Hello everyone, Arby here! Today I want to discuss something very near and dear to my heart. Endangered species. We live in an amazing world filled with incredibly diverse species ranging from the GIANT Panda to the tiny Iberian Lynx.
However, if we’re not careful these species could be on the extinct list before we know it. I want to bring attention to the top 5 endangered species around the world because being informed is the first step to saving these animals and helping them prosper!
The African Wild Dog
The first endangered animal on our list is a fellow canine. The African wild dog species used to be abundant throughout Africa, but its population is now dwindling to the point that it has landed on the endangered species list. The African Wildlife Foundation (AWF) has taken great care to help the African wild dog species. According to the AWF, some of the greatest challenges it faces are human interactions such as farmers killing them when they threaten their livestock and diminishing living space due to human population expansion.
Thankfully, the African Wildlife Foundation has a few solutions to help protect the African wild dog which includes educating the community about their decreasing population and monitoring human-wildlife conflicts.
Asia’s Javan Rhino
The next species on our list, the Javan rhino, is a beautiful creature, but its population has fallen below 100, making it critically endangered. According to the World Wildlife Fund (WWF), the Javan rhino faces multiple threats, both man-made and natural, such as tsunamis, environmental degradation, and disease. Like many animals on the endangered species list, the Javan rhino is always susceptible to poaching by trophy hunters.
Thankfully, the WWF is doing amazing work to sustain the population and help it grow for years to come. They have found a few places where they think a second population of rhinos could thrive and they also have made an effort to protect the rhinos from man-made threats like poaching.
North America’s Vancouver Island Marmot
The Vancouver Island marmot is a cute little animal with his brown and white fur, but it has landed on the endangered list due to predatory factors. According to the Marmot Recovery Foundation, the Vancouver Island marmots were isolated from man-made interference, but predators like wolves, cougars, and golden eagles have led to a rapid population decrease.
Although predation is one of the most difficult factors to overcome, the Marmot Recovery Foundation is using technology to learn more about the predation patterns and help the marmot population thrive.
South America’s Lemur Leaf Frog
The lemur leaf frog is a vibrant creature with bright orange and green body and large black eyes. Like the Javan rhino, the lemur leaf frog is currently on the critically endangered list because of its population’s drastic disappearance over the last decade.
According to the International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources (IUCN), the lemur leaf frog used to be widespread among South American countries like Costa Rica, Panama, and Colombia, but its population declined rapidly due to infection and habitat loss. The IUCN has taken the initiative to conserve the population through national parks and captive breeding programs.
Antarctica’s North Atlantic Right Whale
The North Atlantic right whale is a majestic creature, but it is on the critically endangered list because its population has fallen to about 300. According to the WWF, some of the biggest threats endangering the whale population are man-made industry disturbances, commercial whaling, and climate change.
Thankfully, the WWF is working hard to help save the whale population by saving stranded whales and working closely with the International Whaling Commission (IWC) to bring commercial whaling to a close.
These animals need our help, not later, but now. There are so many things we can do to make a change, but the first thing is to get informed. These are only 5 of the countless endangered species around the world. With organizations like the African Wildlife Foundation accepting donations to help fund conservation projects, we can all make a small difference. Here at CritterFacts we want to change the world one story at a time. If you want to help make a difference for animals like these, contact us to learn more about what you can do!
Until next time!
– Arby
