World's Rarest Animals Identified

The Wildlife Conservation Society has just released a list of critically endangered species dubbed the “Rarest of the Rare” – a group of animals most in danger of extinction, from primates to horses.

(Images: WCS, Julie Larsen Maher)

The list of endangered species includes:

·         Cuban crocodile: Currently restricted to two small areas of Cuba.

·         Grenada dove:  The national bird of Grenada is threatened by habitat loss.

·         Florida bonneted bat:  Thought to be extinct in 2002; a small colony has since been discovered.

·         Green-eyed frog: Only a few hundred of these small amphibians are left.

·         Hirola: Also called Hunter’s hartebeest; the hirola is a highly threatened African antelope.

·         Ploughshare tortoise: With only 400 left, the ploughshare tortoise is threatened by the illegal pet trade.

·         Island gray fox: Living on the California Channel Islands, this is the smallest fox in the United States.

·         Sumatran orangutan: This population has declined 80 percent during the past 75 years.

·         Vaquita: This small ocean porpoise is drowning in fishing nets.

       ·         White-headed langur: Only 59 of these monkeys remain on a small island off    Vietnam.

Threats vary, per the above, and include habitat loss, bycatch from fishing operations, illegal trading of wild animals, and more.

“The Rarest of the Rare provides a global snapshot of some of the world’s most endangered animals,” said State of the Wild Kent Redford, director of the Wildlife Conservation Society Institute.  “While the news is dire for some species, it also shows that conservation measures can and do protect wildlife if given the chance to work.”

The full list appears in the 2010-1011 edition of State of the Wild – a Global Portrait. The informative report, which includes numerous color photos, can be yours if you Download The Rarest of the Rare_SOTW10.

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