Habitat loss, environmental changes and poaching are just a few of the conditions that are endangering animals around the world, putting many species on the brink of extinction. Let\u2019s look at 10 animals who are heading for extinction and how you can help:<\/p>\n
<\/a><\/p>\n Formerly found in several Central and Eastern countries in Africa, the Northern white rhino, also known as the Northern square-lipped rhino, are almost extinct in the wild. The last two are female and live in the Ol Pejeta Conservancy in Kenya.<\/p>\n <\/a><\/p>\n Growing nearly six feet (two meters) long, the giant salamander is native to China and is regarded as the world\u2019s largest amphibious creature. Until 30 years ago, the species was quite common. Unfortunately, the giant Chinese salamander has been exploited commercially for consumption by humans as well as had its habitat destroyed by large mining operations in the country.<\/p>\n <\/a><\/p>\n Once the most common gorilla subspecies in the Congo Basin, the Western lowland gorilla has seen their population decrease dramatically in recent years. This is partially due to poaching but also due to diseases. At this time, there are approximately 100,000 of the Western lowland gorilla remaining in the wild.<\/p>\n <\/a><\/p>\n Native to the far Eastern portion of Russia, Amur leopards are loners by nature, hunting by themselves for the most part. The Amur leopard is very strong, carrying any unfinished kills to a hiding place so as not to attract other predators who might steal their food. Because of rampant human activities taking over their habitat, there are now only 70 Amur leopards remaining in the world today.<\/p>\n <\/a><\/p>\n These lovely animals contribute to healthy forest ecosystems by eating a wide variety of plants and depositing seeds in their droppings. Unfortunately, war in the country as well as hunting and poaching for their ivory has damaged the population so badly that there are only 2,800 Sumatran elephants in the wild, at most.<\/p>\n <\/a><\/p>\n You may never have heard of this animal, which wasn\u2019t discovered until 1992 after the recovery of a skull with strangely long horns. Native to Vietnam, the Saola is one of the rarest animals in the world, with a population of less than 750 in the wild due to poaching and hunting as well as habitat loss.<\/p>\n <\/a><\/p>\n This turtle has been on earth for over 100 million years and is found throughout the world\u2019s tropical oceans. The Hawksbill sea turtle is vital to the marine ecosystem, helping to maintain coral reefs as well as seagrass beds. The Hawksbill sea turtle is poached for their shells, which are beautifully patterned and very colorful and sold for very high prices. Their population has decreased over 80 percent in the last 100 years.<\/p>\n\n
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