Top 10 Endangered Species and How You Can Save Them

There are many species of wildlife in the world, but they are threatened with extinction as a result of human activities, global warming, and deforestation. 

Conservation is extremely necessary in ensuring that such species do not go extinct. 

In this article, we discuss the top 10 threatened species and how you can help save them.

#1 Amur Leopard (Panthera pardus orientalis):

Status: Critically Endangered

The Amur leopard is among the most threatened of the world's big cats with fewer than 100 still present in the wild. 

Found within the Russian Far East and China, the Amur leopards are poisoned and their homes destroyed.

Ways to Assist:

Donate to organizations like the World Wildlife Fund (WWF) and the Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS).

Support legislation against poaching and responsible wood harvesting.

Support conservation actions that aim at restoring habitats.

#2 Javan Rhino (Rhinoceros sondaicus):

Status: Critically Endangered

Fewer than 80 Javan rhinos exist, and all are found in Indonesia's Ujung Kulon National Park. 

Poaching and habitat destruction are the largest threats to their existence.

How to Help:

Support rhino conservation actions.

Support raising awareness of the impact of illegal trade in wildlife.

Support eco-tourism and sustainable development in rhino land.

#3 Vaquita (Phocoena sinus):

Status: Critically Endangered

Vaquita is the most threatened marine mammal, with fewer than 20 individuals left. 

They are found only in the northern Gulf of California and are often accidentally caught in illegal gillnets.

How to Help:

Speak out for a ban on gillnets and illegal fishing.

Donate to marine conservation groups.

Purchase seafood from sustainably sourced suppliers to reduce destructive fishing practices.

#4 Mountain Gorilla (Gorilla beringei beringei):

Status: Endangered

Mountain gorillas live in the forests of Rwanda, Uganda, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo. 

Despite conservation efforts, they remain vulnerable to poaching, disease, and habitat destruction.

How to Help:

Responsible tourism visits to gorilla refuges to encourage eco-tourism.

Give to organizations like the Dian Fossey Gorilla Fund.

Contribute to forest protection and anti-poaching laws.

#5 Pangolin (Family: Manidae):

Status: Critically Endangered

Pangolins are the most trafficked mammals in the world, sought for their scales and meat. 

They live in parts of Africa and Asia, where poaching and illegal trade continue to wipe them out.

How to Help:

Don't buy products made from pangolin scales or meat.

Support anti-trafficking laws and enforcement.

Donate to pangolin conservation organizations like Save Pangolins.

#6 Hawksbill Turtle (Eretmochelys imbricata):

Status: Critically Endangered

Hawksbill turtles are important in the upkeep of coral reef ecosystems but are themselves critically endangered because of illegal shell trade, loss of habitat, and climate change.

How to Help:

Do not buy tortoiseshell items.

Cut down on plastic waste to safeguard marine habitats.

Join beach clean-ups and contribute to marine conservation initiatives.

#7 Sumatran Elephant (Elephas maximus sumatranus):

Status: Critically Endangered

Sumatran elephants are facing a destructive decline due to deforestation and hunting. 

Their numbers have dropped to around 2,400 in the wild.

How to Help:

Contribute to Sumatra reforestation and conservation efforts.

Avoid purchasing products that lead to deforestation, such as unsustainable palm oil.

Act for better wildlife protection policies.

#8 Saola (Pseudoryx nghetinhensis):

Status: Critically Endangered

The "Asian unicorn," the Saola was sighted for the first time in 1992 in Vietnam and Laos. 

Nothing is known of their population owing to habitat division and hunting, but it is believed to be very low.

How to Help:

Support conservation groups that work towards protecting Saola habitats like the Saola Working Group.

Encourage sustainable agriculture and forest logging.

Publicize the species and the urgency of conservation efforts.

#9 Snow Leopard (Panthera uncia):

Status: Vulnerable

Snow leopards live in the high-altitude mountains of Central Asia, but their populations are declining due to habitat destruction, poaching, and climate change.

How to Help:

Donate to conservation agencies like the Snow Leopard Trust.

Support ecotourism practices that help protect their habitat.

Encourage anti-poaching laws and local community involvement.

#10 Blue Whale (Balaenoptera musculus):

Status: Endangered

The blue whale, the world's largest animal, is threatened by ship strikes, sea pollution, and climate change. 

They have not yet recovered from previous whaling.

What to Do to Help:

Fund marine conservation programs.

Reduce plastic waste and pollution.

Use your voice and advocate for stricter ship traffic regulation and fishing regulations.

Finally the survival of these endangered species is dependent on international collective actions. 

Conservation, green living, and awareness generation can help us support the protection of these incredible creatures for future generations. 

Every action, no matter how small, makes a difference in saving the planet's biodiversity.