Endangered Animals Species You Most Likely Have Never Heard Of

Endangered Animals Species You Most Likely Have Never Heard Of

In the conservation field, animals & plant species has conservation status which states how likely the species is going to be extinct in the future. The status ranges from 'Least concern' to 'Critically endangered' and lastly and sadly 'Extinct'.

Many articles and news have covered well known iconic animal species which has a 'Vulnerable' to 'Critically endangered' status such as several species tigers, turtles, orangutan, tuna, dolphin, whales, panda, gorilla, sharks, rhinocerous and many more which most of us know how these animal species look like.


However it is always interesting to learn new things and below are a list of animal species which you many not have heard of which have a 'Near threatened' to 'Critically endangered' conservation status.

Narwhal - Near Threatened

The narwhal looks like a cross between a whale and a unicorn with its long, spiraled tusk jutting from its head. Narwhals spend their lives in the Arctic waters of Canada, Greenland, Norway and Russia. Whales, like the narwhal, are at the top of the food chain and have an important role in the overall health of the marine environment.


Vaquita - Critically Endangered

Vaquita is a type of porpoise which are cousins to dolphins. That is why it looks similar to dolphins. The vaquita has a large dark ring around its eyes and dark patches on its lips that form a thin line from the mouth to the pectoral fins. Vaquita are under threat from the fishing industry. They often die after being caught in gillnets, a problem known as bycatch. It is a marine species and only found in the northern Gulf of California.


Saola - Critically Endangered

Often called the Asian unicorn, this rarely-seen mammal have been documented in the wild on only four occasions to date. Saola have striking white markings on the face and large maxillary glands on the muzzle, which could be used to mark territory or attract mates. They are found only in the Annamite Mountains of Vietnam and Laos.

Bonobos - Endangered

Bonobos and chimpanzees look very similar and both share 98.7% of their DNA with humans—making the two species our closest living relatives. Bonobos are usually a bit smaller, leaner and darker than chimpanzees. Wild bonobos can only be found in forests south of the Congo River in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). Civil unrest and increasing poverty in the area around the bonobos’ forests have contributed to bonobo poaching and deforestation. 

Dugong - Vulnerable

Dugongs are cousins of manatees and share a similar plump appearance, but have a dolphin fluke-like tail and only lives in marine enviornment. Commonly known as "sea cows," dugongs graze peacefully on sea grasses in shallow coastal waters of the Indian and western Pacific Oceans.