6 Coyote-Looking Dogs

 5 Endangered Animals That Will Make You Fall in Love With Nature

If you love wildlife and the outdoors, then you’re going to be saddened by this list of endangered animals. The following five species are currently at risk of extinction, and it may take just one more person like you to fall in love with nature to save them from the brink of death. From rhinos to birds, these endangered animals will appeal to every kind of naturalist out there, so read on if you want to learn more about each creature while also doing your part to help bring them back from the brink of extinction.

Bornean Orangutan

The Bornean orangutan is one of two species of orangutans. The other, more well-known, is its cousin—the Sumatran orangutan. The Bornean lives only on Borneo (hence its name), while Sumatran orangutans can be found both on Sumatra and in parts of Malaysia. In general, they are shy animals and are difficult to spot. Scientists have tried creating nesting boxes to provide them with a comfortable place to sleep away from predators; however, these structures have proven unsuccessful so far because the animals seem nervous about spending time inside them.

Snow Leopard

The snow leopard has been listed as endangered since 1972, and its plight only seems to be getting worse. As temperatures rise and a changing climate diminishes its territory, snow leopards are struggling to survive. At just four feet long and 100 pounds, snow leopards have a tough time finding food in their high-altitude habitat. Because of human conflict, they’re also hunted for their beautiful coats—so much so that many of them are missing patches or scars on their skin from run-ins with poachers. If you want to learn more about these majestic creatures and how to help them survive for generations to come, read our post on snow leopards .

African Elephant

The African elephant is threatened primarily by poaching; their ivory tusks are highly valued. In 2014, some estimates indicated that 100 elephants were killed per day. If current trends continue, they’ll be officially extinct within 10 years! Because elephants live relatively long lives—around 60 years or more—their disappearance could have devastating consequences for entire ecosystems. If you’re interested in helping to save them, volunteer with an elephant preservation organization like World Wildlife Fund or African Wildlife Foundation and encourage others to do so as well.

Sumatran Tiger

These majestic animals are slowly becoming extinct due to poaching and illegal logging. The World Wildlife Fund (WWF) estimates that only 400 Sumatran tigers remain, leaving their future in jeopardy. As human activity encroaches further and further into tiger territory, these big cats become more isolated from each other—and breeding becomes difficult. In fact, there has been little or no reproduction for several years now. Sadly, it’s only a matter of time before these magnificent creatures go extinct if steps aren’t taken to protect them.

Tasmanian Devil

The Tasmanian devil is a species of carnivorous marsupial native to Australia. The Tasmanian devil, which is actually not a type of bear but belongs to an order of mammals called Dasyuromorphia, has become endangered due to a disease called Devil Facial Tumor Disease (DFTD). This contagious cancerous tumor that affects only devils first appears on a Tasmanian devil's face as a lump and may then spread throughout its body. In some cases, other animals like wallabies have caught the disease from eating meat left behind by devils who have died. To help save these furry little critters, consider contributing your money or time (if you're not vegan) to animal welfare organizations like Save The Tasmanian Devil Foundation or ZooMontana.

Conclusion

There are thousands of animals across our planet that are threatened with extinction. Some have been hunted into nothing, while others have suffered from habitat loss and climate change. Yet, whether they’re cuddly and cute or majestic and intimidating, all these animals deserve to live on our planet for a long time—maybe not forever, but at least for several more decades! Let’s take a look at five of them.