# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
An endangered species is a species that is very likely to become extinct in the near future, either worldwide or in a particular political jurisdiction. Endangered species may be at risk due to factors such as habitat loss, poaching and invasive species. The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List lists the global conservation status of many species, and various other agencies assess the status of species within particular areas. Many nations have laws that protect conservation-reliant species which, for example, forbid hunting, restrict land development, or create protected areas. Some endangered species are the target of extensive conservation efforts such as captive breeding and habitat restoration.

Human activity is a significant cause in causing some species to become endangered.

Conservation status

The conservation status of a species indicates the likelihood that it will become extinct. Multiple factors are considered when assessing the status of a species; e.g., such statistics as the number remaining, the overall increase or decrease in the population over time, breeding success rates, or known threats. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species is the best-known worldwide conservation status listing and ranking system.

Over 50% of the world's species are estimated to be at risk of extinction, but the frontier between categories such as 'endangered', 'rare', or 'locally extinct' species is often difficult to draw given the general paucity of data on most of these species. This is notably the case in the world Ocean where endangered species not seen for decades may go extinct unnoticed.

Internationally, 195 countries have signed an accord to create Biodiversity Action Plans that will protect endangered and other threatened species. In the United States, such plans are usually called Species Recovery Plans.

IUCN Red List

Though labeled a list, the IUCN Red List is a system of assessing the global conservation status of species that includes "Data Deficient" (DD) species - species for which more data and assessment is required before their situation may be determined - as well species comprehensively assessed by the IUCN's species assessment process. The species under the index include: mammals, birds, amphibians, cycads, and corals. Those species of " Near Threatened" (NT) and " Least Concern" (LC) status have been assessed and found to have relatively robust and healthy populations, though these may be in decline. Unlike their more general use elsewhere, the List uses the terms "endangered species" and "threatened species" with particular meanings: "Endangered" (EN) species lie between " Vulnerable" (VU) and "Critically Endangered" (CR) species. In 2012, the IUCN Red List listed 3,079 animal and 2,655 plant species as endangered (EN) worldwide.

Brazil is one of the most biodiverse countries in the world, if not the most. It houses not only the Amazon forest but the Atlantic forest, the savanna-like Cerrado among other biomes. Due to the high density of some of its well-preserved rainforests, wildlife trafficking, which along with deforestation is the one of the biggest endangerment drivers in Brazil, has become a challenge. The country has a broad legal system meant to protect the environment, including its Constitution, as well as several federal, state and local government agencies tasked with protecting the fauna and flora, fining individuals or companies linked to environmental crimes and confiscating illegally taken wildlife. Though such agencies can collect their data, each system operates relatively on its own when it comes to wildlife trafficking. However, both the agencies and the NGO's working in Brazil agree that the birds account for about 80% of trafficked species in the country.

The relation between wildlife smuggling, other environment crimes under the Brazilian law such as deforestation, and endangered species is particularly intricate and troubling since the rarer the animal or plant gets the most targeted and valuable they become in the black market, which leads to more endangered species in its turn.

Additionally, many environment experts and scientists point to the disbanding of environment agencies and the repeal of laws in Brazil under the presidency of Jair Bolsonaro as one of the reasons behind a surge in the number of endangered species. In one occasion during his presidency some fines totaling US $3.1 billion on environment criminals were revoked and at least one fine (related to illegal fishing) imposed on Bolsonaro himself was cancelled and the agent who fined him was demoted.

In the past, Brazil has successfully saved the endemic golden lion tamarin from extinction. Massive campaigns to raise awareness among people by NGO's and governments, which included printing depictions of the golden lion tamarin in the 20 reais Brazilian banknotes (still in circulation), are credited with getting the species out of the critically-endangered animals list.

In the United States

There is data from the United States that shows a correlation between human populations and threatened and endangered species. Using species data from the Database on the Economics and Management of Endangered Species (DEMES) database and the period that the Endangered Species Act (ESA) has been in existence, 1970 to 1997, a table was created that suggests a positive relationship between human activity and species endangerment.

Endangered Species Act

Under the Endangered Species Act of 1973 in the United States, species may be listed as "endangered" or "threatened". The Salt Creek tiger beetle ( Cicindela nevadica lincolniana) is an example of an endangered subspecies protected under the ESA. The US Fish and Wildlife Service, as well as the National Marine Fisheries Service are held responsible for classifying and protecting endangered species. They are also responsible for adding a particular species to the list, which can be a long, controversial process.

Some endangered species laws are controversial. Typical areas of controversy include criteria for placing a species on the endangered species list and rules for removing a species from the list once its population has recovered. Whether restrictions on land development constitute a "taking" of land by the government; the related question of whether private landowners should be compensated for the loss of uses of their areas; and obtaining reasonable exceptions to protection laws. Also lobbying from hunters and various industries like the petroleum industry, construction industry, and logging, has been an obstacle in establishing endangered species laws.

The Bush administration lifted a policy that required federal officials to consult a wildlife expert before taking actions that could damage endangered species. Under the Obama administration, this policy was reinstated.

Being listed as an endangered species can have negative effect since it could make a species more desirable for collectors and poachers. This effect is potentially reducible, such as in China where commercially farmed turtles may be reducing some of the pressure to poach endangered species.

Another problem with the listing species is its effect of inciting the use of the "shoot, shovel, and shut-up" method of clearing endangered species from an area of land. Some landowners currently may perceive a diminution in value for their land after finding an endangered animal on it. They have allegedly opted to kill and bury the animals or destroy habitat silently. Thus removing the problem from their land, but at the same time further reducing the population of an endangered species. The effectiveness of the Endangered Species Act - which coined the term "endangered species" - has been questioned by business advocacy groups and their publications but is nevertheless widely recognized by wildlife scientists who work with the species as an effective recovery tool. Nineteen species have been delisted and recovered and 93% of listed species in the northeastern United States have a recovering or stable population.

Currently, 1,556 endangered species are under protection by government law. This approximation, however, does not take into consideration the species threatened with endangerment that are not included under the protection of laws like the Endangered Species Act. According to NatureServe's global conservation status, approximately thirteen percent of vertebrates (excluding marine fish), seventeen percent of vascular plants, and six to eighteen percent of fungi are considered imperiled. Thus, in total, between seven and eighteen percent of the United States' known animals, fungi and plants are near extinction. This total is substantially more than the number of species protected in the United States under the Endangered Species Act.

Ever since humankind began hunting to preserve itself, over-hunting and fishing have been a large and dangerous problem. Of all the species who became extinct due to interference from humankind, the dodo, passenger pigeon, great auk, Tasmanian tiger and Steller's sea cow are some of the more well known examples; with the bald eagle, grizzly bear, American bison, Eastern timber wolf and sea turtle having been poached to near-extinction. Many began as food sources seen as necessary for survival but became the target of sport. However, due to major efforts to prevent extinction, the bald eagle, or Haliaeetus leucocephalus is now under the category of Least Concern on the red list. A present-day example of the over-hunting of a species can be seen in the oceans as populations of certain whales have been greatly reduced. Large whales like the blue whale, bowhead whale, finback whale, gray whale, sperm whale, and humpback whale are some of the eight whales which are currently still included on the Endangered Species List. Actions have been taken to attempt a reduction in whaling and increase population sizes. The actions include prohibiting all whaling in United States waters, the formation of the CITES treaty which protects all whales, along with the formation of the International Whaling Commission (IWC). But even though all of these movements have been put in place, countries such as Japan continue to hunt and harvest whales under the claim of "scientific purposes". Over-hunting, climatic change and habitat loss leads in landing species in endangered species list. It could mean that extinction rates could increase to a large extent in the future.

Endangered species are addressed through Canada's Species at Risk Act. A species is deemed threatened or endangered when it is on the verge of extinction or extirpation. Once a species is deemed threatened or endangered, the Act requires that a recovery plan to be developed that indicates how to stop or reverse the species' population decline. As of 2021, the Committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife In Canada (COSEWIC) has assessed 369 species as being endangered in Canada.

The World Wide Fund-India raises concern in the longevity of the following animal species: the Red Panda, the Bengal Tiger, the Ganges River Dolphin, the Asian Elephant.

India signed the Wildlife Protection Act and the also joined the Convention on the International Trade in 1976, to prevent poaching from harming its wildlife.

Invasive species

The introduction of non-indigenous species to an area can disrupt the ecosystem to such an extent that native species become endangered. Such introductions may be termed alien or invasive species. In some cases, the invasive species compete with the native species for food or prey on the natives. In other cases, a stable ecological balance may be upset by predation or other causes leading to unexpected species decline. New species may also carry diseases to which the native species have no exposure or resistance.

Conservation

Captive breeding

Main page: Captive breeding

Captive breeding is the process of breeding rare or endangered species in human controlled environments with restricted settings, such as wildlife reserves, zoos, and other conservation facilities. Captive breeding is meant to save species from extinction and so stabilise the population of the species that it will not disappear.

This technique has worked for many species for some time, with probably the oldest known such instances of captive mating being attributed to menageries of European and Asian rulers, an example being the Père David's deer. However, captive breeding techniques are usually difficult to implement for such highly mobile species as some migratory birds (e.g. cranes) and fishes (e.g. hilsa). Additionally, if the captive breeding population is too small, then inbreeding may occur due to a reduced gene pool and reduce resistance.

In 1981, the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA) created a Species Survival Plan (SSP) to help preserve specific endangered and threatened species through captive breeding. With over 450 SSP Plans, some endangered species are covered by the AZA with plans to cover population management goals and recommendations for breeding for a diverse and healthy population, created by Taxon Advisory Groups. These programs are commonly created as a last resort effort. SSP Programs regularly participate in species recovery, veterinary care for wildlife disease outbreaks, and some other wildlife conservation efforts. The AZA's Species Survival Plan also has breeding and transfer programs, both within and outside of AZA - certified zoos and aquariums. Some animals that are part of SSP programs are giant pandas, lowland gorillas, and California condors.

Private farming

Whereas poaching substantially reduces endangered animal populations, legal, for-profit, private farming does the opposite. It has substantially increased the populations of the southern black rhinoceros and southern white rhinoceros. Dr Richard Emslie, a scientific officer at the IUCN, said of such programs, "Effective law enforcement has become much easier now that the animals are largely privately owned... We have been able to bring local communities into conservation programs. There are increasingly strong economic incentives attached to looking after rhinos rather than simply poaching: from Eco-tourism or selling them on for a profit. So many owners are keeping them secure. The private sector has been key to helping our work."

Conservation experts view the effect of China's turtle farming on the wild turtle populations of China and South-Eastern Asia - many of which are endangered - as "poorly understood". Although they commend the gradual replacement of turtles caught wild with farm-raised turtles in the marketplace - the percentage of farm-raised individuals in the "visible" trade grew from around 30% in 2000 to around 70% in 2007 - they worry that many wild animals are caught to provide farmers with breeding stock. The conservation expert Peter Paul van Dijk noted that turtle farmers often believe that animals caught wild are superior breeding stock. Turtle farmers may, therefore, seek and catch the last remaining wild specimens of some endangered turtle species.

In 2015, researchers in Australia managed to coax southern bluefin tuna to breed in landlocked tanks, raising the possibility that fish farming may be able to save the species from overfishing.

In Spanish: Especie en peligro de extinción para niños

IUCN Red List

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Extinct animals: facts for kids - National Geographic Kids

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Discover our list of extinct animals, eight special species wiped out since the 1500s. Meet the dodo, thylacine, great auk and more recently extinct animals

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
An endangered species is any type of plant or animal that is in danger of disappearing forever. If a species, or type, of plant or animal dies out completely, it becomes...

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
This page contains endangered animals facts for kids - and anyone else interested in finding out about the world's threatened species.

Here you'll find all kinds of information on endangered animals, including: who decides if a species is endangered; the different categories for endangered species; and why animals become endangered.

We'll begin with some interesting endangered animals information. We'll then discover more about threatened animals with a list of endangered animals facts for kids.

Endangered Animals Facts For Kids: What Is An Endangered Animal?

'Endangered animal' is a term used to describe a species that is in danger of becoming extinct.

More specifically, an Endangered Species is a species that has been identified by the International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN) as being under threat of global extinction.

The International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN) is an international organisation that compiles data on endangered animals and places them into different threat categories. Their findings are presented on the IUCN Red List .

The term 'Endangered' is usually used to describe an animal's global status, rather than its local status.

For example, the number of Common Starlings is falling in Europe. However, in Asia there is no change in their numbers and in Africa the population is increasing. Therefore, Common Starlings are not considered to be endangered.

Animals can be 'locally endangered', or even 'locally extinct', without being globally endangered.

There are guidelines on how animals should be counted. How a species is categorized on the Red List (see below) depends on how fast its population is falling and how many animals have already been lost.

Extinct Animals

A species becomes extinct when the very last one of its kind dies. Animals that have become extinct include the Tyrannosaurus Rex, Terror Birds, the Dodo, and the Thylacine.

There are actually two official extinction categories, as we'll find out below.

Species go extinct in the wild all of the time naturally. It's part of nature. However, we have a duty to prevent animals becoming threatened due to human activity.

Facts About Endangered Animals: IUCN Categories

'Endangered' is one of three categories the IUCN uses for species that are threatened with extinction, and one of nine that the IUCN uses to rate all species. These categories are:

Two other categories are also used. Not Evaluated (NE) is for species that haven't yet been studied. Data Deficient (DD) means that insufficient data has been collected.
The IUCN Red List is not just for animals; plants and fungi can become endangered, and are also included on the list.
As you can see from the list above, there are two degrees of extinction.

If a species is 'Extinct in the Wild', then there are still living specimens, but they are in zoos, or in places other than where they were naturally found.
If a species is 'Extinct', there is no way back. The species will never again be seen on Earth.
Endangered Animals Facts For Kids

Below is a list of facts about endangered animals. There are several links you can follow to find out more about a particular animal. If you want to learn even more endangered animals information see our Endangered Animals List .

Amur Leopards are the most endangered big cats (not including the South China Tiger, which scientists believe may already be extinct). Amur Leopards have been categorised by the IUCN as being 'Critically Endangered'. Estimates of the number of Amur Leopards left in the wild range from around 70 to under 20.

There are two species of Orangutan: the Bornean Orangutan, and the Sumatran Orangutan. Both are on the Red List.

The Bornean Orangutan is endangered. There are only around 40,000 left in the wild.

The Sumatran Orangutan is critically endangered. Sadly only around 7,000 of these beautiful animals are left in the wild.

The main cause of Orangutans becoming endangered is habitat loss caused by deforestation.

Of the seven species of Sea Turtle found in our oceans, two (Kemp's Ridley and Hawksbill) are Critically Endangered, one (Green) is Endangered, and three (Loggerhead, Olive Ridley and Leatherback) are Vulnerable. (Insufficient data have been collected on the Flatback Sea Turtle.)

The world's Tiger population has shrunk by around 97% since the beginning of the 19th century.

Today, it is possible that there are as few as 3,200 tigers left in the wild.

Of the six tiger subspecies, 3 are Critically Endangered, and the other 3 are endangered.

Tigers are going extinct due to deforestation and habitat loss. Even today they are still hunted for their fur and body parts.

The most endangered tiger subspecies is the South China Tiger. Some scientists believe that it is already extinct in the wild.

Near Threatened: 5,204

Vulnerable: 11,029

Endangered: 7,323

Critically Endangered: 4,898

Extinct In The Wild: 69

Several species of whale were hunted almost to extinction, including the Blue Whale. Whales were hunted for their meat and blubber. Their body parts were also used to make products including tools, ornaments, fuel, clothes and baskets.

Today, five species of whale are classed as being endangered. These are: the Sei Whale, Blue Whale, Fin Whale, North Atlantic Right Whale, and North Pacific Right Whale.

The Sperm Whale is also threatened, and is classed as 'Vulnerable'.

Other whale species may be threatened, but there isn't enough data to classify them yet.

Today's Blue Whale population is under 1% of its original size. However, due to hunting bans, the number of Blue Whales is growing. There may be as many as 12,000 Blue Whales alive today, but they are still at risk.

Endangered animals don't just live in rainforests or far-flung foreign lands. Franklin's bumblebee is a critically endangered insect found in California and Oregon. The Dusky gopher frog is found in Mississippi. Many other threatened species are found in Northern America, Europe and Australia.

It's not all bad news: the Iberian Lynx was rated Critically Endangered in 2002. In 2014 its rating was changed to 'Endangered'. However, there are still under 200 individuals left in the wild.

Thanks to conservation measures, populations of Blue Whales in some areas are approaching their original numbers. With our help, many other species around the world are making a comeback.

How Many Endangered Animals Are There In The World?

The numbers of species Listed As Near Threatened, Vulnerable, Threatened, Critically Endangered, and Extinct In The Wild on the IUCN Red List, as of February 2016, are:

Endangered Animals Activity

The plight of endangered animals such as tigers, pandas and gorillas is well-known, and each has its own charity or charities.

There are many, many other species that are not as famous but whose situation is just as serious.

Why not learn about a lesser-known endangered animal, and try to raise awareness of its situation among your family and friends? You could design posters and give a presentation about your chosen animal.

Here are some lesser-known critically endangered animals you might like to study: Great Indian bustard (a bird), Pygmy three-toed sloth, Northern bald ibis (a bird), Vaquita (a porpoise), Angel shark, Attenborough's echidna , Bulmer's fruit bat.

Endangered Animals Facts For Kids Conclusion

As an animal lover it's easy to get upset when reading about endangered animals. However, the more we know about endangered animals, the more we can help them, either directly or indirectly. Don't forget that there are many conservation success stories!

What can you do to make a difference?

Find out about some of the world's most amazing endangered animals here: List Of Endangered Animals.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Endangered Animals Facts For Kids: Information & Pictures

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Endangered animals facts for kids and adults, with information and pictures. Why do animals become threatened and who decides if an animal is endangered?

# data[].attributes.body
Endangered Animals

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
What is an endangered animal? Learn that many species are in danger of becoming extinct. How can we help?

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Animal Facts for Kids | Endangered Animals

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Did you know that elephants hold grudges or that cougars can't roar? Discover unique animal facts and learn wildlife conservation tips at Animal Fact Guide.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Learn interesting information about endangered animals for kids. Find out which animals are endangered and improve your knowledge with DK Find Out.

# data[].attributes.body
Facts about endangered species.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
An endangered species is a species that is very likely to become extinct in the near future, either worldwide or in a particular political jurisdiction. Endangered species may be at risk due to factors such as habitat loss, poaching and invasive species. The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List lists the global conservation status of many species, and various other agencies assess the status of species within particular areas. Many nations have laws that protect conservation-reliant species which, for example, forbid hunting, restrict land development, or create protected areas. Some endangered species are the target of extensive conservation efforts such as captive breeding and habitat restoration.

Human activity is a significant cause in causing some species to become endangered.

Conservation status

The conservation status of a species indicates the likelihood that it will become extinct. Multiple factors are considered when assessing the status of a species; e.g., such statistics as the number remaining, the overall increase or decrease in the population over time, breeding success rates, or known threats. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species is the best-known worldwide conservation status listing and ranking system.

Over 50% of the world's species are estimated to be at risk of extinction, but the frontier between categories such as 'endangered', 'rare', or 'locally extinct' species is often difficult to draw given the general paucity of data on most of these species. This is notably the case in the world Ocean where endangered species not seen for decades may go extinct unnoticed.

Internationally, 195 countries have signed an accord to create Biodiversity Action Plans that will protect endangered and other threatened species. In the United States, such plans are usually called Species Recovery Plans.

IUCN Red List

Though labeled a list, the IUCN Red List is a system of assessing the global conservation status of species that includes "Data Deficient" (DD) species - species for which more data and assessment is required before their situation may be determined - as well species comprehensively assessed by the IUCN's species assessment process. The species under the index include: mammals, birds, amphibians, cycads, and corals. Those species of " Near Threatened" (NT) and " Least Concern" (LC) status have been assessed and found to have relatively robust and healthy populations, though these may be in decline. Unlike their more general use elsewhere, the List uses the terms "endangered species" and "threatened species" with particular meanings: "Endangered" (EN) species lie between " Vulnerable" (VU) and "Critically Endangered" (CR) species. In 2012, the IUCN Red List listed 3,079 animal and 2,655 plant species as endangered (EN) worldwide.

Brazil is one of the most biodiverse countries in the world, if not the most. It houses not only the Amazon forest but the Atlantic forest, the savanna-like Cerrado among other biomes. Due to the high density of some of its well-preserved rainforests, wildlife trafficking, which along with deforestation is the one of the biggest endangerment drivers in Brazil, has become a challenge. The country has a broad legal system meant to protect the environment, including its Constitution, as well as several federal, state and local government agencies tasked with protecting the fauna and flora, fining individuals or companies linked to environmental crimes and confiscating illegally taken wildlife. Though such agencies can collect their data, each system operates relatively on its own when it comes to wildlife trafficking. However, both the agencies and the NGO's working in Brazil agree that the birds account for about 80% of trafficked species in the country.

The relation between wildlife smuggling, other environment crimes under the Brazilian law such as deforestation, and endangered species is particularly intricate and troubling since the rarer the animal or plant gets the most targeted and valuable they become in the black market, which leads to more endangered species in its turn.

Additionally, many environment experts and scientists point to the disbanding of environment agencies and the repeal of laws in Brazil under the presidency of Jair Bolsonaro as one of the reasons behind a surge in the number of endangered species. In one occasion during his presidency some fines totaling US $3.1 billion on environment criminals were revoked and at least one fine (related to illegal fishing) imposed on Bolsonaro himself was cancelled and the agent who fined him was demoted.

In the past, Brazil has successfully saved the endemic golden lion tamarin from extinction. Massive campaigns to raise awareness among people by NGO's and governments, which included printing depictions of the golden lion tamarin in the 20 reais Brazilian banknotes (still in circulation), are credited with getting the species out of the critically-endangered animals list.

In the United States

There is data from the United States that shows a correlation between human populations and threatened and endangered species. Using species data from the Database on the Economics and Management of Endangered Species (DEMES) database and the period that the Endangered Species Act (ESA) has been in existence, 1970 to 1997, a table was created that suggests a positive relationship between human activity and species endangerment.

Endangered Species Act

Under the Endangered Species Act of 1973 in the United States, species may be listed as "endangered" or "threatened". The Salt Creek tiger beetle ( Cicindela nevadica lincolniana) is an example of an endangered subspecies protected under the ESA. The US Fish and Wildlife Service, as well as the National Marine Fisheries Service are held responsible for classifying and protecting endangered species. They are also responsible for adding a particular species to the list, which can be a long, controversial process.

Some endangered species laws are controversial. Typical areas of controversy include criteria for placing a species on the endangered species list and rules for removing a species from the list once its population has recovered. Whether restrictions on land development constitute a "taking" of land by the government; the related question of whether private landowners should be compensated for the loss of uses of their areas; and obtaining reasonable exceptions to protection laws. Also lobbying from hunters and various industries like the petroleum industry, construction industry, and logging, has been an obstacle in establishing endangered species laws.

The Bush administration lifted a policy that required federal officials to consult a wildlife expert before taking actions that could damage endangered species. Under the Obama administration, this policy was reinstated.

Being listed as an endangered species can have negative effect since it could make a species more desirable for collectors and poachers. This effect is potentially reducible, such as in China where commercially farmed turtles may be reducing some of the pressure to poach endangered species.

Another problem with the listing species is its effect of inciting the use of the "shoot, shovel, and shut-up" method of clearing endangered species from an area of land. Some landowners currently may perceive a diminution in value for their land after finding an endangered animal on it. They have allegedly opted to kill and bury the animals or destroy habitat silently. Thus removing the problem from their land, but at the same time further reducing the population of an endangered species. The effectiveness of the Endangered Species Act - which coined the term "endangered species" - has been questioned by business advocacy groups and their publications but is nevertheless widely recognized by wildlife scientists who work with the species as an effective recovery tool. Nineteen species have been delisted and recovered and 93% of listed species in the northeastern United States have a recovering or stable population.

Currently, 1,556 endangered species are under protection by government law. This approximation, however, does not take into consideration the species threatened with endangerment that are not included under the protection of laws like the Endangered Species Act. According to NatureServe's global conservation status, approximately thirteen percent of vertebrates (excluding marine fish), seventeen percent of vascular plants, and six to eighteen percent of fungi are considered imperiled. Thus, in total, between seven and eighteen percent of the United States' known animals, fungi and plants are near extinction. This total is substantially more than the number of species protected in the United States under the Endangered Species Act.

Ever since humankind began hunting to preserve itself, over-hunting and fishing have been a large and dangerous problem. Of all the species who became extinct due to interference from humankind, the dodo, passenger pigeon, great auk, Tasmanian tiger and Steller's sea cow are some of the more well known examples; with the bald eagle, grizzly bear, American bison, Eastern timber wolf and sea turtle having been poached to near-extinction. Many began as food sources seen as necessary for survival but became the target of sport. However, due to major efforts to prevent extinction, the bald eagle, or Haliaeetus leucocephalus is now under the category of Least Concern on the red list. A present-day example of the over-hunting of a species can be seen in the oceans as populations of certain whales have been greatly reduced. Large whales like the blue whale, bowhead whale, finback whale, gray whale, sperm whale, and humpback whale are some of the eight whales which are currently still included on the Endangered Species List. Actions have been taken to attempt a reduction in whaling and increase population sizes. The actions include prohibiting all whaling in United States waters, the formation of the CITES treaty which protects all whales, along with the formation of the International Whaling Commission (IWC). But even though all of these movements have been put in place, countries such as Japan continue to hunt and harvest whales under the claim of "scientific purposes". Over-hunting, climatic change and habitat loss leads in landing species in endangered species list. It could mean that extinction rates could increase to a large extent in the future.

Endangered species are addressed through Canada's Species at Risk Act. A species is deemed threatened or endangered when it is on the verge of extinction or extirpation. Once a species is deemed threatened or endangered, the Act requires that a recovery plan to be developed that indicates how to stop or reverse the species' population decline. As of 2021, the Committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife In Canada (COSEWIC) has assessed 369 species as being endangered in Canada.

The World Wide Fund-India raises concern in the longevity of the following animal species: the Red Panda, the Bengal Tiger, the Ganges River Dolphin, the Asian Elephant.

India signed the Wildlife Protection Act and the also joined the Convention on the International Trade in 1976, to prevent poaching from harming its wildlife.

Invasive species

The introduction of non-indigenous species to an area can disrupt the ecosystem to such an extent that native species become endangered. Such introductions may be termed alien or invasive species. In some cases, the invasive species compete with the native species for food or prey on the natives. In other cases, a stable ecological balance may be upset by predation or other causes leading to unexpected species decline. New species may also carry diseases to which the native species have no exposure or resistance.

Conservation

Captive breeding

Main page: Captive breeding

Captive breeding is the process of breeding rare or endangered species in human controlled environments with restricted settings, such as wildlife reserves, zoos, and other conservation facilities. Captive breeding is meant to save species from extinction and so stabilise the population of the species that it will not disappear.

This technique has worked for many species for some time, with probably the oldest known such instances of captive mating being attributed to menageries of European and Asian rulers, an example being the Père David's deer. However, captive breeding techniques are usually difficult to implement for such highly mobile species as some migratory birds (e.g. cranes) and fishes (e.g. hilsa). Additionally, if the captive breeding population is too small, then inbreeding may occur due to a reduced gene pool and reduce resistance.

In 1981, the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA) created a Species Survival Plan (SSP) to help preserve specific endangered and threatened species through captive breeding. With over 450 SSP Plans, some endangered species are covered by the AZA with plans to cover population management goals and recommendations for breeding for a diverse and healthy population, created by Taxon Advisory Groups. These programs are commonly created as a last resort effort. SSP Programs regularly participate in species recovery, veterinary care for wildlife disease outbreaks, and some other wildlife conservation efforts. The AZA's Species Survival Plan also has breeding and transfer programs, both within and outside of AZA - certified zoos and aquariums. Some animals that are part of SSP programs are giant pandas, lowland gorillas, and California condors.

Private farming

Whereas poaching substantially reduces endangered animal populations, legal, for-profit, private farming does the opposite. It has substantially increased the populations of the southern black rhinoceros and southern white rhinoceros. Dr Richard Emslie, a scientific officer at the IUCN, said of such programs, "Effective law enforcement has become much easier now that the animals are largely privately owned... We have been able to bring local communities into conservation programs. There are increasingly strong economic incentives attached to looking after rhinos rather than simply poaching: from Eco-tourism or selling them on for a profit. So many owners are keeping them secure. The private sector has been key to helping our work."

Conservation experts view the effect of China's turtle farming on the wild turtle populations of China and South-Eastern Asia - many of which are endangered - as "poorly understood". Although they commend the gradual replacement of turtles caught wild with farm-raised turtles in the marketplace - the percentage of farm-raised individuals in the "visible" trade grew from around 30% in 2000 to around 70% in 2007 - they worry that many wild animals are caught to provide farmers with breeding stock. The conservation expert Peter Paul van Dijk noted that turtle farmers often believe that animals caught wild are superior breeding stock. Turtle farmers may, therefore, seek and catch the last remaining wild specimens of some endangered turtle species.

In 2015, researchers in Australia managed to coax southern bluefin tuna to breed in landlocked tanks, raising the possibility that fish farming may be able to save the species from overfishing.

In Spanish: Especie en peligro de extinción para niños

IUCN Red List

# data[].attributes.body
Watch on Day One of the Endangered Species Project.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
What is the Endangered Species Act? E&E News Explains

# data[].attributes.body
Read this on Day One of the Endangered Species Project.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
What is an "Endangered Species"?

An endangered species is an animal or plant that's considered at risk of extinction. A species can be listed as endangered at the state, federal, and international level. On the federal level, the endangered species list is managed under the Endangered Species Act.

The Endangered Species Act (ESA) was enacted by Congress in 1973. Under the ESA, the federal government has the responsibility to protect endangered species (species that are likely to become extinct throughout all or a large portion of their range), threatened species (species that are likely to become endangered in the near future), and critical habitat (areas vital to the survival of endangered or threatened species).

The Endangered Species Act has lists of protected plant and animal species both nationally and worldwide. When a species is given ESA protection, it is said to be a "listed" species. Many additional species are evaluated for possible protection under the ESA, and they are called "candidate" species.

Why We Protect Them

The Endangered Species Act is very important because it saves our native fish, plants, and other wildlife from going extinct. Once gone, they're gone forever, and there's no going back. Losing even a single species can have disastrous impacts on the rest of the ecosystem, because the effects will be felt throughout the food chain. From providing cures to deadly diseases to maintaining natural ecosystems and improving overall quality of life, the benefits of preserving threatened and endangered species are invaluable.

How a Species Gets Listed

When the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service or the National Marine Fisheries Service is investigating the health of a species, they look at scientific data collected by local, state, and national scientists. In order to be listed as a candidate, a species has to qualify for protected status under the Endangered Species Act. Whether or not a species is listed as endangered or threatened then depends on a number of factors, including the urgency and whether adequate protections exist through other means.

When deciding whether a species should be added to the Endangered Species List, the following criteria are evaluated:

Has a large percentage of the species' vital habitat been degraded or destroyed?

Has the species been over-consumed by commercial, recreational, scientific or educational uses?

Is the species threatened by disease or predation?

Do current regulations or legislation inadequately protect the species?

Are there other man-made factors threatening the long-term survival of the species?

If the answer to one or more of the above questions is yes, then the species can be listed under the Endangered Species Act.

Species Protections

Once a species becomes listed as "threatened" or "endangered," it receives special protections by the federal government. Animals are protected from "take" and being traded or sold. A listed plant is protected if on federal property or if federal actions are involved, such as the issuing of a federal permit on private land.

The term "take" is used in the Endangered Species Act to include "harass, harm, pursue, hunt, shoot, wound, kill trap, capture, or collect, or to attempt to engage in any such conduct." The law also protects against interfering in vital breeding and behavioral activities or degrading critical habitat.

The primary goal of the Endangered Species Act is to make species' populations healthy and vital so they can be delisted from the Endangered Species Act. Under the Endangered Species Act, the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service oversees the listing and protection of all terrestrial animals and plants as well as freshwater fish. NOAA's National Marine Fisheries Service oversees marine fish and wildlife. The two organizations actively invest time and resources to help bring endangered or threatened species back from the brink of extinction.

Endangered Species Day

Endangered Species Day, which falls on the third Friday in May each year, is a day to celebrate endangered species success stories and learn about species still in danger. Learn what the National Wildlife Federation is doing to protect endangered species and how to support Endangered Species Day.

​

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Endangered Species | National Wildlife Federation

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Learn how and why animals and plants are listed under the Endangered Species Act.

# data[].attributes.body
Read this on Day One of the Endangered Species Project.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
What Is An Endangered Species? | Kids Discover Online

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Home >> Publications & Multimedia >> Education Zone >> Conservation Kids

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Aug. 15, 2015 - Bees are vital to the world's food supply. To educate schoolchildren about the importance of honeybees, the Sweet Virginia Foundation is using a combination of classroom instruction and hands-on experience. The kids get up close and personal with the insects, donning beekeeper suits and actually interacting with a buzzing hive.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
How many plants and animals live near you? Probably more than you think. Just in one backyard lies a tiny universe of plants and animals that are all dependent on one another and the environment for survival.

For example, you probably have earthworms in your soil. The earthworms help keep the soil healthy so plants can grow. The plants feed many animals, including birds, squirrels and rabbits. If you grow a garden, the plants may even feed you. The earthworms become lunch for snakes, frogs and rabbits. Likewise, these small animals are eaten by predators, such as larger snakes, coyotes, owls, fox and hawks.

If one part of this ecosystem is destroyed, everything else becomes unbalanced. For example, if the coyotes leave, the rabbits become too numerous. They eat all the plants - including your lovely garden. Soon, the rabbits are hungry, along with other animals. Maybe even you.

Now imagine the number of ecosystems found all over the world. Everywhere you look, nature is in delicate balance. Don't think because you're human and buy your food at a grocery store, you're not affected. Every living thing on the planet depends on other living things for survival.

What does Conservation mean? Conservation seems like a big word, but it is actually very simple. It means understanding nature's balance and not taking more than your fair share.

Fun Facts About Environment Conservation for Kids

Governments work together to protect endangered species. They make it illegal to kill these animals or sell their furs and skins. Governments also set aside nature preserves where animals are always protected.

Unfortunately, laws protecting animals only work if they're enforced. In some places, poachers illegally kill endangered animals, but are rarely caught.

Reserves are a good idea, but only 12.1 percent of the Earth's land surface is covered by reserves. We need more to protect wildlife.

You can practice conservation. Pick up trash. Follow the rules when you're hiking, camping or fishing to protect wild places. Don't leave the trails and don't take plants or animals.

Conservation Vocabulary

All About Conservation Video for Kids

Here's the best kids Recycling video you can watch right now to learn more all about Conservation:

Conservation Q&A

Question: What else can I do to help?

Answer: Use resources wisely. Turn off the water when you're brushing your teeth and don't throw clean clothes in the dirty laundry. Recycle paper, plastic and glass.

_________

Question: What is being done to help protect the Earth?

Answer: All sorts of projects are happening that helps save the Earth. One of them is the conservation movement, also known as nature conservation. It is a political, environmental and a social movement that seeks to protect natural resources including animal, fungus and plant species as well as their habitat for the future.

_________

Question: Is the Conservation Movement the same as environmentalism?

Answer: In the United States, conservation is seen as differing from environmentalism in that it aims to preserve natural resources for their continued sustainable use by humans. In other parts of the world, conservation is used for the active protection of wildlife for their inherent value, as much as for any value they may have for humans.

Enjoyed the Earth Science for Kids all about Conservation info? Take the FREE & fun all about Conservation quiz and download FREE all about Conservation worksheet for kids. For lengthy info, click here.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
How many plants and animals live near you? Probably more than you think. Just in one backyard lies a tiny universe of plants and animals that are all dependent on one another and the environment for survival. For example, you probably have earthworms in your soil.

# data[].attributes.body
Research animal conservation efforts for your President for the Week Project

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
The White Pelican

Back to Animals

Protecting Animals in National Parks

One of the main ways that governments can help to conserve wildlife is to help protect wildlife habitats. Many governments have national parks where activities like hunting, mining, farming, and fishing are illegal. Most of the time development is prevented or very limited in these areas.

The first national park was Yellowstone National Park in the United States. President Ulysses S. Grant made it a national park in 1872. Today there are 58 national parks covering over 200,000 square kilometers of land in the United States. Throughout the world, there are over 100 countries that together protect over 1000 national parks and wildlife preserves.

Captive Breeding

In some cases, the habitats for certain species have been destroyed to the point where the animals can no longer survive in the wild. Fortunately, in some cases zoos have maintained the species and helped them to grow their population while in captivity.

One example of this is the Arabian oryx. In the early 1970s the oryx was nearly hunted to extinction. The last few oryx were saved by zoos and the animal was declared extinct in the wild. Through captive breeding programs the population was increased. Some oryx were released back into the wild. In 2011 the Arabian oryx was the first animal that was successfully moved from the "extinct in the wild" list to the "vulnerable" list.

The American Black Bear

Tracking Animal Populations

An important part of protecting animals involves keeping track of animal populations. This helps scientists to know if the population is growing or shrinking. Scientists use a number of methods to try and understand animal populations.

Sometimes scientists track populations by having a number of people go out into an area and look at physical evidence such as animal tracks, dens or burrows, and feeding sites. This method can take a lot of people and time, but sometimes it is the only option available. It also can be dangerous when trying to track animals like tigers or rhinos.

Another way to track animals is to tag them with transmitters. With transmitters scientists can track animal movements including migration patterns. Today's technology has allowed transmitters to be much smaller. They can be placed under an animal's skin or even swallowed. Some advanced tracking technology uses GPS and allows scientists to track the exact location of the animal.

Remote control cameras are also used to track animals. These cameras sit in a clear weatherproof case and are often attached to a tree near a feeding site or wildlife trail. They use motion sensors which snap pictures of animals as they walk by.

Laws to Protect Animals

Another way that governments can help in protecting animals is with laws making it illegal to kill or harm endangered species. There are many laws and international treaties that protect animals. People who hurt or kill these protected animals can go to jail for a long time and pay heavy fines. Unfortunately, there are still some countries that have not signed the treaties or do not enforce the laws with heavy penalties.

Interesting Facts About Wildlife Conservation

There are more than 1,000 endangered species worldwide.

Around 2 million square miles of the planet is protected. This sounds like a lot, but is only 3% of the total land area.

The world's only true wild horse, the Przewalski's horse, became extinct in the wild. However, captive breeding and reintroduction to the wild has moved the horse back to the endangered list.

Three of the strongest conservation laws include the Endangered Species Act, the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species, and the Rhinoceros and Tiger Conservation Act.

A kilogram of elephant ivory can sell for as much as $1000. Rhino horns sell for even more.

The bald eagle was nearly wiped out by the pesticide DDT. After DDT was banned, the population increased and it was removed from the endangered list in 2007.

More on endangered species:
Amphibians in Danger
Endangered Animals
How Animals Become Extinct
Wildlife Conservation
Zoos

Back toAnimals

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
The White Pelican Back to Animals Protecting Animals in National Parks One of the main ways that governments can help to conserve wildlife is to help protect wildlife habitats. Many governments have national parks where activities like hunting, mining, farming, and fishing are illegal.

# data[].attributes.body
Research endangered animals to help conservation efforts

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Animal Facts for Kids | Endangered Animals

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Did you know that elephants hold grudges or that cougars can't roar? Discover unique animal facts and learn wildlife conservation tips at Animal Fact Guide.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Scholastic's guide to the 2020 Election & key civics knowledge building materials!

# data[].attributes.body
The Presidency, On the Campaign Trail and Political Party Time

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Scholastic's guide to the 2020 Election & key civics knowledge building materials!

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Scholastic's guide to the 2020 Election & key civics knowledge building materials!

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
One day you will be old enough to vote for president. Your vote counts! Learn about the complex system America uses to elect our President. While you're here, learn about the voting process, get to know the candidates, and test your knowledge.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Congress for Kids: [Elections]: The Election of the President

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Using appealing, full-color illustrations, and engaging activities, Congress for Kids will extend your learning in the basics about the American federal government, elections, and citizenship.

# data[].attributes.body
Read this on Day One of the Endangered Species Project.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
Polar bears are listed as "threatened" under the Endangered Species Act.

Credit: U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service

The Endangered Species Act of 1973 was created to protect animals and plants that were in danger of becoming extinct. "Nothing is more priceless and more worthy of preservation than the rich array of animal life with which our country has been blessed," said President Richard Nixon while signing the act on December 28, 1973.

According to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, which administers the act along with the National Marine Fisheries Service, a species may be listed as either endangered or threatened. "Endangered" means a species is in danger of extinction throughout all or a significant portion of its range. "Threatened" means a species is likely to become endangered within the foreseeable future. All species of plants and animals - including subspecies, varieties and, for vertebrates, distinct population segments - are eligible for listing, except pest insects.

As of May 10, 2016, the act listed 1,367 species of animals and 901 species of plants as endangered or threatened. [ In Photos: Endangered and Threatened Wildlife]

The Endangered Species Act (ESA) was not the first act of its kind. It replaced the Endangered Species Conservation Act of 1969. But even before that, the U.S. government was steadily making the world a safer place for animals. It started when President Theodore Roosevelt created the first National Wildlife Refuge at Pelican Island, Florida, in 1903.

Later, in 1916, the United States and Great Britain, on the behalf of Canada, created a system of protection for certain birds that migrate between the United States and Canada. Then, on July 3, 1918, the United States passed the Migratory Bird Treaty Act to put the system into action, according to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.

Almost 50 years later, the Endangered Species Preservation Act of 1966 authorized land acquisition that would be used to conserve selected species of native fish and wildlife. The Endangered Species Conservation Act of 1969 expanded on the 1966 act. It authorized a list of threatened animals that faced worldwide extinction and prohibited importation of threatened animals without a permit. Besides mammals, fish, birds and amphibians, sea creatures such as crustaceans and mollusks were added as protected creatures.

In 1973, the world came together in Washington, D.C., to take the protection of animals even further. According to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) gathered 80 nations to sign a treaty to to regulate or prohibit international trade of endangered species except by permit.

There are fewer than 300 California condors living in the wild. The species is listed as "endangered" under the Endangered Species Act.

Credit: Photo courtesy of Daniel George

While the CITES treaty worked to protect species worldwide, the United States created the Endangered Species Act of 1973 to cover domestic issues. It increased protection for all plant and animal species listed as threatened or endangered, as well as their critical habitats. A critical habitat was defined as one that is vital to the survival of endangered or threatened species.

According to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, the act:

Defined "endangered" and "threatened";

Made plants and all invertebrates eligible for protection;

Expanded on prohibitions for all endangered animal species;

Allowed the prohibitions to apply to threatened animal species by special regulation;

Required federal agencies to use their authorities to conserve listed species;

Prohibited federal agencies from authorizing, funding or carrying out any action that would jeopardize a species, destroy its critical habitat or modify its critical habitat;

Made matching funds available to states with cooperative agreements;

Provided funding authority for land acquisition for foreign species;

Implemented CITES protection in the United States.

Congress has amended the ESA several times, but these have been small changes, and the original act is still mostly intact. For example, in 1978 the act was amended so that the definition of species in relation to populations was restricted to vertebrates. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service covers the amendments of the act over the years in their fact sheet, " A History of the Endangered Species Act of 1973."

Of the 2,268 species that are listed as endangered or threatened by the ESA, 673 are foreign species that are found only in areas outside of the United States, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA).

The number of species in each group of animals and plants includes:

Animals

Plants

Conifers and Cycads: 6

Ferns and Allies: 31

Flowering Plants: 862

Lichens: 2

New animals are added to the list as needed, so it is constantly evolving. Animals that are being investigated for addition to the list are called "candidate" species. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service oversees the listing and protection land animals, plants and freshwater fish while the National Marine Fisheries Service oversees marine fish and wildlife.

Several species have been saved by this act. "The American alligator, bald eagle, peregrine falcon and the brown pelican are prime examples of species dwindling to record low numbers and coming close to extinction, but being able to rebound with the protections and actions provided in the act," said Brian Ogle, an anthrozoology instructor at Beacon College in Leesburg, Florida.

The bald eagle was listed as endangered in 1967 when there were only 487 nesting pairs. By 2007, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service determined that the species had recovered, with an estimated 4,215 pairs, and removed bald eagles from the list.

Credit: Don Buscher

The act hasn't been accepted completely by some, though. "The Endangered Species Act is one of the most comprehensive pieces of legislation focusing on wildlife protection; however, it was and remains very controversial," Ogle told Live Science.

Some think that the act hinders economic development and provides federal agencies with more control than state agencies. Often, when an endangered animal is found on public land, use of the land is strictly regulated, which can inhibit farming, logging and other commercial use of the land. Some have called for further, in-depth research on the economic effects of the ESA.

Opponents also argue the recovery period for species listed often takes too long and is not as effective as some say it is. "One of the most noticeable changes that came about because of the ESA centers on the land-use provisions and the penalties that can be assigned to public and private land owners for not following the provisions," said Ogle.

This can be a concern because landowners are central to the protection of many species. Some think that the act does not necessarily help to promote conservation actions or support innovative approaches, but rather it centers on punishing those causing harm to endangered species unfairly.

Additional resources

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Facts About the Endangered Species Act of 1973

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
The Endangered Species Act of 1973 was created to protect animals and plants that were in danger of becoming extinct. "Nothing is more priceless and more worthy of preservation than the rich array of animal life with which our country has been blessed," said President Richard Nixon while signing the act on December 28, 1973.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Scholastic's guide to the 2020 Election & key civics knowledge building materials!

# data[].attributes.body
This You Tube video shares about the purpose of the President's cabinet and how it works

# data[].attributes.body
Kids.gov has some rich information on U.S. presidents and the process to become one.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Presidents, Vice Presidents, and First Ladies of the United States | USAGov

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Find contact information and other facts about Presidents, Vice Presidents, and First Ladies, past and present.