Fun Fact 1: Endangered species definition: A species (type) of animal whose numbers are so small that is in danger of extinction (none surviving) throughout all or a major section of its variety
Fun Fact 2: There are no exact figures to deter the exact number of endangered animals as they are constantly changing however; there are currently over 3,000 animals that are listed as endangered, compared to over 1,000 animals listed in 1998
Fun Fact 3: Animals are becoming endangered due to various causes, these include the destruction of their habitat, for example the rainforest, water pollution, global warming, over-exploitation (un-necessary hunting, for example elephant tusks) disease and the introduction of exotic animals
Fun Fact 4: There are many Endangered Species Organizations and charities dedicated to saving, preserving and protecting endangered wildlife. The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), is the world authority on the conservation status of endangered species
Fun Fact 5: Lists, or ranks, are produced in each country based on specific criteria, animals are then classified by the IUCN who publish a Red List with seven status areas; Least Concern (LC), Near Threatened (NT), Vulnerable (VU), Endangered (EN), Critically endangered (CR), Extinct in the wild (EW), Extinct (EX)
Fun Fact 6: The IUCN Status: Least Concern (LC) - No immediate threat to the survival of the species. The species has been evaluated and do not qualify as Endangered, Threatened or Near Threatened species. List of least concern animal species include; Arctic wolf, Brown Bear, Macaw, Skipjack Tuna, Gray Whale, Amazon River Dolphin
Fun Fact 7: The IUCN Status: Near Threatened (NT) - May be considered threatened in the near future. List of near threatened animal species include; Jaguar, Monarch Butterfly, White Rhino, Yellow fin Tuna, Plains Bison and Beluga
Fun Fact 8: The IUCN Status: Vulnerable (VU) - At risk because of their natural declining numbers are facing high-risk in their natural surroundings. List of vulnerable animal species include; African Elephant, Giant Tortoise, Great White Shark, Polar Bear, Red Panda, Savanna Elephant
Fun Fact 9: The IUCN Status: Endangered (EN) - In the immediate probability of becoming extinct and require protection to exist. List of endangered animal species include; Asian Elephant, Bengal Tiger, Blue Whale, Bluefin Tuna, Chimpanzee, Galápagos Penguin, Giant Panda, Indian elephant, Malayan tiger, Orangutan, Sea Lions, Snow leopard, Tiger, Whale
Fun Fact 10: The IUCN Status: Critically endangered (CR) - Face an extremely high risk of extinction in the immediate future. List of extinct in the wild animal species include; Black Rhino, Leatherback Turtle, Mountain Gorilla, South China Tiger, Sumatran Elephant, Sumatran Orangutan, Sumatran Rhino, Sumatran Tiger and the Western Lowland Gorilla
Fun Fact 11: The IUCN Status: Extinct in the wild (EW) Captive animals survive, but there is no free-living, natural population. List of animals in extinct in the wild species include; the Barbary Lion, Black Soft-shell Turtle, Pčre David's Deer, Seychelles giant tortoise, Wyoming Toad
Fun Fact 12: The IUCN Status: Extinct (EX) - These animals are no longer in existence. List of extinct species include the Dodo, Javan Tiger and Dinosaurs
Fun Fact 13: The increase in the average temperature of the surface of the Earth; commonly called Global warming, has contributed to the increase in numbers of endangered animals
Fun Fact 14: Deforestation is the process of removing trees and forests; the natural habitat for animals, birds and amphibians. The Amazon rainforest is considered one of the most endangered areas in the world, it has been estimated that an area the size of two football fields was being destroyed every second! Deforestation rates have been reduced in recent years, conservation and protection has rapidly increased to preserve further destruction
Fun Fact 15: Environmental waste and marine debris pollution kills or harms an estimated 1,100,000 marine mammals, fish and sea creatures every year |
