Rare Animals on the Earth

Rare Animals on the Earth

There are many lovely animals on our great planet. Some of these animals are familiar to us as we see them in person, on television shows, or in school books or biology textbooks.  Some animals are rare,  in fact, they are so rare that we may have never heard of them, or may have heard of them, and know that they are extremely rare because they are critically endangered.  This article will highlight some of the animals that are literally on the edge of extinction.

Amur Leopard

Found in the Primorye region of Russia, the Amur leopard is a very rare subspecies of leopard: A 2007 census counted only 14 to 20 adults and 5 to 6 cubs. That makes the big cat one of about 2,300 species that are considered critically endangered by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN).

By documenting such rare species, we want to show the public what we would lose if they disappeared forever.

Sumatran Rhinoceros

Not more than 100 Sumatran rhinos survive in very small and highly fragmented populations in Southeast Asia, with Indonesia and Malaysia the only significant range countries. The largest populations of wild rhinos are found in Bukit Barisan Selatan, Gunung Leuser, and Way Kambas National Parks in Sumatra, Indonesia; there is also a small population in Kalimantan, Borneo.  The species was recently declared extinct in the wild in Malaysia.

The total population of this critically endangered species is estimated at fewer than 275 individuals. Like other rhinos, this species has been heavily targeted by poachers who are after its horns.

Western Lowland Gorilla

The gorilla's coat color is black. Short, thin, gray-black to brown-black hair covers the entire body except the face. Western lowland gorillas may have a more brownish coloration. A small white tuft of hair on their rump distinguishes infants up to four years old. The white patch helps the mother keep track of the infant and assists other group members in identifying the gorilla as an infant. Mature silverback males have a saddle of white hair across the small of their backs. In western lowland gorillas, the silver may extend to rump and thighs.

Surveys since the 1980s suggest that commercial hunting and outbreaks of the Ebola virus are behind the gorilla species' plummeting numbers in its native Africa

Mountain Pygmy Possum

The largest of the pygmy-possums, the mountain pygmy-possum was only known from fossil records until it was discovered in the Australian Alps in 1966. This small marsupial has fine dense fur, which is grey on the back and a creamy colour underneath. Males develop a more fawn-orange coat during the breeding season. The tail is prehensile and, at up to 16 centimeters, is longer than the body.

The pygmy mouse is the only Australian mammal that lives in alpine environments.

But the small creature has been declining as its habitat is severely fragmented or destroyed by various construction projects and ski resorts. 

Philippine Crocodile

The Philippine crocodile, pictured above, is a relatively small freshwater crocodile: Males usually don't grow more than about 10 feet (3 meters) long, and females are even smaller.

The reptile's habitat-lakes, ponds, marshes, and other bodies of water-has been widely converted into rice paddies. The animal has also suffered from hunting and destructive fishing methods such as the use of dynamite, according to IUCN. (Learn more about threats to freshwater.)

Sumatran Orangutan

Native to the island of Sumatra, Indonesia, Sumatran orangutans are almost exclusively tree dwellers—a lifestyle that's led to their decline as Sumatra's forests increasingly fall to logging.

The great ape has dropped in number by 80 percent in the past 75 years, and scientists estimate there are only about 7,300 left in the wild.

Northern Bald Ibis

The northern bald ibis was thought extinct until it was rediscovered in the Syrian desert near Palmyra in 2002. Habitat disturbance and hunting are the main drivers behind the bird's decline in its Middle Eastern habitat.

According to the sources, the northern bald ibis was one of the first birds that Noah released from the ark, as a symbol of fertility.

Black-Eyed Tree Frog

This black-eyed tree frog belongs to a species that scientists predict will decline by more than 80 percent over the next ten years.

Native to Mexico and parts of South America, the frog is under threat from habitat destruction and the chytrid fungus, an infectious disease that is decimating amphibians around the world.

Lord Howe Island Stick Insect

The Lord Howe Island Stick insect was thought to have become extinct around 1920 after the introduction of rats to Lord Howe Island (map), which is located between Australia and New Zealand.

However, in 2001, the species was rediscovered on Ball's Pyramid, a rocky outcrop located about 15 miles (22 kilometers) from Lord Howe Island.

White Antelope

Scientists estimate that only 300 wild individuals of this critically endangered species remain; its population has plummeted due to hunting, drought, and even pressure from tourism.

Once widespread throughout large swaths of Africa, it is now found only in Niger.

In the distant past, several species of animals became extinct through natural causes. There might have been a change in the climate of a particular region, and the plants or animals on which the species lived could have died out because of the change in the weather. Or one animal might have been destroyed by another that was stronger or faster.

But ever since human beings have been on Earth, and especially in the last hundred years, animal species have become extinct because of hunting, pollution, or the destruction of the places where they live.

So many animals are now in danger of extinction that a list is kept in a Red Book. unfortunately, the list gets longer every year.