Ranked by IUCN Red List status
Most Endangered Animals
The species closest to being lost — and the guides that explain how each one can still be saved.
In brief
This list ranks 128 of the world's most threatened animals by their IUCN Red List status — from 21 Critically Endangered species one step from extinction, through Endangered and Vulnerable animals. Each links to a full, sourced guide explaining why it is at risk and how it can be helped.
Axolotl
Ambystoma mexicanum
An axolotl (Ambystoma mexicanum) is a neotenic salamander from the Xochimilco canals near Mexico City that stays aquatic and larval-looking for life, keeping external gills. Famous for regenerating limbs, organs and brain tissue, it is Critically Endangered in the wild yet common in captivity.
Black Rhinoceros
Diceros bicornis
The black rhinoceros is a large African rhino with a hooked upper lip for browsing shrubs, weighing 800–1,400 kg (1,750–3,100 lb) despite its name referring to soil colour, not hide. Critically endangered from poaching for horn, fewer than 6,500 remain across scattered eastern and southern African reserves.
Coelacanth
Latimeria spp. — coelacanthiform lobe-finned fishes (two living species)
The coelacanth is a lobe-finned deep-sea fish in the genus Latimeria, known from fossils and assumed extinct until a living specimen was landed off South Africa on 22 December 1938; two species survive in the western Indian Ocean and Indonesia and are listed as Critically Endangered and Vulnerable respectively.
Comet Moth
Argema mittrei (Guérin-Méneville, 1847) — family Saturniidae
The comet moth (Argema mittrei) is Madagascar's largest silk moth, with hindwing tails up to 15 cm; adults have no mouthparts, live four to five days without eating, and the species is Critically Endangered as an estimated 80–90% of Madagascar's original forest has been lost.
Condor
Vultur gryphus (Andean) / Gymnogyps californianus (California)
Condors are the largest flying land birds in the Western Hemisphere: the Andean condor (Vultur gryphus) is listed as Vulnerable by the IUCN with roughly 6,700 mature individuals remaining, while the California condor (Gymnogyps californianus) is Critically Endangered but recovering, with approximately 607 birds alive as of 2025 thanks to an intensive captive-breeding and reintroduction programme that saved it from a low of just 22 birds in 1982.
Crested Black Macaque
Macaca nigra (Desmarest, 1822) — family Cercopithecidae
The crested black macaque (Macaca nigra) is a Critically Endangered all-black monkey endemic to northeastern Sulawesi, threatened by hunting and forest loss; it became famous through 2011 selfie photographs, but copyright law does not protect the species from decline.
Eel
Anguilla anguilla (Linnaeus, 1758)
The European eel (Anguilla anguilla) is a Critically Endangered catadromous fish spawning in the Sargasso Sea; populations have declined over 90% since the 1970s from dams, pollution, fisheries and illegal trade.
Gharial
Gavialis gangeticus (Gmelin, 1789)
The gharial (Gavialis gangeticus) is a Critically Endangered fish-eating crocodilian of India and Nepal with fewer than 900 mature individuals remaining; river damming, sand mining and pollution are the primary threats.
Gorilla
Gorilla gorilla (Savage, 1847) — Western Gorilla; Gorilla beringei (Matschie, 1903) — Eastern Gorilla
A gorilla is the largest living primate, a ground-dwelling, mostly plant-eating great ape native to the forests of equatorial Africa. There are two Critically Endangered species — the Western and Eastern gorilla — and gorillas share roughly 98% of their DNA with humans.
Hammerhead Shark
Sphyrnidae
Hammerhead sharks are a family of coastal and open-ocean sharks (Sphyrnidae) instantly recognised by the flattened, hammer-shaped head, or cephalofoil, that spreads their eyes and sensory organs wide apart. Species range from under a metre to more than 6 m long, with large individuals weighing around 230 kg.
Hawksbill Sea Turtle
Eretmochelys imbricata
The hawksbill is a small sea turtle of tropical coral reefs worldwide, named for its narrow, bird-like beak. It grows to about 0.9 m (3 ft) and 45 to 90 kg, feeds mainly on sponges, and can swim at up to 24 km/h (15 mph).
Helmeted Hornbill
Rhinoplax vigil (Forster, 1781) — family Bucerotidae
The helmeted hornbill (Rhinoplax vigil) is a Critically Endangered hornbill of Borneo and Sumatra whose almost solid casque is carved and traded as 'red ivory'; it was uplisted in one step in 2015 and depends on old-growth forest being cleared for oil palm, pulpwood and mining.
Javan Rhino
Rhinoceros sondaicus
The Javan rhinoceros is the rarest of all rhino species, with roughly 70 individuals surviving in a single national park on Java, Indonesia. Smaller than the Indian rhino at 900–2,300 kg (2,000–5,000 lb), it has a single horn and nearly hairless grey skin, and is Critically Endangered from historic hunting and tiny range.
Kakapo
Strigops habroptilus (Gray, 1845) — family Strigopidae
The kākāpō (Strigops habroptilus) is the world's only flightless parrot and the heaviest, a nocturnal New Zealand species now confined to predator-free offshore islands where every individual bird is named, microchipped and monitored.
Leaf-Tailed Gecko
Uroplatus phantasticus (Boulenger, 1888) — genus Uroplatus, around 20 species
Leaf-tailed geckos (genus Uroplatus) are around 20 species of gecko endemic to Madagascar, camouflaged as dead leaves with a skin fringe that eliminates shadow; several are Critically Endangered, and the pet trade adds pressure as an estimated 80–90% of the island's original forest has been lost.
Long-beaked Echidna
Genus Zaglossus — three species; Attenborough's long-beaked echidna Z. attenboroughi
Long-beaked echidnas (genus Zaglossus) are egg-laying monotreme mammals of New Guinea highland forest; Attenborough's long-beaked echidna was not recorded for roughly sixty years until camera-trap images in 2023, and the genus is Critically Endangered.
Orangutan
Pongo pygmaeus (Linnaeus, 1760), Pongo abelii (Lesson, 1827), Pongo tapanuliensis (Nurcahyo, Meijaard et al., 2017)
Orangutans are Critically Endangered great apes found only in Borneo and Sumatra; all three species — Bornean, Sumatran, and Tapanuli — face extinction driven mainly by habitat loss from palm oil and logging, plus the illegal pet trade.
Sawfish
Family Pristidae — five species, including Pristis pristis and Pristis pectinata
Sawfish are rays with a long tooth-lined rostrum used to sense and strike prey; all five species are threatened and most are Critically Endangered, largely because the rostrum entangles in fishing nets.
Sifaka
Genus Propithecus — nine recognised species
Sifakas are nine species of lemur in the genus Propithecus, found only in Madagascar, famous for sideways bipedal hopping on the ground; several species are Critically Endangered as an estimated 80–90% of the island's original forest has been lost to tavy, charcoal production and the pet trade.
Sumatran Rhino
Dicerorhinus sumatrensis
A Sumatran rhino is the smallest, hairiest living rhinoceros — a two-horned, rainforest-dwelling species of Indonesia and the only surviving member of the genus Dicerorhinus, now Critically Endangered with fewer than roughly 50 individuals left.
Vaquita
Phocoena sinus
The vaquita (Phocoena sinus) is the world's rarest marine mammal, a small porpoise found only in Mexico's Gulf of California, with fewer than ten individuals remaining as of 2025 due to drowning in illegal gillnets.
African Wild Dog
Lycaon pictus
The African wild dog is a lean, long-legged carnivore of sub-Saharan Africa, famous for its mottled coat of black, tan, and white patches. Weighing 20 to 30 kg and standing about 1.1 m in body length, it is one of the world's most efficient pack hunters, chasing prey at up to 60 km/h.
Anoa
Bubalus depressicornis and B. quarlesi — dwarf buffalo of Sulawesi
Anoa are dwarf buffalo endemic to Sulawesi, Indonesia — the smallest wild cattle at roughly 90 cm shoulder height — with lowland and mountain species both listed Endangered and declining through hunting and forest loss.
Aye-aye
Daubentonia madagascariensis
The aye-aye is a large nocturnal lemur found only in Madagascar, easily recognised by its bushy tail, rodent-like teeth and long, spindly middle finger. It weighs 2 to 3 kg (4.4 to 6.6 lb) and forages alone at night for insect larvae, fruit, nectar and fungi.
Banteng
Bos javanicus (Hardwicke, 1825) — family Bovidae
The banteng (Bos javanicus) is an Endangered wild cattle of Southeast Asia; the first Endangered species cloned successfully in 2003, it continues to decline as oil palm, pulpwood, mining and hunting remove forest across Sundaland.
Basking Shark
Cetorhinus maximus (Gunnerus, 1765) — family Cetorhinidae
The basking shark (Cetorhinus maximus) is the second-largest fish on Earth at around 10 metres, an entirely harmless filter feeder that strains plankton at the surface, and is listed as Endangered.
Blue Whale
Balaenoptera musculus (Linnaeus, 1758)
The blue whale (Balaenoptera musculus) is the Endangered largest animal on Earth — a krill-filtering baleen whale found in all oceans, recovering slowly after twentieth-century whaling.
Bonobo
Pan paniscus
Bonobos are great apes found only in the Democratic Republic of Congo, closely related to chimpanzees but generally less aggressive, with female-led social bonds and extensive use of social behaviour to resolve conflict. Listed Endangered, they weigh 30–50 kg and face habitat loss and bushmeat hunting.
Borneo Pygmy Elephant
Elephas maximus borneensis
A Borneo pygmy elephant is the smallest subspecies of Asian elephant (Elephas maximus borneensis), native to the island of Borneo in Sabah, Malaysia and Kalimantan, Indonesia; the IUCN listed it as Endangered in 2024 with about 1,000 left in the wild.
Chimpanzee
Pan troglodytes
A chimpanzee (Pan troglodytes) is a great ape from the forests and woodlands of equatorial Africa. Along with the bonobo, it is humans' closest living relative, sharing roughly 98-99% of our DNA. Famous for tool use, complex societies and culture, it is classified as Endangered.
Dhole
Cuon alpinus (Pallas, 1811) — family Canidae
The dhole (Cuon alpinus) is an Endangered wild canid of South and Southeast Asian forests that hunts deer and wild pig in coordinated packs, communicates with whistles rather than barks, and is declining across most of its range.
Elephant
Elephas maximus (Linnaeus, 1758)
Asian elephants are Endangered; their main threats are habitat loss and human-elephant conflict, while African elephants also face poaching for the illegal ivory trade.
Giant Otter
Pteronura brasiliensis
A giant otter (Pteronura brasiliensis) is the world's longest otter, a fish-eating, highly social mammal of South American rivers that grows up to 1.8 metres long and lives in family groups; it is classified as Endangered by the IUCN.
Golden Lion Tamarin
Leontopithecus rosalia
A golden lion tamarin (Leontopithecus rosalia) is a small, endangered New World monkey with a bright reddish-gold coat and a lion-like mane, native only to the Atlantic Forest of southeastern Brazil.
Golden Snub-Nosed Monkey
Rhinopithecus roxellana (Milne-Edwards, 1870)
The golden snub-nosed monkey (Rhinopithecus roxellana) is an Endangered Old World monkey of central China's mountain forests, famous for its golden fur, pale blue face and upturned nose; it lives in large social groups and is protected under CITES Appendix I.
Goliath Frog
Conraua goliath
The Goliath frog is the largest living frog, growing up to 32 cm (13 in) long and weighing as much as 3.3 kg (7.3 lb). It lives only in fast-flowing rivers of Cameroon and Equatorial Guinea in West Africa.
Indus River Dolphin
Platanista minor
The Indus River dolphin (Platanista minor), or bhulan, is a small, nearly blind freshwater dolphin found only in the Indus River system of Pakistan; it is the national mammal of Pakistan and is classified as Endangered, with fewer than about 2,000 mature individuals remaining.
Kea
Nestor notabilis (Gould, 1856) — family Strigopidae
The kea (Nestor notabilis) is the world's only alpine parrot, native to New Zealand's South Island mountains; it is highly intelligent and inventive, and is listed as Endangered largely because of introduced predators, lead poisoning and human conflict.
Komodo Dragon
Varanus komodoensis
A Komodo dragon (Varanus komodoensis) is the world's largest living lizard, a venomous monitor species native to a few islands in eastern Indonesia that can grow to about 3 metres long and 70-90 kilograms.
Malayan Tapir
Tapirus indicus
A Malayan tapir is a large, plant-eating mammal native to the rainforests of Sumatra and Peninsular Malaysia. It is the biggest of the five tapir species and the only tapir found in Asia, recognisable by its black-and-white "saddle" coat and short, flexible snout.
Maleo
Macrocephalon maleo (Müller, 1840) — family Megapodiidae
The maleo (Macrocephalon maleo) is an Endangered megapode of Sulawesi that buries a single large egg in geothermal or sun-heated sand and abandons it; the chick hatches fully developed and flies the same day without any parental care.
Manta Ray
Mobula birostris (giant) and Mobula alfredi (reef manta)
Manta rays are Endangered filter-feeding elasmobranchs — giant and reef species with wingspans up to seven metres — threatened globally by bycatch, gill-plate trade and fisheries.
Okapi
Okapia johnstoni (Sclater, 1901) — family Giraffidae
The okapi (Okapia johnstoni) is the giraffe's only living relative, a solitary rainforest herbivore found exclusively in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, with striped hindquarters for camouflage and a long dark prehensile tongue.
Pink River Dolphin
Inia geoffrensis
A pink river dolphin (Inia geoffrensis), also called the boto or Amazon river dolphin, is a freshwater toothed whale native to the Amazon and Orinoco river systems of South America. It is the largest river dolphin, named for the pink colouring adults often develop, and is classed as Endangered by the IUCN.
Proboscis Monkey
Nasalis larvatus
A proboscis monkey is a large, reddish-brown Old World monkey found only on the island of Borneo (in Indonesia, Malaysia and Brunei), famous for the male's oversized hanging nose and for living in coastal mangrove and riverside forests; the IUCN classes it as Endangered.
Queen Alexandra's Birdwing
Ornithoptera alexandrae (Rothschild, 1907) — family Papilionidae
Queen Alexandra's birdwing (Ornithoptera alexandrae) is the largest butterfly in the world, with females reaching a wingspan of around 28 cm; it is known from lowland rainforest in northern Oro Province, Papua New Guinea, listed Endangered, and is the only butterfly on CITES Appendix I.
Red Panda
Ailurus fulgens (F. Cuvier, 1825)
The red panda (Ailurus fulgens) is an Endangered Himalayan forest mammal unrelated to giant pandas — a bamboo-eating specialist threatened by deforestation, poaching and road deaths across Nepal, India, Bhutan, China and Myanmar.
Sea Otter
Enhydra lutris (Linnaeus, 1758)
The sea otter (Enhydra lutris) is an Endangered North Pacific keystone predator that maintains kelp forests by controlling sea urchins — insulated by the densest fur of any mammal, not blubber.
Secretary Bird
Sagittarius serpentarius (Miller, 1779) — family Sagittariidae
The secretary bird (Sagittarius serpentarius) is an Endangered African raptor that hunts on foot across savanna, killing snakes and other prey with rapid stamping blows delivered in about 15 milliseconds at force several times its body weight.
Siamang
Symphalangus syndactylus (Illiger, 1811) — family Hylobatidae
The siamang (Symphalangus syndactylus) is the largest gibbon, Endangered across Sumatra and the Malay Peninsula, known for paired morning duets amplified by an inflatable throat sac; oil palm, pulpwood and mining drive forest loss across its range.
Tasmanian Devil
Sarcophilus harrisii
The Tasmanian devil (Sarcophilus harrisii) is an Endangered carnivorous marsupial found only in Tasmania, Australia, whose wild population has plummeted by around 80% since the 1990s due to a transmissible facial cancer called Devil Facial Tumour Disease (DFTD).
Tiger
Panthera tigris (subspecies P. t. sondaica, P. t. jacksoni)
A tiger (Panthera tigris) is the largest living cat species, a striped, solitary carnivore native to Asia; the Sumatran tiger of Indonesia and the Malayan tiger of Malaysia are two of the most endangered surviving populations, both listed as Critically Endangered.
Tree Kangaroo
Genus Dendrolagus (Müller, 1840) — around 14 species
Tree kangaroos are around 14 species of marsupial in the genus Dendrolagus that live in the rainforest canopies of New Guinea and far north Queensland; they descend from ground-dwelling kangaroos that returned to the trees, and several species are Endangered or Critically Endangered.
Whale Shark
Rhincodon typus (Smith, 1828) — family Rhincodontidae
The whale shark (Rhincodon typus) is the largest fish on Earth at up to around 18 metres, a filter feeder that eats plankton and small fish, and is listed as Endangered.
Arabian Oryx
Oryx leucoryx (Pallas, 1777) — family Bovidae
The Arabian oryx (Oryx leucoryx) is a desert antelope of the Arabian Peninsula that was Extinct in the Wild by the 1970s and restored through captive breeding and reintroduction; it is now Vulnerable with a growing but still small wild population.
Atlantic Cod
Gadus morhua
Atlantic cod is a cold-water groundfish that shaped the economies of Newfoundland, Iceland, and New England for centuries before overfishing collapsed many stocks. Growing to 40 kg (88 lb) and living 25 years, it supports fisheries where recovered and remains Vulnerable in the northwest Atlantic.
Atlantic Horseshoe Crab
Limulus polyphemus
The Atlantic horseshoe crab (Limulus polyphemus) is an ancient marine arthropod, more closely related to spiders and scorpions than to true crabs. It has a domed horseshoe-shaped shell, a long spike-like tail, and reaches about 60 cm (24 in) including the tail.
Atlantic Puffin
Fratercula arctica
A puffin is a small North Atlantic seabird of the auk family, best known as the Atlantic puffin (Fratercula arctica). Nicknamed the "sea parrot" for its large, colourful striped bill, it nests in clifftop burrows in summer and spends the winter alone far out at sea.
Babirusa
Babyrousa babyrussa and related species — family Suidae
Babirusas are forest pigs of Sulawesi and Wallacea whose males grow upper canines that pierce the snout roof and curve upward; they are listed Vulnerable, threatened by hunting and forest loss.
Betta
Betta splendens (Regan, 1910)
Betta splendens is a Vulnerable labyrinth fish of South-east Asian rice paddies — males are territorial; pet bettas need heated filtered tanks of at least 15–20 litres, not unheated bowls or vases.
Bilby
Macrotis lagotis (Reid, 1837) — family Thylacomyidae
The greater bilby (Macrotis lagotis) is a Vulnerable, nocturnal, burrowing marsupial of arid Australia with long ears and silky fur; fewer than 10,000 mature individuals remain after foxes, cats and habitat loss removed it from most of its former range across the mainland.
Binturong
Arctictis binturong (Raffles, 1821)
The binturong (Arctictis binturong) is a Vulnerable tree-dwelling viverrid of South-east Asian rainforest, the only Old World mammal with a fully prehensile tail; it is threatened by deforestation and the illegal pet trade.
Bornean Bearded Pig
Sus barbatus (Müller, 1838) — family Suidae
The Bornean bearded pig (Sus barbatus) is a Vulnerable wild pig of Borneo known for mass migrations; populations collapsed after African swine fever spread from around 2020, on top of oil palm, pulpwood and mining-driven forest loss.
Bull Shark
Carcharhinus leucas
The bull shark (Carcharhinus leucas) is a stocky, aggressive coastal shark famous for swimming far up rivers and into freshwater lakes. It grows up to about 3.5 m (11 ft) long and 130 kg (290 lb), and hunts a wide range of prey in warm seas, rivers, and estuaries.
Cheetah
Acinonyx jubatus
The cheetah (Acinonyx jubatus) is the fastest land animal, reaching roughly 100-120 km/h (about 60-75 mph) in short bursts, and is classified as Vulnerable by the IUCN, with the Asiatic cheetah in Iran listed as Critically Endangered.
Clouded Leopard
Neofelis nebulosa & Neofelis diardi
A clouded leopard is a medium-sized arboreal wild cat native to the forests of Asia, recognised by its cloud-shaped coat patches and famous for having the longest canine teeth relative to body size of any living cat; two species exist, the mainland (Neofelis nebulosa) and Sunda (Neofelis diardi) clouded leopards, both listed as Vulnerable.
Coconut Crab
Birgus latro
The coconut crab (Birgus latro) is the world's largest land-living arthropod, a giant terrestrial hermit crab found on tropical islands across the Indo-Pacific. Adults reach a leg span of about 1 m (3 ft) and weigh up to roughly 4 kg (9 lb).
Dingo
Canis lupus dingo
The dingo is Australia's native wild dog and apex predator, historically classified as Vulnerable due to widespread persecution and hybridisation with domestic dogs — though it was removed from the IUCN Red List in 2019 following taxonomic reclassification, and new genomic research suggests pure dingoes are more numerous than previously feared.
Dove
Streptopelia turtur (Linnaeus, 1758)
The European turtle dove (Streptopelia turtur) is a Vulnerable migratory columbid of European woodland and farmland, declining by roughly 80% since 1970 due to habitat loss, hunting and agricultural intensification.
Dugong
Dugong dugon
A dugong is a large, plant-eating marine mammal of the order Sirenia (the "sea cows"), reaching about 3 metres long, that lives entirely in warm coastal seas and feeds almost exclusively on seagrass.
Eastern Box Turtle
Terrapene carolina
The eastern box turtle (Terrapene carolina) is a small, land-dwelling turtle of the eastern United States, known for the hinged shell it can close like a box for protection. It lives in woodlands, meadows, and wetlands, eating insects, fruit, mushrooms, and carrion.
Fin Whale
Balaenoptera physalus
The fin whale is the second-largest animal on Earth after the blue whale, reaching 25 m (82 ft) and 70 tonnes with an asymmetric jaw colouring. A fast baleen whale capable of 40 km/h bursts, it filters krill and small fish and is listed Vulnerable after decades of commercial whaling.
Fishing Cat
Prionailurus viverrinus (Bennett, 1833) — family Felidae
The fishing cat (Prionailurus viverrinus) is a Vulnerable wetland felid of South and Southeast Asia that swims and dives to catch fish, with partially webbed toes and a stocky build adapted to marsh, mangrove and reedbed habitat.
Fossa
Cryptoprocta ferox (Bennett, 1833) — family Eupleridae
The fossa (Cryptoprocta ferox) is Madagascar's largest native carnivore and apex predator, cat-like in appearance but a euplerid mongoose relative; it hunts lemurs in the canopy, is listed Vulnerable, and declines as an estimated 80–90% of Madagascar's original forest has been lost.
Galápagos Tortoise
Chelonoidis niger species complex (Quoy & Gaimard, 1824) — 12 surviving species
The Galápagos tortoise is the world's largest tortoise, reaching over 400 kg and living beyond 100 years; hunted from an estimated 200,000 animals down to about 3,000 by the 1970s, captive breeding and invasive-species removal have since recovered the population to around 60,000.
Gaur
Bos gaurus (Hamilton, 1827)
The gaur (Bos gaurus) is a Vulnerable forest bovid — the largest wild cattle species, ranging from India through Malaysia; threatened by habitat loss, bushmeat hunting and agricultural encroachment.
Giant Anteater
Myrmecophaga tridactyla
The giant anteater is a large, toothless mammal of Central and South America listed as Vulnerable by the IUCN, with populations declining by at least 30% over the past three generations due to habitat loss, fire, and road mortality.
Giant Clam
Tridacna gigas
The giant clam is the largest living bivalve mollusk, growing over 1.2 m (4 ft) wide and weighing more than 200 kg (440 lb). It lives anchored to coral reefs in the warm Indo-Pacific, where it feeds partly by filtering water and partly through algae living in its colorful tissue.
Giant Panda
Ailuropoda melanoleuca
The giant panda (Ailuropoda melanoleuca) is a bamboo-eating bear native only to China, listed as Vulnerable on the IUCN Red List with roughly 1,800 to 1,900 mature individuals in the wild as of the 2016 assessment.
Giraffe
Giraffa
Giraffes are the tallest animals on Earth and are listed as Vulnerable on the IUCN Red List; the group was split into four species in 2025, and while overall numbers are now near 117,000, some subspecies such as the Kordofan and Nubian giraffe are Critically Endangered.
Great White Shark
Carcharodon carcharias
The great white shark (Carcharodon carcharias) is a large predatory fish found in cool and temperate coastal waters worldwide. It grows to around 4 to 4.6 m (13 to 15 ft), with some individuals exceeding 6 m, and can weigh up to 1,100 kg (2,400 lb).
Hamster
Multiple species — Mesocricetus auratus (Syrian), Phodopus spp. (dwarf) and others
Hamsters are nocturnal cricetine rodents — Syrian hamsters must live alone; dwarf species may tolerate pairs. Wild Syrian hamsters are Vulnerable; pet welfare requires large enclosures, deep bedding and wheels with a straight back.
Harpy Eagle
Harpia harpyja
A Harpy Eagle (Harpia harpyja) is the largest and most powerful bird of prey in the Americas, a rainforest eagle that hunts tree-dwelling mammals such as sloths and monkeys from the canopy of Central and South America; the IUCN classifies it as Vulnerable.
Hellbender
Cryptobranchus alleganiensis
The hellbender is the largest salamander in North America, reaching up to 74 cm (29 in) long. It is fully aquatic, living its whole life in clean, fast-flowing streams where it breathes mainly through the wrinkled folds of its skin.
Hippopotamus
Hippopotamus amphibius
The hippopotamus (Hippopotamus amphibius) is a large semi-aquatic African mammal listed as Vulnerable by the IUCN, with roughly 115,000-130,000 individuals remaining and a declining population driven by habitat loss and demand for its tooth ivory.
Hyacinth Macaw
Anodorhynchus hyacinthinus
A Hyacinth Macaw is the world's largest flying parrot — a roughly one-metre-long, cobalt-blue bird from central South America, especially Brazil's Pantanal, that uses its powerful beak to crack hard palm nuts; it is listed as Vulnerable by the IUCN.
Koala
Phascolarctos cinereus
The koala is a Vulnerable eucalyptus-eating marsupial native only to Australia, where habitat loss, disease and bushfire have made its eastern populations Endangered under national law as of 2022.
Koi
Cyprinus carpio haematopterus — ornamental domestic carp (Cyprinus carpio)
Koi are ornamental domestic carp bred for pond display — wild Cyprinus carpio is Vulnerable; koi need large filtered ponds, quarantine and never release into wild waterways.
Leatherback Turtle
Dermochelys coriacea (Vandelli, 1761) — family Dermochelyidae
The leatherback is the world's largest turtle at up to 700 kg, the only sea turtle without a hard shell, and the deepest-diving reptile at over 1,200 m; it feeds almost entirely on jellyfish and is Vulnerable globally, with Pacific subpopulations Critically Endangered.
Lion
Panthera leo
The lion (Panthera leo) is classified as Vulnerable on the IUCN Red List, with an estimated 23,000 mature and subadult lions remaining in Africa plus around 670 in India, and the overall population is decreasing.
Marlin
Makaira nigricans (Lacepède, 1802)
The blue marlin (Makaira nigricans) is a Vulnerable billfish of tropical oceans, declining from longline bycatch and overfishing; white and striped marlin face similar pressures.
Monarch Butterfly
Danaus plexippus (Linnaeus, 1758) — family Nymphalidae, subfamily Danainae
The monarch butterfly (Danaus plexippus) is an orange-and-black North American butterfly whose migratory population travels up to 4,000 km to overwinter in Mexican fir forests; the migratory subspecies is listed Vulnerable, and it breeds only on milkweed.
Moon Bear
Ursus thibetanus (G. Cuvier, 1823) — family Ursidae
The moon bear (Ursus thibetanus), or Asiatic black bear, is a Vulnerable forest bear of South and East Asia recognised by a white chest V or crescent; it is the species overwhelmingly kept on bile farms in tiny cages for gallbladder extraction, though synthetic substitutes make farmed bile medically unnecessary.
Nautilus
Nautilus pompilius (Linnaeus, 1758) — family Nautilidae; genus Nautilus among six living nautiloid species
The chambered nautilus (Nautilus pompilius) is a nocturnal Indo-Pacific cephalopod with an external coiled shell and pinhole eyes; it adjusts buoyancy with gas-filled chambers, is listed Vulnerable due to shell trade and slow reproduction, and represents an ancient nautiloid lineage.
Ocean Sunfish
Mola mola (Linnaeus, 1758) — family Molidae
The ocean sunfish (Mola mola) is the heaviest bony fish alive at over two tonnes, has no true tail fin, feeds largely on gelatinous plankton, and grows to around 60 million times its larval weight.
Polar Bear
Ursus maritimus (Popham, 1774)
The polar bear (Ursus maritimus) is listed as Vulnerable by the IUCN, with an estimated 22,000–31,000 individuals; climate change and the loss of Arctic sea ice are the primary threats to its survival.
Quokka
Setonix brachyurus
The quokka is a Vulnerable marsupial found only in south-western Western Australia, best known for its photogenic "smile" but facing serious threats from feral predators, habitat loss, and climate change.
Rhinoceros Hornbill
Buceros rhinoceros
A Rhinoceros Hornbill is a large black-and-white rainforest bird (Buceros rhinoceros) native to Southeast Asia, named for the big curved orange casque above its bill; the IUCN classes it as Vulnerable.
Shoebill
Balaeniceps rex
The shoebill (Balaeniceps rex) is a Vulnerable African swamp bird famous for its massive shoe-shaped bill and motionless hunting posture; roughly 5,000–8,000 individuals remain in Central and East African wetlands.
Sloth Bear
Melursus ursinus (Cuvier, 1793)
The sloth bear (Melursus ursinus) is a Vulnerable myrmecophagous bear of India, Nepal, Sri Lanka and Bhutan — adapted for eating ants and termites with long claws and a tube-like muzzle, threatened by habitat loss and conflict.
Snow Leopard
Panthera uncia
A snow leopard (Panthera uncia) is a large wild cat native to the high mountains of Central and South Asia, recognised by its pale grey rosette-patterned coat and very long tail, and listed as Vulnerable on the IUCN Red List.
Snowy Owl
Bubo scandiacus (Linnaeus, 1758) — family Strigidae
The snowy owl (Bubo scandiacus) is a large, mainly white Arctic owl that hunts by day and is nomadic rather than territorial; its breeding success tracks lemming abundance, and it was reclassified as Vulnerable in 2017.
Spectacled Bear
Tremarctos ornatus (F. Cuvier, 1825)
The spectacled bear is South America's only bear species and the last surviving short-faced bear; the IUCN lists it as Vulnerable, threatened by deforestation, conflict with farmers, and the illegal wildlife trade.
Spectral Tarsier
Tarsius tarsier (Erxleben, 1777) — family Tarsiidae
The spectral tarsier (Tarsius tarsier) is a tiny nocturnal primate of Sulawesi with eyes larger than its brain, head rotation of nearly 180 degrees, and ultrasonic vocalisations; it is listed Vulnerable as forest is lost across Wallacea.
Sun Bear
Helarctos malayanus (Raffles, 1821)
Sun bears are the world's smallest bears, native to Southeast Asia, and are listed as Vulnerable by the IUCN; they are threatened by deforestation, the pet trade, and the bear bile industry, in which bears are caged for years and milked for bile used in traditional medicine.
Sunda Clouded Leopard
Neofelis diardi (Cuvier, 1823) — family Felidae
The Sunda clouded leopard (Neofelis diardi) is a Vulnerable tree-dwelling cat of Borneo and Sumatra, a separate species since 2006, with the longest canines relative to skull among living cats; oil palm, pulpwood, mining and snaring drive losses.
Urial
Ovis vignei
The urial (Ovis vignei) is a Vulnerable wild sheep of Central and South Asia, with around 30,000 individuals remaining and populations declining across most of its range due to poaching, habitat loss, and livestock competition.
Walrus
Odobenus rosmarus
A walrus (Odobenus rosmarus) is a huge Arctic pinniped, or fin-footed marine mammal, famous for its long ivory tusks and bristly whiskered snout. It hauls out on sea ice and dives to the seabed to feed on clams, using sensitive whiskers to find shellfish in dark water.
Yak
Bos mutus (Przewalski, 1883)
The wild yak (Bos mutus) is a Vulnerable high-altitude bovid of the Tibetan Plateau and Himalayas — ancestor of the domestic yak, threatened by hunting, hybridisation and habitat disturbance; remnant populations persist in Pakistan and Nepal.
American Bison
Bison bison
The American bison is the largest land mammal in North America, listed as Near Threatened by the IUCN with an estimated 15,000 truly wild individuals remaining after a dramatic near-extinction in the 19th century.
Buffalo
Syncerus caffer (Sparrman, 1779)
The African buffalo (Syncerus caffer) is a Near Threatened bovid of sub-Saharan Africa — a 900 kg herd grazer and formidable prey for lions, with roughly 400,000 individuals; Asian wild water buffalo is a separate Endangered species.
Curlew
Numenius arquata (Linnaeus, 1758) — family Scolopacidae
The Eurasian curlew (Numenius arquata) is a large wader with a long downcurved bill and bubbling call, breeding on moor and wet grassland; British numbers have fallen catastrophically — Red-listed — and the species is Near Threatened globally.
European Bison
Bison bonasus (Linnaeus, 1758) — family Bovidae
The European bison (Bison bonasus) is Europe's largest land mammal, restored from around fifty-four captive animals when the last wild individual died in 1927 to more than 6,800 wild bison today through captive breeding and reintroduction.
Gila Monster
Heloderma suspectum
The Gila monster is a heavy, slow-moving venomous lizard of the American Southwest, classified as Near Threatened by the IUCN due to habitat loss, road mortality, and climate-driven changes to its desert home.
Jaguar
Panthera onca
A jaguar (Panthera onca) is a large spotted big cat native to the Americas — the largest cat on the continent and the third-largest in the world — known for the strongest bite of any big cat and a habit of killing prey by piercing the skull.
Lapwing
Vanellus vanellus (Linnaeus, 1758) — family Charadriidae
The northern lapwing (Vanellus vanellus) is a crested farmland wader with peewit call and tumbling display; British breeding numbers have fallen steeply — Red-listed — as wet meadows drained and spring nesting habitat vanished, and the species is Near Threatened globally.
Leech
Hirudo medicinalis Linnaeus, 1758 and related hirudinid species
The medicinal leech (Hirudo medicinalis) is a freshwater annelid worm used clinically to restore venous flow after reattachment surgery, listed as Near Threatened in Europe; leeches are segmented worms related to earthworms, not insects.
Maned Wolf
Chrysocyon brachyurus
A maned wolf is the tallest wild canid in the world, a long-legged, reddish-coated omnivore native to the grasslands of central South America — especially Brazil's Cerrado — that despite its name is neither a true wolf nor a fox but the only species in the genus Chrysocyon.
Markhor
Capra falconeri
A markhor (Capra falconeri) is a large wild goat native to the mountains of Central and South Asia, famous for the males' long, twisting corkscrew horns; it is Pakistan's national animal and is currently listed by the IUCN as Near Threatened.
Numbat
Myrmecobius fasciatus (Waterhouse, 1836) — family Myrmecobiidae
The numbat (Myrmecobius fasciatus) is a diurnal marsupial of south-western Australia that eats almost exclusively termites using a long sticky tongue; after falling to roughly 300 animals in the 1970s, recovery efforts have raised numbers to an estimated 2,000–3,000 and the IUCN downlisted it to Near Threatened in 2026.
Platypus
Ornithorhynchus anatinus
A platypus is a semi-aquatic, egg-laying mammal (a monotreme) native to eastern Australia and Tasmania. It has a duck-like bill, webbed feet and a beaver-like tail, hunts underwater using electroreception, and males carry venomous ankle spurs. It is listed as Near Threatened on the IUCN Red List.
Quetzal
Pharomachrus mocinno (de la Llave, 1832) — family Trogonidae
The resplendent quetzal (Pharomachrus mocinno) is a Near Threatened cloud-forest trogon of Central America whose males carry iridescent green plumage and long tail streamers; revered in Maya and Aztec culture, it is difficult to maintain in captivity but has been bred successfully in modern facilities.
Saiga Antelope
Saiga tatarica (Linnaeus, 1766) — family Bovidae
The saiga antelope (Saiga tatarica) is a Central Asian steppe ungulate with a distinctive trunk-like nose, downlisted to Near Threatened in 2023 after recovery from Critically Endangered, with Kazakhstan holding around 1.9 million animals but remaining vulnerable to mass disease die-offs.
Salamander
Salamandra salamandra (Linnaeus, 1758)
Salamanders are tailed amphibians of order Caudata; the fire salamander (Salamandra salamandra) is Near Threatened in Europe, threatened by Bsal fungus linked to the pet trade, while many species face habitat loss and overharvesting.
Stag Beetle
Lucanus cervus (Linnaeus, 1758) — family Lucanidae
The stag beetle (Lucanus cervus) is Europe's largest lucanid beetle at up to about 75 mm, with males bearing branched mandibles for wrestling; larvae live for years in rotting wood, adults emerge briefly in summer, and the species is Near Threatened.
Tiger Shark
Galeocerdo cuvier (Péron & Lesueur, 1822) — family Galeocerdonidae
The tiger shark (Galeocerdo cuvier) is a large generalist predator whose uniquely notched, heavily serrated teeth can cut through sea turtle shell, and which is listed as Near Threatened.
Tomato Frog
Dyscophus antongilii (Grandidier, 1877) — family Microhylidae
The tomato frog (Dyscophus antongilii) is a bright red microhylid frog endemic to north-eastern Madagascar that secretes a glue-like defensive substance to immobilise predators' mouths; it is listed Near Threatened as an estimated 80–90% of the island's original forest has been lost.
Victoria Crowned Pigeon
Goura victoria (Fraser, 1844) — family Columbidae
The Victoria crowned pigeon (Goura victoria) is the world's largest pigeon at around 74 cm and 2.5 kg, found on the forest floor of northern New Guinea; it belongs to the same subfamily as the dodo, making it one of that species' closest living relatives, and is listed as Near Threatened.
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