World's Most Endangered Species

Atlantic Bluefin Tuna – Tuna is perhaps the most high profile victim of unregulated and uncontrolled overfishing. Bluefin tuna populations have declined alarmingly over the past few decades. World Wildlife Fund has put together a top 10 list of endangered species to be on the look-out for in 2012. 

World Wildlife Fund has published a top 10 list of endangered species, which includes the Javan rhinoceros, along with the Asian elephant. Twenty-five species of monkeys, langurs, lemurs and gorillas are also on the brink of extinction and need global action to protect them from increasing deforestation and illegal trafficking. Help protect their future by visiting www.WorldWildlife.org/how to see what you can do to make a difference for our planet.

Irrawaddy Dolphin – Some populations are close to extinction such as those in the Mekong River and Malampaya Sound in the Philippines. The main threats are from fisheries bycatch and habitat loss. World Wildlife Fund has put together a top 10 list of endangered species to be on the look-out for in 2012. 

Javan Rhino – The Javan rhino is probably the rarest large mammal on the planet, with no more than 50 left in the wild and none in captivity. World Wildlife Fund has put together a top 10 list of endangered species to be on the look-out for in 2012. 

Mountain Gorilla – The mountain gorilla became known to science on 17 October 1902, and is a subspecies of eastern gorilla. World Wildlife Fund has put together a top 10 list of endangered species to be on the look-out for in 2012. 

Snow Leopard – There are up to 6,000 snow leopards in the wild across 12 countries, but its numbers are gradually declining, with hunting and habitat loss just some of the reasons that it is endangered. World Wildlife Fund has put together a top 10 list of endangered species to be on the look-out for in 2012. 

Vaquita – The vaquita is a very small porpoise that lives solely in the Gulf of California, Mexico. The species is critically endangered primarily as a result of entanglement in fishing nets. World Wildlife Fund has put together a top 10 list of endangered species to be on the look-out for in 2012. 

In this Saturday, Sept. 15, 2012 file photo released by Virunga National Park, a baby Grauer's gorilla that had been poached from Kahuzi-Biega National Park is seen at the Senkwekwe Orphan Gorilla Center at Virunga National Park in eastern Congo. Twenty-five species of monkeys, langurs, lemurs and gorillas are on the brink of extinction and need global action to protect them from increasing deforestation and illegal trafficking. 

Leatherback turtle – The leatherback turtle has survived for more than a hundred million years, but is now facing extinction. Recent estimates of numbers show that this species is declining precipitously throughout its range. World Wildlife Fund has put together a top 10 list of endangered species to be on the look-out for in 2012. 

  

Asian Elephant – Sacred but exploited, the Asian elephant has been worshipped for centuries and is still used today for ceremonial and religious purposes. World Wildlife Fund has put together a top 10 list of endangered species to be on the look-out for in 2012. 

Sumatran Orangutan – The Sumatran orangutan is the most endangered of the two orangutan species. Found only in the northern and western provinces of Sumatra, Indonesia, the species is fast losing its natural habitat to agriculture and human settlements. World Wildlife Fund has put together a top 10 list of endangered species to be on the look-out for in 2012. 

Tiger – Less than 3,200 remain in the wild, we have lost 97% of our wild tigers in just over a century. World Wildlife Fund has put together a top 10 list of endangered species to be on the look-out for in 2012. 

Tuesday, Nov. 25, 2008 file photo a silverback mountain gorilla is seen in the Virunga National Park, near the Ugandan border in eastern Congo, The 175-nation U.N. Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species, known as CITES, is based in Geneva and regulates nearly 35,000 species of animals and plants. Experts rank wildlife smuggling among the top aims of criminal networks, along with drugs and human trafficking. CITES says wildlife crime remains poorly studied but it says international estimates of the scale of illegal wildlife trade range from between $16 billion and $27 billion a year. Tiger parts, elephant ivory, rhino horn and exotic birds and reptiles are among the most trafficked items.