Today, the planet is constantly facing serious problems: uncontrolled overpopulation, destructive pollution and frightening climate change.
Because of such impacts, every year more and more animals are threatened by extinction or extinct in general. And we are not talking about one being - we are talking about whole species! Just think about it, today the disappearance of individual species occurs 1000 times faster than it should have occurred in the natural environment. Consequently, future generations will not see many animals that we were lucky to meet in our youth. In this post you will not see loud statements and demands to preserve and protect the natural heritage. We will just show you 25 photos of animals that today are almost never found in the wild. And all "thanks" to people!
1. Ground-squirrel frog
Known in the world as a gopher-gopher from Mississippi is the rarest representative of the planet's fauna. Once this dark, medium-sized frog was a common occurrence in Alabama, Mississippi and Louisiana. To date, the number of this species of frogs is 250 individuals living in two ponds in southern Mississippi.
2. The Californian condor
The California condor is the largest bird in North America. The range of its wings is 3 meters. In 1987, this magnificent bird died out in the wild. The last 27 individuals were caught and placed in an artificial habitat under the breeding program in captivity. After 4 years the birds were released into the natural habitat, but to this day the population of condors is negligible.
3. Three-toed sloth
Known also as a dwarf sloth, a three-toed sloth is the most endangered species of sloths in nature. The fact is that this species has a rather limited range. Three-toed sloth lives on a small island in the Caribbean Escudo de Veraguas. The entire population of this species has about 80 individuals.
4. Mexican wolf
The Mexican wolf is a subspecies of the gray wolf. Once there were thousands of them in the United States, but in the mid-1970s, they were destroyed, leaving only those that were in zoos. In 1998, a small group of Mexican wolves were released into the wild, but the number of wolves did not change significantly.
5. Madagascar eagle-screamer
Madagascar eagle-screamer is a large bird living in the north-west of Madagascar. The wingspan reaches 180 cm, and weight - 3.5 kg. Being under constant threats of extermination, the current population of this bird totals only 120 pairs.
6. Angonoka or beak-billed tortoise
Another extremely rare species of endangered animals in Madagascar is considered to be Angonoka, or beak-billed tortoise. This kind of turtle, the distinctive feature of which is the most beautiful shell, exists today only in the bay on the island of Bali. Suffering due to the destruction of habitat and constant hunting, Angonoka dies out, and the number for today is 200 individuals.
7. The Singapore crab
3-centimeter Singapore crab is an endangered species of freshwater crabs in Singapore. In 1986, this tiny crab was found in flowing streams running in the forests of Singapore. But the rapid urbanization of the state led him to extinction and almost complete extinction.
8. Przewalski's Horse
Also known as the Tahy horse or the Dzungarian, the Przewalski horse is the last surviving subspecies of a wild horse. Once upon a time this species had to disappear completely (mainly due to crossing with domestic horses). But in time catching on, scientists managed to raise the population of these animals in some regions of Mongolia.
9. Swallow's Lory
Swallow lory from Australia - stunningly beautiful, the average parrot with a bright color of feathers. The bird breeds only in Tasmania, then flies through the strait to Bass to blossoming eucalypts in Australia. Predators and habitat destruction are the main reasons why the natural population has declined sharply.
10. The comb logs
Long 7.5 m long comb logs live in the coastal waters, lagoons, estuaries, and is considered to be a large representative of its kind. Having a strange appearance, the pilothouse is on the verge of extinction because of constant catching and poaching.
11. The Florida Puma
A rare puma subtype is a Florida puma - one of the most notable examples of animal extinction. In 1970 the number of this species was only 20 individuals. The applied efforts to preserve the numbers gave a positive result, and the population of the species increased. Although, until now, this cat has to fight for survival in the wild.
12. Honduran Emerald
The Honduran emerald is included in the list of the world's most rare birds. This beautiful bird is a vanishing species of hummingbirds, which lives only in tropical forests and bushes. Therefore, the destruction of the tropics leads to a reduction in the number of Honduran emeralds. If in the near future local authorities do not take any action to save this species, soon we will lose it forever.
13. The Javan rhinoceros
The most rare large mammal in the world is the Javan rhinoceros, whose number today is only 60-70 animals in the national park in Indonesia. Once this species was common in Southeast Asia, China and India, but poaching and habitat destruction led to the Javan rhinoceros on the verge of extinction.
14. The giant ibis
The giant ibis, reaching a length of 106 cm, is the largest representative among the ibises. Unfortunately, this bird is also endangered. At present, only a few individuals have survived, the population of which is sharply reduced due to hunting, unrest and deforestation.
15. The Madagascar Snake Eagle
For a long time, the snake eagle was considered an extinct bird, and only in 1960 this claim was refuted. A medium sized bird of prey exists in the tropical forests of Madagascar, but is threatened by constant deforestation.
16. Mountain gorilla
One of the subspecies of the eastern gorilla, the mountain gorilla suffers from poaching, destruction of habitat and frequent diseases. For these reasons, the mountain gorilla is a rare animal, which today can be found only in two places on the planet: in the mountains of Virunga (Central Africa) and in the Bwindi National Park (Uganda).
17. Gruppe Ruppel (vulture)
The most high flying bird in the world - Gruppe Ruppel - is able to fly at an altitude of 11,300 meters above sea level. Their habitual habitat is the region of Sahel in Africa, where you could see these birds everywhere. But due to the constant destruction of the environment and the poisoning of these birds, very little remains on the entire planet.
18. Wood lobster
A tree lobster or Giant Australian stick is a large nocturnal insect that was once common on the island of Lord Howe in Australia. Unfortunately, mice and rats that appeared on the island, destroyed this type of insects. Until recently, the lobsters were considered extinct. And only recently on the volcanic island of Bol-Pyramid were found living individuals.
19. The Amur leopard
Also known as the Far Eastern or Manchurian leopard, the Amur leopard is a very rare species of the cat family, which is under threat of extinction. Mostly inhabits the temperate forests of South-Eastern Russia and Northeast China. In 2015, the number of Amur leopards was 60 individuals living in the wild.
20. Indian Great Bustard
The 18-kilogram Indian Bustard is considered one of the heaviest flying birds in the world. Destruction of habitat and poaching destroyed this species to such an extent that in some parts of India and Pakistan only 200 individuals survived. Recently, measures have been taken to conserve the number of this rare bird.
21. Siamese crocodile
The Siamese crocodile is listed in the Red Book as an endangered species. Despite numerous successful programs to preserve this species, there are only 250 individuals in the world. Because of the constant hunting and destruction of the habitat, the Siamese crocodile is on the verge of extinction.
22. Hainan Gibbon
Of the 504 species of primates in the world, the rarest is found on only one tropical island in southern China. On the island of Hainan, there is a small forest area where only 25 endangered Hainan gibbons live. Deforestation and hunting are the main reasons for the rapid decline in the number of this species of primates.
23. Bubal of Hunter
Bubal Hunter is the rarest antelope in the world, living in north-eastern Kenya and South-West Somalia. In the 1980s, viral disease killed 85-90% of existing individuals, and since then this species has been trying to survive. To date, the number of hunters is 500 adults.
24. The Hyacinth Macaw
A large neotropical parrot, the hyacinth macaw, was last seen in the 1960s, so many naturalists consider it an extinct species. Nevertheless, not all habitats have been thoroughly investigated, and it remains to be hoped that a small number of hyacinth ars have survived.
25. California Sea Pig
Inhabited in the Gulf of California, the sea pig is considered the rarest marine mammal in the world. Unfortunately, before 1958, not a single living specimen was recorded. And after half a century we all also risk losing it forever. Most of all, the porpoise suffers from illegal fishing.