1. Iberian Lynx
The Iberian (Spanish), Lynx lives in very small areas of central and southern Spain (Andalucia). It used to live throughout Spain and Portugal but its numbers have been drastically reduced to the point where it is now one of the most endangered wild cats in the world.
In the early 1950s a virus named Myxomatosis was illegally introduced by a French scientist to wild rabbits on his estate to protect his vegetable patch. Tragically the virus spread rapidly, and killed about 90% of the wild rabbits in France. Spanish rabbits also died in huge numbers even going completely missing in some areas, so thousands of lynx starved to death. Habitat loss, hunting and trapping also have decimated the lynx. They are protected now, but they still get caught in fox traps. Another cause of death recently is getting hit by cars in Donana National Park.
Population size: approximately 100 – 150
Reproduction: Females breed about once a year, with a litter size of 1-3 cubs. In breeding captivity programs, a litter of 3 cubs was born in 2005, and another 3 cubs in March 2009.
What Can I Do?
Donate to S.O.S Lynx, a lynx conservation organization. They have a PayPal donation option
on their site. Or sign up to receive their e-news: news@soslynx.org. Image Credit: Iberian Lynx Conservation Program.
2. Saiga Antelope
Adults can run up to 50 mph in bursts, and herds have known to range hundreds of miles in several days. As recently as 1950 there could have been about two million saiga, however, the population since then has been reduced by about 97%. The source of the devastation is a very strong demand for the horns of the males for traditional chinese medicine. Poachers are killing the antelopes in a large numbers steadily. Some believe the horns can be used to treat fevers and they are sold for about $100 per pound.
Traditional medicine often has no basis in science; and is rooted in superstition or anecdotal evidence. It is especially tragic that so many of the antelope are being slaughtered over a misconception. The National Wildlife federation provided an account of the rate of slaughter in one 2004 incident, ”some 80,000 saiga crossed from Kalmykia into the neighboring Russian republic of Dagestan to the south. Weeks later, only a few animals returned. ”
Population size: approximately 42,000 but the rate of slaughter is very high, and constant due to poaching. Even in a protected area, the population has been cut 95% since 1997. The saiga is one of the most rapidly declining mammals in the world.
Reproduction: Females breed about once a year, with a litter size of 1-2 calves.
What Can I Do?
Donate to the Saiga Conservation Alliance. Even donating $5 helps, which is about the cost of one latte. Alert relatives or friends in China that Saiga horn very likely is not a cure for fevers; any ‘benefit’ observed is most likely just the placebo effect. Traditional medicines can actually cause harm, such as the Mexican folk medicine Greta, which can be 90% lead and lead can cause brain damage. Forward this article to anyone you know who is a teacher so it can be used as part of a class lesson. Image Credit: Pavel Sorokin
3. Sumatran Tiger
The Sumatran Tiger is being decreased substantially by poaching and logging of its traditional forest range. Some of the logging is illegal. Recent research has indicated that the clash between tigers and humans in Sumatra that has killed both species is due to the aggressive destruction of forests by Asia Pulp and Paper.
About 100 tigers live in a nature preserve on the island, but poachers are killing them even in protected areas. The Bali, Java, and Trinil tigers which are related to the Sumatran, have all been driven into extinction.
Population: Approximately 400
Reproduction: Females usually give birth once a year to several cubs. Cubs are born blind.
What Can I Do?
Don’t buy paper products made by Asia Pulp and Paper. If you don’t know if they are, buy only paper products made in your home country, and products made from recycled paper in your home country. Adopt a wild Sumatran via the Sumatran Tiger Trust. (If an individual can not
afford the adoption, it could be more affordable for a class of 20 students each paying 1.50, or a family each paying about 7 dollars.) Image Credit: Auckland Zoo
4. Silky Sifafka
This species of lemur only lives on the island of Madagascar in the northeastern rainforests. Its population is very small and it is hunted by some local people for meat. It is one of the most endangered primates in the world. The silky sifafka has never been bred in captivity, meaning if it is killed entirely in the wild, it most likely can’t be kept alive in a captive breeding program or zoo.
Unfortunately, the species has a low birth rate. Compounding matters, political turmoil has disrupted normal operations at one of the sites where they live. The Marojejy park has closed to tourism because of unsafe conditions created by armed thugs stealing very valuable hardwoods.
Population: approximately 100 – 1000
Reproduction: generally females birth one infant every two years, but there are cases of a female birthing one infant per year.
What Can I Do?
Contact Erik Patel of Cornell University and ask him what you can do. Show this silky lemur documentary to students when it is available. Visit the lemur park when it is safe to do so, and don’t forget about Madagascar during the political upheaval, as the Marojejy park website says, “While you might not be able to visit some of these beautiful areas right now, we hope you will not forget them, and that you will continue to work for their preservation.” Image Credit: Public Domain
About Jake Richardson
Thanks for including a “what can I do” section. This is really helpful. I’ll try to get involved where I can.
Wow, that Lynx is beautiful!
RT
http://www.anon-tools.cz.tc
Why do you people want to waste your time saving animals that will eventually go extinct no matter what you do? A greater waste of time and resources there is not, we currently have a huge financial crisis, among other things, and you fools are wasting your time with these animals? How can you justify this when PEOPLE are dying all over the world from malnutrition and insane wars?
Because there is billions of us a only a phew of them.
HEY 123456789
HOW WOULD YOU FEEL IF YOU WERE ONE OF THOSE ANIMALS SOON EXTINCT!? THE ANIMALS DIDN’T DO ANYTHING WRONG HUMANS ARE THE PEOPLE WHO STARTED THESE WARS!!!!!!!! THINK ABOUT THE POOR ANIMALS!
@123456789: Although this comment is couched in a way that doesn’t do justice to the article or the commenter, at its core the comment actually offers a good point. Around the world, people think of themselves and their families before they think of biodiversity or the environment. That’s understandable and it’s a big reason why alleviating poverty is so important. One way for anyone who can spare a dime is microfinancing through sites like Kiva (http://www.kiva.org), which is also great since you get your money back too in the end.
That is true. Many of these animals are poached to sell on the black market by poor people who don’t understand why they can’t make a pile of money when they don’t have any. Poverty drives people to desperate actions. The thing is…eco tourism generates far more money than selling a rare dead animal corpse.
However, there are almost 7 billion humans on this planet…and humans are not rare at all. These animals are extremely rare.
I think if we all work together we can do great things for these extinct animals and people too!! Iam for programs that want to save these beautiful animals..it will be a sad world when one day if not helped as much as possible that these animals and others will only be a memory!!
wow! those were really great……..
but i just wanna say 123456789 that, hey friend, juz see, animals are very essential for our World juz like us…… we should care for them….. these pics were given to tell us that, “these are the animals which are going to be extinct….. so. friends, please save those animals before they get totally extinct from this world”
k
Im agree with the point that we should worry more about humans than animals , for example , what do we gain if we save tigers or any type of wild animal ? they even try to eat us . i think we should worry more about humans that are dying in war and poor people who are dying of hunger and forget about animals that dont benefit us at all.
Every species on this planet performs a task, which even minimal is essential (keystone species). Its true that there are other major issues occurring in our world, but I find it quite ignorant to not see the extinction of species as a massive concern as 123456789 put it. People are the cause of famine, wars, and the recession; they’re also the cause of the current lose of biodiversity. I agree with everyone else and found the article to be inspiring. It was just that one comment that pist me off!
We need to do a better job on conservation at the global level. Conservation needs to be taught to all children in schools. Maybe there could be a new television station that is only concerned with endangered wildlife.
You know…humans are only one part of our eco system. and are the reason why these animals are dying off. we are the problem, but we are also the solution. think about it 123456789… animals and all species cannot invent eco friendly ways of living…they already live it everyday! we need to learn from them. and if they arent here any more…then HELLO…we cant learn crap about them, they way they survive, or they way they help the environment. humans are the reasonm for all the financial crisis, wars, famine, poverty, you name it, anything negative on this earth, HUMANS are the reason for destruction in all forms. sooo 123456789 kiss our eco friendly asses…you are the problem, i am the problem, every human on this planet is the problem. open your blind eyes. then maybe you’ll see that the planet you call home may not be inhabitable by us humans if you keep worrying more about financial crisis and less about your planet…..no planet, no trees, no animals = no people. anyone with an elementary educaion could figure that out…. 123456789 idiot! GO OBAMA…GO ECO-FRIENDLY HUMANS…GO START COMPOSTING, RECYCLING, EATING ORGANIC, OR PERHAPS SHOPPING FOR PRODUCTS ONLY MADE IN THE USA 123456789 AND SEE EXACTLY THE KIND OF PATIENCE, HUMAN ENERGY AND HEART YOU NEED TO BE ECO-FREINDLY…I CHALLENGE YOU 123456789 TO BECOME MORE AWARE OF YOUR WORLD AND NOT BE SO BLIND IN YOUR HEART, MIND AND SOUL. OPEN YOURSELF UP…YOU WILL BE BLESSED FOR IT!
The staggering ignorance displayed in the following post: 123456789 said on April 7th, 2009 at 10:59 pm
shows just how critical it is to redouble conservation efforts, as well as campaigning around climate change
We are NOTHING wihout nature. We are as dependent on it as a fish is to water. The great majority of disappearing species are so because of human reckless, materialistic expansion. Animals such as the Panda, which are very poor reproducers, are the exception.
Conservation and climate change organisations need to coalesce in a global network, developing online TV news and campaigns – let’s make it happen now.
me parece super woay
k cuidemos los animales
I THINK THAT THE ANIMALS IN EXTINCTION ARE MUCH.. BUT THE HUMAN DONT DO ANYTHING FOR SALVE THIS ANIMALS… THE CONSERVATION ARE “STUPID TO THE HUMAN” THIS IS A NORMAL SUCESS…
Though it’s disappointing to see posts like the one by 123456789, it tells us that we have a lot more work to do to change minds. It is very frustrating to read such opinions, knowing they only serve to delay us in doing we must to get things back on track. Sadder still, knowing that they represent many others like them. The obligation lies with us to rise to the challenge of addressing and changing these opinions in a way that brings people together. It’s an incredibly difficult task, but it will take “all” of us to turn this around.
A book I heartily recommend on the subject wildlife protection and campaigning on the issue is Bad Hare Days by John Fitzgerald. It’s the memoir of a dedicated Irish wildlife protection activist.
The theme is so topical, and certainly one familiar to animal lovers and wildlife protection activists …a wildlife protection cause is taken up by people who have different ideas about how to tackle the issue…while some favour peaceful legal means such as letter-writing to the media and protest pickets, others resort to “direction action” methods that entail acting outside the law.
But the author of this book gets blamed for the activities of “underground” activist groups despite having no dealings at all with them.
You don’t mess with those fellows! Irish anti-blood sports campaigner John Fitzgerald is thus warned by an elderly “wise man”, who is referring to hare coursing clubs in Ireland…but the teenager shrugs it off, his youthful enthusiasm holding sway.
After visiting a hare-coursing event, at which he sees hares being ripped to pieces in front of a cheering crowd, he joins an animal protection group. He begins writing letters to newspapers about the subject and picketing coursing fixtures.
But he soon finds himself up against the might of Ireland’s blood sport fraternity. He learns to his personal cost that politicians, wealthy business people, and high-ranking members of Ireland’s police force, are among the most ardent hare coursing fans.
John Fitzgerald is bullied in the workplace, in the streets of his hometown, and assaulted by coursing fans at work. Then the campaign costs him his livelihood.
But more direful challenges lie ahead: The anti-coursing campaign takes an unexpected turn with the “exporting” of the British-based Animal Liberation Front to Ireland. The ALF is blamed for a nationwide wave of incidents in which hares are released from coursing compounds and baiting venues sabotaged.
Tensions between pro and anti coursing factions erupt into fighting on the picket lines. Police swoop on the homes of known anti-coursing campaigners, believing that these might be implicated in the sabotage. John Fitzgerald is among those targeted. His home is ransacked. He is subjected to lengthy interrogations.
The militant activism then escalates into what has all the hallmarks of a terror campaign when hay barns owned by coursing officials are torched.
As a high profile anti-coursing campaigner, the author is accused, wrongly, of involvement in “terrorism”…though it turns out that the barn burning spree has been the work, not of the “ALF”, but of coursing fans embroiled in bitter infighting over ownership of captured hares and other grievances.
The author then has to fight to clear his name…while still battling blood sports.
Against a background of ferocious bullying and intimidation, tension-racked court hearings, further sabotage of coursing fields and blazing hay barns, John Fitzgerald treads a bitter and lonely path that leads to justice.
In a book that grips your attention the whole way through, the author describes in a compelling, highly readable style his sometimes frightening…and occasionally humorous…battle of wits with the power of the State, and his struggle to end hare coursing in Ireland.
Anyone with the remotest interest in subjects ranging from animal rights, animal welfare, blood sports, activism generally, environmental politics, the rights and wrongs of policing, or the psychology of bullying, will find this book an exhilarating read.
It’s published by Olympia Publishers (olympiapublishers.com) and though I’m not sure exactly which stores have it in stock I know it can be obtained via the Internet. I guarantee you’ll be hooked like I was!
Thanks for the bad hare days reference.
6 TO 8 WEEKS BEFORE LEAVING OFFICE PRESIDENT BUSH CHANGED FEDERAL LAWS TO STOP PROTECTION OF ENDANGERED SPECIES AND TO OPEN UP PARKS, OLD GROWTH TIMBER AND THE REDWOODS TO THE PUBLIC, IN REVENGE FOR AMERICANS VOTING FOR A MUSLIM FOR PRESIDENT INSTEAD OF A AMERICAN FROM PANAMA. HE ALSO LIED TO ALL NATIONS THAT GLOBAL WARMING IS CAUSED BY NON SOLIDS. HE REFUSED TO BELIEVE THE 31,000 SCIENTISTS THAT TOLD HIM MAN WAS’NT RESPONSIBLE FOR GLOBAL WARMING. NOW HE’S RETIRED AND LAUGHING AT ALOT OF US. GOOD LUCK AMERICA.
“…there are almost 7 billion humans on this planet…and humans are not rare at all. These animals are extremely rare.”
I fear we will end up with a planet full of people, domestic cats, dandelions and crows. What about the peacock and the orchid? The rare, the wild, the beautiful?
We need far, far fewer human beings on this planet, and a much, much fairer distribution of resources to those humans. What can I do about it?
Shop with a conscience. Try and live with a thought for the rest of the world, not just its people, but its animals and its ecosystem.
And choose not to have children. Unfortunately, all it takes is one family with 8+ children and an SUV, and my effort is wiped out. It’s so monumental an effort, it seems hopeless. Humanity is too greedy and selfish to share the world with the animals. And we forget that we are, after all, just another species of animals.
hey 123456789 that’s a reallly dumb argument. what u don’t know is that biodiversity IS what keeps the economy going, because, if you stop trying to rescue these animals, its not just these 10…. its thousands of species.
This would throw everything off balance- ruining agriculture, fishing industry, etc.
But, if you don’t start saving these animals now, which ones? do you want to start doing it once you’ve realized its too late?
im not just for saving them cause they’re “pretty” because so are stuffed animals, but, personallly, i like to be able to have avariety in my own diet, and this is directly linked with what gets put on your table.
Lets just state the obvious – we have massive population problem & until we find a mechanism to control this then all wildlife will be at risk. It is going to have to really hurt before this contension issue is raised. Religion & politics just fuss around the edges & in most cases make the problem worse. I feel a deep sadness that these 10 animals will not be with us for much longer. Control our human population growth through actively developing third world countries – meaning pumping money & technology. No hidden clauses on the tech either. Drive up investigation into the major human killers – find cures will reduce death rate. Areas of ecological importance should be given grade 1 protection – I mean the rest of the world should pay the holding country money to leave the area untouched. I could go on. The key is reduce death rate & there will be a nature reduction in birth rate – if older people live a longer & healther life they will contribute more to the world’s development. Don’t just look at these animals as beautiful – they could be the key to our future survival. You want to see these animals in the future start raising these issues with your local government.
What can you do to help keep frog and toad species around the world from going extinct? Passing up the frogs’ legs is not going to save them.
Frogs and toads, with their permeable skin, are extremely sensitive to chemicals that have been leached into their water. Eliminating waste and especially reducing use of all chemicals–but in particular pesticides, herbicides and other poisons–is a great way to help.
Don’t dump cleaning fluids or other chemicals into the ground or into any water source. Don’t purchase products from companies that dump their wastes into a water source. Limit your energy consumption if you live in an area reliant on a coal power plant for electricity, as they are a primary contributor to acid rain.
As a group, we can limit our consumption and have a real effect!
I THINK MR.123456789 is a jerk. I understand people are in trouble too , but the animals were here first and its because some of the people can not control their wants and they are taking all most all the land away, and the poor animals suffer for food,warmth, and most of all understanding.
this is for 123456789. These animals have been on this world way before we were even created. We are the ones that are killing these animals by deforestation, food, and other purposes. It is true about the human population starving and the financial crisis, but what about the animals? With that view towards them we could lose all the animals and we will go extinct with them. I think that we should balance the human problems, along with the environmental ones. Your reasoning is absurd.
ha ma this fat gril
yes we need to protect this spices for our future generation
PROTECT THEM PLEASE PLEASE
All the animals that ppl are trying to save a purpose to live jus like we do. thanks for these web sites we are able to help out these animals.
HOW CAN SOME PEOPLE BE SO HEARTLESS! animals have just as much to live for as we do! we are killing ourselves as we speak to you know, over populating ourselves and using much needed resources on things that could be going to the needy! so get over yourselves and do something for once to help us and the animals who DIE because of us! ANIMALS WERE NOT PUT ON THIS EARTH TO BE EATEN! they were put on this earth to be marveled at and for us to use our imagination on. but we use their fur for selfish reasons and destroy their habitat! but the thing that surprises me the most about some people is that they 1000′s of critically endangered species and more everyday yet some people have the guts to say we are more important. well, if it was somehow switched, animals and humans were each other, how would you feel to have your skin ripped of wail still breathing or to be killed for the use of a single one of our organs for “spiritual medicines”! huh? i for one say STOP THE MADNESS!
IT IS SOOOO SAD THAT ALL OF THESE BEAUTIFUL ANIMALS ARE CLOSE TO EXTINCTION SO WE ALL NEED TO WORK TOGETHER TO SAVE THE ANIMALS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I dont under stand. my parents think that its not the humans fault but its all our faults. they were here befor us and now when we came they all perished. the quagga is so beautiful.and now its gone.for good.so many animals just gone.its crazy.
123456789 there are animals that shall become extinct, the animals like you.
poor animal they have to live for the world if I was one of that people who kills them I first kill them and then my self because later of that I must feel bad but some are firt happy and they do that but thy have to live they have rights to live
I would like to use a reprint of this post for my Cub Scouts. They are earning their World Conservation Award (http://www.boyscouttrail.com/content/award/award-206.asp). Part of that is learning about animals that have gone extinct in the past 100 years. I would also like to discuss animals on the verge of extinction, and your article is perfect. Would you mind sending me printable version of your post, without the ads and comments? My email is mynyddprepatory@hotmail.com. Thank you!
most of you need to learn how to write well!!
123456789 HOW COULD YOU!!! WE STARTED OUR OWN WARS, DID THE ANIMALS START THEIR DEATHS? DID THEY CHOOSE TO DIE?!?!?!? HUH? WE CHOSE WAR THEY DID NOT CHOOSE TO BECOME EXTINCT. ANIMALS FTW!!!!
uhhh.. Cute!!!
Endangered animals are just a symptom of the health of our planet. And if animals become extinct, make no mistake: we are right behind them. We are dependent on a thriving eco-system in order to survive ourselves, and once that eco-system dies, we will die with it. At that point, the health or dysfunction of our economies, who is leading our countries, whether or not we have jobs – or even homes – will become meaningless. Many scientists agree there is a very real chance that humans will become extinct in the next 100 years. In fact, it may be already too late to reverse this threat. Caring about your planet, caring about animals, means caring about YOURSELF, your children and the generations to follow.
Everybodies arguing about that one comment, but nobody’s realised the lemur’s called a Silky SIFAKA, not sifafka.