The natural extinction rate (or background rate) shows how quickly plants, mammals, birds and insects would die out if there were no people around. Scientists state that today these species are disappearing almost 1000 times faster than the natural rate, meaning we are losing about 150-200 species every day. About 15% of mammal species and 11% of bird species are listed as threatened.
Bengal tiger
Threat: Poaching for skin and other body parts is the most serious threat. Habitat loss due to human settlement and potential climate change due to rising sea levels are also threatening factors.
Species Information: Population size is less than 2,500 tigers with a declining trend.
Natural Habitat: Mangrove forests of Bangladesh, various national parks and forested areas in India and Nepal, and subtropical foothills of the Himalayas in Bhutan.
Orangutan
Status: Endangered (Borneo), Critically Endangered (Sumatra)
Threat: The main challenges for both species are habitat loss due to over-cutting of trees and habitat modification for agriculture and habitat fragmentation due to road construction. Fires have played a large role in the decline of Borneo's orangutan population. Hunting and trade in animals is also a threat to the species.
Species information: Over the past 75 years, the Sumatra orangutan population is estimated to have declined by more than 80% and continues to decline. Most animals live outside protected areas. Over 60 years, Borneo's orangutan population has declined by more than 50% and is expected to continue to decline.
Habitat: Sumatra orangutans are located in the northern part of the island of Sumatra, Indonesia, most of them live in the province of Aceh. Borneo orangutans are found throughout the island of Borneo, mainly in Sarawak, Malaysia and Kalimantan, Indonesia.
Polar bear
Status: in danger zone
Threat: Due to global climate change, sea ice is rapidly decreasing. This means loss of habitat for polar bears, whose survival depends on the presence of ice. Over 45 years (three generations), the population has decreased by more than 30%. According to some estimates, polar bears will disappear within 100 years. In addition to melting sea ice, there are other factors affecting the population, such as "overpopulation" in Canada and Greenland, poaching in Russia, and pollution (bears are at the top of the food chain, so the effect of pollution is on every link and on them). Oil production in the Arctic is also a serious problem, as it poses the threat of oil spills and increased levels of bear-human contact.
Habitat: Circumpolar Arctic (as far south as sea ice extends), Svalbard Archipelago in Norway and Churchill, Manitoba in Canada.
Western gorilla
Status: in critical zone
Threats: High levels of hunting and poaching, as well as diseases such as Ebola.
Species information: The western gorilla population, which includes the western lowland gorillas (pictured above), is estimated to decline by 80% within three generations (about 66 years) to 2,046 gorillas.
Habitat: The eastern (mountain) gorilla, found in Rwanda, Uganda and Eastern Congo, is critically endangered. The western gorilla can still be found in Cameroon, Central African Republic (CAR), mainland Equatorial Guinea (Rio Muni), Gabon, Nigeria, Republic of Congo and Cabinda (Angola).
Humpback whale
Status: endangered
Threat: Humpback whale numbers have increased since the hunting moratorium, but ongoing threats remain from noise pollution, entanglement in fishing gear, and ship strikes. Within established quotas, they continue to be targets for the whaling industry.
Species information: In 1966, a moratorium on the hunting of humpback whales was introduced after they were classified as endangered, about 90% of the population was destroyed.
Habitat: Off the coasts of Canada, the United States, South America, Australia and New Zealand, whale watching is a popular activity. During the summer, humpback whales spend time in the polar regions, where they feed and then return to warmer waters to breed. They typically migrate 25,000 km.
Sifaka
Status: critically endangered
Threat: Habitat loss due to logging (some of it illegal), arson and hunting are the main threats.
Species Information: The sifaka is a species of the lemur family. The silky sifaka is endangered; as of 2008, there were approximately 250 adults of the species. Perrier's sifaka is also endangered.
Habitat: The sifaka, like all lemurs, exists only in Madagascar.
African lion
Status: vulnerable
Threat: One of the main threats to lions today is retaliatory/deliberate killing to protect human lives and livestock (a common practice is luring lions with poisoned carcasses). Habitat loss, trophy hunting and disease are also threats.
Species Information: There has been a population decline of 30% over the past 20 years (three generations).
Habitat: Most countries in sub-Saharan Africa.
North American grizzly bear
Status: Endangered in the US; special danger in Canada; became extinct in Mexico.
Threat: human settlement and conflicts with humans. Today, bears are endangered in British Columbia's Jumbo Valley due to plans to develop a large ski resort. This region is one of the most important wildlife corridors in North America through which grizzly bears come and go from the Purcell Wildlife Refuge, an area free of human influence.
Species information: After the Yellowstone grizzly bear disappeared in 2007—due to the "effective removal of endangered grizzly bear protections in the Yellowstone National Park area"—the federal government sued to have the bear relisted. Grizzlies were added to the list in 2009.
Habitat: Grizzly bears in North America exist primarily in Alaska, Western Canada, and the northwestern United States.
Giant Galapagos tortoise
Status: vulnerable
Threat: Until recently, the main threat was commercial hunting for museum collections. Today, the biggest threat is predators such as "wild pigs, dogs, cats and black rats." Donkeys, goats and cattle compete with turtles for grazing areas.
Information about the species: In the 19th century, the species' numbers decreased significantly due to the fact that passing ships caught turtles. Between 1811 and 1824, records show that 15,000 turtles were caught by 105 whaling ships. One subspecies, the Pinta Island giant tortoise, is believed to be extinct after the last of the species, Lonesome George, died in captivity earlier this year.
Habitat: Ten of the 15 subspecies exist on the seven Galapagos Islands.
Chimpanzee
Status: endangered
Threat: Chimpanzee decline is due to habitat destruction and modification (farming and logging), poaching (for meat, animal trade, and crop protection), and disease (they are susceptible to human diseases, and as human populations increase, so do numbers human-chimpanzee contacts).
Species Information: The reason for the endangered status of the chimpanzee is the rapid decline in numbers over the past 20-30 years, which will continue for the next 30-40 years.
Habitat: Chimpanzees live "from southern Senegal through the forested north of the Congo River to western Uganda and western Tanzania, from sea level to altitudes of 2800 m."
Rothschild's giraffe
Status: endangered
Threat: agricultural development has become the main reason for the decline in the species' numbers.
Species Information: The Rothschild's giraffe - or Baringo, or Uganda giraffe - is the second most endangered species, along with the West African giraffe. As of 2010, fewer than 670 individuals remained in the wild.
Habitat: The remaining population lives in protected areas in Uganda and Kenya. Captive breeding programs such as the Giraffe Center in Nairobi are looking to increase these numbers.
Hippopotamus
Status: vulnerable
Threat: The main reasons for the decline are exploitation and habitat loss; there is no evidence that these threats will be mitigated in the near future.
Species information: Over the past ten years, the hippopotamus population is estimated to have declined by 7-20%, with an overall decline of 30% predicted over the next 30 years (three generations).
The pygmy hippopotamus, found in West Africa (Sierra Leone, Guinea, Cote d'Ivoire and Liberia) is critically endangered.
Habitat: rivers, lakes and swamps south of the Sahara.
African elephant
Status: vulnerable
Threat: Elephant poaching for ivory is, unfortunately, not a new problem. Earlier this year, the New York Times published an article in which Congolese authorities suspected the Ugandan military of using helicopters to slaughter animals. Historically, armed groups have killed elephants for the purpose of selling ivory to buy weapons and support their causes.
Species Information: Despite poaching, the African elephant's status has been upgraded from Critically Endangered to Vulnerable. While some regional populations are in decline, most are growing at 4% per year. It is believed that the overall effect will be an increase in population. Elephants became regionally extinct in Burundi, Gambia, Mauritania and Swaziland, although they were reintroduced to Swaziland throughout the 1980s and 1990s.
Habitat: They can be found in 37 countries in sub-Saharan Africa.
Grevy's zebra
Status: endangered
Threat: The main threats to Grevy's zebra are reduction in available water sources; habitat changes and loss due to increased pastures; competition for resources; diseases.
Species information: The population of Grévy's zebras is thought to have declined by 50% over the last two decades. The species "has undergone one of the most dramatic range reductions of any African mammal."
Habitat: Grevy's zebra can be found in Ethiopia and Kenya.
Cheetah
Status: vulnerable
Threat: habitat loss and fragmentation; clashes with farmers (cheetahs that prey on livestock are considered "pests"); poaching.
Species Information: Current population ranges from 7,500 to 10,000 individuals. Based on 1970 estimates of 15,000 individuals, the population has declined by at least 30% over the past two decades.
Habitat: The vast majority of the remaining population is found in Southern and Eastern Africa. The Asiatic cheetah is found in Iran.
African wild dog
Status: endangered
Threat: Declines are primarily due to human dispersal, habitat loss, and control of predator kills.
Species Information: African wild dogs, which hunt in packs, are very efficient hunters with kill rates of around 80%, compared to 30% for lions and, surprisingly, less than 2% for polar bears. From numbers of over 500,000 in over 39 countries, their populations have declined to numbers between 3,000 and 5,500 in 14 countries.
Habitat: eastern and southern Africa: two large groups in Tanzania (Selous Game Reserve) and northern Botswana/eastern Namibia.
Sloth
Status: from “causes concern” to “critical threat”
Threat: Various species of sloths suffer from habitat loss due to deforestation, hunting/poaching, and illegal animal trade.
Species Information: Critically endangered three-toed sloths are the smallest of all sloths and live on an uninhabited island off the coast of Panama. The three-toed maned sloth is classified as a species of concern and is showing population decline.
Habitat: Sloths live in trees in the jungles of Central and South America.
Rhinoceros
Status: from “endangered” to “critical threat”
Threat: The main threat to all subspecies is poaching. Rhino horn is sold on the black market for ornamental and medicinal purposes. Habitat loss due to soil development for agricultural purposes is also a threat to some species.
Species Information: There are two species in Africa: the White Rhinoceros and the Black Rhinoceros. Black rhinos are listed as critically endangered and their population has declined by almost 98% since 1960. Asian species are the rhinoceroses of Java, Sumatra and India. Of these, the rhinoceroses of Java and Sumatra are critically endangered. As of 2008, there are fewer than 50 adult males of the Javan species remaining; the Sumatra population shows a decline of approximately 80% within three generations (about 60 years)
Habitat: White rhinos are found in South Africa, and Black rhinos are found in Angola, Kenya, Mozambique, Namibia, South Africa, Tanzania and the United Republic of Zimbabwe. Both species have been reintroduced to several other African countries. In Asia, the Indian rhinoceros is found in India and Nepal, the Javan rhinoceros is found in Indonesia and Vietnam, and the Sumatra rhinoceros is found in Indonesia and Malaysia.
Koala
Status: endangered
Threat: spread of people destroying eucalyptus trees, food sources for koalas. In addition, the “nutritional value of remaining eucalyptus trees” is decreasing due to increasing CO2 in the atmosphere, leading to the inclusion of the koala in the list of the 10 most vulnerable species to climate change in the world.
Species information: The koala population is found in Australia. Some populations are declining while others are increasing.
Habitat: Regions in Queensland, Victoria, New South Wales and South Australia
Magellanic penguin
Status: endangered
Threat: The threat mainly comes from oil pollution (according to 1994 reports, this causes more than 40,000 deaths per year). In addition to this, the fishing industry also plays a big role in the population decline.
Habitat: The Magellanic penguin breeds on the Pacific and Atlantic coasts of South America in Chile, Argentina and the Falkland Islands.
Encyclopedic YouTube
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✪ THE RAREEST ENDANGERED ANIMALS
✪ Alexander Panchin - when a person is cloned Lecture
✪ "Neanderthals are an endangered species" - a funny video about drunks
✪ River Dolphins, River Dolphins
Subtitles
Extinction problems
Four reasons to worry about extinction:
- the disappearance of species as biological entities;
- destabilization of ecosystems;
- threat to other species;
- loss of irreplaceable genetic material.
Disappearance species is a critical factor both as a decrease in the richness of nature and as a moral issue for those who believe that humans have a responsibility to preserve the natural environment (as well as for those who believe that animal species have legal rights).
Destabilization becomes well understood when a link in the food chain disappears from the ecosystem. When one species disappears, population changes in secondary species very often occur. A situation may arise where the ecosystem changes noticeably and irreversibly.
The fourth reason is more subtle, but perhaps the most important point for humanity. Each variety carries unique genetic material in its DNA and produces unique chemical compounds according to the genetic instructions embedded in them. For example, in the valleys of central China, sweet wormwood grows, a fern-like plant that is the only source of artemisinin, a drug that is almost 100 percent effective against malaria (Jonietz, 2006). If this plant were to disappear, control of malaria (even today a terrible disease) would decrease. There are many other examples of chemical compounds unique to certain species. The number of as-yet undiscovered compounds that could become extinct as a result of species extinction cannot be determined, but it is a much-debated reason and no doubt an important one.
Although extinction may be a natural result of natural selection (for example, the mass extinction of species in the Holocene), the modern period of extinction is unique. Previous periods were caused by physical reasons, such as collisions with celestial bodies, the movement of tectonic plates, high volcanic activity, and climate change. The current period of extinction is caused by humans and began approximately 100,000 years ago with the spread of humans across the planet. By coming into contact with new ecosystems that had never before experienced human presence, people destroyed the ecological balance by hunting, destroying habitats, and spreading disease. The period from 100,000 years ago to 10,000 years ago is called the "first phase" of the sixth extinction period
The second phase of the period began approximately 10,000 years ago with the advent of agriculture. People began the process of domesticating animals. Thus, humans became the first species capable of living while significantly changing historical ecosystems. With the ability to live outside the local ecosystem, humans were free from the constraints of maximum population size and overpopulated them, placing great stress on the environment and producing the destructive actions necessary to further increase population growth. Today, these actions include tropical deforestation, coral reef destruction, other habitat destruction, overexploitation of species, introduction of alien species into ecosystems, soil pollution, and the greenhouse effect.
Sometimes the extinction of species occurs in a matter of decades - for example, Steller's cow completely disappeared in less than thirty years due to predatory hunting for tasty meat.
Security status
Security problems
Some endangered species laws are controversial. Typical areas of dispute: the criteria used in the assessment to place a species on the endangered list; the criteria used to evaluate whether a species should be removed from this list if its population has recovered; is there a need for restrictions on land development at the state level; compensation must be paid to private landowners; finding reasonable exceptions to protection laws.
It often happens that being listed in the Red Book, a species becomes an even more desirable object for collectors and poachers. After all, as you know, “the forbidden fruit is sweet.” Another problem with listing a species on the Red Book is the effect that a landowner, experiencing a loss in the value of his land, may choose to quietly kill and thereby get rid of the animals, or destroy their habitat, thus getting rid of the “problem” on their lands.
Often species become extinct because they are not properly protected, and not because they are poorly protected, although they are reliably protected. For example, a type of turtle Rafetus vietnamensis is now in a critical situation due to the fact that there are only four individuals left. Despite the enhanced protection of these ancient species, which does not allow any hunting or poaching, their reproduction is questionable. The male turtle in Hoan Kiem Lake is considered sacred because of an ancient Vietnamese legend, according to which Le Loi, who rebelled against Chinese rule, received the Thuan Thien sword from a turtle from this lake, and after his victory he returned it to her (hence, by the way, the name - Lake of the Returned Sword, in Vietnamese Hồ Hoàn Kiếm), and, accordingly, it cannot be considered in this matter. Another male is located in another lake in Vietnam near Hanoi. The remaining two (a male and the only female of this species in the whole world) are in Suzhou, but, judging by the unfertilized eggs of the female, the male is no longer fertile, and, according to the Vietnamese tradition, which states that the bride herself must come to the groom, the Vietnamese do not want give the turtle to China. The female is not being resettled due to problems with relations between China and Vietnam, including due to a territorial conflict (Paracel Islands - it is unknown whether it crosses the border. Their resettlement is hampered by their dislike of deep snow, in which the paws of a predator get stuck, and the incidence of diseases such as leukemia due to low genetic diversity, resulting from a small number of individuals and frequent crossings of close relatives of leopard families, as well as deforestation and poaching (leopard bones are valued in Eastern medicine, and their skin is a coveted trophy), which continued until relatively recently. The leopard also has natural enemies, for example, in the form of the Amur tiger... But in this territory there is enhanced protection of animals (started, however, recently, since leopard hunting was banned only in 1956), and some individuals have lived in the zoo since 1961 True, there are often occasional crosses between them with another subspecies of leopards, the Chinese. However, most scientists agree that even such animals can be used as a potential source of genetic diversity for a depleted wild population. Special nurseries are also being prepared in which leopards are prepared for natural conditions, although experts are not confident in the success of such a project, and some believe that efforts would be better directed towards protecting the wild population. In the leopard’s habitat, they plan to place the “Land of the Leopard” national park with an area of 262,000 hectares, which is 60% of the area of its current range - the creators sought to cover as much of the Russian range as possible. Before this, WWF had been creating a protected structure on the site of scattered and independent farms for more than ten years, since 2001. Now an administrative building, tourist complexes and scientific facilities are being built there, and about sixty camera traps are being installed. In addition, the park will have three types of protected zone - absolutely protected (that is, protected from any influence of people, including scientific), accessible to the public (that is, visitor access is allowed there) and scientific (only for scientists). Previously, leopards were found from Khabarovsk to the outskirts of Beijing and some parts of North Korea. Poaching is strictly punishable - in the Russian territory where a leopard lives, for killing a leopard, a poacher must pay a fine of 500,000 rubles and can receive up to two years in prison. In addition, the movement of two leopards is being monitored using satellite sensors on collars - previously there were five of them, but two were out of order, and the third was killed by someone.
The extinction of many species of the animal world is explained by various natural reasons: ice ages, catastrophic meteor collisions, etc. However, the constant threat of destruction of the species comes from the most dangerous, highly adaptable species - Homo sapiens! Let's look at the top 10 extinct species, the disappearance of which (possibly indirectly) was caused by man:
10. Steller's (sea) cow
Photo 10. Steller's cow - the species was exterminated in less than 30 years by indigenous people and hunters [blogspot.ru]The sea cow (Steller's cow) is named after the Russian zoologist Steller, who first discovered and described this species of animal in 1741. The sea cow was slightly larger than a manatee, swam near the surface of the water and ate seaweed (hence the name “sea”). The weight of the cows was up to 10 tons, and their length was 25 meters. From the very beginning, the species was in danger of extinction, since the meat was very tasty and was widely consumed by the indigenous population. Next, fishermen and seal hunters joined the hunt for sea cows. Cow skins were used to make boats. As a result, the Steller cow species completely disappeared in less than 30 years.
9. The Quagga
Photo 9. Quagga was exterminated by humans in 1878 for meat and skin. [wikimedia.org] The quagga lived in southern Africa and was similar in color to a zebra in front and horse-like in back. This is almost the only exterminated species that was tamed by people to protect herds. Quaggas had the ability to notice predators faster than cows, sheep, and chickens and warn their owners about the danger by shouting “quaha” (hence their name). Quaggas were destroyed by humans for their meat and skin in 1878.
8. Chinese river dolphin (“baiji”)
Photo 8. Chinese river dolphin became a victim of hunters and fishermen [ipkins.ru] The Chinese river dolphin belongs to the order of mammals, a representative of the river dolphins. The species was discovered in China (Yangtze River) in 1918. This is a light gray dolphin with a whitish belly, weighing approximately 42-167 kg, 1.4 - 2.5 meters in length. A 2006 expedition found no specimens of the Chinese river dolphin, and the species has most likely disappeared completely (although in 2007 it was reported that 30 individuals remained in the Tianezhou Nature Reserve).
7. Saber-toothed tiger (Smilodon)
Photo 7. Smilodon lived from 2.5 million to 10 thousand years ago [wikimedia.org] Smilodon is an extinct species of saber-toothed cat native to North and South America, weighing between 160 and 280 kg and the size of a lion. A distinctive feature of the family were fangs, 28 cm long (including roots). The species has not been on Earth for more than 10,000 years.
6. Large rodent Josephoartigasia mones
Photo 6. Josephoartigasia mones - the largest rodent on the planet [wikimedia.org] The large rodent Josephoartigasia monesi was named after paleontologist Alvaro Mones. The species existed 2 - 4 million years ago in South America. Researchers discovered a rodent skull 53 cm long; the animal's weight was estimated to be more than 450 kg. This is the largest species of rodent on the planet.
5. Tasmanian wolf (thylacine)
The Tasmanian (marsupial) wolf was exterminated by farmers The Tasmanian wolf is the only representative of the marsupial wolf, it is also called the thylacine. The species is native to Australia; individuals reach a length of 100-130 cm; height – 60 cm; weight about 25 kg. The first mention of the Tasmanian wolf was found in rock records no later than 1000 BC. e. Europeans first encountered the marsupial wolf in 1642. In the 30s of the 19th century, mass extermination of the beast by farmers began in order to protect their sheep. Thus, marsupial wolves survived only in remote areas of Tasmania by 1863.
4. Great Auk
Photo 4. The last settlements of the great auk were destroyed in 1840 by hunters in Scotland [usf.edu ] The great auk is a large flightless bird reaching a length of 75 to 85 cm, weighing about 5 kg, and lived in the waters of the North Atlantic. The great auk has been known to people for more than 100,000 years; indigenous people valued the birds for their tasty meat, eggs and down for making pillows. Due to excessive hunting of birds, the number of great auks has sharply decreased. By the mid-16th century, almost all bird breeding colonies were systematically destroyed. The last individuals were caught and destroyed on the islands in Scotland in 1840.
3. Passenger Pigeon
Photo 3. The last passenger pigeon died in a zoological garden in Ohio [scrittevolmente.com] The passenger pigeon belongs to the pigeon family; until the end of the 19th century it was the most common bird on Earth (there were approximately 3-5 billion individuals). The bird reached a length of 35-40 cm, weighing 250-340 g, distributed in the forests of North America. The extinction of the species occurred gradually due to many factors, the main one of which was human - poaching. The last pigeon died in 1914 in a zoological garden (USA).
2. Dinosaurs
Photo 2. Skeleton of Spinosaurus - one of the largest dinosaurs in the Cretaceous period Dinosaurs inhabited the Earth during the Mesozoic era - for more than 160 million years. In total, there were more than 1000 species, which can be clearly divided into ornithischian (theropods - “beast-footed” and sauropodomorphic “lizard-footed”) and saurischian (stegosaurs, ankylosaurs, ceratopsians, pachycephalosaurs and ornithopods) dinosaurs. The largest dinosaur is Spinosaurus, which is 16-18 meters long and 8 meters high. But not all dinosaurs were big - one of the smallest representatives weighed only 2 kg and was 50 cm long. Dinosaurs became extinct 65 million years ago, according to one hypothesis, the cause was the fall of an asteroid.
1. Dodo or Mauritian dodo
Photo 1. The Mauritian dodo fell victim to hungry sailors and imported domestic animals The dodo is an extinct species of flightless bird, was about 1 meter tall and weighed about 10-18 kg, and lived in the forests of Mauritius. With the arrival of man, many animals of Mauritius became extinct, as the island's ecosystem was damaged.
If we take the 10 rarest species of animals on the planet, then they account for less than 2,500 individuals! These “friends of man” may soon completely disappear from the face of the Earth, as happened with dodos, marsupial wolves and sea cows. Who is at risk?
California condor. Photo: Commons.wikimedia.org / Stacy from San Diego
15% of vertebrate species living in Russia are considered rare or endangered.
How many are there: 130
Where he lives: In California, Arizona (USA), northwestern Mexico.
A very rare species of bird from the American vulture family. It was once distributed throughout the North American continent. It was a prestigious target for hunters, which led it to the brink of extinction. In 1987, when the last free-living condor was captured, the total number was only 27 individuals. But thanks to good breeding in captivity, these birds began to be released again.
Northern smooth whale. Photo: Commons.wikimedia.org
How many are there: 350
Where he lives: Off the coast of New England (USA), in the Gulf of Mexico.
Previously, their number was estimated at 100 thousand. Due to the fact that these whales live near the coast, they became the first victim of the human hunter. In the Middle Ages they were killed by the tens of thousands. In the eastern part of the Atlantic Ocean the population was completely destroyed. Unlike other species of whales, after the cessation of hunting, right whales were almost unable to increase in number - development of offshore oil and gas fields is hampered.
Red wolf. Photo: Commons.wikimedia.org
How many are there: 100
Where he lives: In North Carolina and Tennessee (USA).
Today this is the rarest representative of the wolf genus. It was widespread in the southeastern United States, but red wolves were exterminated for attacks on livestock and poultry. In 1967, the species was declared endangered; the entire current population descended from 14 individuals kept in captivity, where they were specially placed for breeding.
River gorilla. Photo: Commons.wikimedia.org/arenddehaas
How many are there: 300
Where he lives: On the border between Cameroon and Nigeria.
Subspecies of the western gorilla. The most vulnerable of all African primates, habitat loss and intensive hunting have contributed to their decline. The Cameroon authorities have developed a special plan for the conservation of river gorillas and created a national park.
Irbis (snow leopard)
Snow leopard. Photo: Commons.wikimedia.org
How many are there: 80
Where he lives: To the west of Lake Baikal - in the Altai, Sayan, and Tannu-Ola mountains.
The only species of large cats that has adapted to living in high mountains. It belongs to a poorly studied species; for a long time it remained a mystery to scientists because it is extremely cautious. Poachers hunted him for his skin. For many Asian peoples, this animal is a symbol of nobility and power. His image is often placed on coats of arms.
Asiatic lion. Photo: Commons.wikimedia.org / supersujit
How many are there: 350
Where he lives: In the Gir Nature Reserve, in northwestern India.
The species was once distributed over a vast territory from Greece to India. It was this beast that entered into battles with gladiators in the arenas of Roman amphitheaters. It was gradually destroyed by hunters. In 1900, about a hundred lions living in the Gir forest were taken under protection by the Indian authorities. In the 1990s, India donated several pairs of animals to European zoos to preserve the endangered population. However, at the moment the species is preserved only in this reserve.
Sumatran rhinoceros. Photo: Commons.wikimedia.org / Charles W. Hardin
How many are there: 300
Where he lives: On the Malay Peninsula, on the islands of Sumatra and Borneo.
Over the past 20 years, the number of the species has decreased by approximately 50%. Only 6 viable populations have survived, 4 of them on the island of Sumatra. The decline is caused primarily by poaching for horns, which are in demand in Chinese medicine. Preserving these rhinoceroses in captivity does not produce results: many die before the age of 20 years without bearing offspring. The habits of this animal are poorly understood, and it is not yet possible to create favorable conditions for keeping it in captivity.
Far Eastern leopard. Photo: Commons.wikimedia.org / Keven Law
How many are there: 40
Where he lives: In Primorye (Russia), in China and on the Korean Peninsula.
The rarest of the big cats. Hunting for the leopard and its food (roe deer and sika deer), deforestation, systematic burning of vegetation, and building roads have led to a significant reduction in numbers and range. Now the species is on the verge of complete destruction. Leopards in zoos and nurseries are closely related, so their offspring degenerate.
Indochinese tiger. Photo: Commons.wikimedia.org / Lotse
How many are there: 500
Where he lives: On the Indochina Peninsula.
It is hunted for its skin and organs, from which Chinese medicine preparations are made. The Indochinese tiger population is believed to be declining faster than other species, with one animal believed to be killed by poachers every week. They live in mountain forests, mainly along borders between countries.
Javan rhinoceros. Photo: Commons.wikimedia.org
How many are there: 60
Where he lives: On the western tip of the island of Java, in a national park.
The decrease in numbers is directly related to poaching: in traditional Chinese medicine, the horn of this animal is highly valued (the cost reaches $30 thousand per 1 kg), it has been traded for more than 2 thousand years. In addition, the animal suffers due to deforestation for arable land. Attempts to keep the Javan rhinoceros in zoos have been unsuccessful.
Main threats:
- habitat loss;
- poaching;
- destruction of the food supply;
- environmental pollution;
- changing of the climate;
- irrational human use of natural resources.
Faktrum lists species of marine mammals that may soon become extinct.
1. Narwhal - a species close to vulnerable
These unique animals, reminiscent of unicorns, live in the cold Arctic waters. In the Middle Ages, narwhals were killed in huge numbers because of their “horn,” which was believed to have magical powers. However, and today an unusual tusk can cause the killing of these whales.
In addition, the Eskimos used to use hand harpoons to hunt narwhals, but today they often hunt using motor boats and automatic harpoons. In addition, narwhals are one of the most vulnerable marine mammals in the Arctic to climate change and environmental pollution.
The narwhal is listed in the International Red Book and the Red Book of Russia. The total number of this species is about 80 thousand individuals.
2. Right whales, an endangered species
Three species of whales belonging to this genus live in different regions of the globe. The southern right whale inhabits the Southern Ocean, the North Atlantic right whale lives in the western Atlantic Ocean, and the Japanese right whale lives in the northern Pacific Ocean. All these species are listed in the International Red Book. Moreover, the North Atlantic and Japanese right whales are among the rarest whales in the world. Thus, the number of North Atlantic right whales in our time is approximately 300 - 350 individuals, and the number of Japanese right whales is about 500 individuals.
Due to their relatively slow movement, tendency to swim close to coasts, and high blubber content, right whales were one of the most coveted prey of whalers in the past. And today, despite the fact that whaling is banned in most countries, humans still remain the biggest threat to these species.
According to scientists, one of the main reasons for the decline in the number of right whales is that the latter are often fatally injured by ships. And, in addition, right whales, like other cetaceans, often become entangled in fishing gear. These two anthropogenic factors, for example, for the North Atlantic right whale are 48% of all deaths of this species.
3California harbor porpoise, a critically endangered species
This smallest marine mammal (its length is no more than 145 cm) lives exclusively in the shallow lagoons of the northern Gulf of California. Scientists estimate that there are only 100 to 300 individuals of this species left in the wild, which makes its position the most endangered compared to other representatives of the cetacean order.
Today, the number of California pigs continues to decline, and this is explained, first of all, by the fact that animals very often end up in gill nets (mesh that is placed along the shore). For example, according to studies carried out in El Golfo de Santa Clara, one of the three largest harbors where California pigs live, fishing nets are responsible for approximately forty deaths of these animals per year(that is, approximately 17% of the population of California pigs living in the harbor of El Golfo de Santa Clara die each year). Scientists suggest that only a complete ban on the use of fishing nets in the habitats of these animals will help preserve the rare species.
4. Blue whale, an endangered species
Even before the beginning of the 20th century, these largest animals on Earth were distributed in almost all oceans (the approximate number was then 202 thousand - 311 thousand individuals). But later the hunt began for them, and within a century the species had almost completely disappeared. When an international ban on catching blue whales came into force in 1966, the number of the species began to gradually increase. Today, according to researchers, there are about 10-25 thousand blue whales living in the wild.
Due to their enormous size, adult blue whales have no natural predators. However, they can be fatally injured after collisions with large vessels, and can also die from becoming entangled in fishing nets. In addition, increased background noise in the ocean, in particular due to sonars, prevents whales from orienting themselves in space and “communicating” with each other, which in turn makes it difficult to find a partner for reproduction.