Humans are the ones who make a significant contribution to the destruction of animal species by not protecting the planet, not recycling garbage and let it extend into rivers, destroying the forests and their habitat or numerous effects that are causing climate change.

So, we all need to change our behavior, because these animals need our protection. One thing is clear: change starts with you! One of the most important things that you have to do to help these poor creatures is try to help to protect the earth in any way you can. You should buy sustainable products, reducing plastic, opt for volunteering, do not use chemicals when you clean your house, do not spread the garbage in public places and do not waste food. Sustainability is the key to save these animals, so do it right!

For instance, if you leave the garbage in inappropriate, then the wind will take it and spread it into the rivers where the animals drink water or where some even live. The result? Most of them die from suffocation or contamination. 

Did you know that there are only 60 Javan Rhinos left in the world? This is incredibly sad and these are not the only species of animals in this situation. Read on for more info about the animals that we might soon lose…

Amur Leopard

• only 60 left

The Amur Leopard is one of the species identified as critically endangered. There are only 60 Amur Leopards left in the world.

Amur leopards are ecologically important for our world and for other creatures. Being predators, they play an important role in maintaining a healthy species balance in their habitat. This influences the state of the forest and the ecosystem that offers food, fresh water and many other resources to people and animals. Other beings, such as Amur tigers or deer, also benefit from the conservation of the Amur leopard’s habitat.

But they are hunted for their beautiful fur… and in addition, they are threatened with habitat loss, having trouble procuring their prey, such as deer, sika deer and hares.

Even though the Amur leopards are mostly silent animals, they sometimes make hoarse sounds to signal their presence or demarcate their territory. Some leopards purr while being fed.

Amur leopards give birth to up to four babies. Some males stay with the females even after mating and help raising the babies, which leave their mothers around the age of a year and a half or two years.

Bengal Tiger 

• only 2000 left

This tiger is found especially in the Bengal region, but it is present even in northern India and Nepal. The Bengal tiger is the national animal of India and Bangladesh. They prefer to hunt at night because they can stalk and catch their prey more easily.

The hunting tactic is based on jumps up to 7 m long and on speeds up to 65 km/hour, along with the exceptional force that allows them to bring down the prey with a single pounce. It mainly hunts larger creatures, such as deer, wild boar, cattle and goats. It doesn’t have natural predators in its native habitat, but humans are the ones who put their lives in danger most of the time.  

After a gestation period of approximately 112 days, the females give birth to up to four cubs.

Unfortunately, scientists warned in a new study that climate change and the continuous increase of sea level could eventually endanger one of the largest, strongest and most powerful tigers in the world that have ever existed.

Even though the Bengal tiger is the most common of all the tiger species, it is considered endangered because of habitat loss caused by deforestation and hunting by humans for various purposes.

Asian Elephant

• only between 40000 and 50000 left

The Asian elephant can reach 3 meters in height and a maximum weight of 5 tons. They have a very massive body and their ears are triangle shaped but are smaller than African elephants’. 

This elephant generally feeds during the day, but sometimes it becomes active at night because it is quite difficult to find food. 

Currently, the Asian elephant is in danger of extinction and it can be found in India, Cambodia, Thailand, East Pakistan, Sumatra Island, Ceylon, Laos and Nepal. In India, elephants are protected by law because their numbers have dropped dramatically, due to the extension of eucalyptus plantations and agricultural lands. Unfortunately, they are considered pests in agricultural fields, because they destroy sugar plantations and rice crops. 

The female has a gestation period of one year and nine months then have a single calf that initially weighs 90 kg.

Giant Panda

• only 1864 left

As the population increases, the number of giant panda habitats has decreased significantly. Vast forests were destroyed by people and because of this, the wide territories occupied by the panda have shrunk more and more over time. This cute animal became a threatened species, being on the verge of extinction. The irony? Humans – the ones who invaded his habitat – have been trying to save the giant panda for many years. As you probably know, the giant panda eats while sitting upright and this position allows it to hold better the bamboo. 

The giant panda spends most of its time sleeping and resting. In case you did not know this before, its digestive system is more similar to that of a carnivore than an herbivore, even if it is vegetarian. Female giant panda gives birth to up to two babies (but only one survives) after a gestation period of approximately 180 days after mating. 

Black Rhino

•  only 5000 left

Many hunters are responsible for the extinction of black rhino species. They used to kill around six rhinos in a single day for food or just for so-called ‘sport’.

Rhinos are one of the oldest groups of mammals, they are practically living fossils. These poor creatures play an important role in their habitats and, in countries such as Namibia, are an important source of income for ecotourism. 

Black rhinos are herbivores and their diet is based on leaves and different fruits from trees. Even though they love to be around water, black rhinos can live for several days without it. 

The female gives birth after a gestation period of 15 months and calves will stay with their mother for up to four years.

Green Sea Turtle

•  only between 3000 and 5500 left

Green sea turtles are very interesting animals, from their diet to their habitat. For instance, they have a special diet that usually changes at every stage of life. When they are young they will actually eat a lot of worms, baby crustaceans, various aquatic insects, grasses and a lot of algae. When they are adults, they mostly eat sea grass and algae as they become herbivorous. 

You will rarely see a green sea turtle in the open ocean because it lives near the coastline and around the islands. They usually live in protected areas, especially in locations with seagrass beds. 

The green sea turtles are endangered because they are hunted by people for their eggs and their meat. They are also skinned to make various objects or clothes. Of course, many turtles die because they are suffocated by the garbage.

Indochinese Tiger

• only between 600 and 650 left

The Indochinese tiger can be found in a small region of Southeast Asia. It is quite difficult to see the difference between this species and others because they are very similar, but if you focus more you will notice that the Indochinese tiger has a darker orange coat and narrower dark stripes. It lives specifically in southwestern China, Burma, Thailand, Laos, Vietnam, and Cambodia. 

As you probably know, they are carnivorous and their diet is based on different meats, such as sambar deer, wild boar, serows and banteng. The Indochinese tiger is a solitary animal, which means that it lives mostly alone.

Black Footed Ferret

• only 300 left

Unfortunately, the black footed ferret is one of the most endangered animals in North America. There are just three species of ferret, namely the European polecat, the Siberian polecat and the one and only black footed ferret.

These cute animals live only between one and three years and up to six years in captivity. Moreover, black footed ferrets are solitary creatures, which means that they live alone most of the time, with the exception of the breeding season.

As you probably know, they live underground and are nocturnal, which means that they are active during the night.