Species at Risk - Haggard Earth

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Defying conflict to track the world’s rarest chimpanzees.Mongabay Leo Plunkett, Tom Richards, Sandy Watt 13 Apr 2026 Africa Primate Planet GASHAKA GUMTI NATIONAL PARK, Nigeria — Here in Nigeria’s largest protected wilderness area lies one of the last strongholds of the Nigeria–Cameroon chimpanzee (Pan troglodytes ellioti), the world’s rarest chimpanzee subspecies. For nearly a decade, however, this population has lived largely out of sight.

Once a leading hub for field research in West Africa, Gashaka fell silent in the late 2010s when insecurity in the area forced scientists to withdraw. “By 2018, all research had stopped,” says conservationist Elisha Emmanuel. When the researchers left, so did the rangers who protected the park. Without them, Gashaka became vulnerable to poachers and bandits, and its research stations slid into disrepairBut a handful of local research assistants refused to leave. “It’s our bush,” says Maigari, who grew up in nearby Gashaka village. “If they want to kill me, they will kill me because the chimps are my friends.” A turning point came later that year when the Nigerian government signed a co‑management agreement with the Africa Nature Investors Foundation (ANI), a local nonprofit. Since then, more than 180 rangers have been hired and trained to protect the forest. “This has really brought security to the park, which now gives us the opportunity to restart research,” Emmanuel says. For field assistants like Maigari, that stability means a chance to return to what they know best: tracking and monitoring chimpanzees in the wild.

The first step in Gashaka’s scientific revival is an ambitious camera‑trap survey. Using a newly acquired helicopter, researchers have deployed cameras across the 600,000‑hectare (1.48‑million‑acre) park, reaching remote forest basins, ridges and other rugged terrain that had remained inaccessible for years. Early results are encouraging: new groups of chimpanzees have been recorded, including several carrying infants. The Nigeria–Cameroon chimpanzee remains vanishingly rare; only 3,500 to 9,000 individuals are thought to survive across a fragmented range stretching from southeastern Nigeria to western Cameroon. Gashaka Gumti may now hold one of the subspecies’ most important remaining populations. With previously unknown groups rediscovered and new research bases planned, Gashaka is again becoming a center for primate conservation and a symbol of resilience. “The presence of Maigari and the other field assistants really gave the park hope of existing again,” Emmanuel says. “I celebrate them as heroes.”.........read on https://news.mongabay.com/video/2026/04/defying-conflict-to-track-the-worlds-rarest-chimpanzees/.

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10 of the world's most endangered animals.......Currently, more than 47,000 species have been assessed to be under threat of extinction according to the IUCN. WWF As our modern society gets more resource-intensive, natural spaces are shrinking and wildlife numbers are declining. Our 2024 Living Planet Report shows the average size of wildlife populations has fallen by a staggering 73% since 1970.[1] While there have been amazing and inspirational wildlife successes and stories in the past, many animals are still endangered mostly due to unsustainable human-led activities. Currently, on the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) red list, more than 47,000 species have been assessed to be under threat of extinction.[2] And below we’ve listed just 10 of the world’s most endangered animals in the wild.

Here's two of them....Sunda pangolin- They are one of 8 species of pangolin. They are secretive, elusive and mostly nocturnal animals that live in forests across Southeast Asia. The main threat to this species is overexploitation from hunting and poaching. Pangolin meat is considered a luxury product in some countries and their scales are used as an ingredient in traditional medicines. Like all pangolin species, international trade in Sunda pangolins is illegal. Despite this, multiple huge seizures have been made in recent decades, involving thousands of animals, that likely represents a small fraction of the trafficking actually taking place. As a result, the Sunda pangolin is increasingly rare across much of its former range/

Amur leopard- The Amur leopard is one of the rarest big cats in the world, with only around 130 individuals left in the wild.[4] Although their wild population seems to be stable and increasing, these leopard subspecies are still critically endangered since 1996. And there is good reason: Amur leopards can only be found in a relatively small region of the far east of Russia and north-eastern China at present. The remaining Amur leopards face multiple threats to their survival, including habitat loss and fragmentation, prey scarcity and transportation infrastructure such as roads. However, there is hope for this rare big cat. Protected areas cover 90% of the current range of Amur leopard population,[4] and they are also moving into suitable habitats outside of these protected areas......read on- there's eight more https://www.wwf.org.uk/learn/wildlife/endangered-animals

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SPECIES AT RISK WWF- Black rhino......Between 1960 and 1995, black rhino populations suffered dramatic losses in their numbers due to large-scale poaching. Only around 2% of the population survived the severe poaching levels by the end of this period.[16] As rhino conservation took hold, their numbers have more than doubled across Africa since the 1990s. But, black rhinos are still listed as critically endangered by the IUCN, with an estimated 6,421 individuals in the wild. Three subspecies of black rhino now survive, with the western black rhino declared extinct in 2011. Today, 95% of black rhinos are found in just four countries: Kenya, Namibia, South Africa and Zimbabwe. The biggest threat to the remaining population is still poaching for their horn. In the last decade, almost 10,000 African rhinos have been killed to supply the illegal rhino horn trade.[18]To help us protect them, Adopt a Rhino today. Among black and white rhinos, black rhinos are the smaller of the two African rhino species. Black and white rhinos can be distinguished by the shape of their lips. Black rhinos have hooked upper lips, whereas white rhinos are characterized by a square lip. Black rhinos are browsers, rather than grazers, meaning they are herbivores who do not feed on low-growing vegetation, and their pointed lip helps them feed on leaves from bushes and trees. They have two horns, which grow continually from the skin at their base throughout the rhino’s life (like human fingernails). The front horn is longer than the rear horn, averaging around 19 inches long.

The population of black rhinos declined dramatically in the 20th century at the hands of European hunters and settlers. Between 1960 and 1995, black rhino numbers dropped by a sobering 98%, to less than 2,500 individuals. Since then, the species has made a tremendous comeback from the brink of extinction. Thanks to persistent conservation efforts across Africa, black rhino numbers have doubled from their historic low 20 years ago to more than 6,000 today. However, the black rhino is still considered critically endangered, and a lot of work remains to bring their population up to even a fraction of what it once was—and to ensure that it stays there. Wildlife crime—in this case, poaching of rhinos for the illegal international market for their horns—continues to plague the species and threaten its recovery.Among black and white rhinos, black rhinos are the smaller of the two African rhino species. Black and white rhinos can be distinguished by the shape of their lips. Black rhinos have hooked upper lips, whereas white rhinos are characterized by a square lip. Black rhinos are browsers, rather than grazers, meaning they are herbivores who do not feed on low-growing vegetation, and their pointed lip helps them feed on leaves from bushes and trees. They have two horns, which grow continually from the skin at their base throughout the rhino’s life (like human fingernails). The front horn is longer than the rear horn, averaging around 19 inches long. The population of black rhinos declined dramatically in the 20th century at the hands of European hunters and settlers. Between 1960 and 1995, black rhino numbers dropped by a sobering 98%, to less than 2,500 individuals. Since then, the species has made a tremendous comeback from the brink of extinction. Thanks to persistent conservation efforts across Africa, black rhino numbers have doubled from their historic low 20 years ago to more than 6,000 today. However, the black rhino is still considered critically endangered, and a lot of work remains to bring their population up to even a fraction of what it once was—and to ensure that it stays there. Wildlife crime—in this case, poaching of rhinos for the illegal international market for their horns—continues to plague the species and threaten its recovery.

News and stories Rhinos are one of the oldest groups of mammals, virtually living fossils. They play an important role in their habitats, and in countries like Namibia, rhinos are an important source of income from ecotourism. This is especially true for local communities in the arid northwestern parts of the country, which are home to Africa’s largest free-roaming black rhino population. Since black rhinos need large territories to survive, their protection benefits many other species, including elephants.Illegal wildlife trade
Of all the threats facing black rhinos, poaching is the deadliest. Black rhinos have two horns, which make them lucrative targets for the illegal trade in rhino horn. Due to intense poaching, 96% of the population was wiped out between 1970 and 1990. Political instability and wars have also greatly hampered rhino conservation work over the last decades in places like Angola, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Rwanda, Somalia, and Sudan. Black rhinos remain critically endangered because of demand for rhino horns on the illegal international market, mainly in Asia, where rhino horn is used for traditional medicine, and increasingly as a status symbol to display success and wealth. Between 2008 and 2021, around 11,000 rhinos were poached in Africa. A recent increase in poaching in South Africa threatens to erase our conservation success, reaching an apex in 2014 when 1,215 rhinos were poached. As a sign of hope, increasingly more experts in traditional Chinese medicine no longer support the use of rhino horn and promote herbal ingredients as a replacement.

How WWF is taking action to protect black rhinos.....read on https://www.worldwildlife.org/species/rhino/black-rhino/

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What Happens to Ecosystems When Bees Disappear? Earth.Org Chloë Roberts Mar 31st 2025Losing bees means more than just having fewer flowers in our gardens – it will result in a chain reaction felt through entire ecosystems and food chains, including our own. Responsible for a third of global food production, bees are essential for life as we know it. So, what would it mean for us – and the world around us – if they disappeared? Scientists have been sounding the alarm on pollinator loss for decades, highlighting their importance and the urgent need for us to reverse their decline. You may have noticed that your garden has gotten quieter, with fewer fluttering wings from butterflies or the hum from buzzing bees. Well, that is simply because there are fewer of them around. Since 1987, the Joint Nature Conservation Committee (JNCC) has reported that pollinator numbers have decreased by almost 25%. As we continue to create a world suited for our needs, bees are losing vital habitats they rely on for food and nesting. Lush meadows are replaced with fields upon fields of single crops. Green spaces are traded for steel and concrete. Our wild, messy, species-rich gardens become neat, mown lawns. Slowly, but surely, bees are being squeezed out of the world they have been part of for millions of years. Understanding the impact of their decline is crucial to fully grasping how important bees are and what their loss means for the world around us.

Nature’s Tiny Farmers......Bees – specifically honeybees – are widely considered the most efficient and effective pollinators. These bumbling, fuzzy creatures grace our green spaces when the sun shines, minding their business and working hard to feed their hives. Beautifully described as “humble-bees” by Charles Darwin, these insects are an integral part of nature, a welcome sight to many flowers for pollination and reproduction.To many, bees are simply seen as honey makers, providing us with delicious, sugary goodness that we enjoy in all sorts of food and drink. What we fail to appreciate daily is just how much impact bees have on all of our food through the pollination of crops. Bees are indeed a fundamental part of our food chain. As they dance from flower to flower, bees transfer pollen to fertilize plants so they can produce seeds and fruit. This not only provides us with hundreds of varieties of fruit and vegetables but it also supports the entire food web, sustaining countless species that rely on these plants for survival. In addition, these plants then go on to feed livestock, which ultimately become meat for our consumption, too. Every element of the food we eat daily has been influenced, in some way, by these tiny creatures.

Because bees play a crucial role in our food cycle, they spend much of their time in farmlands. But over the past 50 years, these landscapes have become increasingly dangerous to them. Imagine trying to do your job while toxic chemicals fill the air you breathe and coat the food you eat. If you manage to survive that, you still have to dodge industrial machinery – spinning blades, massive wheels, and heavy equipment barreling toward you. And after all that effort, when you finally return home, you might find it gone, cleared away, leaving you displaced, starving, and vulnerable. Now, this may seem extreme, but for many bee species, it is a reality. The demand for fast-growing, long-lasting, and visually flawless food has led to increased use of herbicides and pesticides. While these chemicals meet our needs in the short-term, they are eliminating bees, one of the most essential links in our food system.

How Bee Loss Reshapes The World.....The decline of bees threatens entire ecosystems, and without them, the world around us would look very different. So, what exactly are the long-term effects of losing these vital creatures?

Disrupted Food Production..... Bee loss poses a very real threat to agricultural production all over the world. In Europe, around 80% of wildflower and crop species depend entirely on bee pollination for fertilisation. While most cereal crops rely on wind for pollination, 90% of the crops consumed worldwide are pollinated by bees, including most fruit and vegetables. Without them, we would have to find other, more labor intensive, less efficient ways to pollinate our crops. Some techniques include hand pollination (which is incredibly time-consuming) and drone pollination (very expensive). No human alternative can compare to the effectiveness and specialty that bees possess when it comes to pollination. In short, we cannot do their job at the same scale or speed......read on https://earth.org/what-happens-to-ecosystems-when-bees-disappear/

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International Tiger Day 2025: The Ongoing Threats Facing Sumatran Tigers International Tiger Project AsiaJul 29th 2025 Tigers are vital to the health of entire ecosystems, yet fewer than 3,140 remain free in the wild. Habitat destruction, poaching and human tiger conflict are pushing these incredible animals closer to extinction. This International Tiger Day, we shine a light on one of the most critically endangered of them all – the Sumatran tiger. Tigers (Panthera tigris) are the world’s largest wild cats. Elusive, solitary beings, they are the apex predator in their habitat. They hold deep cultural significance in many regions and communities across Asia. But their survival hangs by a thread, with all subspecies of tigers in a desperate fight for their future.

The Last Tigers of Indonesia The Sumatran tiger – Indonesia’s critically endangered king of the jungle – faces the grim reality of being lost forever. With fewer than 300 left in the wild, time is running out to save it. Sumatran tigers are the last tigers left in Indonesia, with the Balinese and Javanese tigers already extinct. Sumatran tigers are the smallest of the tiger subspecies, with rich, dark orange fur and tightly spaced stripes that help them blend seamlessly into their dense jungle surroundings. They have long, thick whiskers and a distinctive mane-like hair growth around their necks. As solitary hunters, they rely on stealth and strength to rule their territory. They are essential for healthy forests, controlling prey populations and helping maintain forest biodiversity in Indonesia’s fragile ecosystems. But without immediate and collective action, Sumatran tigers could be lost forever. “Tigers are powerful forces of nature; they are guardians of the forest. When we protect tigers, we protect everything that shares their home,” said Leif Cocks, Founder of the International Tiger Project.

Deadly Threats to Sumatran Tigers......

1. Habitat destruction......Forests in Indonesia are being destroyed at an alarming rate, cleared for illegal logging, mining and palm oil plantations. As tiger forests fall, so does their chance of survival. They are losing their hunting grounds, shelter and safe spaces to raise their cubs. Tigers are territorial and need vast areas of intact forest to thrive. Females in particular do not like to share their space. Male cubs leave their mothers at around 18 months of age, seeking their own territory to rule. They bide their time, waiting to take over larger forest spaces claimed by dominant males. But with shrinking forests, they have less space to rule, and less land to live instinctively and naturally in the wild.

2. Human-tiger conflict......As tiger forest disappears, so does their prey. Tigers are left hungry and desperate, forced to hunt closer and closer to villages, where they enter farmland and attack livestock. Conflict is rising with local communities as villagers retaliate to protect their livelihoods. Tigers are injured or killed in the process, worsening their already critical status........read on https://earth.org/international-tiger-day-2025-the-ongoing-threats-facing-sumatran-tigers/

Defying Conflict to Track the World’s Rarest Chimpanzees.

10 of the World's most Endangered Animals.

Between 1960 and 1995, Black Rhino populations suffered Dramatic Losses in their numbers Due to Large-scale Poaching.

What Happens to Ecosystems When Bees Disappear?

The Last Tigers of Indonesia The Sumatran Tiger

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