These Animals Are Officially On the Brink of Extinction

Tawilis

When was the last time you ate tawilis (freshwater sardine)? Well, news just broke out that it is now endangered due to overfishing, illegal use of active fishing gears, increasing use of fish cages, and the deterioration of the water quality in Taal Lake where it is found, based on a research done at the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN).

Giraffes

With some of its subspecies now listed as critically endangered by the IUCN, there’s no saying if giraffes are going to walk the earth’s surface within the next 50 years. According to the IUCN report, the Kordofan and Nubian subspecies are tagged as “critically endangered,” the reticulated giraffe as “endangered,” the Thornicrofts and West African giraffes as “vulnerable,” and the Rothschild’s giraffe as “near threatened.”

This is most likely due to habitat loss, illegal hunting, and threatening human-wildlife contact.

Sea Otter

It’s sad to say that even the humble sea otter isn’t safe from extinction. Due to oil spills, habitat degradation, and accidental conflict with humans (such as shootings and entrapment in fishing traps and gear), the population of sea otters have nearly decreased to a dangerous level until they finally gained protection under the Marine Mammal Protection and Endangered Species Acts in the 1970s.

Their numbers may have recovered, but are still far from original population figures.

Cheetah

An IUCN report back in 2017 listed the cheetah as vulnerable, with a 50% decline in their population in the last 43 years. Cheetahs are also increasingly being driven out from Asia, with only about 50 adult cheetahs left roaming in Iran. This is largely due to loss of habitat and being poached for their skins. Cubs are also being illegally traded.

Calls to make the cheetah labelled as “officially endangered” rather than “vulnerable” are being made by environmentalists and wildlife experts, although we should already be regarding them as such even without a formal declaration.

Sumatran Rhinos

Among all rhinos, the Sumatran Rhino is the most endangered subspecies due to the rapid decline of its number over the last 20 years. According to National Geographic, there are only an estimated 80 Sumatran Rhinos left in the world to date with a rare chance of getting to breed with one another due to their being scattered and isolated across the country.

Red Panda

These adorable tree-dwelling animals native to the Himalayan forests are also listed as endangered by the IUCN, with an estimated population of less than 10,000 left in the world due to deforestation, illegal hunting, direct conflict with humans and hunters, and illegal trade.

Hummingbird

How can you not be alarmed at the fact that every single subspecies of hummingbird is listed as endangered by the IUCN, including a one in Ecuador’s Andes Mountains which had just been discovered months ago? This is largely due to deforestation, climate change, pesticides, and even their domestication.

And so many more…

The number of endangered species are far too plenty to fit in this simple listicle, and that’s the harsh reality we live in today.

Here’s how we can help them:

• Ditch the plastic and go zero-waste. Save our oceans from becoming completely polluted with single-use plastics by refusing them completely on your day-to-day activities. Switch to a zero-waste lifestyle!
• Plant more trees and native flora.
• Lessen your carbon emissions and water and energy usage. Lessen your carbon footprint, refrain from polluting, and conserve water and energy to stop the fast depletion of these resources.
• Stop buying meat and byproducts of endangered animals. If you love eating tawilis, make the conscious decision not to anymore. Don’t purchase things locally or abroad that are made from ivory or other materials that were acquired by hurting endangered species.
• Donate or volunteer at organizations that help protect wildlife.
• Help spread the word! Your voice matters in changing the state of the world.

What are your thoughts? Share them in the comments section down below!