10 Most Threatened Animal Species (Slideshow)

“We have an urgent window of opportunity in which to step up and pull back some of the world’s most splendid animals from the brink of extinction,” says Dr. Sybille Klenzendorf, WWF’s Managing Director of Species Conservation.

The world’s leading conservation organization, World Wildlife Fund (WWF) has been working for over 45 years to help protect nature. At the end of last year they released their annual list, Ten to Watch in 2010, of some of the most threatened species around the world, saying that the long-term survival of many animals is increasingly in doubt due to a host of threats and calling for a step up in efforts to save some of the world’s most threatened animals.

WWF scientists say these, and many other species, are at greater risk than ever before because of habitat loss, poaching, and climate change-related threats. This year’s watch list includes five species directly impacted by climate change, as well as the monarch butterfly, the species at the center of an endangered biological phenomenon.

From the WWF website, here are the Ten to Watch in 2010:

Giant Panda
An international symbol of conservation since WWF’s founding in 1961, the giant panda (Ailuropoda melanoleuca) which numbers less than 2500 in the wild, faces an uncertain future. Its forest habitat in the mountainous areas of southwest China has become fragmented, creating small and isolated populations. WWF has been active in giant panda conservation for nearly three decades, conducting field studies, working to protect habitats and, most recently, by providing assistance to the Chinese government in establishing a program to protect the panda and its habitat through the creation of reserves.

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Disclaimer: The views expressed above are solely those of the author and may not reflect those of
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Loesje v.

7:07AM PDT on Mar 13, 2012

Help WWF and protect these animals!

send a green star

Michele W.

1:09PM PST on Nov 22, 2011

This is sad to note.

Tim C.

5:31PM PDT on Aug 6, 2011

thanks.

Helen J.

11:16PM PDT on May 27, 2011

Lets hope they're all around for much longer.

Mary E.

8:40AM PDT on May 27, 2011

Sad there are so many - and this just covers the top 10. When will the human race wake up and protect those that need protecting? And people wonder why I prefer critter company over human company...

Amanda N.

6:33PM PDT on May 23, 2011

i hate humans.

Sheri P.

9:12PM PDT on Apr 18, 2011

Hate it!! Hope WWF and similar causes are able to reverse the critical nature of things...

Chelle A.

9:00PM PDT on Mar 24, 2011

Thank you Melissa for this sad and alarming article. If human greed ever decreases, these animals and more have a chance, but that's not likely soon. Thank heaven for the WWF and others who are working to protect these endangered animals. Maybe we need stiffer penalties for poaching and destruction of these species.

Cyrille D.

8:38AM PST on Mar 3, 2011

Alarming.

Maja K.

9:32AM PST on Feb 8, 2011

They are so wonderful... And they definitely deserve to survive on Earth longer than humankind...