The world's most endangered species
The International Union for Conservation of Nature considers over 5500 species to be under threat of extinction. Every year, up to 2000 species of plant, mammal, bird, amphibian and marine life go extinct. Rates of extinction have accelerated rapidly because of human-led environmental degradation. The Northern White Rhino went extinct in 2018 and the following could be next as they've been identified as 'critically endangered'. <br />1. Orangutan: Extinction is being largely driven by logging of their habitat in South East Asia and hunting for exotic animal trades. <br />2. Giant Panda: Largely native to China and now facing extinction due to disease and the particularities of its habitat and reproductive cycle. <br />3. Snow Leopard: Largely located in North Asia and the Himalayas, snow leopards numbers are rapidly falling due to poaching. <br />4. Gorilla (Cross River, East Lowlands, West Lowlands, Moutain Gorilla): Numerous species face extinction largely due to habitat destruction, poaching and competitive forms of hunting. <br />5. Hawksbill Turtle: Their numbers dwindle as their marine ecosystem is being polluted and destroyed, and they can often be hunted for their highly-valued shell. <br />6. Malayan Tiger: Endangered due to encochement into and destruction of their habitat, competitive hunting practices and widespread belief in the curing power of their bones and organs. <br />7. Sumatran Elephant: The large South Asian mammal is poached incessantly for its ivory, meat and skin.<br />8. Vaquita: Only found in the Gulf of California, illegal fishing operations have all but destroyed what are naturally low numbers of Vaquita.
