Animals Poached to Extinction in Your Lifetime

The pangolin, a burrowing mammal, is widely regarded as the most poached mammal in the world.The pangolin is the most poached mammal in the world.These solitary, nocturnal creatures are highly sought after for their scales and skin, used in traditional Eastern medicine, and their meat, which some countries consider a delicacy. Last decade, an estimated one million pangolins were illegally hunted and trafficked globally.

The world fights the massive pangolin market. Dwindling pangolin numbers in Asia push poachers toward African species, but conservationists work hard to save these animals.Conservationists work hard to save these animals..

In 2015, fewer than 30,000 rhinos remained in the wild.Fewer than 30,000 rhinos remained in the wild.That number continues to shrink. Rhino horns serve Eastern medicine, but Vietnam drives most demand, viewing rhino horn powder as a sign of wealth.Consuming rhino horn powder is seen as a sign of wealth..

Millions of black and white rhinos roamed the wild just 150 years ago. The latest census shows a massive population drop. The Javan rhino is the most threatened of the five rhino species, with around 60 left.The Javan rhino has around 60 left.These are in Indonesia's Ujung Kulon National Park; none exist in captivity.

The sea otter fur trade was a massive industry.The sea otter fur trade was a massive industry.This industry existed in the United States before the Endangered Species Act protected these animals in 1977. Over-hunting in the 18th and 19th centuries nearly caused extinction. Oil spills and habitat damage now endanger sea otters. Fur also makes "one hell of a comeback" in fashion."one hell of a comeback""in fashion."

Fishermen pose another big threat to the species. Sea otters eat the shellfish fishermen depend on, so they share waters. Some fishermen hunt otters to keep their shellfish supply.Fishermen pose another big threat.Sea otters eat the shellfish fishermen depend on, so they share waters. Some fishermen hunt otters to keep their shellfish supply.

California fights poachers targeting rare Southern sea otters. California law, the Endangered Species Act, and the Marine Mammal Protection Act protect the species. Harming a Southern sea otter in America brings fines up to $100,000 and possible jail time.The species is protected under California law.The species is protected under California law, the Endangered Species Act, and the Marine Mammal Protection Act. Harming a Southern sea otter in America brings fines up to $100,000 and possible jail time.

Lions might be extinct by 2050. Big cats suffered a terrible fate since tigers became rare. They serve as a suitable alternative for poachers who cannot traffic tiger products, and their numbers are dropping. The lion population dropped by more than 85% over the last century. Fewer than 23,000 big cats exist in the wild. Combining poaching and habitat loss means most lions will not survive.They serve as a suitable alternative for poachers who cannot traffic tiger products, and their population is dwindling.The lion population dropped by more than 85% over the last century.Dropped by more than 85% over the last century.Fewer than 23,000 big cats exist in the wild. Combine poaching and habitat loss, and most lions don't stand a chance.

Conservationists work hard to stop extinction. But as poachers become more desperate, the threat grows.As poachers become more desperate, the threat grows.The threat continues to grow.

President Donald Trump vowed to lift the ban on importing elephant trophies (and laterThe elephant changed his mind after the intense backlash.Why all the backlash? Asian and African elephants suffer from poaching, and massive bans are already in place. International ivory trade has been banned.This started since 1989.Still, tusks bring large black market profits.

China was a major ivory market. The government started cracking downin 2018.In 2018, experts still think 30,000 African elephants are poached yearly. This causes those poachers to change their tactics.Those fighting back..

Mountain gorillas live in the Virunga Mountains, which touch Uganda, Rwanda, and the Democratic Republic of Congo. Only about 1,000 remain free because poaching nearly wiped out the population.

Mountain gorillas are hunted forthe commercial bushmeat trade.This includes people eating ape meat to show wealth. While the bushmeat trade threatens apes, it is not the only danger to mountain gorillas. Poachers also target body parts used as charms or in Eastern medicine. Some gorillas are captured as pets, and habitat loss also harms them.

Conservation efforts help: Mountain gorilla populations are growing, moving the animals fromcritically endangered to endangered.Other gorilla populations keep struggling.

Amur leopards rank among themost endangered big cats.Habitat loss and their spotted fur attract poachers. In 2007, only 35 Amur leopardslived in the wild.Along the Russia-China border, the Amur Leopard faces threats. After the International Union for the Conservation of Nature listed it Critically Endangered in 1996, the Endangered Species Act protected the species.

The Amur Leopard and Tiger Alliance (ALTA)works to save the Amur leopard, suggesting zoo reintroductions. The World Wildlife Fund does similar work. Both stop poachers by partnering with local, regional, and federal groups, and by restoring and protecting parts of the Amur leopard's habitat. The wild Amur leopard population more than doubled since the last census; in 2018, as many asThere are 84 wild Amur leopards.These leopards were thought to roam the wild.

Hawksbill sea turtles are often seen as the most endangered sea turtle species, with populations shrinking by90% over the last century.In 2016, only between 20,000 and 23,000 nesting female Hawksbills remained globally.

People poach sea turtles for eggs and meat used in fine dining and traditional medicine, but Hawksbills are mostly poached for their shells. In theblack market.One sea turtle can sell for $3,000.

The Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species protects sea turtles. Poaching turtles and their eggs violates the law.This applies in the United States.Since 1970, the EPA created the agency and marked the species as endangered. Various global laws forbid killing sea turtles. GPS tracking might actually save the species. GPS tracking shows turtle nesting and feeding habits, helping catch poachers.

The tiger population has shrunk fast over the last century. By 2014, numbers fell to betweenTwo thousand one hundred and three thousand one hundred mature tigers.exist in the wild. Some worry these numbers do notshow the real threat.

Poachers take almost every part of tigers: pelts, skin, bones, teeth, whiskers, and claws. People use some for decoration or wealth symbols; others enter traditional Eastern medicine. Conservationists have helped increase the tiger population recently. The Siberian tiger is one of the rarest, but conservation efforts have helpedraise those numbers. Some populations are worse off; the South-China tiger is thought to beTigers went extinct in the wild..

This sea creature lives in Asia's longest river, China's Yangtze River. Changing waterways, pollution, and smaller food supplies have left the speciesalmost extinct. The finless porpoise's relative, the Baiji dolphin, was declared extinct in 2006. This was the first time a dolphin species vanished from the planet.

Conservationists work hard to save these animals. In June 2017, the Chinese government gave the finless porpoise the highest protection level. Still, fishing and habitat damage pose threats.

Lemurs are the most endangered animal on Earth. Most of the 106 lemur species face extinction or are critically endangered. Much of this risk comes from climate change and deforestation; over 90% of Madagascar's original forestThe lemur has been destroyed., poaching does not help. Poachers take an estimated 10% of the lemur population every year.

Lemurs live only in Madagascar. Poachers hunt them for meat, which high-end restaurants sell or poor village people eat. This increases poverty because lemurs are a maintourism source.

Many groups work to stop the population from dying out. TheThe Lemur Conservation Network exists.links 50 of these groups together.

The Over the Grevy's Zebra.happened in the past 30 years.The Grevy's zebra population dropped from over 15,000 to under 2,500. People hunt these animals for their skins, which go into luxury handbags, shoes, and accessories. Poachers also take them for meat, which people eat or use in traditional medicine.Traditional medicine..

Habitat loss threatens these zebras. Conservationists fight to save the species, which lives mostly in Kenya and Ethiopia. They compete with local livestock for food and water. When resources become scarce, zebras starve.

Manta rays face a wild population decline from poachers, despite being aquarium staples. Around 2012, demand for manta and devil ray gills spiked, as these gills enter traditional Eastern medicine.Eastern medicine uses traditional methods.These gills sell for up to $500 per kilogram. People cook them into soup claiming it boosts immunity, increases fertility, cures chickenpox, fixes throat and skin problems, solves kidney and fertility issues, and cures cancer. Science does not support these claims. Devil ray gills bring in an estimated $11.3 million yearly, even though the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species has regulated the species since 2013.The Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species.Populations fell by 56% in Indonesia and 86% in Sri Lanka since 2013. In some areas, the population dropped as much as 99%.

Something is changing. In October 2016, devil rays gained worldwide protection. Will that stop the decline?October 2016., devil rays were granted worldwide protection. Will that be enough?

Farming and livestock destroy giraffe habitat. Poachers hunt giraffes for tails and meat. Since 1985, the overall giraffe population shrank by 40%.Fewer than 2,000.Kordofan giraffes, often hunted for trophies, roam freely in central Africa. As of November 2018, theThe International Union for the Conservation of Nature.has listed several giraffe subspecies as endangered. Some argue this is not enough until all 97,500 remaining wild giraffes are protected.