It is sad to realize how many representatives of the animal world have suffered at the hands of man. Some species are already considered extinct, while others are desperately fighting for survival, on the brink of disappearing. Get to know some of the rare animals living on Earth.
1. Vaquita
The vaquita, or California porpoise, is found only in a small area of the Gulf of California in Mexico. They never swim beyond the gulf, where they continue to fight for the future of their offspring. The main cause of the animals' deaths is so-called gillnets. Trapped, the cetaceans cannot surface for a fresh gulp of air and drown. The number of these marine mammals currently ranges from 5 to 12 remaining individuals.
2. South China tiger
This beast inhabited the hard-to-reach territories of China and hid well from people. That is why active hunting of the tiger began only in the 1940s. Hunting for profit quickly brought the animal to the brink of extinction. While not so long ago the number of South China tigers was around 4,000 individuals, at the moment no more than 20 representatives of the subspecies remain in the wild. The beasts breed poorly, but despite this, there is a successful program to breed this subspecies in South Africa, and in 2007 one tiger cub was born in a reserve.
3. Hainan gibbon
Numbering around 2,000 individuals in the 1950s, the population of Hainan gibbons underwent a serious decline at the end of the twentieth century. Now the animal is on the brink of extinction. Gibbons are threatened with extinction because of shrinking forest areas, hunting and illegal trade. Today the animals are found only in a single patch of forest in a reserve on the Chinese island of Hainan. Despite the grim outlook, by the end of 2021 the number of gibbons on the island had increased to 35 individuals.
4. Javan rhinoceros
The Javan rhinoceros is one of the rarest species of rhinoceros, which can be found only on the island of Java in Indonesia. Once inhabiting Southeast Asia, these beasts have undergone a decline in numbers because of hunting and habitat destruction. In addition, the small population of Javan rhinoceroses is on the brink of extinction because of natural disasters and disease. The number of these animals currently stands at no more than 75.
5. Kakapo
The kakapo, or owl parrot, is a nocturnal, flightless bird native to New Zealand. The first cause of the bird's population decline is colonization and hunting by humans. The second factor in its gradual disappearance was the introduction of cats into the country by Europeans – an invasive species, that is, a species whose spread interferes with the biological diversity of an area. Despite efforts aimed at preserving this species of bird, the number of owl parrots stands at just 116 individuals.
6. Amur leopard
The Amur leopard is the only leopard that has learned to hunt and survive in the snow. It is the most peaceable subspecies of leopard, having almost never attacked a human. However, it was precisely by man's will that the animal came to be endangered, and 30 years ago the number of Amur leopards was estimated at just 35 representatives. In addition to hunting, the beast's decline was influenced by deforestation, road construction and the systematic burning of vegetation. The animals are still on the brink of extinction, but their numbers are gradually beginning to increase – there are now about 120 individuals of this species in Russia.
7. Philippine crocodile
Philippine crocodiles live only within the Philippines; their habitat is freshwater areas such as rivers, swamps and ponds. Originally the main threat to the crocodiles was hunting for their valuable skin – this significantly reduced their numbers. Now the greatest danger to Philippine crocodiles is the clearing of rainforests in the region to create rice fields. At present, the number of these animals stands at between 92 and 137 individuals.
8. Mountain gorilla
Mountain gorillas live in two isolated populations in the high-altitude forests of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Rwanda and Uganda. A serious threat to the number of mountain gorillas comes from people who have resettled in areas located near the habitats of these great apes. However, the main cause of the animals' decline has been the interbreeding of close relatives – inbreeding within the species. Despite the fact that the animals' numbers are gradually recovering, the animals are still on the brink of extinction: according to ecologists, no more than 900 individuals are left in the world today.
