Two centuries ago, extinctions were rare. Islands were hotspots, losing flightless bird species like the dodo and other animals that were hunted out of existence by European traders and colonists or killed off by introduced rats and cats. The Industrial Revolution changed that: Extinction rates soared across continents, roughly paralleling the exponential growth in human […]
Tag: critically endangered species
Snares Set By Poachers Are Driving The ‘Asian Unicorn’ Extinct
The saola, also known as the Asian Unicorn, is a critically endangered species, found only in the Annamite Mountain range that runs between Lao and Vietnam. Resembling a cross between an antelope and goat, this mammal has a dark brown coat and white markings on its face. Long, straight horns are found on both males […]
Human-wildlife conflict drives African wild dogs to extinction
The African wild dog has become one of the most critically endangered species in Africa. At one time, nearly 500 000 wild dogs roamed the continent, but now only an estimated 7 000 of them remain. With massively reduced numbers from the encroachment of farming activities, there is lack of genetic variation and a new […]
The North Atlantic right whale is a critically endangered species with an estimated population of fewer than 350
Most North Atlantic right whales that are severely injured in fishing gear entanglements die within three years, a new study led by scientists at the New England Aquarium and Duke University finds. North Atlantic right whales are a critically endangered species whose population has shrunk in recent decades. Scientists estimate fewer than 350 of the […]
Indonesia teams up with Germany on Sumatran rhino breeding efforts
JAKARTA — Indonesian and German scientists are collaborating on assisted reproductive technologies for critically endangered species, with a primary focus on pulling the Sumatran rhino from the brink of extinction. Indonesia’s Bogor Institute of Agriculture (IPB) and Germany’s Leibniz Institute for Zoo and Wildlife Research (Leibniz-IZW) signed the collaboration agreement in May. It calls for […]
Young Orangutan Kidnapped and Forced to Live in Chicken Coop is Given Second Chance
Baby orangutans are prized possessions on the illegal black market, where many other critically endangered species are trafficked. Aman is just one of many infant orangutans who were stolen from their mothers in the past couple of years, but his story highlights the extent of the illegal wildlife trade and the trauma that young orangutans […]
Banned DDT and PCBs Still Threaten Critically Endangered California Condors
Despite being banned since the 1970s, DDT and PCBs are still affecting wildlife today, particularly the California condor, a critically endangered species. The condors feed on dead marine life along the California coast that often contain higher amounts of contaminants compared to marine life elsewhere. Scientists at San Diego State University (SDSU) and San Diego […]
80 Critically Endangered Australian Frogs Released to the Wild After Surviving Disease and Bushfire Crises
The spotted tree frog was already recovering from local extinction when the “Black Summer” wildfires of 2019 to 2020 raged through New South Wales (NSW) in Australia. Of 250 to 300 frogs once released into the wild, only about 10 survived. But now, the critically endangered species is receiving yet another lease on life. The […]