Endangered species

An endangered species is a population of organisms which is at risk of becoming extinct because it is

either few in numbers, or threatened by changing environmental or predation parameters. Also it could
mean that due to deforestation there may be a lack of food and/or water. The International Union for
Conservation of Nature (IUCN) has calculated the percentage of endangered species as 40 percent of all
organisms based on the sample of species that have been evaluated through 2006.[2] (Note: the IUCN
groups all threatened species for their summary purposes.) Many nations have laws offering protection to
conservation reliant species: for example, forbidding hunting, restricting land development or creating
preserves. Only a few of the many species at risk of extinction actually make it to the lists and obtain legal
protection. Many more species become extinct, or potentially will become extinct, without gaining public
notice.
Conservation status
The conservation status of a species is an indicator of the likelihood of that endangered species not living.
Many factors are taken into account when assessing the conservation status of a species; not simply the
number remaining, but the overall increase or decrease in the population over time, breeding success rates,
known threats, and so on. The IUCN Red List is the best known conservation status listing.
Internationally, 194 countries have signed an accord agreeing to create Biodiversity Action Plans to protect
endangered and other threatened species. In the United States this plan is usually called a species Recovery
Plan.
IUCN Red List Endangered species
Endangered species under the IUCN Red List refers to a specific category of threatened species, and may
include critically endangered species.
IUCN Red List of Threatened Species uses the term endangered species as a specific category of
imperilment, rather than as a general term. Under the IUCN Categories and Criteria, endangered species is
between critically endangered and vulnerable. Also critically endangered species may also be counted as
endangered species and fill all the criteria
The more general term used by the IUCN for species at risk of extinction is threatened species, which also
includes the less-at-risk category of vulnerable species together with endangered and critically endangered.
IUCN categories include:
• Extinct: the last remaining member of the species has died, or is presumed beyond reasonable
doubt to have died. Examples: Thylacine, Dodo, Passenger Pigeon, Tyrannosaurus, Caribbean
Monk Seal, Dimetrodon
• Extinct in the wild: captive individuals survive, but there is no free-living, natural population.
Examples: Alagoas Curassow
• Critically endangered: faces an extremely high risk of extinction in the immediate future.
Examples: Arakan Forest Turtle, Ethiopian wolf, Darwin's Fox, Javan Rhino, Brazilian Merganser,
Gharial
• Endangered: faces a very high risk of extinction in the near future. Examples:Dhole, Blue Whale,
Bonobo, Giant Panda, Snow Leopard, African Wild Dog, Tiger, three species of Albatrosses,
Crowned Solitary Eagle, Markhor, Orangutan
• Vulnerable: faces a high risk of extinction in the medium-term. Examples: Cheetah, Gaur, Lion,
Sloth Bear, Wolverine, Manatee, Polar Bear, African Golden Cat, Komodo dragon