Wednesday, June 11, 2008

The 10 Rarest Animals in the World

Endangered, hunted, smuggled and now some would say abandoned, these animals have the smallest chances of recovery out off all the Earth’s creatures. Last year, studies shown that there are at least 35 different animals with world populations of under 1000. But which are the rarest, the animals on the brink of extinction? We have rounded up a list of 10 of the rarest animals in the wild. These animals are so rare, they might disappear forever, and they’re not alone!

10. Red Wolf - This wolf is a smaller and a more slender cousin of the gray wolf, historically ranging from southeastern United States to Florida and Texas. Now, their home is the 1.7 million acres throughout northeastern North Carolina, including Alligator River National Wildlife Refuge and Pocosin Lakes National Wildlife Refuge. Only 20 pure red wolves were estimated in 1980, however the number increased to 207 captive red wolves, found in 38 captive breeding facilities across the United States. With the successful breeding programs, over 100 red wolves currently live in the wild.

Runner-up. Dwarf Blue Sheep - The Dwarf Blue Sheep or Dwarf Bharal Pseudois schaeferi is an endangered species of caprid found in China and Tibet. The dwarf blue sheep population in the world has declined to a total of 70–200 individuals, currently being listed as endangered by the International Union for Conservation of Nature. The species is hunted, and in their limited range cannot escape from humans and livestock. As of 1997, China did not recognize them as a seperate species so efforts to conserve the species have not been initiated.

9. Iberian Lynx - The Lynx, the most endangered of the world’s 36 cats, stands on the edge of extinction. This lynx was once distributed over the entire Iberian Peninsula but now its area is severely restricted in Andalusia. Threatened by destruction of habitat and of its prey, the cat was killed by traps set for rabbits or hit by cars as the number of roads increase. The Spanish Government is now in the process of developing a national conservation effort to save the Iberian Lynx. Studies from March 2005 have estimated the number of Lynx to be as few as 100, down from about 400 in 2000. On March 29, 2005, the birth of 3 cubs, the first born in captivity, was announced, a hope for the future reintroduction of the species.

8. Tamaraw (Dwarf Water Buffalo) - Found in the the island of Mindoro in the Philippines, the tamaraw is the only endemic Phillipine bovine. In 1900 there were an estimated 10,000 tamaraw on Mindoro, 120 in 1975, 370 in 1987 . It was declared critically endangered species in 2000 by the World Conservation Union and remained so until today, being threatened by agriculture, hunting or disease brought by domestic species. The current population was estimated in 2002 at a number between 30 and 200 individuals. Although protected by law, the illegal capture and killing of this species continues to occur.

7. Northern Hairy-nosed Wombat - In the 19th century this species of wombat was present in New South Wales and Victoria but now can only be found in a small national park near Epping Forest Station in tropical Queensland. While this area has been protected as a National Park, the native grasses that the wombat eats are overtaken by non-indigenous plants. The Northern hairy-nosed wombat is the rarest Australian marsupial, and probably the world’s rarest large mammal. In the latest population study, there are an estimated 113 (range 96 to 150) individual. A major recovery program is underway, funded by the Queensland and Commonwealth governments to the tune of $250,000 per year.

6. Hispid hare - Also called the “bristly rabbit”, this hare has been recorded along the southern foothills of the Himalayan mountain chain, Nepal, , Bengal, and Assam. Deforestation, cultivation, and human settlement had the most negative impact on the species, isolating the rabbits in Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, West Bengal and Assam. This animal was feared extinct in 1964, but in 1966, one was spotted. There were an estimated 110 hispid hares worldwide in 2001, numbers continuing to plunge due its unsuccessful adaptation to captivity

5. Javan Rhino - This scarce animal is one of the rhino species with fewer than 60 animals surviving in only two known locations: one in Indonesia and the other in Vietnam. Though once widespread throughout Asia, by the 1930’s the rhinoceros was nearly hunted to extinction in Peninsular Malaysia, India, Burma and Sumatra. It was poached for its horn, that is believed to have medicinal uses, and driven to extinction to the intense agricultural practices. Even with all the conservation efforts, the Javan rhinoceros’ chance of survival is small: the population is reduced, hence there are risks of disease and inbreeding

4. Seychelles Sheath-tailed Bat - Inhabiting the central granitic islands of the Seychelles Islands north of Madagascar, the bat is part of our list, being one of the most endangered animals since fewer than 100 are believed to exist in the world. It was once commonly found in Seychelles, but the species has undergone a dramatic decline in population during the mid to late 20th century. More research needs to be done in order to understand how the species behave and what needs to be done in order to save them. Scientists believe that, with a heavy amount of effort, 500 individuals may be sufficient to guarantee long-term persistence of the population.

3. The Vancouver Island Marmot - This marmot is found only in the high mountainous regions of Vancouver Island, in British Columbia, the Canadian Species at Risk Act listing it as endangered in May 2000. In 1998, the population reached an all-time low of 75 individuals, a captive breeding programme being started during that time. In captivity, there are around 90 Vancouver Island marmots in four breeding facilities, while an estimated 30 members of this species live in the wild ibn 2004. The ultimate goal is to restore a sustainable population of 400-600 Vancouver Island marmots in the wild, so there’s still much to be done. 2005 was a successful year, with 150 individuals in captivity and over 44 pups born.

2. Baiji (Yangtze River Dolphin) - With no more than a few tens of individuals, the dolphin is one of the world’s rarest mammals, and a victim of China’s breakneck economic growth, competing for food with the human beings. It has been driven to extinction due to the activity in 50 years, this being the fourth time when an entire evolutionary line of mammals has vanished from the face of the Earth since the year 1500. The main reason for this fact are the numerous dams and barrages, built starting in the 1930’s, that have fragmented the population and reduced the amount of available habitat. There are news that the species is functionally extinct, experts still searching for members of the species. Fingers crossed!

1. The Pinta Island tortoise - Without argument, this turtle is one of the few species of Giant Galapagos tortoises and the rarest animal in the world since there is only one left alive. Lonesome George is the sole surviving member of the Pinta Island race, the giant tortoise being a symbol for the fragility of the Galapagos islands, and a constant reminder for vigilence and conservation of the species. The species was considered extinct until 1971, when a lone example was located by rangers. Since then, the Charles Darwin Research Station has been searching for a female tortoise, even posting a reward of $10,000 to those that find one.

credited to wildsheep.org, camperspoint.com, dkimages.com, about.com, lodgingchannel.com and flickr users: mingos, crausman, digitalsolstice, malcy, karin wideman, f1nutter

25 comments:

Cine Masala said...

Nice Post.Submit all ur post to www.surfurls.com.

Anonymous said...

They're extinct because they dont have the means to survive. Natural selection is a bitch

Anonymous said...

f off anonymous! they are extinct because our mistakes. open your eyes you ignorant dumb f***

Anonymous said...

there not all extinct

Anonymous said...

MOOORONS!!!!!!!!

Anonymous said...

penis?!?!

Crizalde A. Umali said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
CRIZALDE A. UMALI said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
CRIZALDE A. UMALI said...

Why is it that the Visayan Spotted-deer not included on this list it is one of the rarest mammal today could be found only on central philippines...for more information see http://philippine-animals-mammals.webs.com/

Anonymous said...

this writer plagiarized off of allaboveus.wordpress.com/2008/06/

nice going asshole

Anonymous said...

If we have a good natural vegetation y these animals get endangered???

Anonymous said...

[url=http://akreoplastoes.net/][img]http://rastimores.net/img-add/euro2.jpg[/img][/url]
[b]asu software store, [url=http://rastimores.net/]adobe creative suite 4 master collection reviews[/url]
[url=http://akreoplastoes.net/][/url] adobe photoshop cs for mac adobe creative suite 4 premium best value
cheap software world [url=http://akreoplastoes.net/]netload adobe creative suite 4[/url] buy game software
[url=http://akreoplastoes.net/]buy dreamweaver 8 software[/url] store system software
[url=http://rastimores.net/]linux software store[/url] coreldraw 11 macintosh user guide
added resellers software [url=http://rastimores.net/]book software canada[/url][/b]

Anonymous said...

Hello,nice post thanks for sharing?. I just joined and I am going to catch up by reading for a while. I hope I can join in soon.

Anonymous said...

Thanks for sharing, one thing though, your picture of the Tamaraw is a Carabao, Tamaraws are smaller, hairier and have almost straight horns forming a V.

Anonymous said...

Hey Guys

Well this is my introduction to all of you here at www.blogger.com[url=http://haceleberitygossip.info/].[/url] I just hope I can manage to contribute something to the awesome discussions that take place here[url=http://sportsnewsit.info/forum].[/url][url=http://thehottesttopicsli.info/].[/url]

I lokk forward to participating in the awesome community[url=http://latestnewsit.info/].[/url][url=http://peweirdcrazymemories.info/forum].[/url]

Green Parks said...

Hello.. Firstly I would like to send greetings to all readers. After this, I recognize the content so interesting about this article. For me personally I liked all the information. I would like to know of cases like this more often. In my personal experience I might mention a book called Green Parks Costa Rica in this book that I mentioned have very interesting topics, and also you have much to do with the main theme of this article.

Anonymous said...

It's hard to find experienced people in this particular subject, however, you seem like you know what you're talking
about! Thanks
Also visit my site hotmail.fr messagerie telecharger

Anonymous said...

It's hard to find experienced people in this particular subject, however, you seem like you know what you're talking about!

Thanks
My site: hotmail.fr messagerie telecharger

Anonymous said...

I do not even know how I stopped up right here, however I thought this
post used to be good. I do not know who you're but certainly you are going to a well-known blogger for those who aren't already.
Cheers!
Feel free to surf my blog - msn hotmail mail inbox

Anonymous said...

Hey very interesting blog!
my website :: http://blogtp.caleny.com/?p=419

Anonymous said...

You are so cool! I don't suppose I have read something like this before. So good to find somebody with original thoughts on this subject. Seriously.. thank you for starting this up. This web site is something that's needed on the web, someone
with a bit of originality!
Here is my blog aaron\U0027s rain barrels

Anonymous said...

Today, I went to the beach front with my children.

I found a sea shell and gave it to my 4 year old daughter and said "You can hear the ocean if you put this to your ear." She placed the shell to
her ear and screamed. There was a hermit crab inside and it pinched her ear.

She never wants to go back! LoL I know this is totally off topic
but I had to tell someone!

Feel free to visit my site - affordable appliance repair Houston

Anonymous said...

Awesome! Its in fact remarkable article, I have got much
clear idea regarding from this article.

Look at my homepage ... acoustic guitar chord

Anonymous said...

Woah! Ӏ'm really enjoying the template/theme of this site. It's simplе, yet
effеctive. A lot of times іt's very difficult to get that "perfect balance" between usability and appearance. I must say you have done a amazing job with this. In addition, the blog loads very fast for me on Internet explorer. Superb Blog!

My web-site - crear Facebook gratis

Anonymous said...

Hello, for аll tіme i useԁ to
сheck wеblоg postѕ hегe іn thе earlу hours in
the dаylight, as і like to gaіn knοwledge of more and mοre.


Feel free to surf tο my web раgе :
: Abrir cuenta facebook