ENDANGERED SPECIES
Added on: 13th Dec 2014
ADDAX
One of the rarest animals in the Sahara Desert is the Addax,
also known as the white antelope or screwhorn antelope.
It’s a rather unique creature whose coat actually changes colour
depending on the season. Due to its slow speed, however, it is a
welcome meal for predators and an easy target for hunters.
Current estimates show there to be less than 500 individuals
left in the wild.
HAWAIIAN MONK SEAL
One of only two monk seal species left on Earth, the small population
of about 1,100 individuals is threatened by human encroachment,
very low levels of genetic variation, entanglement in fishing nets,
marine debris, disease, and past commercial hunting for skins.
MOUNTAIN GORILLA
The mountain gorilla is primarily found in various regions all across
Africa namely Uganda, Rwanda, and Virunga. They have thicker and
longer fur, which makes them easily adaptable to cold environments.
Aside from poaching, their population of 790 keeps decreasing due
to traps, kidnapping, loss of habitat, interaction with tourists,
being killed for meat, and even lack of food.
ISLAND FOX
The island fox is small, colourful, and primarily found on the
Channel Islands of California where many of them exist in packs.
Some of their subspecies can be found uniquely on each of the
six islands located within the area. The island fox was driven
nearly to extinction in the 1990s by predatory golden eagles.
By 1999, there were only about 85 island foxes left on Santa Cruz
Island, while nearby San Miguel and Santa Rosa Islands
were each down to about 15. Today, the species is on the verge
of a dramatic recovery, one of the fastest in the history of the
Endangered Species Act, with nearly 2,500 on the Channel Islands.
BACTRIAN CAMEL
Two humps are indeed better than one, especially if you are
looking for a pack animal, but it certainly is a lot rarer. unfortunately,
however, this group of camels is numbered at only about 800. they are
often found in Mongolia and China, but they can also be seen in
nearby countries like India, Pakistan, and even Russia due to their
migration habits.
CATARINA PUPFISH
The Catarina pupfish of Mexico no longer exists in the wild so
by some standards it would be technically extinct. Thanks to the
efforts of environmentalists, however, there are still a couple
aquariums housing the last remaining members of their species.
MEDITERRANEAN MONK SEAL
Related to the Hawaiian monk seal, the main difference between
the two is their choice of habitat with the Mediterranean monk seal
living in the Mediterranean. This species is much closer to extinction,
however, with only 510 seals accounted for.
PHILIPPINE EAGLE
Also known as the monkey-eating eagle, the Philippine eagle
is the national bird of the Philippines. Due to deforestation and
illegal logging activity the eagle is considered to be critically
endangered as its population is down to 500.
CALIFORNIA CONDOR
Although the condor has been attributed to California, it is
primarily found in areas along northern Arizona and southern Utah,
which makes it a resident bird of the Grand Canyon and Zion National
Park. It has a wingspan of over 3 meters, it scavenges for carrion,
and it can live over 60 years. Sadly there are only around 439 left.
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