10 of the World’s Most Endangered Animals

10 of the World’s Most Endangered Animals (IUCN Red List, 2024)

The 2024 Living Planet Report highlights that wildlife populations have declined by 73% since 1970, and more than 47,000 species are currently threatened with extinction according to the IUCN Red List. Among the world’s most endangered animals are:

1. Sunda pangolin – Found in forests across Southeast Asia, these nocturnal and elusive animals face severe threats from hunting and poaching. Pangolin meat is considered a luxury in some countries, and their scales are used in traditional medicine. Despite international trade being illegal, trafficking continues, making Sunda pangolins increasingly rare.
2. Amur leopard – One of the rarest big cats, restricted to far eastern Russia and northeastern China. With only about 130 individuals left, threats include habitat loss, prey scarcity, and infrastructure development. Protected areas cover 90% of their current range.
3. Sumatran tiger – The smallest tiger subspecies, weighing up to 140 kg, found only on the Indonesian island of Sumatra. Its survival is threatened by habitat loss, human-tiger conflict, and poaching for tiger parts.
4. Mountain gorilla – Found in the volcanic forests of eastern DRC, northern Rwanda, and western Uganda, this species faces threats from habitat loss, human diseases, snares, and civil unrest. Current population is estimated at 1,063 individuals and is slowly recovering due to conservation efforts.
5. Bornean orangutan – The largest tree-dwelling mammal, restricted to Borneo, with about 104,700 individuals in the wild. Deforestation and habitat degradation remain the primary threats. Conservation initiatives are restoring forests and wildlife corridors.
6. Yangtze finless porpoise – The only living freshwater porpoise in the world, found in China’s Yangtze River. Critically endangered due to pollution, overfishing, and habitat degradation, its population rose from 1,012 to 1,249 between 2017–2022 following a fishing ban and strict protections.
7. Black rhino – Once decimated by poaching, black rhino populations have more than doubled since the 1990s but remain critically endangered, with about 6,421 individuals in Africa. Poaching for rhino horn continues to be a major threat.
8. African forest elephant – Found in dense forests of West and Central Africa, these elephants have declined by over 80% in the past century. Poaching and habitat loss are major challenges, and they now occupy only 25% of their historic range.
9. Sumatran orangutan – Endemic to Sumatra, Indonesia, this species has fewer than 14,000 individuals. Logging, agricultural expansion, and infrastructure development threaten their survival, and forest connectivity is crucial for their conservation.
10. Hawksbill turtle – A marine turtle found in tropical and subtropical waters worldwide. Populations have declined by 80% due to fishing, habitat degradation, coral reef damage, and illegal trade of shells. Climate change and plastic pollution further endanger this critically endangered species.
    
    Updated - 29 July 2025 ; 12:29 PM | https://www.wwf.org.uk/learn/wildlife/endangered-animals