The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) says more than 38,500 species in the world are threatened with extinction. The species is now on the IUCN Red List.
The Red List Index shows the overall trend of species extinction risk used by governments of various countries to track biodiversity loss. Categorization of animals on the list is done very carefully, since 1996.
According to the latest list, 41 percent of amphibians, 26 percent of mammals, 34 percent of birds, 37 percent of sharks and rays, and 28 crustaceans are included in the list. That is, one in eight birds, one in four mammals, and one third of amphibians are threatened with extinction.
Rare Animals in the World that are Endangered
Launching Discover Magazine, here are five rare animals in the world that are threatened with extinction that have been listed by the IUCN:
- Leatherback Turtle
Leatherback turtles are the largest turtles on Earth. This turtle can grow to reach 2,200 kilograms. Besides being the largest in the world, this type of turtle does not have a hard shell like other turtles.
Leatherback turtles are able to swim 10,000 miles each year to reach their nesting sites. Today, leatherback turtles are threatened with extinction due to various problems, including marine pollution, loss of nesting habitat, boat strikes and climate change. - Orangutans
Portrait smiling Orangutans sit for the photographer take a picture. Photo: Getty Images/iStockphoto/nengredeye
This one endemic Indonesian animal is also included in the category of rare animals. Orangutans can be found in the rainforests of Borneo and Sumatra. These animals are known to be very intelligent. They have the ability to use tools, understand other people, and learn sign language.
Orangutans are starting to lose their habitat due to deforestation, mainly due to forest clearing for industrial purposes and oil palm plantations. This animal is expected to become extinct in the next 10 years.
- Red Panda
Who does not know Master Shifu who is one of the characters in the Kung Fu Panda movie. The character was born from the uniqueness of the red panda. Photo: Doc
The red panda is the only member of the Ailuridae family. This animal can be found in the mountains of high forest areas in Asia. Usually they live in trees and only come down to fetch water.
The red panda was first identified in 1825. Now, its existence is threatened by poaching for its meat and skin. In addition, their habitat is also threatened due to the development of land for agriculture, housing, and commercial purposes. It is estimated that only 10,000 wild red pandas remain and even less.
- Sri Lankan Elephant
The Sri Lankan elephant is one of the Asian elephants. This elephant is known to be very intelligent. Like dolphins and apes, they can recognize themselves in the mirror. These large animals can live up to 60 years in the wild and even more.
Like many endangered animals, Sri Lankan elephants face habitat loss due to forest clearing. Due to obstacles along their migration route from land development, there are only a few thousand elephants left.
- Vaquita Dolphins
Vaquita dolphins are the rarest marine mammals in the world. Its existence is on the verge of extinction, more worrying than other endangered animals. This animal is only found in the Gulf of Upper California, Mexico.
This shy little dolphin joins herds of whales and porpoises as part of the cetacean family. This rare animal was discovered in 1957 and it is now believed there are only about ten left.