Top 10 Endangered Top 10 Endangered Species Species Around the worldAround the world

The Most Endangered The Most Endangered Species is the Black Species is the Black Rhino Rhino Since 1970, the Black Rhino population, native to southern and east Africa, has declined by 90% to less than 3,000. They are killed mostly for their horns. Trade of Rhinos has been banned for more than twenty years! Although having banned trading of the species, there still continues to be a great demand for Rhino parts.

TheThe Next Next is is Giant Giant PandaPandaWithin about three short years, Giant Pandas could be facing extinction. Fewer than 1,000 remain in their native habitat of China! The main reason for their decline is due to loss of natural habitat.

Number Three is TigerNumber Three is TigerThese really cool cats are native to tropical zones in Southeast Asia and

temperate regions like the Russian far East. Less than 6,000 tigers remain in the wild! The worst threat to this species is for body parts and bones used in traditional Asian medicines.

Number Four is Beluga Number Four is Beluga Sturgeon Sturgeon

These ancient living fish fossils are found in the Caspian Sea. Valued

throughout the world by connoisseurs for their superior quality caviar,

poaching is out of control due to the excessive demand and high prices

paid for Sturgeons’ “pearl-like” caviar

Number Five is Number Five is Goldenseal Goldenseal The perennial Goldenseal herb is favored by naturopathists for its ability to heal numerous ailments from hemorrhoids to allergies. Home in the hardwood forests of North America, the demand for this cure-all perennial herb has recently leaped more than 30%

Number Six is Number Six is Alligator Snapping Turtle

The alligator snapping turtle is often associated with, but not closely related to the common snapping turtle.

Prized by turtle trappers and dealers for its rare meat, Alligator Snapping Turtles, the largest of freshwater turtles from North America, is quickly being depleted due to increased shipments to many international world markets including Asia.

Number Seven is Number Seven is Hawksbill Turtle Hawksbill Turtle

Found mainly around tropical reefs, the three foot (one meter) length Hawksbill Turtle species, named for its distinctive snout, is becoming extremely vulnerable due to their slow reproduction rates and high volume of illegal trade for the prized jewel-like "tortoise shell.

Number Eight is Big Leaf Number Eight is Big Leaf MahoganyMahogany

Demand for the red colored wood goes unabated because of worldwide consumer demand for quality mahogany hardwood furniture. Although mahogany trees are widely distributed in tropical forests from Mexico to the Amazon Basin, the species grows naturally only as individual trees rather than in groups of large forest stands. Wholesale stripping of Amazon forests has resulted in perhaps 70 per cent of the world's supply being depleted.

Number Nine is Green-Number Nine is Green-Cheeked Parrot Cheeked Parrot Native to Mexico, this colorful parrot species, with the ability to Native to Mexico, this colorful parrot species, with the ability to mimic the human voice, has been significantly reduced in mimic the human voice, has been significantly reduced in numbers due to a hugh demand for these lovely pet birds, numbers due to a hugh demand for these lovely pet birds, especially from the U.S. Even after prohibiting the sale of these especially from the U.S. Even after prohibiting the sale of these green-cheeked birds, droves of species are still being illegally green-cheeked birds, droves of species are still being illegally traded across the Mexico/US border.traded across the Mexico/US border.

Last, but Not Least Last, but Not Least Number Ten is the Mako Number Ten is the Mako SharkSharkThe Mako Shark is highly sought for its tender meat, and especially in Asian Markets, The Mako Shark is highly sought for its tender meat, and especially in Asian Markets,

for their shark fins which have even greater value for medicinal purposes. Some of for their shark fins which have even greater value for medicinal purposes. Some of the species are merely stripped for their prized fins by the international fishing fleets the species are merely stripped for their prized fins by the international fishing fleets and then are trown back into the depths, left to die. and then are trown back into the depths, left to die.

Fins are now among the world’s most expensive fisheries product! VAlues very Fins are now among the world’s most expensive fisheries product! VAlues very according to color, size, and thickness of fins. according to color, size, and thickness of fins.

In Hong Kong, shark fins soup can fetch almost US $100 for a single In Hong Kong, shark fins soup can fetch almost US $100 for a single serving!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!Wholesale pricing for find can range from a low of US $40 to serving!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!Wholesale pricing for find can range from a low of US $40 to more the $5050 per kilo!!!!!!!!!!more the $5050 per kilo!!!!!!!!!!

As with most shark species, Mako Sharks are particularly susceptible to overfish As with most shark species, Mako Sharks are particularly susceptible to overfish because they have long life cycles, resulting in the species being fished twice as fast because they have long life cycles, resulting in the species being fished twice as fast as they are able to produce. Mako Sharks mature in seven to twelve years and only as they are able to produce. Mako Sharks mature in seven to twelve years and only then produce small litters of baby sharks in their lifetimethen produce small litters of baby sharks in their lifetime