Top 5 Most Endangered Animals

If there is one thing I care about the most, it is the preservation of our wildlife. As humans, the most intelligent animal on earth, we have a responsibility to protect our endangered species. According to care 2 world.com, approximately 100 species go extinct every single day. A large majority of these species are victims of deforestation, where 38 million acres of forest is projected to be destroyed this year! Let me put this in perspective. 38 million acres is roughly the size of Algeria, or a slightly larger than Alaska. So you can see we have a major environmental crisis on our hands. The amount of habitat lost for some of these endangered species is unprecedented. Therefore, I will giving the top 5 on the endangered species list and how we can help to stop the bleeding. But first, I'd like you to watch this short video on what species need our help. Some will be listed here, some will not. The point of this hub is to create awareness for those animals who can't help themselves. I will also update the stated list regularly as reports allow. If a species is deemed extinct or its status has been lifted, I will move it to a different section on this hub.

1. The Ivory Billed Woodpecker

The ivory-billed woodpecker (Campephilus principalis) was one of the largest woodpeckers in the world, at roughly 20 inches in length and 30 inches in wingspan. It was native to the virgin forests of the southeastern United States (along with a separate subspecies native to Cuba). Due to habitat destruction, and to a lesser extent hunting, its numbers have dwindled to the point where it is uncertain whether any remain, though there have been reports that it has been seen again. Almost no forests today can maintain an ivory-billed woodpecker population.

Reason for possible extinction:

The Ivory Billed Woodpecker is currently having dismal information on their numbers. It is at the top of the critically endangered list. Critically endangered means that a species is dangerously near to becoming extinct. The population numbers of this woodpecker were whittled down by hunters and deforestation, in the 19th century. As a result, the woodpecker's numbers dropped too low to sustain their own population. The only reason why this bird hasn't been deemed extinct by the masses, is because of supposed recent sightings in the past decade. A video back in 2007 shot a glimpse of a bird that looked very similar to the Ivory Billed profile, but it was too blurry to be conclusive. However, there is still hope to find this bird flying about in the swampy areas of Arkansas, Florida and Cuba.

2. The Amur Leopard

The Amur Leopard is also on the critically endangered species list. There now exists only about 40 of them in northern part of Russia's eastern tundra. Considered to be the rarest cat in the world, they prefer the cold temperatures of the tundra forest lands and are the only Leopard in the world adapted to cold weather.

3. The Javan Rhinoceros

The Javan Rhinoceros, or also known as the Sudna Rhinoceros was the most prominent rhino species in south east Asia. Their range extended from North Vietnam, to East India and parts of China, and clear down to the islands of Java and Sundara. Being now decades after the Vietnam War, their species is now confined to a small piece of land located on the western tip of Java island in Indonesia. This particular species is considered to be the rarest mammal on earth with an estimation of only 40 members. Similar to our leopard friends.

4. The Northern Sportive Lemur

The northern sportive lemur (Lepilemur septentrionalis), also known as the Sahafary sportive lemur or northern weasel lemur, is a species of lemur in the family Lepilemuridae. It is endemic to Madagascar. As a result of severe ecological and human pressures

Reason for Endangerment:

There are numerous species of lemurs on island of Madagascar, but none as endangered as the Northern Sportive Lemur. These 2 lb. animals reside on the northern tip of Madagascar, with an estimated 20 members left of their species. Nearly all of the species of Lemurs on the island are under threat of extinction. Poaching and major deforestation are the primary factors contributing to their massive decline.

The Northern Pacific Right Whale

The North Pacific right whale (Eubalaena japonica) is a very large, robust baleen whale species that is now extremely rare and endangered. The Northeast Pacific subpopulation, which summers in the southeastern Bering Sea and Gulf of Alaska, may have no more than 50 animals. 

Causes of Endangerment:

Poaching

Northern right whales have been under the gun for more than a century. They are the most endangered species of whale with only around 50 members of their species left. Before the massive whaling endemic of the 19th century, it is estimated that more than 30,000 right whales were alive in the Pacific Ocean. Between 1840 and 1849, the massive poaching of these whales began with the killing of at least 25,000. In the mid 20th century, Asian pacific whaling activities increased, including the notable Soviet whale excursion, illegally killing thousands of whales in the Pacific including right whales.

In conclusion:

I have spent over a week putting together this hub and if there is one thing I've learned it is this. Humanity has a responsibility to take care of our planet. We can try to do our part by doing the little things like recycling, turning out the lights and trying to drive less. Yet, I still ask myself does doing any of that stuff do a darn worth of difference? On a massive scare yes. On a personal scale not really. What makes the difference is having the courage to take the lead and call people to action. Action not just by passive environmental activities like I've listed above, but actually going into the field, starting relationships and educating people on the real issues. Issues that have a real impact on everyday events. There are some things on this earth we can't control, but there some things we can. It's up to us to know what those are and the best way to do that: is just being practical sometimes. I feel really bad about how nature's wounds are deepening. I wish there was some magic bullet to cure it all. When I stare into the eyes of an endangered animal (especially mammals), I can almost see the sadness and desperation in their face. It sends chills down my spine, that perhaps there's more to these animals than flesh, bone and instincts.

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