The earth’s current rate of extinction is greater than at any other time since the dinosaurs disappeared around 65 million years ago.
The natural extinction rate (aka background rate) describes how fast plants, mammals, birds, insects, etc. would die off if humans weren’t around.
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Scientists state that today species are disappearing at almost 1,000 times the natural rate, meaning we’re losing around 150-200 species every day.
Close to 15% of mammal species and 11% of bird species are currently listed as threatened with extinction.
With an increasing human population, more and more land is being appropriated to develop cities, acquire natural resources, and build farms, amongst other reasons.
This means loss of habitat for many animal species. In addition to this, other beings need to contend with human-caused disasters such as oil spills, climate change, and acid rain.
And on top of that there’s the issue of over-hunting / -fishing and poaching to sustain an illegal market that trades in animals.
Hopefully this is something we can turn around, and the 21 animals listed below will be with us far into the future.
Bengal Tiger
Status: Endangered src
Threat: Poaching for the skin and other body parts is the most serious threat. Habitat loss through human movement and potential for climate change-induced sea level rise is also a main concern.
Species info: The population is estimated at less than 2,500 in total with a decreasing trend.
Natural habitat: Mangrove forests of Bangladesh, throughout various national parks and forested areas in India and Nepal, and in subtropical Himalayan foothills in Bhutan.
Orangutan
Status: Endangered (Bornean) src to Critically Endangered (Sumatran) src
Threat: Loss of habitat due to over-logging and conversion of habitat for agriculture, as well as fragmentation due to roads, are of primary concern for both species.
Fires have played a large role in the reduction of population of the Bornean Orangutan. Hunting and pet trade are also threats.
Species info: Over the last 75 years, it's estimated that the population of the Sumatran Orangutan has declined by over 80% and continues to decrease.
Most of the animals live outside of protected areas. Over 60 years, the Bornean Orangutan has declined over 50% and it's expected that this rate will continue.
Natural habitat: The Sumatran Orangutan is found in the north of the island of Sumatra, Indonesia, the majority in the province of Aceh.
The Bornean Orangutan is found throughout the island of Borneo, mainly in Sarawak, Malaysia and Kalimantan, Indonesia.
Polar Bear
Status: Vulnerable src
Threat: Due to global climate change, the amount of sea ice is rapidly declining. This means a loss of habitat for polar bears, who are heavily reliant on the ice for their survival.
Over 45 years (three generations), it's suspected that the population has declined by over 30%. Some estimate that the polar bear will be extinct within 100 years.
In addition to melting sea ice, other factors affecting the population are "over-harvesting" in Canada and Greenland, poaching in Russia, and pollutants (at the top of the food chain they are susceptible to compound effects of pollution as it works up the food chain).
Oil development in the Arctic is also a major concern, with the potential of oil spills and increased human-bear contact.
Natural habitat: Circumpolar Arctic (as far south as sea ice extends). Popular viewing spots include the Svalbard Archipelago in Norway and Churchill, Manitoba in Canada.
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