Critically Endangered Species

Some of the world’s most well-known species are on the endangered list, such as the Black Rhino, Cross River Gorilla, Hawksbill Turtle, Javan Rhino, Mountain Gorilla, South China Tiger, Sumatran Elephant, Sumatran Orangutan, Sumatran Tiger and Western Lowland Gorilla.

These animals habitats are being threatened by expansion of cities and agriculture to cater for the growing human population. Poverty and lack of education in some parts of the world makes these animals a target for poachers.

Giant PandaThe giant panda is the rarest of the bear family, with only 1000 left in the wild. It’s natural habitat is the bamboo forests of China. The giant panda once lived across most of central China, but due to deforestation and agriculture they have been left with isolated islands of bamboo forests in a small area of China. This limits their breeding patterns and makes it difficult to increase the population. The Chinese government has recognised the importance is preserving the giant panda species, and by 2013 had established 37 protected panda habitat areas.

Watch: Giant Pandashttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sTx_R-A2JUQ

Tigers and RhinocerosTigers once roamed across central and eastern Asia but today are only found in 7% of their original area. As well as deforestation, tigers are targeted by poachers for their skin and other body parts. There are now just over 300 left in the wild.

Similarly, rhinoceros were found across Africa and Asia but today few survive in the wild and most are found in wildlife parks, safe from the threat of poachers who kill for rhinoceros horn.

Global StrategiesThe World Wildlife Fund (WWF) was established in 1961 and has been involved in over 12000 conservation projects.

The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) produces a Red List of species at risk as well as when species thought to have been extinct are rediscovered.

A global Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES) aims to ensure that international trade of animals and plants does not threaten the survival of species. CITES monitors the trade in 34000 species of plants and animals.

Questions1. List five endangered species.2. Suggest local and global strategies to reduce the

number of endangered species.3. What are some solutions to reduce the number

of poachers?4. Find the IUCN’s Red List online. Select one of the

species on the list and provide five key points from the information given.