Featured
Animals
Sumatran Tiger
Fewer than 600 Sumatran tigers exist on the Indonesian island of Sumatra. Yet 40 years ago, there were nearly 1,000 of these creatures in the wild. Sumatran tigers risk losing their tropical habitat to deforestation and palm oil plantations. Illegal poaching also continues to flourish, despite enforced jail times and fines.
Grauer’s Gorilla
Grauer's gorillas reside in the mountainous forests of the Democratic Republic of Congo. The population of these critically endangered apes has decreased by more than 70% in the past 20 years due to civil unrest , hunting, and habitat loss. Today, Grauer’s gorillas live in only 13% of the region in which they once roamed, and are vulnerable to being hunted as bushmeat.
Western Bumble Bee
The western bumble bee population has been declining for the past 20 years. While the bees once thrived across the western United States and Canada, scientists attribute urban development, disease, pesticides, and climate change as threats to the species. Their loss could dramatically impact our ecosystem, endangering the plants that they pollinate, and the animals that rely on those plants for food or shelter.
Sperm Whale
Sperm whales were hunted nearly to the brink of extinction over four centuries. Although commercial whaling was banned 30 years ago, sperm whales remain vulnerable today due to manmade impacts of pollution and industry. Noise from shipping and drilling impede the sperm whale's navigation and communication, while toxic fumes harm whale health and reproduction.
Sharks
An estimated 100 million sharks are caught and killed annually, and shark fishing remains unregulated and unsustainable throughout most parts of the world. Trading shark fins has been a longstanding practice for generations, and demand has increased to the point of extinction for many species. Overfishing practices are also to blame for the diminishing shark population.
Rhinos
During the beginning of the 20th century, there were 500,000 rhinos across Africa and Asia. Today, there are less than 29,000 rhinos in the world as a result of poaching and loss of habitat. The growing wildlife trade problem means rhinos are hunted for their horns for use in folk medicine for their believed medicinal properties.
Orangutans
Sumatran orangutans are likely to become extinct in the wild over the next 10 years, with the Bornean orangutans following close behind. Like most endangered animals, wildlife trade is a serious issue for orangutans, and their babies are often traded and sold off as pets. The orangutans’ tropical forest habitat is also being destroyed to make room for the rising demand for palm oil plantations.
Elephants
At the turn of the 20th century, it was estimated that a few million African elephants and 100,000 Asian elephants were living in the wild. Today, there are roughly 600,000 African elephants and 40,000 wild Asian elephants left with warning signs of imminent extinction. Elephants face grave danger against wildlife traders looking to sell their ivory tusks, as well as struggling to survive in a diminishing habitat due to global warming and human expansion.