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The Black Rhino. Since 1970, the Black Rhino population, native
to southern and east Africa, has declined by 90% to less than
3,000. They are killed primarily for their horns. Trade of
Rhinos has been banned for more than 20 years but there still
continues to be a great demand for Rhino parts. |
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The Giant Panda. Within a few short years, Giant Pandas
could be facing extinction. Fewer than 1,000 remain in their
native habitat of China. The main reason for their decline
is due to loss of natural habitat and poaching.
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The Tiger. These magnificent cats are native to tropical
zones in Southeast Asia and temperate regions like the
Russian Far East. Less than 6,000 tigers remain in the wild.
The most urgent threat to the species is poaching for body
parts and bones used in traditional Asian medicines. |
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The Alligator Snapping Turtle. Prized by turtle trappers and
dealers for its rare meat, Alligator Snapping Turtles, the
largest of freshwater turtles from North America, is quickly
being depleted due to increased shipments to many other
countries. |
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The Sturgeon. These ancient living fish fossils are found in
the Caspian Sea. Valued throughout the world by connoisseurs
for their superior quality caviar, poaching is out of
control due to excessive demand and high prices paid for the
Sturgeons' "pearl-like" caviar. |
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The Hawksbill Turtle. Found mainly around tropical reefs,
the three foot (one metre) length Hawksbill Turtle species,
named for its distinctive snout, is becoming extremely
vulnerable due to their slow reproduction rates and high
volume of illegal trade for the prized jewel-like "tortoise
shell." |
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The Green-Cheeked Parrot. Native to Mexico, this colorful
parrot species, with the ability to mimic the human voice,
has been significantly reduced in numbers due to a huge
demand for these lovely pet birds, especially from the
United States. Even after prohibiting the sale of these
green-cheeked birds, droves of the species are still being
illegally traded across the Mexico/US border. |
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The Mako Shark. The Mako Shark is highly sought for its
tender meat, and especially in Asian markets, for their
shark fins which have even greater value for medicinal
purposes. Some are merely stripped of their prized fins by
the international fishing fleets and then thrown back into
the sea, left to die. |
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The Siberian Tiger. Cold, snowy Siberia, in the USSR, is
home to the largest of all the tigers, the Siberian tiger.
It is highly endangered and there may be fewer than 200 in
the wild, probably all in special nature reserves. Hunting
and loss of habitat have reduced their numbers.
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The Lion-tailed Macaque . This small monkey lives in India's
tropical rainforests. Many of these forests have been
replaced with tea and coffee plantations. Unlike some other
animals, the lion-tailed macaque has not been able to adapt
to these new habitats. Poachers have also captured baby
macaques, often killing their parents in the process, for
illegal export to collectors. |
