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As climate and circumstances change, species must either evolve or fall prey to any number of threats to their existence. Habitat loss, over-hunting and disease are all potential hazards faced by many of the world’s animals, both past and present. In this article, we will discuss 10 of the world’s rarest animals that still exist in the wild. All of these animals are endangered and need immediate protection, otherwise they will disappear forever for the world.
# 10 The rarest animal in the world: the vakita
The only rarest animal in the world is the vakita (Focena sinus). This porpoise is found only in the extreme northwestern corner of the Gulf of California in Mexico. Since the population size was 567 in 1997, it has since declined to its current level of 18. It is likely that the vaquita will become extinct within a decade.
Unlike other porpoises, mature females give birth on average once every two years, which is double that of other species. While other potential threats have been speculated, the unregulated use of gillnets for commercial fishing has been the largest killer of vaquitas. Two studies showed that boats from the same port were responsible for the deaths of 7 to 15% of the entire Vakita population in just one year.
All of these species are so close to the brink of extinction that it may be too late to save some of them. The highly fragmented populations with dwindling numbers of adults make the conservation of these creatures a huge challenge in the wild. Most of these animals also have limited or no captive populations. For all of these reasons, it is more important than ever to learn about the challenges facing some of the world’s rarest animals and what we can do about them.
# 9 The rarest animal in the world: the Javanese rhino
Javan rhinoceros (Rhinoceros sondaicus) is an Indonesian rhino that lives in only one nature reserve on the island of Java. No other herds exist, as the species has become extinct throughout its former region and this reserve is occupied with the maximum number of animals it can contain – 68. The current adult population estimated to be capable of breeding is only 18.
The main threat of the Javanese rhinoceros is poaching in order to obtain its horns for resale and traditional Asian medicine. A unique threat this species faces is the presence of a palm called langkap. This palm is an invasive species that completely suppresses any other form of vegetation, including the preferred diet for rhinos.
# 8 The rarest animal in the world: Red wolf
Red Wolf (Canis rufus) is the only North American animal on our list of the world’s rarest animals, but it is also one of the most threatened. By 1980, the species became extinct in the wild, but in 1987 it was reintroduced to East North Carolina by the US government. This reintroduction was so successful that over 150 animals settled in the region. This rapid growth has sparked concerns about interbreeding with coyotes and conflicts with landowners.
As a result of these conflicts, the federal government scaled back the program to cover only federal lands and reserves in the easternmost part of the state. This region can only support a group of 30 mature adults. At the moment, the estimated population is below this number and is declining.
# 7 World’s rarest animal: Sumatran rhino
Sumatran rhino (Dicerorhinus sumatrensis) is the next entry on our list of the rarest animals in the world, and this rhino is one of the most endangered large mammals, the population of which remains only in Indonesia. Over the past 30 years, their population has declined by more than 80%, mainly due to poaching and habitat loss, and it is estimated that only 30 adults remain in viable populations.
Population groups of the Sumatran rhinoceros are so fragmented that many of them cannot be combined together. Even with conservation efforts, it is unlikely that small populations of two to five rhinos can be saved, with the largest recorded group of only 15 adult rhinos.
6. The rarest animal in the world: the Gobi bear.
Gobi Bear (Ursus arctos gobiensis) is a subspecies of brown bears that lives only in the Gobi Desert in Mongolia. Fewer than 40 adults are left in the wild, and Gobi bears are not kept in captivity. This bear is a tough and tenacious scavenger that manages to live in a region that receives, on average, less than four inches of rain per year.
Habitat loss due to mining in the area and the uncontrolled grazing of other animals has devastated Mongolian pastures in the past, and this has resulted in significant impacts on all species found in the area. In addition, the 14-year drought, which received less than two inches of rain annually, further depleted the scarce vegetation that the Gobi bear lives on. Conservation measures are being taken, such as identifying the last three bear habitats in one large national sanctuary, and researchers have tagged 20 adults for population monitoring.
# 5 The rarest animal in the world: Saola
Saola (Pseudorix Nghetinhensis) is a close relative of cattle, but looks more like a deer. They are sometimes called Asian unicorns due to their rarity and secretive behavior. Saola was only discovered in 1992 in Vietnam’s evergreen forests, and no study to estimate their population size has ever been successful due to the dense forests of Vietnam and the political climate of Laos.
Threats to saole include loss of habitat and ongoing hunting to meet local demand for bushmeat and pharmaceuticals. Saola is so rarely filmed on camera traps that researchers have concluded that it is possible that there are no viable herds left. Saola does not occur in captivity, and it is estimated that there are 25 to 750 adults in the wild.
# 4 World’s rarest animal: Addax
Addax (Addax nasomaculatus) – an antelope that previously lived in the deserts of Africa. Today you can only find them in the Termit Tin Tumma region of Niger. Thousands of Addax live in captivity in various reserves around the world, but only about 30-90 adults still exist in the wild.
Initially, the addax was significantly reduced due to unregulated hunting, and the growth of oil production in their natural habitat and political instability brought even more armed people to the region.
# 3 The rarest animal in the world: the Amur leopard
Amur leopard (Panthera pardus orientalis) is a resident of the Amur region of Russia and China. It is hunted almost exclusively for its spotted fur, and its population has grown from about 14 adults in 2005 to about 84 adults today. The creation of a nature reserve in the region of the Russian Far East has recently made it possible to restore this species, but the lack of production will prevent a return to the previous distribution.
Weighing between 75 and 100 pounds, this impressive leopard can run at 37 mph, jump 19 feet horizontally, and jump 10 feet straight into the air.
# 2 The rarest animal in the world: the Filipino crocodile
Philippine crocodiles (Crocodile Mindorensis) is not as good as kakapo. The adult adult population is estimated to be declining at 92–137, so the species is highly fragmented in the Philippine Islands’ inland wetlands. This crocodile is shorter than its counterparts, and the largest specimen caught in the wild is less than nine feet long. Their main food sources in adulthood are fish, pigs, dogs, and waterfowl.
# 1 World’s rarest animal: Kakapo
Kakapo (Strigops habroptila) is a nocturnal flightless parrot with a life expectancy of 60 years, originally from New Zealand. The Kakapos were completely devastated by the colonization of the island nation by humans and the subsequent introduction of cats into the region. The parrot is believed to be extinct in its natural range. Government-sponsored conservation and resettlement efforts have resulted in the species’ population growing steadily.
There are currently 116 adults living on three small islands in New Zealand. The region is almost completely protected and all adults are tagged and monitored by ecologists. Testing of adults at the age of breeding and complementary feeding has shown significant increases in fertility and overall survival.
Next: 10 Most Incredible Animal Migrations
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