Endangered species

What is an endangered species?

Endangered species- any species that is at risk of extinction because of sudden rapid decrease in its population or a loss of its critical habit. 

Here  a list some most endangered species - 

Tiger - This big cat is critically part of ecosystem and culture. Tiger is the largest living cat species and a member of genus Panthera . It is most recognisable for its dark vertical strips on orange- brown fur with a lighter underside . It is an apex predator , primarily preying on ungulates such as deer and wild bear . 

Scientific name - Panthera Tigris . 

Based on the best available information , tiger population are stable or increasing in China , Nepal , Bhutan , and India . 

An estimated 3,900 tigers remain in the wild , but much more work is needed to protect this species if we are secure its future in the wild . In some areas , including much of southeast Asia , tigers are still in crisis and declining in number. 

Snow leopard - The snow leopard , also known as ounce is a felid in the genus Panthera native to mountain ranges of central and south Asia . It is listed as vulnerable on the IUCN red list because the global population is estimated to number fewer than 10,000 . Mature individuals and expected to decline 10% by 2040 . 

Scientific name - Panthera uncia 

Chimpanzee -  chimpanzee also known as the common chimpanzee , robust chimpanzee or simply chimpanzee ,is a species of great ape native to the forest and Savannah of tropical Africa.

The chimpanzee is listed on the IUCN red list as an endangered species. Between 17,000 to 300,000 individuals are estimated across its range . The biggest threat to the chimpanzee are habitat loss , poaching and disease. 

Scientific name - Pan troglodytes

Black rhinoceros - The black rhinoceros is a species of rhinoceros , native to Eastern and southern Africa . The species overall classified as critically endangered . Three subspecies have been declared extinct , including the western black rhinoceros , which was declared extinct by the IUCN in 2011. 

 Scientific name - Diceros bicornis 

Today , there are various threat posed to the black rhinoceros including habitat changes , illegal poaching and competing species. 

Giant panda - also known as panda bear is a bear native to south Central China . It is characterised by its bold and white coat and rotund body . Giant panda is folivore with bamboo shorts and leaves making up more than 99%of its diet. Giant panda in wild will occasionally eat other grasses or wild tuber . 

Scientific name - Ailuropoda melanoleuca 

In 2016 IUCN reclassified the species from endangered to vulnerable affirming decade-long efforts to save the panda .

Red panda - Red panda is carnivorans native to the Eastern Himalaya and southwestern China . It is listed as endangered on the IUCN red list because the wild population is estimated at fewer than 10,000 mature individuals and continuous to decline due to habitat loss and fragmentation, poaching and inbreeding depression . Despite its name , it is not closely related to giant panda . 

 Sea turtle - for more than 10,000 million years sea turtles have covered wast distances across the world ocean , filling a virtual role in the balance of marine habitats . 

Scientific name - Cheloniidae and Dermochelyidae families

 Over the last 200 years , human activities have tipped the scale against the survival of these ancient Marines . Slaughtered for their eggs , meat , skin and shells , sea turtle suffer more from poaching and over- exploitation . They also face habitat destruction and accidental capture known as by catch - in fishing gear. 

Nearly all species of sea turtle are now classified as endangered , with three of the seven existing species being critically endangered . 

Penguins- penguins are a group of aquatic flightless birds . They live Almost exclusively in southern hemisphere ,with only one species . The Galapagos penguin found north of the equator .

 Scientific name - Spheniscidae 

Penguin face many threats from introduced predators, disease and geological events like volcanic eruption , too pollution , getting tangled in fishing nets, climate change and secure weather .

Why should we save endangered species?

Healthy ecosystem depends on plant and animals species as their foundations. When a species becomes endangered , it is a sign that the ecosystem is slowly falling apart ,each species that lost triggers the loss of other species within its ecosystem . Human depends on healthy ecosystem to purify our environment.

How we can protect endangered species ?

1. Educate your family about endangered species in your area. 

2. Recycle and buy sustainable product.

3. Grow native plants .

4. Reduce water consumption .

5. Do not use and buy plastic products. 

6. Volunteer your time to protect the wildlife in your area . 

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