Endangered means at risk of becoming extinct – there would be no more of its kind alive on the earth. Like the dinosaurs.

A species is a life form. Examples include animals (including humans), trees and plants. There are millions of species on our planet.

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What is a species?

What does endangered mean?

Least Concern – There are no worries about numbers of the species.Near Threatened - There is risk that the species will become extinct in the wild.Vulnerable - There is a high risk that the species will become extinct in the wild.Endangered - There is a very high risk that the species will become extinct in the wild.

Critically Endangered – There is an extremely high risk that the species will become extinct in the wild.

Extinct in the Wild – The only remaining species left are in zoos and nature parks. Extinct – There are none of the species left in the world.Least Concern – There are no worries about numbers of the species.

The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) is an organisation that monitors species across the world.

They have put together what is called the Red List. This explains the possibility of extinction that a species faces:

The Red List

Least Concern – There are no worries about numbers of the species.Near Threatened - There is risk that the species will become extinct in the wild.Vulnerable - There is a high risk that the species will become extinct in the wild.Endangered - There is a very high risk that the species will become extinct in the wild.

Critically Endangered – There is an extremely high risk that the species will become extinct in the wild.

Extinct in the Wild – The only remaining species left are in zoos and nature parks. Extinct – There are none of the species left in the world.Near Threatened– There is risk that the species willbecome extinct in the wild.

The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) is an organisation that monitors species across the world.

They have put together what is called the Red List. This explains the possibility of extinction that a species faces:

The Red List

Least Concern – There are no worries about numbers of the species.Near Threatened - There is risk that the species will become extinct in the wild.Vulnerable - There is a high risk that the species will become extinct in the wild.Endangered - There is a very high risk that the species will become extinct in the wild.

Critically Endangered – There is an extremely high risk that the species will become extinct in the wild.

Extinct in the Wild – The only remaining species left are in zoos and nature parks. Extinct – There are none of the species left in the world.Vulnerable– There is a high risk that the species will become extinct in the wild.

The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) is an organisation that monitors species across the world.

They have put together what is called the Red List. This explains the possibility of extinction that a species faces:

The Red List

Least Concern – There are no worries about numbers of the species.Near Threatened - There is risk that the species will become extinct in the wild.Vulnerable - There is a high risk that the species will become extinct in the wild.Endangered - There is a very high risk that the species will become extinct in the wild.

Critically Endangered – There is an extremely high risk that the species will become extinct in the wild.

Extinct in the Wild – The only remaining species left are in zoos and nature parks. Extinct – There are none of the species left in the world.Endangered – There is a very high risk that thespecies will become extinct in the wild.

The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) is an organisation that monitors species across the world.

They have put together what is called the Red List. This explains the possibility of extinction that a species faces:

The Red List

Least Concern – There are no worries about numbers of the species.Near Threatened - There is risk that the species will become extinct in the wild.Vulnerable - There is a high risk that the species will become extinct in the wild.Endangered - There is a very high risk that the species will become extinct in the wild.

Critically Endangered – There is an extremely high risk that the species will become extinct in the wild.

Extinct in the Wild – The only remaining species left are in zoos and nature parks. Extinct – There are none of the species left in the world.Critically Endangered – There is an extremely high risk that the species will become extinct in thewild.

The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) is an organisation that monitors species across the world.

They have put together what is called the Red List. This explains the possibility of extinction that a species faces:

The Red List

Least Concern – There are no worries about numbers of the species.Near Threatened - There is risk that the species will become extinct in the wild.Vulnerable - There is a high risk that the species will become extinct in the wild.Endangered - There is a very high risk that the species will become extinct in the wild.

Critically Endangered – There is an extremely high risk that the species will become extinct in the wild.

Extinct in the Wild – The only remaining species left are in zoos and nature parks. Extinct – There are none of the species left in the world.Extinct in the Wild – The only remaining speciesleft are in zoos and nature parks.

The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) is an organisation that monitors species across the world.

They have put together what is called the Red List. This explains the possibility of extinction that a species faces:

The Red List

Least Concern – There are no worries about numbers of the species.Near Threatened - There is risk that the species will become extinct in the wild.Vulnerable - There is a high risk that the species will become extinct in the wild.Endangered - There is a very high risk that the species will become extinct in the wild.

Critically Endangered – There is an extremely high risk that the species will become extinct in the wild.

Extinct in the Wild – The only remaining species left are in zoos and nature parks. Extinct – There are none of the species left in the world.Extinct – There are none of the speciesleft in the world.

The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) is an organisation that monitors species across the world.

They have put together what is called the Red List. This explains the possibility of extinction that a species faces:

The Red List

Least Concern – There are no worries about numbers of the species.Near Threatened - There is risk that the species will become extinct in the wild.Vulnerable - There is a high risk that the species will become extinct in the wild.Endangered - There is a very high risk that the species will become extinct in the wild.

Critically Endangered – There is an extremely high risk that the species will become extinct in the wild.

Extinct in the Wild – The only remaining species left are in zoos and nature parks. Extinct – There are none of the species left in the world.Data Deficient – Scientists do not have enough information to say how well a species is doing.

The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) is an organisation that monitors species across the world.

They have put together what is called the Red List. This explains the possibility of extinction that a species faces:

The Red List

The IUCN has so far investigated over 96 500 species, including plants. Of these, more than 26 500 species are in danger of becoming extinct.

Endangered Species

Amur Leopard Black Rhino Orangutan

Hawksbill Turtle

Malayan TigerSumatran Elephant

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It is thought that there are between 80 and 90 Amur Leopards left in the wild. Amur Leopards are critically endangered for a number of reasons. Poachers hunt them for their skins.

They can run at up to nearly 60 kilometres per hour. They can jump nearly 3 metres in the air and nearly 6 metres forward.

The Amur Leopard lives in East Russia and Northern China.

Amur Leopard

In the wild, they live from 10 – 15 years whereas in zoos and nature parks they can live up to the age of 20.

It is thought that there are between 80 and 90 Amur Leopards left in the wild. Amur Leopards are critically endangered for a number of reasons. Poachers hunt them for their skins.

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It is thought that there are between 80 and 90 Amur Leopards left in the wild. Amur Leopards are critically endangered for a number of reasons. Poachers hunt them for their skins.

Amur Leopard

The leopards’ forest habitats are sometimes destroyed by farmers who set fire to the trees to make more space for farming. Factories and roads have been built across the forests where the leopards live which has also reduced their habitat. back

Poaching is the main reason the black rhino is critically endangered. For hundreds of years, they have been poached and in the 1970s and 1980s, were hunted to be used in Chinese medicine.

The black rhino is the smaller of the two. They live in the savannahs and grasslands of southern and eastern Africa.

There are two kinds of rhino, the black and the white rhino.

Black Rhino

The black rhino is the smaller of the two. They live in the savannahs and grasslands of southern and eastern Africa.

Poaching is the main reason the black rhino is critically endangered. For hundreds of years, they have been poached and in the 1970s and 1980s, were hunted to be used in Chinese medicine.

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Poaching is the main reason the black rhino is critically endangered. For hundreds of years, they have been poached and in the 1970s and 1980s, were hunted to be used in Chinese medicine.

The black rhino is the smaller of the two. They live in the savannahs and grasslands of southern and eastern Africa.

Black Rhino

They can weigh up to 1350 kg and are around 1.6 metres tall. They live between 30 to 35 years in the wild. The current black rhino population is around 5500.

In recent years, conservationists have worked hard to start increasing the numbers of black rhinos in the wild.

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It is thought that there are now 110 000 left. Females are sometimes caught and killed while their young are sold as pets.

Orangutans have 94.6% of the same DNA as humans, making them our close relatives. They live in rainforests on the islands of Borneo and Sumatra is south-east Asia.

The Orangutan, and its relative the Bornean Orangutan, are on the critically endangered list.

Orangutan

Orangutans have 94.6% of the same DNA as humans, making them our close relatives. They live in rainforests on the islands of Borneo and Sumatra in South-East Asia.

It is thought that there are now 110 000 left. Females are sometimes caught and killed while their young are sold as pets.

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It is thought that there are now 110 000 left. Females are sometimes caught and killed while their young are sold as pets.

Orangutans have 94.6% of the same DNA as humans, making them our close relatives. They live in rainforests on the islands of Borneo and Sumatra is south-east Asia.

Orangutan

They live in nests in trees and eat fruit, such as lychees, mangos and figs. One hundred years ago, it is thought there were over 230 000 orangutans in the wild.

Deforestation (to build palm oil plantations) has caused the loss of their habitats. Poachers also hunt orangutans for food.

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They eat sponges, sea anemones and jellyfish. Female hawksbill turtles can lay up to 200 eggs at a time. It is difficult for scientists to know their exact numbers but it is thought that the population has decreased by around 80% in the last one hundred years.

The hawksbill turtle lives in tropical oceans on coral reefs around the world.

Hawksbill Turtle

They eat sea sponges, sea anemones and jellyfish. Female hawksbill turtles can lay up to 200 eggs at a time. It is difficult for scientists to know their exact numbers but it is thought that the population has decreased by around 80% in the last one hundred years.

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They eat sponges, sea anemones and jellyfish. Female hawksbill turtles can lay up to 200 eggs at a time. It is difficult for scientists to know their exact numbers but it is thought that the population has decreased by around 80% in the last one hundred years.

Hawksbill Turtle

Although it is illegal to hunt them in most countries, hawksbill turtles are still captured in some places to be eaten. They are also hunted for their shells which are used for decorative purposes such as making jewellery.

Climate change has caused the destruction of some habitats which has also caused the number of hawksbill turtles to go down. back

They are the national animal of Malaysia and are on the country’s coat of arms. They are carnivores and eat animals including deer, goats and monkeys. Malayan tigers enjoy swimming.

Malayan tigers live in an area of Malaysia and the southern tip of Thailand.

Malayan Tiger

There are thought to be between 250 and 350 Malayan tigers left in the world. Logging companies and road building have caused the loss of the tigers’ habitat.

There are thought to be between 250 and 350 Malayan tigers left in the world. Logging companies and road building have caused the loss of the tigers’ habitat. back

Malayan Tiger

China has recently proposed lifting the ban on the use of tiger bone in medicine. This would cause tiger numbers across the world to decrease even more.

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They can be between 1.75 metres and 2.75 metres tall and can weigh 4500 kilograms. Elephants are herbivores.

Sumatran elephants are found in Sumatra, an island in Indonesia.

A ban on buying and selling things made of ivory has helped the elephant population. However, the Sumatran elephant is still critically endangered due to its loss of habitat.

Sumatran Elephant

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They can be between 1.75 metres and 2.75 metres tall and can weigh 4500 kilograms. Elephants are herbivores.

A ban on buying and selling things made of ivory has helped the elephant population. However, the Sumatran elephant is still critically endangered due to its loss of habitat.

Sumatran Elephant

Throughout history, elephants have been at risk of being hunted for the ivory in their tusks. Ivory was used to make snooker balls, piano keys and many other things.

In only a few decades, 70% of the Sumatran elephant habitat has been destroyed due to the building of paper factories and palm oil plantations. There are now between 2400 and 2800 Sumatran elephants left, a loss of over half the population. back

These include the World Wildlife Fund for Nature, Born Free and the International Union for Conservation of Nature as well as many others.

Many conservation organisations work to save endangered animals.

What Can Be Done?

• Don’t buy products with unsustainable palm oil in them. Many species will have lost their habitats due to palm oil plantations.

There are actions we can all take to help endangered species. Many of these actions involve sustainable resources. These are things that are produced with little or no damage to the environment and wildlife:

What Can Be Done?

• Don’t buy products with unsustainable palm oil in them. Many species will have lost their habitats due to palm oil plantations.

There are actions we can all take to help endangered species. Many of these actions involve sustainable resources. These are things that are produced with little or no damage to the environment and wildlife:

What Can Be Done?

• Reduce the amount of plastic you use. Not only is the way plastic is made harmful to the environment and wildlife, but plastic often ends up in the oceans, damaging marine life.

• Don’t buy products with unsustainable palm oil in them. Many species will have lost their habitats due to palm oil plantations.

There are actions we can all take to help endangered species. Many of these actions involve sustainable resources. These are things that are produced with little or no damage to the environment and wildlife:

What Can Be Done?

• Reduce the amount of plastic you use. Not only is the way plastic is made harmful to the environment and wildlife, but plastic often ends up in the oceans, damaging marine life.

• Grow plants in your garden or a garden box to support the wildlife where you live; it’s not just species hundreds of miles away that can be endangered.

• Don’t buy products with unsustainable palm oil in them. Many species will have lost their habitats due to palm oil plantations.

There are actions we can all take to help endangered species. Many of these actions involve sustainable resources. These are things that are produced with little or no damage to the environment and wildlife:

What Can Be Done?

• Reduce the amount of plastic you use. Not only is the way plastic is made harmful to the environment and wildlife, but plastic often ends up in the oceans, damaging marine life.

• Grow plants in your garden or a garden box to support the wildlife where you live; it’s not just species hundreds of miles away that can be endangered.

• You could write to your local member of parliament asking what politicians are doing to help endangered species.