Graphic displaying the following endangered species - Polar bear, white rhino, jackass penguin, tiger, western lowland gorilla, golden toad (extinct), nubian ibex, loggerhead sea turtle, chimpanzee, blue-throated macaw, and the golden langur
Flickr | Konjure

Endangered Species

Explore our complete guide to at-risk plants and animals. Learn about extinction threats, vital conservation projects, and the groups protecting wildlife.

Graphic displaying the following endangered species - Polar bear, white rhino, jackass penguin, tiger, western lowland gorilla, golden toad (extinct), nubian ibex, loggerhead sea turtle, chimpanzee, blue-throated macaw, and the golden langur
Flickr | Konjure

ENDANGERED ANIMALS - The Consequence Of Habitat Loss, Poaching & Climate Change

Earth is home to approximately 2.17 million described animal and organism species.

According to the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), almost 50,000 species are currently threatened with extinction.

Global wildlife populations have plummeted by an average of 73% between 1970 and 2020. Current species loss is estimated to be 1,000-10,000 times higher than the natural extinction rate.

Protecting endangered animals starts with preserving their natural habitats. As human expansion and deforestation fragment ecosystems, wildlife is left with dwindling space and resources, pushing countless species toward extinction.

Coupled with the effects of climate change, the biodiversity crisis, intensive agricultural practices, conflict, and the merciless illicit wildlife trade, many species are under threat like never before.

Pangolins, Amur Leopards, Sunda tigers, mountain gorillas, Bornean and Sumatran orangutans, black rhinos, African elephants, hawksbill turtles, and the Yangtze finless porpoise are among the world's most critically endangered animals.

The northern white rhino is one of the world's most endangered species. Only two remain out of the entire population: a mother and daughter who live in Kenya’s Ol Pejeta Conservancy.

To prevent the further eradication of entire species, we must ramp up conservation efforts, monitor populations, restore degraded environments, clamp down on illegal wildlife trading, and invest heavily in science-driven efforts to reverse such widespread biodiversity loss.

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Vibrant coral reef teeming with colorful fish, including yellow tangs and orange goldfish, surrounded by diverse coral formations.
Public Domain Pictures | CC0

The Biodiversity Crisis

Earth's biodiversity faces a crisis: 1 million species are threatened with extinction without major changes to land use, protection, and climate action. Already, 85% of global wetlands have been destroyed, 100 million hectares of rainforest have been cleared, and wildlife populations have dropped 73% between 1970 and 2020.

The Biodiversity Crisis
A pangolin clinging to a tree trunk, showcasing its unique scales and curled tail in a natural setting.
Flickr | Bart Wursten

The Illegal Wildlife Trade - A $23 Billion Industry

Illegal wildlife trafficking is the world's fourth-largest illicit trade, involving the unlawful capture, smuggling, and sale of wild animals, parts, and plants. Between 2015 and 2026, organisations seized 9.2 tonnes of ivory, 30.6 tonnes of pangolin scales, and over 13,400 live animals. This devastating crisis is driving species extinction, ecosystem collapse, and severe animal cruelty worldwide.

The Illegal Wildlife Trade - A $23 Billion Industry
An industrial size orange digger is working to tear down trees in the Amazon rainforest.
Pixabay | Bones64

Deforestation - Primary Driver Of Species Extinction

Tropical rainforests, are home to roughly 80% of all land-based plant and animal species. The world loses roughly 10 million hectares of forest every year, primarily to commercial agriculture, livestock grazing, and logging. Deforestation causes massive habitat fragmentation, preventing safe migration, making it harder to find food and mates, and pushing animals closer to human settlements.

Deforestation - Primary Driver Of Species Extinction