What does it mean to be Endangered? What can we do to Help?
You Might Recognize...
Did you know these species are endangered?
Some Well Known Endangered Species- Hippo
- Asian Elephant
- Black Rhinoceros
- Bengal Tiger
- Blue Whale
- Giant Panda
- Green Turtle
- Loggerhead Turtle
- Leatherback Turlte
- Mountain Gorilla
- Perregrine Falcon
- Zebra
What is the Criteria for an Endangered Species?
Definitions by degree of endangerment
The term "endangered species" refers to the likelihood that the species is heading towards extinction. Considerations when concluding whether a species is endangered are breeding success, population, decline, and threats to the species.
"Endangered" status means different things to the IUCN and ESA. The IUCN lists endangered species between "critically endangered" and "vulnerable." The IUCN groups "threatened" species into these groups as well.
Here are the IUCN categories (courtesy:Wikipedia):
Extinct: the last remaining member of the species has died, or is presumed beyond reasonable doubt to have died. Examples: Thylacine, Dodo, Passenger Pigeon
Extinct in the wild: captive individuals survive, but there is no free-living, natural population. Examples: Alagoas Curassow
Critically endangered: faces an extremely high risk of extinction in the immediate future. Examples: Ivory-billed Woodpecker, Arakan Forest Turtle, Javan Rhino
Endangered: faces a very high risk of extinction in the near future. Examples: Cheetah, Blue Whale, Snow Leopard, African Wild Dog, Tiger
Vulnerable: faces a high risk of extinction in the medium-term. Examples: Gaur, Lion, Wolverine
Least Concern: no immediate threat to the survival of the species. Examples: Brown Rat, Nootka Cypress
Endangered Species Poll
Endangered Species News...
- Since '01, Guarding Species Is Harder
- Endangered Listings Drop Under Bush
- Ethanol and the Unlucky 13
- Alternative Fuel Frenzy Leading to Extinction of Grassland Birds?
- Another Casualty of Global Warming?
- Like the polar bear, the ribbon seal may be on thin ice.
- Koalas: The Next Victim?
- Are koalas the next victim of climate change?
- Obama Makes Endangered Species a Bigger Priority
- During the Bush administration, Endangered Species were put on a lower priority, but will now receive renewed support.
Controversy over Endangered Species
There are a number of endangered species controversies.- Does the Endangered Species Act work?
- Is it right to cede land from land owners to preserve species?
- What should land owners be compensated?
- Is it unfair to spend money to save animals that migrate to countries that do not help the endangered species in question?
- Does it discourage poaching and collecting?
What will you do?
Endangered Species Links
- U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Endangered Species Program
- Endangered species news from The Fish & Wildlife Service.
- WWF Endangered Species
- Since 1961, WWF has worked to protect endangered species.
- Red List of Threatened Species from IUCN
- IUCN - The World Conservation Union, through its Species Survival Commission (SSC) has for more than four decades been assessing the conservation status of species, subspecies, varieties and even selected subpopulations on a global scale in order to highlight taxa threatened with extinction, and therefore promote their conservation.
How can you Help?
- Donate to a reputable organization whose mission is aimed at protecting these endangered species (see the list of endangered species organizations you can donate to below!)
- Write to your congress people and express your concerns for these species before its too late!
- Act Locally! Discover what endangered species may be living close to you and see how you can get involved in helping protect them and their habitat
- Be aware of how your everyday actions impact the environment and realize there affects on the habitats of all creatures, especially those that are endangered
Donate to Help Endangered Species!
- Donate to the ESC
- Give to the Endangered Species Coalition
Help Stop Extinction Today! - Support World Wildlife Fund
- There are many more ways to support WWF's conservation work. There's the adoption center, membership, memorial donation, and much more.
- Adopt a Gray Wolf
With your $25 adoption:
- 8" Tall Wolf Plush
- Personalized Certificate of Adoption
- 5x7 Wolf Photo
- Wolf Fact Sheet
- Adopt-a-Snowy Owl
These may not be endangered, but they are losing habitat quickly! Act now, before it's too late!
With your $25 adoption:
- 6" Tall Snowy Owl Plush
- Personalized Certificate of Adoption
- 5x7 Snowy Owl Photo
- Snowy Owl Fact Sheet
- Adopt a Polar Bear
Help save the soon to be endangered and dwindling polar bears from global warming and destructive drilling.- Adopt a Sea Turtle
Help protect sea turtle habitat and prevent drilling and fishing practices that can harm sea turtles.- Wildlife Adoption Center
- See more animals you can adopt from the Defenders of Wildlife website here, including penguins, dolphins, pandas, river otters, bison, elephants and more!
Recently Added to the Endangered Species List...
The Polar Bear has been added to the endangered species list. Frankster has come up with one amazing lens that has a wealth of polar bear information, pictures, facts, polls and videos--it's a must-see.-
Are You Polar Bear Aware?
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Polar bears are affected by global warming, oil exploration, and big game hunters, all of which negatively affect their population. The purpose of this lens is to raise money to help save Polar Bears from extinction while helping more people become P...
Could these be Next??
Are These Species Next??
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American Kestrel
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Size isn't everything! The American Kestrel may be the smallest falcon in North America, but what it lacks in size it makes up for in color and beauty! This falcon has a huge range, spanning all the way down to the coast of Chile near Antartica to th...
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The Perfect Aerial Predator for the Arctic: Snowy Owls
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Snowy Owls...they're elusive, secretive, and a silent predator. Only a handful of animals can exist in the frigid, bleak Arctic region. The Snowy Owl has adapted to this open, perilous environment perfectly. Though the Snowy Owl is globally known, n...
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The Ferruginous Hawk
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The Ferruginous Hawk is one of the largest birds of prey in North America with a wingspan of close to five feet. As with all raptors it is a hunter. It preys on small mammals such as gophers, rabbits and squirrels. It is a formidable hunter swooping...
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Deforestation in the Amazon is Threatening the Pink Dolphin with Extinction
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Of the five freshwater species of dolphins in the world, the pink Amazon River dolphin, Inia geoffrensis, are considered to be the most intelligent. These friendly, sensitive, mammals with a brain capacity 40% larger than that of humans, who have li...
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Komodo Dragons and Relatives - the Monitor Lizards
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My experience with the Western Pacific monitor lizard, Varanus indicus--also known as the mangrove monitor--has been over 12 years of living on the Western Pacific island of Guam, with side visits to Saipan, Tinian, Rota, Belau (Palau) (The big lizar...
Endangered Species in the News...
- Species evaluated for endangered list
- After a review, the service decided the pondsnail did not face a threat sufficient to warrant protec...
- Radar Ridge wind farm plan an uphill battle for utilities
- Spokesmen for the Department of Natural Resources and the US Fish and Wildlife Service, which enforc...
- Racing to save Earth's most endangered species
- In the United States, a species is officially considered endangered under the Endangered Species Act...
Endangered Species Lenses
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The Black Rhinoceros: Bigger than a Truck?
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The Black Rhinoceros (Diceros bicornis) may not look black, and that's because it isn't. It's gray, and hard to differentiate between them and other species of rhinos. Adults weigh a ton...literally. Breaking the scales at a whopping 1760 pounds mini...
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Key Deer
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The Florida Key Deer in one word is tiny. It's the size of a medium-sized dog, confined to a small area of the Florida Keys, and numbers in only about 700-800. These numbers make it an endangered species. A subspecies of Virginia White Tailed Deer, i...
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Shy, Nocturnal, Cool, and...Endangered? All about the Kiwi
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It's more than the symbol of New Zealand, it's the smallest ratite known! What's a ratite? It's a group of flightless birds that are for the most part extinct. The five species of kiwis known are Great Spotted Kiwi (or Roroa), Little Spotted Kiwi, Ok...
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Loggerhead Turtles Love Florida!
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The Loggerhead Turtle, the most common sea turtle in the United States, can be seen anywhere ranging from Newfoundland to Argentina. Most Loggerheaded Turtle nesting areas in the U.S. are located right in Florida, an estimated 90% or so to be exact....
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Proboscis Monkey
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Have you ever seen or heard about monkey with a long nose? Sound awkward isn't it. Interestingly, these animal or "Proboscis Monkey" can only be found in one place and that place is in "Borneo". I must say, they are very str...
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Snow Leopard
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The life span of a Snow Leopard (Uncia uncia) is normally 15-18 years, but in captivity they may become up to 20 years old. The body weight of a fully grown Snow Leopard is approximately 75 lbs. Find out more about these majestic animals, of which on...
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Lemur -- An Endangered Species
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I've been a fan of the lemur and especially the ring-tailed lemur since I first saw this furry rascal profiled on the Discovery Channel. Being primates, they have a monkey-like personality about them, but are a bit cuter--in my opinion. Because I thi...
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BLACK-FOOTED FERRETS: An endangered species...
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Black-footed Ferrets are scientifically known as Mustela nigripes. The origin of these small carnivorous mammals is to North America. They resemble the Steppe Polecat of Russia. They belong to the diverse family Mustelidae. Other members of this grou...
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Saving the Earth: Caring for the Environment and Protecting Endangered Species
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Saving the Earth is all about ... saving the Earth, this beautiful planet, the oceans, the animals, the forests, indigenous cultures everywhere. The diversity of life on our planet is astonishing - and it is greatly endangered. The population of huma...
More Endangered Species
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It's Bison, not Buffalo!
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Nothing is more symbolic of America more than the American Bison (well, maybe the bald eagle, too). These large, intimidating creatures were once on the verge of extinction until they were reintroduced into Yellowstone National Park and on Elk Island...
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Who's Afraid of the Big Bad Wolf?
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How do you feel about Gray Wolves? What do you know about wolves in general? Do wolves really dress in Grandma's clothes and eat little girls? In the Wolf Unit Study you can learn about the anatomy of these fascinating canines, where they live, thei...
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The Spotted Owl
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Spotted Owls are predators but rather than hunt for prey, they sit back and wait for the prey to come to them. They will watch from a perch, silent and unmoving until an unsuspecting squirrel or rat wanders into range. Once prey is spotted, the Spott...
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California Condor
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The California Condor was on the brink of extinction with its numbers dropping to less than 25. They are still endangered, but conservation efforts have paid off. Last count there were 302 California Condors in existence.
Have Something to Say?
Say it Here!
aj2008 wrote...
Thanks for the Blessing on my Bee lens.
Breathtaking pics on this lens - I love the Snowy Owl.
Posted September 18, 2009
spirituality wrote...
Thanks for educating the world and contributing to environmental awareness and changing lifestyle. This lens is featured on my Environment lensography - perhaps you want to sport the badge?
http://www.squidoo.com/environment-lensography#module46965852
Posted July 19, 2009
ElizabethJeanAllen wrote...
I was reading about the Ivory-billed Woodpecker today. Some think there are a couple of pairs still in existance. I hope they're right. We've lost enough.
Thanks for sharing
Lizzy
Posted June 08, 2009
monarch13 wrote...
Thanks for the great research! I have to admit I was not as aware as I should be.
Posted May 18, 2009
jaye3000 wrote...
Great lens! Thanks for the lensroll :) Currently working on Asian elephant lens, come check it out when I'm finished
Posted May 08, 2009
Tipi wrote...
This has not only been a treat to visit, but it has been very educational for me as well. Great lens, thanks for spreading the word about the endangered animals! I love animals and I know that you folks do too! :)
Posted May 06, 2009
buteoflyer wrote...
An excellent lens. I'll lens roll you and add to my favorites.
Posted April 10, 2009
Ramkitten wrote...
A wonderful lens! There are some animals on the list I was pretty suprised to see there.
Posted April 08, 2009
poddys wrote...
Fantastic lens, you gave us some great information about the endangered species of the world, and hopefully helped inspire more people to do something to help save them. 5*****
Posted February 11, 2009
rydigga wrote...
Plenty of great information in this lens. I didn't even know that some of these animals were endangered.
Posted January 05, 2009
Vacation-In-My-Head wrote...
This is an awesome lens with a lot of great information. I'm rolling you to 2 of my lenses All About Manatees also to Florida Alligators
Thanks again for helping educate about endangered animals. 5*'s for me
Posted December 29, 2008
opalship wrote...
I see we both have a non loading poll.
As for the subject of your blog.
I am learning how little the government actually cares, unless you have a huge group pressure the right KEY person, endangered species here in the USA, seem largely on their own.
Exceptions being watch dog types of local communal groups, or neighborhood organizations and clubs.
Posted September 05, 2008
SemperFidelis wrote...
I'm a lover of lenses with a lot of pics. Nice work Kiwi!
Blessed, 5-starred, and favorited by a Squid Angel today! :)
Colleen ~ www.squidoo.com/squid-angel
Posted September 03, 2008
Frankster wrote...
Excellent lens with valuable information everyone should know. Thanks for sharing and also for highlighting my Polar Bear lens. Bear hugs, Frankster aka Bearmeister
Posted September 03, 2008
Frankster wrote...
Excellent lens with valuable information everyone should know. Thanks for sharing and also for highlighting my Polar Bear lens. Bear hugs, Frankster aka Bearmeister
Posted September 03, 2008
ArtByLinda wrote...
This is a great lens, I love the beautiful pictures! My artist group on ebay, called ACEO and ATC enthusiasts just did a theme this month called "endangered species", where everyone painted small ACEO paintings of endangered animals. A portion of the money sold is being donated to save the rain forest, as well as a quilt made with all the paintings that will be auctioned off and the money donated. Saving our endangered species is so very important! 5 *****
Posted August 19, 2008
ElizabethJeanAllen wrote...
Awareness is the key. We don't want to add more to the extinct list. We've lost too many already.
Posted July 19, 2008
spirituality wrote...
Great lens. I featured it on my new lensography on the environment. Go check it out and add your favorite environment links to the plexo: http://www.squidoo.com/environment-lensography
There's also a duel about the question: is the environment more important, or the economy?
Posted June 12, 2008
Evelyn_Saenz wrote...
Gray Wolf was checking out your lens and liked it so well that he is sending you some virtual heart shaped waffles.
Posted April 10, 2008
MAMedley wrote...
Great lens. From layout to content everything is superb. Here's a great video that you might want to include. Check it out!
http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-1282796533661048967&hl=en
Posted March 20, 2008
Marelisa wrote...
Great lens. I live in the Republic of Panama and we're blessed to have an extremely diverse flora and fauna. We're going through a huge construction boom right now and a lot of people are worried about how it's affecting our "nature heritage". It's definitely important to raise awareness on the impact we're having on our planet and other species.
Posted March 19, 2008
Lakota429 wrote...
Great job. Super-Informative and well put together. 5 stars! Amazing photos, too. Annie~
Posted March 18, 2008
ZachG wrote...
Awesome lens! Nice work. I care a lot about endangered animals and this was a lot of fun to read. Five stars!
Posted March 17, 2008
NightSquid wrote...
Now That's what I call a lens, Great Presentation and Work, Kiwisoutback!
Cheers NightSquid
Posted March 15, 2008
flowski wrote...
Great information about endangered species. Nice pictures too, thanks!
Posted March 14, 2008
What's Next?
Be sure to vote to decide the next endangered species lens created by Kiwisoutback!
You Choose the Next Lens!
Be on the lookout for the Bengal Tiger lens coming soon...
Featured on
the Environment Lensography, about going Green
A lensography of the best lenses about pollution, global warming, safe
energy and endangered species. Read about how you can change
your life, go green and support the environment.
Be inspired by great environmental warriors.
by kiwisoutback
New endangered species are showing up on the Endangered Species List every year. What can you do to help? Read here! (more)
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