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0 The animal kingdom requires us to mend the ways in which we lead our daily lives. From various species of tigers to dolphins, 7,079 animals are classified as critically endangered. In this post, we’ll be discussing the five most endangered animals in 2024, one of them has only 10 individuals left.
Most of the others have a population of less than 100 and are forced to live in restricted areas to ensure their safety. From Illegal fishing to poaching, we have compromised thousands of species’ habitats to fulfil our luxuries. Keep reading to find out which animals are said to go extinct in 2024 and how can you help save them!
1. Vaquita
1.1. Vaquita Characteristics
Conservation status: Critically endangered
Population: About 10
Scientific name: Phocoena sinus
Weight: Up to 120 lbs or 54.43 kgs
Length: Up to 5ft (1.5 m)
Locations: Marine (only in the northern Gulf of California)
Lifespan: Atleast 21 year
1.2. What are the Main Threats to the Vaquita?
Vaquita is the world’s smallest porpoise, i.e., a whale that resembles a dolphin. Unfortunately, the vaquita is the most endangered animal in 2024 as its population is continually reducing, with only 10 of them remaining.
The main reason behind Vaquita’s thin population is illegal fishing, which leads to them getting stuck in fishing gear and drowning. Their habitat is in the northern Gulf of California, which also contains the totoaba, a highly sought-after endangered fish that goes for around $20,000 on the black market. Given the high cost of the totoaba swim bladder, their illegal catching has turned into organised crime.
In 2017, the Mexican government and environmental experts joined hands to form a safe pen near the coast for Vaquitas to repopulate, however, the plan hasn’t been successful due to the illegal gillnet fishing.
1.3. Where to See Vaquita?
If you want to enjoy the view of the world’s smallest and most endangered porpoise, then head over to the extreme northern part of the Gulf of California, Mexico.
1.4. How to Help Vaquita?
If you want to contribute to saving the vaquitas, then head over to the Porpoise Conservation Society, and donate or adopt one of them. They strive to save porpoises from the atrocities of the fishing industry and your donations (even a few bucks) could make a huge difference in their campaign.
2. Hainan Gibbon
2.1. Hainan Gibbon Characteristics
Conservation status: Critically endangered
Population: About 35
Scientific name: Nomascus hainanus
Weight: 5.8 kg -10 kg (12.78 lb and 22.03 lb)
Length (male): 1.61 ft (49.16 cm)
Length (female): 1.59 ft (48.46 cm)
Lifespan: Up to 25-30 years in the wild
Locations: Bawangling National Nature Reserve (BNNR) on Hainan Island in the South China Sea
2.2. What are the Main Threats to Hainan Gibbons?
The Hainan gibbon is the most endangered ape species. They have around 35 individuals remaining, which are restricted to 2 square kilometres on an island in southern China.
We, humans, are responsible for the critical endangerment of this species. They lost their habitat as agricultural lands expanded through harsh means, such as intentionally set wildfires. The deforestation led to the loss of biodiversity, which, eventually, pushed the Hainan gibbons to the brink of extinction.
It’s high time we switch from conventional agricultural practices to sustainable ones. As we’ve discussed in the sustainable innovations to look out for in 2024, vertical farming, and tech solutions to counter pests and degrading crop quality are the ways to go forward.
2.3. Where to See Hainan Gibbon?
The last remaining population of Hainan gibbons is in the Bawangling National Nature Reserve on Hainan Island, China.
2.4. How to Help Hainan Gibbon?
The ZSL Institute of Zoology is committed to the Hainan gibbon conservation. They aim to protect and monitor the existing Hainan gibbon population. In addition to this, they work on expanding the endangered ape’s habitat across the wider Bawangling landscape. You can be a part of their mission by donating to them through this link.
3. Javan Rhinoceros
3.1. Javan Rhinoceros Characteristics
Conservation status: Critically endangered
Population: About 76
Scientific name: Rhinoceros sondaicus
Height: 5 – 5.5 feet (1.5 – 1.7 m) tall at the shoulder
Weight: 2,000 lbs – 5,060 lbs (900 kg – 2,300 kg)
Length: 6 – 11.5 feet (2.0 – 4.0 m)
Lifespan: Unknown but assumed to be probably around 30 – 40 years
Locations: Ujung Kulon National Park in West Java, Indonesia
3.2. What are the Main Threats to the Javan Rhinoceros?
There are three main reasons for their looming threat of extinction: trophy hunting, poaching, and habitat loss leading to dehydration.
During colonial times, Javan rhinoceros were favourites for trophy hunting. In recent times, the main reason for their declining population is poaching for their horns. This led to their extinction in Vietnam and is one of the biggest threats to the remaining population in Indonesia.
In order to save them, they are confined to a natural park, however, the park’s surrounding forests are suffering immensely from human activities, posing red flags for the remaining Javan rhino population. In addition to this, their food supply is threatened within the park due to the invasive Arenga palm.
3.3. Where to See Javan Rhinoceros?
You can watch Javan rhinos in the Ujung Kulon National Park, which is on Java, an island in Indonesia.
3.4. How to Help Javan Rhinoceros?
If you want to help Javan rhinos, one of the most endangered animals in 2024, then here’s how you can do it:
- Support Javan rhino protection through the International Rhino Foundation
- Don’t buy products that contain rhino horns
- Spread the word by sharing information on social media and other platforms
If you want to read more about critically endangered rhinos, then head over to Endangered Rhinos | What Rhinos are Endangered and Why?
4. Amur Leopard
4.1. Amur Leopards Characteristics
Conservation status: Critically endangered
Population: About 120
Scientific name: Panthera pardus orientalis
Height: 45cm – 75cm (1.5ft – 2.5ft)
Weight: Male 37kg – 89.8kg (82lbs – 198lbs); female 28kg – 59.8kg (62lbs – 132lbs)
Lifespan: Wild 10 years and captive 20 years
Locations: Russian Province of Primorsky Krai and adjacent areas of China
4.2. What are the Main Threats to the Amur Leopard?
There are five main reasons behind the declining population of the Amur leopards, with anthropogenic ones taking the lead.
Between 1970-1983, the Amur leopards lost 80% of their territory due to deforestation, logging, and forest fires. This lack of habitat coupled with poaching led to a lack of prey population for them. The situation can be reversed for both ungulates, their major prey, and the Amur leopard if the poaching is limited.
Another threat that puts this cat on our list of the most endangered animals in 2024 is its conflict with humans. Due to the lack of deer in the forest, Amur leopards in the Russian Far East often venture into the deer farms, where they are killed by the owners.
The next culprit behind Amur leopards’ decline in population is their poaching to get the gorgeous, spotted fur. In 1999, a single Amur leopard skin was worth between $500 to $1000.
Apart from these reasons, another issue with amur leopards’ population is inbreeding due to low population size, leading to a reduction in cubs per adult female.
4.3. Where to See Amur Leopards?
You can only find the Amur leopards in the border areas between the Russian Far East and northeast China, and, sometimes, North Korea. Their overall habitat range is less than 2,500 sq. km.
4.4. How to Help Amur Leopards?
If you want to save this beautiful cat from extinction, then join hands with WWF to either adopt it or donate to protect its habitat. People in the USA can donate by clicking here, whereas, those in the UK, click this link.
5. Tapanuli Orangutan
5.1. Tapanuli Orangutan Characteristics
Conservation status: Critically endangered
Population: Less than 800
Scientific name: Pongo tapanuliensis
Weight: 66lbs – 180lbs (30kg – 82kg)
Length: 4ft – 5ft (1.25m – 1.5m)
Lifespan: 30 – 40 years
Locations: Northwestern Sumatra
5.2. What are the Main Threats to the Tapanuli Orangutan?
Residential and commercial development, primarily the expansion of housing, urban areas, tourism, and recreational areas, poses one of the most significant threats to the Tapanuli Orangutan. Another major threat is agriculture and aquaculture, which includes illegal clearing of protected forests and the hunting and killing of these vulnerable species during crop conflicts. Additionally, people trade in young orangutans.
These incidents have increased in recent decades due to a substantial number of migrants settling in the forest edge of Batang Toru, which is protected land, coming from Nias Island in western Sumatra.
Mining, quarrying, and energy production activities also take a massive toll on the Tapanuli Orangutan’s population. For instance, despite changes in land status for a significant portion of the Batang Toru forest, where development is now prohibited, a company still holds a 300 km² logging permit in the primary forest region of the Tapanuli Orangutan habitat.
Furthermore, in the southwest corner of the Batang Toru Forest Complex, there is a gold and silver mine that has recently transformed over 3 km² of the Tapanuli Orangutan habitat and holds mining operations that overlap with the remaining habitat.
Adding to the concerns, there is unfortunate news that a new hydroelectric development is proposed in the most crucial Tapanuli Orangutan habitat, potentially impacting an area of approximately 100 km², which is around 10% of the entire population.
This development might also pose a threat to the preservation of habitat connections between the western and eastern ranges of the Tapanuli Orangutan, as well as to two smaller strict nature reserves that could support limited populations of these Orangutan species.
5.3. Where to See Tapanuli Orangutan?
Tapanuli Orangutans are found in the Batang Toru forest in northwestern Sumatra, Indonesia.
5.4. How to Help Tapanuli Orangutan?
You can help save the rarest species of the great ape by donating to the following organisations:
