Nigeria is considered to have an extremely low number of endemic (i.e., native and/or exclusive) species for its size and climate. A small monkey called Sclater's guenon and the crested chameleon are considered near-endemic. The small Anambra waxbill bird is also considered near-endemic. Named after the body of water that flows through Nigeria, Cross River gorillas used to be common in the southeast of the country, but human activities including deforestation have reduced the local population. African elephants inhabit a few protected areas in Nigeria.

Endangered species are threatened by factors such as habitat loss, hunting, disease and climate change, and usually the endangered species have a declining population or a very limited range. 

1. West African lion West African lion and a cub In 1970 there were approximately 200,000 lions all over Africa. Now there are nearly 20,000. It was estimated that there are just 645 genetically distinct wild lions left in western and central Africa, with as few as 34 remaining in the whole terrirtory of Nigeria. Clusters of lions remain in Burkina Faso, Niger, the Central African Republic, Cameroon and Chad. In Ghana, The Ivory Coast and Togo there are already no lions left. 

2. Cross River Gorilla Cross River gorilla Gorillas who used to be the kings of jungle are now numbered at fewer than 300 in the forests of Nigeria and Cameroon. In 80th it was believed that this kind of primates has already become extinct. But later it has been learnt that they were still there. So there is still some chances for their lucky future. 

3. Cameroonian forest shrew Cameroonian forest shrew These tiny rats are also endangered species. They can be found in the Montane forests of Western Cameroon around Mount Oku and Lake Manengouba, and in Southeastern Nigeria in the Gotel Mountains or Adamawa Plateau. 

4. White-throated guenon White-throated guenon The next vulnerable member of our list is a white-throated guenon. He is also called red-bellied monkey and the red-bellied guenon. These creatures live in rainforests or tropical areas of Nigeria and Benin. These monkeys eat fruits, small insects, leaves and crops. They live in small groups of 4 or 5. The white-throated guenon was once thought to be extinct due to constant hunting for their fur, as the animal has a unique red belly and white front legs. But a small group was found near the Niger River in 1988. 

5. Red-eared guenon Red-eared guenon This kind of monkeys is also endangered. They can be found in Cameroon, Equatorial Guinea, and Nigeria. Its natural habitat is subtropical or tropical forests. The reasons of its extinction are illegal hunting and pet trade. 

Sadly, many of Tanzania’s wildlife species are endangered or threatened due to illegal poaching.