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Critically Endangered Species in Danger of Disappearing

Critically Endangered Species in Danger of Disappearing

Even though efforts have been stepped up to halt the decline of animal species internationally, too many of them remain vulnerable to extinction. 

An endangered species is one that is very likely to become extinct in the near future, either worldwide or in a particular region. Endangered species may be at risk because of habitat loss, poaching, and/or invasive species. (These are the most devastating invasive species.)

The International Union for Conservation of Nature, a Swiss-based international research, analysis, and advocacy organization, recognizes seven categories of risk for animal species. “Critically endangered” is the last step before extinction in the wild and then complete extinction, and thus indicates those species that are in danger of disappearing. (The IUCN’s concerns are global, but in strictly American terms, here’s a look at the most threatened wildlife in every state.)

In deciding which species to identify as critically endangered, the IUCN considers population reduction rate, geographic range, population size, population restrictions, and probability of extinction in the wild. Any of these factors or a combination of them can land a species on the organization’s Red List, also called the Barometer of Life.

A species is classified as critically endangered when its population, measured over a ten-year period or across three generations, has declined at least 90% for reasons that no longer apply and can be compensated for or at least 80% if the reasons are ongoing.

It is similarly classified if its numbers are reduced over an area of 100 square kilometers (39 square miles) or its area of occupancy is estimated to be less than 10 square kilometers (3.9 square miles); if its population has shrunk to fewer than 250 mature individuals, and shows either a decline of 25% over 10 years or three generations or an extreme decline of more than 90% of mature individuals; if there are fewer than 50 mature individuals remaining; or if there is considered to be a 50% probability of it going extinct in the wild over the next 10 years or three generations. 

To determine some of the critically endangered species in danger of disappearing, 24/7 Tempo examined and assessed data from the Red List (also called the Barometer of Life) compiled by the International Union for Conservation of Nature, and current as of May 9, 2022. Additional information was sourced from National Geographic and the World WildLife Fund.   

There are fewer than 10 mature individuals in the wild for three species on the list we compiled. One of those, the Yangtze Giant Softshell Turtle, which lives in Vietnam and China, is the most vulnerable, with only three individuals remaining.

Source: VSFP / iStock via Getty Images

Lesser Antillean Iguana
>Number of mature species members left: 13,000-20,000
>Natural habitat: Forest, savanna, shrubland
>Geographic range: Anguilla; Bonaire, Sint Eustatius and Saba; Dominica; Guadeloupe; Martinique; Saint Barthélemy

Source: kkoshy / Flickr

Sociable Lapwing
>Number of mature species members left: 11,200
>Natural habitat: Grassland, wetlands, desert
>Geographic range: Central Asia, Africa, Europe

Source: nagarjun / Flickr

Indian Vulture
>Number of mature species members left: 5,000-15,000
>Natural habitat: Forest, shrubland, grassland, rocky areas
>Geographic range: India, Pakistan

Source: Public Domain / Wikimedia Commons

Livingstone’s Flying Fox
>Number of mature species members left: 1,300
>Natural habitat: Forest
>Geographic range: Comoros

Source: rmbarricarte / iStock via Getty Images

Slender-snouted Crocodile
>Number of mature species members left: 1,000-20,000
>Natural habitat: Forest, savanna, wetlands
>Geographic range: Western and central Africa

Source: LeoMercon / iStock via Getty Images

Northern Muriqui
>Number of mature species members left: 1,000
>Natural habitat: Forest
>Geographic range: Brazil

Source: Ozbalci / iStock via Getty Images

Bactrian Camel
>Number of mature species members left: 950
>Natural habitat: Desert
>Geographic range: China, Mongolia

Source: Michael Barritt & Karen May / Wikimedia Commons

Central Rock-rat
>Number of mature species members left: 800
>Natural habitat: Shrubland, grassland, savanna
>Geographic range: Australia (Northern Territory)

Source: neil bowman / iStock via Getty Images

Slender-billed Vulture
>Number of mature species members left: 730-870
>Natural habitat: Forest, grassland, shrubland
>Geographic range: Bangladesh; Cambodia; India; Laos; Myanmar; Nepal

Source: Kyoboku / iStock via Getty Images

Siamese Crocodile
>Number of mature species members left: 500-1,000
>Natural habitat: Wetlands
>Geographic range: Southeast Asia, Indonesia

Source: nagarjun / Flickr

Red-crowned Roofed Turtle
>Number of mature species members left: 500
>Natural habitat: Wetlands
>Geographic range: India

Source: Olevy / Wikimedia Commons

Delacour’s Langur
>Number of mature species members left: 240-250
>Natural habitat: Forest, rocky areas
>Geographic range: Vietnam, China

Source: nakaret4 / iStock via Getty Images

Tamaraw
>Number of mature species members left: 220-300
>Natural habitat: Forest, shrubland, grassland
>Geographic range: Philippines

Source: Foto4440 / iStock via Getty Images

North Atlantic Right Whale
>Number of mature species members left: 200-250
>Natural habitat: Marine neritic and oceanic zones
>Geographic range: North Atlantic

Source: philou1000 / iStock via Getty Images

Hirola
>Number of mature species members left: 200-500
>Natural habitat: Grassland, savanna, shrubland
>Geographic range: Kenya, Somalia

Source: xtopherglez / Flickr

Pygmy Raccoon
>Number of mature species members left: 192
>Natural habitat: Forest
>Geographic range: Mexico

Source: Wilfredo Garrido / iStock via Getty Images

Philippine Eagle
>Number of mature species members left: 180-500
>Natural habitat: Forest
>Geographic range: Philippines

Source: JakezC / iStock via Getty Images

Dwarf Ibis
>Number of mature species members left: 130-1,700
>Natural habitat: Forest, wetlands, savanna
>Geographic range: Sâo Tomé and Principe

Source: Fkamtoh / Wikimedia Commons

Cross River Gorilla
>Number of mature species members left: 100-250
>Natural habitat: Forest
>Geographic range: Cameroon, Nigeria

Source: Tom Meaker / iStock via Getty Images

Philippine Crocodile
>Number of mature species members left: 92-137
>Natural habitat: Wetlands
>Geographic range: Philippines

Source: Frank Fichtmüller / iStock via Getty Images

Vancouver Island Marmot
>Number of mature species members left: 90
>Natural habitat: Forest, grassland, rocky areas
>Geographic range: British Columbia

Source: Quyet Le / Wikimedia Commons

Tonkin Snub-nosed Monkey
>Number of mature species members left: 80-100
>Natural habitat: Forest
>Geographic range: Vietnam

Source: ePhotocorp / iStock via Getty Images

Jerdon’s Courser
>Number of mature species members left: 50-249
>Natural habitat: Shrubland
>Geographic range: India

Source: tahir abbas / iStock via Getty Images

Sâo Tomé Grosbeak
>Number of mature species members left: 50-249
>Natural habitat: Forest
>Geographic range: Sâo Tomé and Principe

Source: calidris-photos / Flickr

Royal Cinclodes
>Number of mature species members left: 50-249
>Natural habitat: Forest, Wetlands
>Geographic range: Peru

Source: Courtesy of Nature Tanzania via Facebook

Long-billed Forest-warbler
>Number of mature species members left: 50-249
>Natural habitat: Forest, shrubland
>Geographic range: Tanzania

Source: AGAMI stock / iStock via Getty Images

White-bellied Cinclodes
>Number of mature species members left: 50-249
>Natural habitat: Grassland, wetlands, desert
>Geographic range: Peru

Source: luizmrocha / Flickr

Brazilian Merganser
>Number of mature species members left: 50-249
>Natural habitat: Wetlands
>Geographic range: Brazil, Argentina, Paraguay

Source: Charles J. Sharp / Wikimedia Commons

Sahafary Sportive Lemur
>Number of mature species members left: 40
>Natural habitat: Forest
>Geographic range: Madagascar

Source: Marouan Idrissi Hamouki / iStock via Getty Images

Addax
>Number of mature species members left: 30-90
>Natural habitat: Savanna, grassland, desert
>Geographic range: Chad, Niger, Mauritania

Source: gsfc / Flickr

Atlantic Sturgeon
>Number of mature species members left: 20-750
>Natural habitat: Wetlands, marine neritic zone
>Geographic range: European coastlines, waterways

Source: globalwildlife / Flickr

Saola
>Number of mature species members left: 75-1,050
>Natural habitat: Forest
>Geographic range: Laos, Vietnam

Source: bigworld / iStock via Getty Images

African Wild donkey
>Number of mature species members left: 23-200
>Natural habitat: Shrubland, grassland
>Geographic range: Eritrea, Ethiopia

Source: Public Domain / Wikimedia Commons

Vaquita
>Number of mature species members left: 18
>Natural habitat: Marine neritic and oceanic zones
>Geographic range: Mexico

Source: Courtesy of Turtle Survival Alliance via Facebook

Burmese Roofed Turtle
>Number of mature species members left: 10
>Natural habitat: Wetlands
>Geographic range: Myanmar

Source: marie martin / iStock via Getty Images

Yangtze Giant Softshell Turtle
>Number of mature species members left: 3
>Natural habitat: Wetlands
>Geographic range: Vietnam, China

Source: Supian Supian / iStock via Getty Images

Bleeding Toad
>Number of mature species members left: 1-249
>Natural habitat: Forest, wetland
>Geographic range: Indonesia

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