Endangered
The most endangered animals by the number left in the wild
Ten of the rarest animals on Earth ranked by how many are left in the wild, fewest first, from the latest published count for each.
The Sumatran Orangutan Under Pressure
About 13,846 Sumatran orangutans live in the forests of northern Sumatra. Plantations, roads and illegal killing are pushing them toward the edge.
The Red Wolf: Back From Extinction in the Wild
Declared extinct in the wild in 1980, the red wolf was returned to North Carolina in 1987. Today it is still the world's most endangered wolf.
The Kakapo: The Flightless Parrot Saved by Name
New Zealand's kakapo is a heavy, flightless, night-loving parrot. Almost every bird has a name, and in 2026 the population hit 325.
The Hawksbill Turtle and Its Patterned Shell
The hawksbill's beautiful mottled shell nearly wiped it out. Meet the sponge-eating sea turtle that helps keep coral reefs healthy.
Why Are Pangolins the Most Trafficked Mammals?
Pangolins are hunted for their meat and scales and smuggled across the world. Here is why they are trafficked more than any other mammal.
The Javan Rhino: Survival on One Peninsula
About 50 Javan rhinos survive, all in one national park on the western tip of Java. A poaching gang cut their numbers by a third.
The Amur Leopard: Fewer Than Most Think
Only about 130 grown Amur leopards live in the wild, in the snowy forests where Russia meets China. Here is how they hang on.