A Few of the Most Endangered Species

The Endangered Species Act of 1973 set criteria to recognize animal populations in danger of extinction and standards that US states can follow to set up effective countermeasures to help these populations recover to a healthy level. Today, animals may be classified at stages ranging from least concern to critically endangered.

The vaquita, a species of porpoise, ranks as one of the most endangered animals on the planet and is the most endangered marine mammal. The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) has listed the animal as critically endangered since 1996. As few as six vaquitas remain on Earth, according to a 2018 census, while more recent estimates have the global population no higher than nine. Like many sea creatures, the vaquita is a helpless victim of the illegal fishing industry; vaquitas are frequently caught in gillnets that target the totoaba, a large fish. For years, conservation efforts have prioritized both the protection of vaquita habitats and the minimization of the market for totoaba swim bladders to stop the catching of vaquitas, but they remain critically endangered.

On land, few animals are as endangered as the Amur leopard, another animal on the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Fewer than 100 Amur leopards lived in the wild in 2015, and recent years have seen that number fall further, in large part due to poachers. Like many endangered animals, habitat loss at the hands of humans and a decrease in prey availability resulting from climate change are additional reasons for the Amur leopard’s critically endangered status.

Other critically endangered species include the kakapo parrot of New Zealand, the gharial Indian crocodile, and the North Atlantic right whale. While only about 400 right whales are left in the world, including just 100 females capable of breeding, the right whale offers some hope for other endangered species: in 1890, nearly a century before the passing of the Endangered Species Act, the right whale was on the brink of extinction, but the species has endured and is slowly recovering.

The story of the right whale should not encourage complacency, as countless species are not so fortunate. In 2020 alone, at least 15 species were declared extinct, never to be seen again on planet Earth.

The Jalpa false brook salamander, once a common sight throughout Guatemala’s Jalpa region, has not been seen since 1976 due to habitat destruction from logging and farming. The salamander has been formally declared extinct by the IUCN. Similarly, the Splendid Poison Frog of Central America has not been seen in three decades.

Amphibians were not the only class of vertebrates to suffer extinctions in 2020. The Simeulue Hill myna is a tropical bird that most likely went extinct between 2017 and 2019. The lost shark, Carcharhinus obsoletus, went extinct nearly a century before it was recognized as a distinct species in 2019. Native to the heavily fished South China Sea and last observed in the wild in 1934, the IUCN has no reason to believe the shark still exists.

How to Interact with Wild Animals

When planning a hike, you must prepare for a wide variety of potential obstacles, ranging from injuries on the trail to inclement weather. Important items to pack include a first-aid kit and adequate water and food. You should also closely follow up-to-the-minute weather reports, and inform family and friends of your whereabouts and anticipated time of return. In addition, you must be ready to interact with various forms of wildlife while on the trail.

There are several basic tips hikers should follow when it comes to interacting with wild animals--or, more accurately, avoiding them. Generally speaking, humans should stay as far from wild animals as possible, giving them a wide berth and refraining from any behavior that might startle the animal or make it feel threatened. When hiking, you should talk frequently on the trail and make as much noise as possible, warning animals of your presence long before any interaction takes place. Similarly, adhere to all regulations pertaining to food storage while on the trail, so as not to attract unwanted animal attention.

When it comes to preparing for a hike, conduct as much research about a location as possible, including what animals are active nearby, and during which times of year. Hiking through wolf country during mating season, for example, is ill advised.

If you cannot avoid an animal encounter, there are a few things to keep in mind. Virtually all animals pose a threat to humans when they feel threatened: a bison or elk grazing on grass, for example, is just as dangerous as a black bear protecting her cubs. Regardless of the specific animal encountered, a good rule of thumb is to make yourself appear as big as possible while slowly moving in the opposite direction.

Of course, certain animals demand more specific precautions. Bears, for example, are vulnerable to bear spray. In terms of avoiding bears altogether, know that they are most active at dusk and dawn, and more likely to attack an individual hiker as opposed to a large group, though bears are not naturally vicious creatures. If a bear appears calm, slowly walk in the opposite direction, while always keeping an eye on the bear.

Indeed, how you remove yourself from an animal encounter is dependent on the species. Moose, for example, are not predatory and in most cases will simply walk away from humans, even if they feel threatened. If a moose begins approaching you, run in the opposite direction as fast as possible, ideally placing trees, boulders, and other obstacles in the animal’s path.

On the other hand, a cougar is much more likely to have its predatory instincts triggered by the sight of a human sprinting in the opposite direction. In this situation, hikers are advised to lock eyes with the animal and stand tall while slowly backtracking.

Finally, do not overlook potential threats posed by smaller animals. Foxes, for instance, almost always flee the moment they sense a human in the area. However, these animals can harm humans if threatened and may carry dangerous diseases, such as rabies.