Deforestation, trophy hunting and illegal trading are a few human factors that have led to the demise, of these 10 species, which sees them on the critically endangered list. Each person has a part to play in reversing the tide and ensuring that these creatures have the opportunity to thrive for centuries to come. Some of the ways that you can make a difference include, educating yourself and those around you on the pitfalls associated with the petting of wild animals, the dangers of plastic and the harm done by buying unncessary and often illegal animal products. You can also volunteer at centres that help conserve fauna, or donate to one of the many wildlife protection organisations.
Imagine a world without these 10 species…
1. Amur leopard
A leopard subspecies, the Amur Leopard is indigenous to the Primorye region of southeast Russia and northern China. The Amur leopard is a solitary mammal and these beasts are critically endangered due to illegal wildlife trade, specifically being poached for their beautiful fur.
2. Black rhino
Black rhino are easily identified by the hooked shape of their upper lip and are smaller than the white rhino. These gentle herbivores are critically endangered as a result of poaching. Rhino horn fetches a high price on the black market and is erroneously believed to have medicinal value in some parts of the world, despite being made up entirely of keratin – the same material as human fingernails.
3. Bornean orangutan
The Bornean orangutan is identifiable by its broad face, short beard and darker orange colour than the Sumatran orangutan. Illegal wildlife trade, deforestation and human interference are the reason that this species is dwindling. Orangutans are sometimes shot when found in oil palm plantations, as they move to among these crops to find food, because of the deplted food supply due to deforestation.
4. Cross river gorilla
These gorillas are scattered across approximately 11 groups in the lowland montane rainforests of Cameroon and Nigeria. They are on the critically endangered list because of hunting.
5. Eastern lowland gorilla
The largest of the four gorilla subspecies, the eastern lowland gorilla is found in lowland tropical rainforests, in the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo. Due to habitat loss and fragmentation, these gorillas have landed on the critically endangered list. The illegal mining of gold, tin, diamonds and coltan – an alloy used to make cell phones – has contributed to the demise of this gorilla.
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Photo by Marcus Westberg / @lifethroughalensphotography. Other than chimpanzees and bonobos, gorillas are our closest living relatives. Grauer’s gorillas – the world’s largest primates – inhabit patches of tropical forest in eastern DR Congo, not far from their better known kin, the mountain gorilla. Twenty-odd years ago there were 20,000 Grauer’s gorillas – today, the number may be as low as 3,500, a shocking 80% loss over a single generation. Eastern DR Congo is one of the most volatile places on earth, having experienced multiple wars and constant political turmoil since the mid-1990s. The situation is not much improved today, with much of Kahuzi-Biega National Park – the gorillas’ main stronghold – beset by armed groups, illegal mining, and – to feed those engaged in the above – a thriving bushmeat industry. Agriculture poses perhaps the single largest threat, as relentless deforestation pushes the gorillas and other forest-dwelling wildlife into harm’s way. The park’s rangers are dedicated but too few, poorly equipped, and paid a pittance when they are paid at all; during 2017 they worked without pay for over five months, and most of them get by on a single meal every day. For all the attention mountain gorillas warrant, their (admittedly smaller) population has been on the increase for years, and they are generally well protected. But without drastic action, we may very well lose Grauer’s gorillas within another generation. There are many organizations engaged in Grauer’s gorilla conservation worth supporting, including @gorilladoctors, @wwf, @thewcs, and the Dian Fossey Gorilla Fund International. And despite the turmoil, visiting @kahuzibiegaparc is generally safe, and tourist dollars make an enormous difference for gorillas and rangers alike, ensuring that there is fuel for patrols. 🦍 . . . . . . . . #everydayextinction #conservation #gorillaconservation #drc #congo #kahuzibiega #lifethroughalens #marcuswestberg #grauersgorilla #easternlowlandgorilla #gorilladoctors #dianfossey
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6. Hawksbill turtles
Hawksbill turtles are hunted for their unique shells that are sold as ‘tortoiseshell’. They are threatened by habitat loss when their feeding and nesting areas are destroyed by costal development or pollution. Despite being protected by CITES (Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora) these turtles are predominantly endangered because of illegal wildlife trade.
7. Javan rhino
These are the most endangered of the five-rhino species and are nearly extinct. They are found only in Ujung Kulon National Park in Java, Indonesia. The last Javan rhino in Vietnam was poached in 2010. This species is on the critically endangered list for multiple reasons including natural catastrophes, habitat loss, diseases, poaching, and potential inbreeding.
8. Malayan tiger
The Malayan tigers are native to the Malay Peninsula and the southern tip of Thailand. Habitat loss due to infrastructure development has placed these big cats on the critically endangered list. Forest conversion to farmland has caused an increase in tiger and livestock encounters, which results in farmers killing the tigers. These tigers are then sold illegaly and used for ‘medicinal’ purposes or as a status symbol.
9. Vaquita
The vaquita is the world’s rarest marine mammal. Native to the Gulf of California, this porpoise is at risk of extinction becuase they get tangled in gill nets, intended for fish, and drown. It is estimated that the vaquita will be extinct before the end of 2018.
10. Yangtze finless porpoise
Native to Yangtze, the longest river in Asia, this species is on the critically endangered list due to overfishing of their food supply. Pollution in the area and ship movements also contribute to the loss of these animals.
Picture: Pixabay
Also read: Support Trek for Big Cats
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