porpoise: The World’s Only Freshwater Porpoise (and Why It’s on the Brink)

Key TakeawaysCritically endangered: Fewer than 1,000 are thought to remain in the wild, with fragmented sub-populations ···

Endangered Animals in 2025

Earth hosts more than 7.7 million animal species, and over 20% face extinction. Many of the planet’s most unusual creat···

100 Endangered Animals

Many animal species are now endangered or in a state of severe vulnerability—including the polar bear, the Javan rhinoc···

Endangered Seals

Seals (Phocidae) are marine mammals, like whales, dolphins, porpoises, walruses, and manatees.According to the Internati···

Endangered Mammals

Like many other species of flora and fauna, a significant number of mammals are currently facing the risk of extinction.···

35 Endangered Marine Animals (Explainer Edition)

Curious about which marine species are on the brink? Iconic examples include the vaquita, blue whale, Hector’s dolphin,···

25 Endangered Animals in Mexico

Mexico, located in North America, covers more than 1.96 million km² of territory and is home to over 127 million people···

Characteristics of the Okapi – An Endangered Animal

Do you know which living species is the closest relative of the giraffe? The answer is the okapi (Okapia johnstoni). Alt···

15 Endangered Animals in Spain

The Iberian lynx, spur-thighed tortoise, Mediterranean tortoise, black stork, Iberian wolf, European brown bear, bearded···

22 Endangered Animals in Venezuela

Venezuela is recognized as one of the world’s 17 megadiverse countries, hosting an extraordinary variety of ecosystems—···

11 Endangered Animals in Africa

Africa is one of the richest continents in terms of biodiversity, but it is also home to some of the most threatened spe···

Endangered Animals of the North Pole

Climate change and global warming have become undeniable realities, and one of the regions most affected is the Arctic. ···

Animals Most Endangered in Asia

Across the globe, countless animal species are on the brink of extinction. Asia, with its vast biodiversity and dense hu···