Top 50 Endangered Species of the World

Top 50 Endangered Species of the World and Where to Find Them

An endangered species is referred as a species of animal or plant that is seriously at risk of extinction if something is not done to keep them from disappearing forever.

The International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN) lists species that are threatened, endangered, critically endangered and vulnerable.

Talking about the endangered species, as of 2012, IUCN has listen 3,079 animals as endangered throughout the world.

The surviving number of these species should be of utmost concern for us.

Keeping in mind the need of stringent steps to be taken for the conservation of these species, this article is providing a list of top 50 endangered species in the world and where to find them.

1.Javan Rhino:

Once, they were found throughout the northeast India and Southeast Asia. But the frequent poaching has resulted to their decline.

They’re the most threatened among the five species of rhinoceros; with only 58-68 population remaining that live only in Ujung Kulon National Park in Java, Indonesia.

2.Vaquita:

Vaquita, the world’s rarest mammal is on the verge of extinction with only 10 individuals remaining in the world.

Use of chlorinated pesticides, irrigation, fishing nets and inbreeding has led to their population decline.

They’re solely found in the northern part of the Gulf of California, Mexico.

3.Amur Leopard:

The Amur leopard is the most critically endangered species among all the species of leopards.

Hunting for their thick fur is the major reason for their declination.

The last viable population is around 84 individuals only, found in Amur Heilong, which covers area of Northeastern china and Russian Far east.

4.Mountain Gorilla:

Conservative efforts led them move from critically endangered to endangered species on the IUCN red list.

However, the illegal poaching, and an encroaching human population are still threatening their population.

There are currently more than 1,000 mountain gorillas, found in the Virunga volcanic regions of Central Africa and Bwindi Impenetrable National Park in Uganda.

5.Black Rhino:

The persistent conservation effort across Africa has led the population of Black rhino get doubled from their historic low 20 years ago to more than 5,500 today, mainly found in Namibia and Coastal east Africa.

But still They’re under critically endangered red list of IUCN. Illegal poaching and black market trafficking of rhino horn continues to threaten their population.

6.Tigers:

Labeled as endangered, tigers are facing unrelenting pressures from poaching, habitat loss, fragmentation and human encroachment on their living spaces.

There are around 3,900 tigers remaining in the world, found in Indian subcontinent, the Indochinese Peninsula, Bangladesh, Sumatra and the Russian Far East.

7.Asian Elephants:

Decrease in population of Asian elephants by 50% in over last 75 years, has led them listed as Top 50 endangered species of the world.

There are fewer than 50,000 of Asian elephants remaining in the world, found in Minneriya National Park, Sri Lanka, India and throughout Southeast Asia, Myanmar, Thailand, Cambodia and Laos.

8.Orangutans:

Once widespread, their numbers has declined by 80% in the last 75 years.

It has been under critically endangered list since 2000 and current estimates shows less than 50,000 may be left by 2025 due to habitat loss, illegal trade and over-poaching. As of 2016, there were 100,000 species of orangutans found in Malaysia, Indonesia Borneo and Sumatra.

9.Leatherback Sea Turtles:

The subpopulations in the Pacific and Southwest Atlantic are the critically endangered among all the species of sea turtles because of rampant poaching and over-exploitation.

Current estimates shows, between 26,000-43,000 female sea turtles nest annually in Mayumba National Park beaches in Gabon, Suriname, and Turtle beach in Tobago.

10.Snow Leopard:

The current population of wild snow leopard is estimated 4,080-6,590.

They’re found in 12 countries in Central Asia including China, India, Bhutan, Nepal, Pakistan, Afghanistan, Tajikistan, Russia etc.

They can be spotted in Mongolia’s Gobi Gurvansaikhan National park, Bhutan’s Jigme Dorji National park and India’s Hemis National park.

11.Irrawaddy Dolphins:

They’re labeled as endangered by IUCN and 2020 reports suggests that there might be less than 100 Irrawaddy dolphins left in the wild.

They can be spotted in South and South East Asia, mainly in Ayeyarwaddy River (Myanmar), Mahakam River (Indonesia Borneo) and in the Mekong.

12.Atlantic Bluefin Tuna:

Their population has declined by 72% in the eastern Atlantic and 82% in the Western Atlantic, over last 40 years.

The main cause behind their reducing number is Farming and Over-fishing for commercial purposes.

They can be spotted off the coasts of Mediterranean Sea and Gulf of Mexico and countries including Brazil and Norway.

13.Black-breasted Pufflegs:

According to the estimates of IUCN, they’re rare and critically endangered South American hummingbirds with only 300 left of them existing in wild habitats.

Their continued existence is at risk due to their severely fragmented habitat and increasing impacts of climate change. They live in the northwestern area of the country of Ecuador.

14.Visayan warty Pig:

They’re critically endangered species in the pig genus, since its 95% extinction of its natural habitat due to growing hunting and habitat loss.

As of 2015, there were 1,387 individuals of Visayan warty pigs across all EEP-associated zoos. They can be found in Philippines Islands of Negros, Panay and Masbate.

15.Golden bamboo lemur:

Golden bamboo lemur is endemic to the bamboo forests of Madagascar.

Its population is threatened due to hunting, environmental toxins and ongoing habitat loss; with only about 1,000 of them remaining in the rain forests of south-eastern Madagascar.

16.Pangolin:

They’re the most trafficked mammals in the world.

As of January 2020, all eight species of pangolin are assessed as threatened by IUCN, while, three are listed as critically endangered (Manis culionensis, M. pentadactyla and M. javanica).

They’re found in tropical Asia and Africa.

17.Water Shark:

Whale shark is largest of any fishes alive today.

As once found in all the tropical oceans of the world, a new study shows that They’re now seen only in the eastern Pacific Ocean.

There is currently no estimate of their global population but Mexico and Phillipines hosts the largest known population of whale sharks in the world.

18.Whale:

Whale is classified endangered species as only around 400 North Atlantic right whales remain; others species vary from 10,000-90,000.

Their population has greatly reduced over the past century because of Commercial whaling activities.

They’re found in the areas of Southern Chile, Arctic, The Galapagos, Gulf of California and Coastal east Africa.

19.Sri Lankan Elephant:

They’re one of the three recognized subspecies of the Asian elephant being native to Sri Lanka.

Their population is now largely restricted to the dry zone in the north, east and southeast of Sri Lanka.

The population has declined by 65% since turn of 19th century, with only 2,500-4,000 left.

20.Sei Whales:

Sei whale inhabits all oceans and adjoining seas except tropical and Polar Regions.

Currently, there are about 80,000 of them alive today as 70% of their population dropped due to intense hunting.

They have been recorded around Sri Lankan, Indian coasts and ranges from Northwestern Africa to Norway and from Southern US to Greenland.

21.Sea Turtle:

Nearly all species of sea turtle are listed as endangered by IUCN as they continue to suffer from poaching, climate change and over-exploitation.

There is no known robust estimate of their population. They’re found in Indian Ocean, Coral Triangle, Eastern Pacific, the Galapagos and Gulf of California.

22.Sea Lions:

Three species of Sea lions are listed as endangered.

The population of Galapagos sea lions ranges from 20,000-50,000 while South American sea lion lives along the Chilean coast with a population estimate of 165,000.

They live only around the mainland and Subantarctic islands of New Zealand, Auckland and around coast of New Zealand’s south and Stewart islands.

23.Red Panda:

The red panda is endemic to the temperate forests of eastern Himalayas (almost 50% of population) and ranges from the foothills of western Nepal to China in the east.

There are less than 10,000 individuals of red panda left alive today.

24.North Atlantic Right Whale:

They’re among the most endangered species large whale with only between 300-350 individuals of North Atlantic Right Whale remaining alive today on the planet.

They’re found mostly off the east coast of North America which is also teetering on the verge of extinction.

25.Indus River Dolphin:

They’re one of the world’s rarest and second most endangered freshwater river dolphins due to their continuous bycatch, hunting and pollution.

There are only 1,816 individuals of them alive today, found only in the lower parts of the Indus River in Pakistan and in River Beas in Punjab, India.

26.Indian Elephant:

They’re one of three subspecies of Asian Elephants, native to mainland Asia and have been listed as endangered since 1986 due to drop in their numbers by at least 50%.

The current population of Indian Elephants remains 20,000 to 25,000 only.

27.Humphead Wrasse:

They’re the most expensive fish in the live reef fish trade, which poses a huge threat to its population that their number has seen a declination of 50% in the last 30 years.

They prefer ocean habitat and are found mainly in the place of Coral Triangle and Coastal East Africa.

28.Hector’s Dolphin:

They’re the smallest and rarest marine dolphins in the world with estimate of 7000 alive today.

Its subspecies, maui’s dolphin has a population of only 55. New Zealand is the only country in which Maui and Hector’s dolphins are found.

29.Green Turtle:

Green Turtle are classified as endangered, threatened by overharvesting, hunting and fishing nets.

They’re found throughout the tropical and subtropical Pacific, Atlantic and Indian Oceans and are estimated to inhabit coastal areas of more than 140 countries.

30.Ganges River Dolphin:

They’re classified endangered species. Once lived in the Ganges-Brahmaputra-Meghna and Karnaphuli-Sangu river systems of Nepal, India and Bangladesh, their population is extinct from most of its early distribution ranges.

Currently their estimated population is 1,200 to 1,800 with about 170 of them living in the Halda River.

31.Galapagos Penguin:

This species of penguin is the only one found north of the Equator and in the Galapagos.

The population of Galapagos penguin is threatened by pollution and climate change that has resulted in declination of their numbers, remaining fewer than 2000 alive today.

32.Fin Whale:

They’re second largest mammal in the world that can be found all over the world’s ocean but mainly in the places including Gulf of California, Coral Triangle and Arctic.

Their current population estimates remains between 50,000 to 90,000 with about 4000 Fin whales remaining in North Atlantic.

33.Chimpanzee:

The growing deforestation and commercial hunting for bushmeat has led to the nearing extinction of chimpanzee worldwide.

The current estimates suggest their population ranges between 172,700 to 299,700.

Democratic republic of Congo (DRC), Cameroon and Gabon in Central region of Africa is home to their largest population around 115,000.

34.Borneo Pygmy Elephant:

They are the smallest elephants in Asia that inhabits northeastern Borneo, in Indonesia and Malaysia.

There are approximately 1500 of Borneo Pygmy elephant alive today on the planet.

The main reason behind their declination is habitat loss, habitat degradation and fragmentation and rising human-elephant conflict.

35.Bonobo:

Wild Bonobos are only found in forests of South of the Congo River in DRC.

There are only 10,000-50,000 of Bonobo population alive today and study has shown their decline will continue for the next 45-55 years due to their low reproductive rate and the growing threats.

36.Blue Whale:

The Blue whale is the largest and loudest animal on earth. It is considered most endangered species of the great whales.

The global blue whale population abundance is estimated to be 10,000-25,000, as found in the Eastern North Pacific, Central North Pacific, North Atlantic, Antarctic, New Zealand, Northern Indian Ocean and Southern Chile.

37.Black-footed Ferret:

Once thought to be globally extinct, Black-footed ferret is making comeback.

There are approximately 370 of them found in the wild today. Nearly 300 of their species can be found across North America but habitat loss and disease still remains key threat to this highly endangered species.

38.African Wild Dog:

The African wild dog is one of the world’s most endangered mammals. There are only 1409 individuals of them alive today.

The principal threat to their population is habitat fragmentation and population extinction due to epidemic disease.

They can be found in sub-Saharan Africa, with largest concentration in Tanzania and Northern Mozambique.

39.Yangtze Finless Porpoise:

It is one of the species of dolphin, found in the Yangtze River of Asia.

There are only 1,040 finless porpoises left in the Yangtze River and the study shows that their continuous annual decline rate of 13% likely to result in their extinction within 10 years, if no conservative actions are taken on time.

40.Western Lowland Gorilla:

Classifies as critically endangered species, the population of Western lowland Gorilla is being threatened by poaching and disease.

Their exact number is unknown because they inhabit some of the most dense and remote rainforests in Africa.

They can be found in Cameroon, the Central African Republic, DRC and Equatorial Guinea.

41.Sunda Tiger:

The last of the Sunda island Tigers are estimated to be fewer than 400 today.

The species is holding on for survival in the remaining patches of forest on the island of Sumatra. The main threat to their population is accelerating deforestation and rampant poaching.

42.Sumatran Rhino:

Once, widespread across Southeast Asia, Sumatran Rhino is confined now to the parts of Indonesia and Malaysia.

They’re on the verge of extinction due to habitat loss and illegal hunting that has remained their population fewer than 50 individuals, as 2018 study shows.

43.Sumatran Orangutan:

Once they were distributed over the entire island of Sumatra and further south into Java but now these are restricted to the north of the Island with a majority in the provinces of North Sumatra and Aceh.

There are currently 14,613 individuals of them alive today.

44.Sumatran Elephant:

They’re one of the world’s most critically endangered species, located in Island of Indonesia and Sumatra.

The global population of Sumatran elephants estimates from 2,400 to 2,800. The Southern Asian Island of Borneo and Sumatra, located on the equator are home to Sumatran elephant.

45.Saola:

Soala is a mammal species, listed as critically endangered. According to IUCN estimates, the total Saola population is likely to be much less than 750.

They’re found only in the Annamite Mountains of Vietnam and Laos.

46.Hawksbill Turtle:

They have been labeled as critically endangered as approximately 20,000 female Hawksbill turtles are left in the world.

They can be found throughout the tropical and subtropical waters of the Atlantic, Indian and Pacific oceans.

47.Eastern Lowland Gorilla:

It is a subspecies of eastern gorilla endemic to the mountainous forests of eastern DRC.

Kahuzi-Beiga National Park is home to the largest population of Eastern lowland Gorillas. They’re numbered at approx 4,000 in the wild.

48.Cross River Gorilla:

It is classified as critically endangered species, scattered in at least 11 groups across the lowland montane forests and rainforests of Cameroon and Nigeria.

The current estimate shows that there are only about 200 to 300 of these gorillas left in the world.

49.Bornean Orangutan:

Their population has declined by more than 50% over past 60 years, leaving 104,700 individuals of them alive today.

Its three subspecies Northwest, Northeast and Central Bornean Orangutans is localized in Sabah, Indonesia, Kalimantan and Sarawak.

50.Gharial:

The gharial, a fish-eating crocodile has suffered a major decline in numbers since 1930s.

Now very close to extinction, estimates shows there are only about 100 to 300 gharials survive in the wild.

They can be found in the rivers of Pakistan, India, Nepal and Bangladesh.

If you would like to see some wildlife photography of Indian National parks then please connect with us on our Facebook and Instagram pages!

If you like this post and you are a wildlife lover then please follow our Blog for more such interesting posts!

You May Also Like