
What are the most endangered animals out there? The International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN) counts almost 4,000 species as critically endangered, which means they’re facing such serious threats that they could be wiped out in the wild pretty soon. Today, we’re shining a spotlight on the top 14 most endangered animals.
Amur Leopard

Sometimes known as the Far East leopard or Manchurian leopard, Amur leopards hang out in the Russian Far East. They’re regarded as one of the rarest cats on the planet, with their numbers dropping to about 100 because of poaching (both leopards and their main prey, deer), deforestation, and habitat loss. Their small population also makes them vulnerable to issues related to inbreeding.
Bornean Orangutan

Orangutans are very smart animals that share about 97% of their DNA with humans. Unfortunately, a bunch of orangutan species are at risk of extinction. This includes the Bornean orangutan, plus the Sumatran and Tapanuli orangutans. As their name hints, the Bornean orangutan hangs out on the island of Borneo. They’re the largest tree-dwelling apes and are in big trouble because of habitat loss and the bushmeat trade.
Cross River Gorilla

The Cross River gorilla was first mentioned back in 1904, but it wasn’t until 1987 that all its features were confirmed. That’s mostly because this rare gorilla hangs out in some rough terrain along the borders of Cameroon and Nigeria. Cross River gorillas need plenty of untouched forests to thrive, but unfortunately, deforestation and land fragmentation have made it super tough for them to survive.
Black Rhino

The black rhinoceros is one of several rhino species that are sadly at risk of going extinct. The black rhino is labeled as critically endangered, along with the Javan and Sumatran rhino. Three subspecies have already been declared extinct, the most recent one in 2011, and conservationists are working hard to make sure the black rhino doesn’t end up with the same fate.
African Forest Elephant

The African forest elephant is facing big threats from habitat loss and fragmentation, plus poaching for their tusks and bushmeat, which is why it was put on the Critically Endangered list in 2021. It’s the smallest of the remaining elephant species and one of just two elephant species that hang out in Africa. Since they live in the thick forests of West Africa and the Congo Basin, counting their population is pretty tough.
Saola

The saola, sometimes called the spindlehorn or Asian unicorn, is a forest-loving bovine from Vietnam and Laos that kind of looks like a deer. It’s critically endangered because of commercial hunting and habitat destruction from farming, roads, and mining. Plus, with such a tiny population, individuals often get separated and can’t breed, which makes things even worse.
Vaquita

The vaquita is an adorable little porpoise that chills in the Gulf of California, Mexico. Unfortunately, it’s one of the most endangered marine mammals out there, with fewer than 12 of these cuties left. The vaquita is struggling because of illegal fishing, especially with those gillnets used to catch another endangered species, the totoaba fish. People go after its swim bladders because they’re super prized in traditional Chinese medicine.
Sumatran Tiger

Sumatran tigers are the last of the tiger subspecies hanging out in Indonesia, and they’re sadly considered critically endangered. With only around 400 left in the wild, these amazing big cats are up against some serious challenges, like habitat loss from deforestation and poaching. Their stunning fur makes them a target for illegal hunting, and as their homes keep getting smaller, run-ins with humans are becoming more common.
Pangolin

Pangolins are unique, scaly mammals found in Asia and Africa, and they’re actually the most trafficked mammals in the world. All eight species of pangolin are in trouble, mainly because they’re being poached for their scales and meat. On top of that, they have a slow reproduction rate, which makes bouncing back even tougher.
Yangtze Finless Porpoise

Finless porpoises are present in the Yangtze River in China. Unfortunately, they’re pretty vulnerable to fishing; even though fishermen aren’t really targeting them, a lot of these porpoises end up dying when they accidentally get caught in fishing gear. Plus, the waters they live in are always crowded with boats and people cruising around, so they often get hurt or killed by ships.
Javan Blue Flycatcher

Once one of the most familiar flycatchers on the Panaitan in Indonesia and the islands of Java, this little songbird is now pretty hard to spot. A big reason for its decline is that it gets trapped in the cagebird trade. In fact, estimates say there are over tens of thousands of Javan blue flycatchers sitting in captivity, while hardly any are left out in the wild.
Franklin’s Bumble Bee

Bee populations everywhere have been steadily dropping, and Franklin’s bumblebee is no different. This little guy is only known from a small spot in southern Oregon and northern California, hanging out between the Coast and Sierra-Cascade mountain ranges, and no one has seen one since 2006. This means it’s totally possible that the species is already gone, but until that is confirmed, it’s still considered critically endangered.
Great Hammerhead

In 2019, the great hammerhead became critically endangered after its global population dropped by more than 80% over the last 7 decades., according to scientists. Being the biggest of the hammerhead sharks, it has suffered from being caught as a bycatch and is heavily fished for its huge fins. This apex predator rarely goes after humans—it’s much more into its usual meals like smaller sharks, stingrays, crustaceans, and bony fish.
Peacock Tarantula

This cool tarantula, flaunting its metallic blue hair, is known as an Old World species. It originally called the deciduous forests of central southern India home, but now it’s stuck in a tiny reserve forest that’s only 39 square miles. Sadly, its habitat has been slowly getting eaten away by logging and firewood collection, which has left it crammed into a small slice of forest.