Hobbies And Interests
Mammals
Several species of rhinoceros are endangered, but the Javan rhino is one of the most endangered species in the world, with less than 60 thought to be alive today. In the past 60 years, three to four subspecies of tiger have disappeared, and all remaining subspecies are endangered. The Siberian tiger, in particular, is considered critically endangered, with less than 500 estimated still in the wild. Along with these animals, the giant panda and Eastern gorilla also make the list.
Birds
More than 10% of all bird species are listed as endangered. Golden parakeets are prized for their beautiful yellow plumage and have been over-collected from their natural Amazon habitat. Another bird popular in the pet trade, the Green-cheeked Amazon (also known as the Green-cheeked parrot), bears a colorful head and the ability to speak. It's not the only parrot on the endangered species list; One-third of all parrots in the wild are endangered. Several types of woodpeckers, including the imperial and red-cockaded, also are being threatened into extinction. The ivory-billed woodpecker's numbers are so few that it actually was thought to be extinct until 2004, when sightings began to be reported.
Reptiles &Amp;hibians
Sea turtles are some of the most commonly known endangered animals, thanks to conservation efforts in their nesting grounds. However, despite public awareness, their numbers continue to fall. The largest sea turtle, the Leatherback, can reach up to 1,700 pounds and travel entire oceans, but despite their virility, they are critically endangered due to nest disturbance, fishing and pollution. Less than 100 adult Philippine crocodiles exist in the wild, making their extinction very possible in the near future. One of the world's most endangered frogs, the Corroboree, exists only in a small region of bogs in south-eastern Australia.
Fish
The coelacanth is a large fish that can grow up to six feet long. It often is called a living fossil, since it is the only remaining subspecies from a species of fish that became extinct millions of years ago. The bluefin tuna can grow even larger, up to ten feet and 1,500 pounds, and are one of the most endangered species on Earth. To a fisherman, one bluefin tuna could bring up to $10,000 and as a result, they are very heavily over-fished. Also over-fished are the Beluga sturgeon, known for their high-quality caviar. They can live to be 100, but with their spawning grounds now covering only 10% of what they used to be, they are classified as endangered with no current expectation of a population increase.