Top Five Endangered Species

Animals are one of the countless beauties of nature, but thanks to several human activities, drastic changes in climatic conditions and many other factors, species of many of these animals are in extreme danger and are near to extinction.  Here is a list of top five endangered species. Though, WWF is making effort to ensure the survival of these species in future, nothing can be said that for how long they’ll survive.

1. Asiatic Cheetah

The Asiatic Cheetah is subspecies of the Cheetah which is mainly found only in Iran today and thus is also known as Iranian Cheetah. Some of the surviving Asiatic Cheetah is also found in Baluchistan, Pakistan, where they live in vast central desert where adequate prey is available. Based on the most recent research, only 80-100 surviving Asiatic Cheetahs are there in the entire world today and hence it is classified as critically endangered species by the IUCN.   World Wildlife Fund (WWF) emphasizes persistent efforts to ensure the survival of Iranian Cheetah in future.

2. Bearded Vulture

Also known as the Lammergeyer, the Bearded Vulture is the second among the top five endangered species. This is actually a bird of prey and considered as the majestic bird. It lives in the mountainous regions of Asia, Southern Europe and Africa and eats mainly carrion. The Bearded Vulture has wingspan of up-to 90 inches and weighs 11-15 pounds. The species is locally threatened. In Europe, there are just about 100 breeding nests while in Ethiopia, where it’s mainly found, just 1,400-2,200 are believed to breed.

3. Pacific Walrus

Global warming is not only badly affecting the human life, but it is threatening several animal species as well. The Pacific Walrus, the only surviving species in the Odobenidae family, is one of the latest victims of the global warming. Melting of ice is the main reason of declining Walrus’ population since they use floating ice for reproduction, shelter, reproduction and protection. In addition, Walrus’ hunt is also a major threat to their survival.

4. Iberian lynx

Found mostly in the south Europe, Iberian lynx is a critically endangered cat species. Based on the WWF research, the number of surviving Iberian lynx is approximately 110 today, wherein just around 38 are breeding female. If Iberian lynx vanished, this would be the first cat species to become extinct in the past 10,000 years. Main causes of its declining population include habitat loss, road casualties, poisoning, poaching and feral dogs.

5. Leatherback Turtle

Our list of top five endangered species concludes with Leatherback sea turtle, the largest among all surviving see turtles. It is also one of the largest reptiles in the world and is living for more than a hundred million years. This amazing animal is now showing signs of extermination as its numbers are declining, particularly in the Pacific Ocean where just about twenty-three hundred female turtles remain. Increased global temperature is the main reason of its declining numbers.

Top Five Endangered Species