The giant panda is native to China. It is estimated that only 1000 pandas survive today. Pandas are becoming extinct because of the destruction of their habitat and poaching for their skin. Panda's feed on bamboo stems and leaves. With the destruction of their habitat, bamboo is becoming scarce for them. Pandas normally move from area to area why the bamboo regenerates (which takes up to 20 years). The places they can move to and find the bamboo has drastically been reduced. The panda's habitat has shrank 50% in the last 15 years.
The beach mouse is becoming extinct due to developement of real estate on our golf coast beaches. This has reduced the Beach Mouse's habitat area. Four of the species are currently listed as endangered, one as threatened, and one as extinct.
Sea turtle populations have been seriously reduced. Once again the main cause is over developed coastal areas. Other reasons include the hunting of Sea Turtles for their eggs, meat, leather, and shells. They are also capture in fishing nets (which has brought one of the species close to extinction).
Many people forget about the plants and flowers that are endangered. They are just as important as the animals. Disappearing plants reduce food sources for many species, and may even be the cause of many animals becoming endangered or extinct.
The orca, more commonly known as the killer whale is a truly magnificent species that is becoming extint. Not a whale at all orcas are actually a type of dolphin. Orcas are hunted and killed and used in make up and other products. Orcas are generally found in the Artic and Antartic Oceans. Male orcas generally reach 30 feet long while females are half that size.
The African Penguin also known as the Jackass Penguin or the Black-footed Penguin is found along the coast of South Africa. It is called a Jackass penguin because of the sound it makes, sounds like a donkey. Thier numbers have fallen 90% in the last 60 years. Once again human involement is to blame for the declining numbers.
Sea otters live at sea near rocky reefs, small islands, and rocky coasts along the pacific coast of North America and Asia. The biggest threat to sea otters today is oil pollution, along with disruptions by tourists and fishermen.
One of the most endangered species in the world is the Florida Panther. Less than 50 of these creatures still remain. Once again, as in most cases, the main reason is the loss of thier habitat. A refugee has been set up for the Panthers where there has been sucess in birth of new Panthers.
West Indian manatees have no natural enemies, and it is believed they can live 60 years or more. Many manatee deaths are human-related, with most them occuring from collisions with watercraft. Other causes of death include being crushed and/or drowned in canal locks and flood control structures; ingestion of fish hooks, litter and monofilament line; entanglement in crab trap lines; and vandalism. Ultimately, however, loss of habitat is the most serious threat facing manatees today. There are approximately 2,600 West Indian manatees left in the United States.
Once again both the African and Asian elephant is threatened due to loss of habitat. But the greatest threat to the African elephant is poaching for its ivory. 500 years ago 10 million elephants roamed the African continent. In 1979 there were just 1.3million left. Today 600,000 African elephant survive in the wild. That's over a 50% decrease in 20 years! There has been an international ban on the trading of ivory. An exception was made for Japan which is still allowed to buy ivory from a few african nations.
The rarest parrot, the Kakapo,is a flightless bird from New Zealand. There are approximately 62 Kakapo left on the planet. They have become extinct due to humans populating the area and destroying thier habitat and the introduction of mammals to an island that previously only had bats as mammals. Being flightless the Kakapo is defenseless against these mammals.
There are four species of Tapirs, all of which are endangered. Tapirs can be found in Central, South America, and Asia. Poaching, illegal trade,and the the loss of thier habitat do to forest conversion for agriculture are causing them to become extint.
Like most species, people are the threat to rhinos. Poaching and loss of habitat have made Rhinos one of the most critically endangered species on our planet. Rhino horns are used in a powder form as medicine and carved for dagger handles. There are less then 11,000 Rhinos left.
The tazmanian devil is a carnivore. Mostly black they can have white patches of fur on thier rump and chest. Once tazmanian devils could be found all over Australia, but are now pretty much isolated to Tasmania. Thier extinction is due to the introduction of dingos, which eat the same types of food. It is believed that the competition for food has caused them to become extinct. Another factor in thier extinction from the mainland is farmers killing them because they believed that the tasmanian devil was responsible for the deaths of thier livestock.
By the early 1900's the trumpeter swan was no longer a common site in North America. The trumpeter swan has become extinct because of killing for there down,feathers, and meat. Human destruction of thier environment is another factor in thier dwindleing numbers. Through programs to reintroduce trumpeter swans back into nature they are becoming one of the success stories of the endangered species world.
The actual cause of the decining population of sea lions is unknown. It is believed that human involment in the change of thier ecosystm is a cause. Overfishing is believed to be causing there food source to drastically change thus causing thier demise. There has been an 80% decline in sealions over the past 25 years. Sea Lions can be found in the north Pacific from California to Japan.
The black footed ferret is critically endangered with less then 1000 left. The black footed ferret has become endangered and near extintion due to the killing of thier food source, prairie dogs. Humans killed prarie dogs because of the competition of grass for food between them and the ranchers livestock. Currently a captive breeding program is underway to reintroduce the black footed ferret.
Only 600-700 Bilbies exist today. They can be found in Queensland Australia. The loss of Bilbies is due to lose of habitat do to cattle and rabbitts and also predators. Plans are underway to help the Bilby by relocation and preservation of thier current homes.
There are many reasons for the endangerment of Orangutangs including illegal logging, mining, and poaching. Orangutangs have long red hair. Males grow about twice the size as females. Due to recent government turmoil the protection of orangutangs is seriously in danger.
Found in the mountains of central Asia, Snow Leopards have become endangered due to poaching for thier skins. There is an estimated 3,000-10,000 Snow Leopards left. Many conservation plans are underway to bring the Snow Leopard back.
Prairie fringed orchids grow 1-3 feet tall and produce up to 40 white flowers. The biggest threat to the prairie fringed orchid is loss of habitat. They can be found throughout the midwest region of the United States.
The Sumatran Tiger is critically endangered! Only about 500 are left in the wild and about 250 in captivity. It is the smallest of the tiger species and is isolated to an island Indonesia called Sumatra. They are threatened because of poachers and development of thier habitat.
Once widespread across Canada, the wolverine can only be found in eastern Canada. They have a bear-like appearance and are very strong and fierce animals. They have become extint primarily because of the depletion of thier food source due to hunting by humans.
Found in the waters of Western Australia and South Australia, the Sea Dragon has become endangered due to pollution and the destuction of its habitat by people catching them for collectors.
Polar bear numbers are estimated at 20,000-40,000. They are found in the far north regions of Canada, Russia, Greenland, etc. Many nations have a hunting season for polar bears. They set limits on how many can be killed. The laws of each country vary. In Norway the polar bear is completely protected. There are also many cases of poaching.
