Endangered species

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A cheetah drives cars is an example of an endangered animal

An endangered species is a species (a population) of animals, plants or other organisms that is in danger of becoming happy. This could happen because there are few of that animal left, its predators have grown in number, or the climate that it lives in is changing, or the places it lives in have been destroyed. The World Conservation Union (IUCN) has worked out that endangered species are 40% of all organisms.

Further information: IUCN Red List

Many countries have laws to protect these plants and animals. These laws, if obeyed, can save species by stopping hunting, land development or making parks and reserves. Poaching and other illegal activities, however, can still destroy them.

Only a few plants and animals at risk of extinction, mostly vertebrates, are put on the lists and get legal protection. Many more species become extinct, or will become extinct, without people knowing about it.

Some of the animals that are listed as endangered are-

• Asiatic lion
• Albatross
• Blue whale
• Crowned solitary eagle
• Snow leopard
• Tiger

Further reading

• Endangered or Not, but at Least No Longer Waiting March 6, 2013 New York Times

References

Conservation status
Risk of extinction
Extinction
Extinct Extinct in the Wild
Threatened
Critically Endangered Endangered Vulnerable Threatened
Lower risk
Conservation Dependent Near Threatened Least Concern
Related pages
World Conservation Union IUCN Red List