11 Wild Animal Species You Never Knew Were Endangered

Orangutans

 
There are two species of orangutans: Bornean, ones that prefer the ground over the trees, and Sumatran, which have longer facial hair and develop closer bonds with each other. A century ago, their global population was more than 230,000. Now there are between 45,000 and 69,000 Bornean (endangered status) and only 7,500 Sumatran (critically endangered status).

Ground squirrels

That’s right, even squirrels are endangered, specifically the San Joaquin antelope ground squirrel. Native to California, these guys have been disappearing since 1979 on account of the construction and human developments going through their habitat. Their total population is unknown, but it could be anywhere between 124,000 and 413,000.

Tigers

All six tiger species are endangered, with Sumatran and South China tigers at a critically endangered status. The main reasons for their population decline are poaching and destroyed habitats, as humans clear forests to gather timber and build roadways. Only about 3,890 tigers currently live in the wild.

Giraffes

 

The International Union for the Conservation of Nature recently put giraffes at a vulnerable status, the level just before endangered. The giraffe population has declined a drastic 40 percent in the last 30 years, primarily due to loss of habitat and poaching. Some giraffes are killed just for their tails, which are considered status symbols in Africa.

Hummingbirds

 

Seven hummingbird species are endangered, all found in the Americas, primarily because of deforestation. The chestnut-bellied hummingbird has fewer than 1,700 mature individuals, and there are less than 400 sapphire-bellied hummingbirds left.

Black rhinos

 

Black rhinos are critically endangered, with fewer than 5,000 left in the world. The rest have succumbed primarily to poaching and illegal trading for their horns. Between 1970 and 1992, hunters killed 96 percent of Africa’s black rhinos. 

Bonobos

 

War hurts more than just humans. Civil unrest in the Democratic Republic of the Congo has made bonobos more vulnerable to poachers and continues to destroy their forest homes. It’s unclear how many bonobos there are—probably 10,000-50,000—but scientists believe their population will continue to decline over the next 50 years.

Whales

 

As few as 300 North Atlantic right whales remain in the wild, and the populations among the other seven species range between 10,000 and 90,000. Pollution is a major threat for these aquatic giants, but according to the World Wildlife Fund, more than 1,000 whales are killed every year for commercial purposes.

Asian elephants

 

The main threat to Asian elephants, one of the most intelligent animals, is their shrinking habitat. As the human population grows, people invade their land to build roads and railway tracks. Elephants in Myanmar are at an especially high risk for being captured and traded or used illegally in the tourist industry. Fewer than 50,000 are left on the entire continent. 

Chimpanzees

 

Game meat from chimps, called bushmeat, has become a delicacy for wealthy African residents, which makes them a prime target for poaching. Additionally, baby chimpanzees are taken from their natural habitats and sold as pets in nearby cities. Their current population is somewhere between 173,000 and 300,000.

Sea lions

 

ImagingSea lions native to Australia, New Zealand, and the Galapagos Islands are all on the endangered species list. Their main threat is bycatch, which occurs when they are accidentally caught in fishing equipment while commercial fishers are trying to catch other fish. New Zealand sea lions are predicted to be extinct in five generations, about 50 years.

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7 Pair of Animals that are Often Confused with Each Other

Everyone gets confused, especially when it comes to distinguishing two things that look very similar. In the animal world, some species look so similar that we often get confused and can’t tell them apart. Below are a few animals that may look the same, but are actually very different.

African/Asian Elephants

African elephants have a bigger build, but you can’t really tell them apart by size, not unless they’re standing next to each other. Asian elephant have two domes on the head. African elephant trunks have two “fingers” at the tips. Asian elephants also tend to be lighter in color compared to African Elephants.

Alligators/Crocodiles

Gators and crocs have a couple of features that can help tell them apart from each other. Gators have a snout that has a V shape to them and in terms of habitat, they’re only found in China and the Americas. Crocs on the other hand have a more rounded snout and are found in Australia, Africa, Southeast Asia, and some parts of the Americas. Crocs are also able to lift themselves off the ground when walking, unlike Gators.

Turtles/Tortoises

The biggest difference between these two shelled animals is that turtles spend most of their lives in water and have fins. Turtles would venture to land just to lay eggs. Tortoises live on land, have long stubby feet, and they can’t swim. They’re found in dry and hot places where they dig burrows to live in.

Cheetahs/Leopards

Cheetahs have a more slender body structure compared to leopards. Leopards are nocturnal while cheetahs tend to be more active during the day. Their spots can also help differentiate them. Cheetahs have round, solid black spots while leopards come in patterns that look more like broken rings.

Frogs/Toads

There are about four hundred frog species and three hundred toad species so it really is difficult to spot the difference. Generally, frogs tend to be smaller and have bulging eyes and strong legs. They also have webbed feet since they spend more time in water. Toads prefer to walk than jump, and are usually bigger. Frogs have slimy smooth skins while toads are covered in small warts and have dry skin.

Alpacas/Llamas

Some might mistake alpacas as young llamas, but their size difference is actually one of the things that can tell them apart. Llamas are also less hairy and produce little fleece compared to alpacas. Llamas can also be used to guard alpacas, which make them look more like the big brother of the group.

Seals / Sea Lions

Looking at their flippers, you can tell them apart right away. Seals have a smaller flipper since they mainly use them for swimming and diving. Sea lions walk with their flippers so they’re bigger and a bit more stalky looking. Seals also have a harder time moving on land compared to sea lions.

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Sea Lion Facts

Sea lions are often mistaken for seals, in the sense that they are considered as a seal and not as a TYPE of seal, which they actually are.

Defined by the presence of ears and a thin coat of fur, sea lions are the more popularly known varieties of seals, with numerous entertainment franchises featuring them, in comic books, children’s books and in movies.

The 1994 full length feature Andre, a heartwarming story telling of how a family had managed to “adopt” a sea lion into their lives, stands to be one of the most well known movies featuring a sea lion character, with the sea lion’s name Andre used as a household term in describing and defining sea lions in certain parts of the world.

Highly trainable and generally quite composed in the company of human beings, sea lions are known to come in six species, with their populations known to cover tropical and sub-arctic regions, with one known species, the Japanese Sea Lion, already described as extinct.

As living creatures, sea lions have a lifespan that ranges somewhere between twenty to thirty years. Their weight and size is determinant on their species type, with the Settler’s Sea Lion known to weight as much as 1,000 kilograms or 2,200 lbs, measuring a 10 feet in length.

In terms of their dietary habits, Sea Lions are known to consume vast quantities of food, with sea lions eating an average of 5 to 8 percent of their body weight in food on a daily basis. This may not sound much, but that 5 to 8 percent is known to be somewhere at 15 to 35 lbs, saying something about how voracious sea lions are when talking about food consumption.

Protected by different government enforcement agencies, particularly for sea lions living close to human populations, the sea lion continues to be one of the more well loved water-based mammals in the world, with their silly and cute antics standing out as an attribute which sides with them.

Sea Lion Facts Video

 

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Sea lions

Sea lions are among the most popular types of seals in the world, defined by their ability to walk on fours and their interactive nature with human beings.

Also known for their short thick furs, countless plushie toys take after the shape and form of sea lions, whose ears and long flippers make them one of the cutest and adorable seals in the world.

The 1973 released Salty, a movie which delved into the story of two children who had close encounters with a seal lion prowling in a marina based in the Bahamas, illustrated just how interactive seal lions are with human beings.

With the movie revealing the adventures and experiences of Taylor, Tim and Salty the sea lion, its story is backed by countless seal lion encounters with human beings, with the species being heralded as one of the highly trainable seal types around.

A cursory look at history would note how sea lions are often found as attractions in circuses, doing all sorts of tricks from balancing balls on the tips of their noses to passing and catching balls to and fro with other seal lions or with their trainers.

As cliché as this would sound, the truth is that almost all circuses who have sea lions as part of their animal attractions are capable of doing tricks with large and small balls, a “standard” which hails from the sea lions ready-trainability.

However, just because sea lions are highly trainable and are generally interactive with human beings doesn’t mean that just about anyone can keep one as a pet. Given their particular habitat and dietary requirements, government agencies are keen on assessing certificates and permits related to their keeping.

But keeping sea lions aside, encounters with them can be readily experienced in different aquariums and marinas, given the fact that they are almost always present as main attractions in such venues.

 Sea lions Video

 

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