10 Animals That Are Almost Extinct

Script written by Michael Wynands

10 Animals That Could be Gone by 2049

Our world is changing and these are the creatures who seem to be paying the price. Welcome to WatchMojo, and today we’ll be counting down our picks for the 10 Animals That Could be Gone by 2049.

For this list, we’ll be looking at endangered species from around the world most at risk of becoming extinct in coming decades.

#10: Koala

Cute and utterly unique, koalas are not bears as their colloquial name often suggests, but rather the last remaining species in the family known as Phascolarctidae. Sadly, despite their enduring presence in popular culture, koalas may soon be joining their relatives on the extinct list. Though currently only classified as “vulnerable”, in 2019 the Australian Koala Foundation said they may be “functionally extinct” due to their dwindling population. Though this claim has been debated, the scientific community does seem to agree that changes need to be made to ensure the continued survival of the feisty but adorable species. If not, they could soon be in serious trouble.

#9: Saola

Among the rarest animals of its size in the world, the saola, also known as the spindlehorn, Vu Quang ox and Asian Unicorn, is considered to be critically endangered. Remarkably, the creature was only officially discovered in 1992, which serves as a testament to its general elusiveness. It was only photographed in the wild in 1999 and is known to be avoid human proximity. Sadly, its natural habitat is a limited one that faces a variety of human threats. Because saola are so hard to observe, the scientific community has struggled to estimate their current population size, but it could be as low as only a few dozen.

#8: Sea Turtles

Sea turtles are a fascinating group of creatures that have inspired scientists, animal-lovers and conservationists alike for generations. Today, there are seven known living species of sea turtle, but unfortunately almost all of them are categorized as either vulnerable, endangered or critically endangered. Hawksbill sea turtles fit into the latter category and are currently among the most worrying groups; despite the population having been decimated (dropping 80% during the last century), trade of their shells continues. Sea turtles are seemingly being attacked from all sides; not only are they hunted for their eggs, shells and meat, they’re also the victims of habitat destruction and are frequently accidental victims of industrial fishing.

#7: Gorillas

As anyone who’s spent time with these great apes will tell you, it’s hard not to feel a sense of kinship with our simian cousins. They might not be human in the narrow sense of the word, but they’re incredibly intelligent and emotional beings. And that’s what makes the precarious state in which so many gorillas find themselves such a heartbreaking tragedy. The destruction of their natural habitats, coupled with hunting, has pushed these magnificent creatures to the brink of extinction. It’s estimated that there are only 5,000 Eastern gorillas left, including just 1,000 mountain gorillas. Estimates put the numbers for Cross River Gorillas, a species of western gorilla, at just 250-300 individuals.

#6: Pangolin

They look like something out of a sci-fi movie. And while they are flesh and blood at the moment, they could very well cease to exist in a matter of decades. A number of pangolin species are already known to have gone extinct and those that remain are the single most-trafficked mammal in the world. The pangolin is an adorable, scaly little creature found across Asia and Africa, that’s highly prized for their meat and scales. For decades, it’s been poached and traded despite strict regulations put in place to protect it. In the case of the Palawan pangolin of the Philippines, the population has declined by as much as 95% in just the past four decades.

#5: Vaquita

The adorable vaquita, whose name means “little cow”, was only discovered in the 1950s. But due to illegal gillnet fishing operations in Mexico’s Gulf of California, the species is teetering on the brink of extinction. With only about 10 individuals left, the porpoise is the most endangered marine mammal in the world. In 2017, a captive breeding program was developed, but cancelled after a captured female died within hours. Saving the species is a race against the clock, and with illegal gillnets in the Gulf still killing them off one by one, time is about to run out.

#4: Sumatran Elephant

Native to the island of Sumatra in Indonesia, these big beautiful creatures have, like so many species, become critically endangered thanks to poaching and habitat loss. In just the last 25 years, more than two thirds of their habitat has been destroyed. Now there are concerns that what little forest remains on the island is insufficient to support a healthy population. By the early 2000s, the elephants had already disappeared from over half the areas where they had previously been identified, making them locally extinct in these regions. If the elephants and their habitats can’t be protected, WWF-Indonesia estimates that they could be gone within a decade.

#3: Black Rhinoceros

Rhinos have long been a favorite of poachers, prized for the supposed medicinal properties of their horns. In 2018, the last male northern white rhino died of age-related issues, leaving only two females and some genetic material behind with which to potentially save his species. Should in vitro fertilisation fail . . . they’ll be gone forever. This came just a few years after the western black rhino was declared extinct in 2011. Now the black rhino species overall is considered to be critically endangered. Altogether, it’s estimated that there are only around 5,000. Thankfully, that’s an improvement from 20 years ago when the population was half that, but a lot of hard work remains to avoid extinction.

#2: Sumatran Orangutan

Sumatran elephants aren’t the only species there facing extinction. Orangutans are subdivided into three branches: Bornean; Tapanuli, identified in 2017; and Sumatran. In the case of the latter, deforestation has seen the vast majority of their surviving population pushed to a small corner of the island. One of the biggest culprits is the palm oil industry. Fortunately, a survey in 2016 reported that recovery efforts are proving effective, with the population doubling since 2004. Given that they are endemic to Sumatra however, their future remains precarious - largely dependent on humans making responsible choices when it comes to land use.

#1: Amur Leopard

Rare animals have an air of mystery to them that adds to their appeal. While that’s all well and good, when a population of big cats dwindles to only a few dozen animals… that sense of awe is replaced by concern. Found in Russia and China, the Amur leopard population was believed in 2007 to be found to 19 and 26 individuals, thanks to poaching and human induced fires. More recently, different studies have estimated the number to be 60, or closer to 100. Whatever the exact figure, these stunning creatures could very well disappear within a generation. Thankfully, conservation organizations are taking action to protect the species from poachers - so there’s still some hope they’ll survive.