Over 31 percent of land area on earth is covered by forests. In addition to providing living forms with the oxygen they need to breathe, these forests offer secluded homes for a variety of wildlife. However, recent deforestation activities have begun threatening the very existence of these forests, along with the wildlife that inhabits them. And with rapidly declining forests, it has become alarming to note that certain countries actually have more than one species on their endangered animal species list. Given below are some of the countries that top the list of endangered animal species.
Ecuador
Ecuador tops the list of countries with the maximum number of endangered species by housing over 2211 of the total species of endangered animals in the entire world. The main reasons for this has been attributed to developments in the agricultural and industrial sectors which has led to the depletion of most of the country’s forests. And this has had a direct impact on the wildlife living in these areas.
For instance, the tiny nation was home to almost 1600 different species of birds, out of which, 203 are endangered and 93 are already feared to be extinct. And it’s the same plight with animals and plants as well.
The United States of America
Housing over 1203 species of endangered wildlife, the country that is considered as a super power has so far, done little to protect its wildlife inhabitants. And despite the presence of a board called the Endangered Species Act (ESA) which strives to protect endangered plants and animals, the country has found it difficult to deal with the declining numbers of certain species of animals, including the giant armadillo, wood bison, American black bear, woodland caribou and several species of bats etc. The endangered wildlife list also extends to the oceans where over 81 different species of marine life are in danger of becoming extinct, thanks to factors like increasing pollution levels, ocean acidification and over fishing etc.
Malaysia
Malaysia houses over 1166 species of endangered animals, thanks to the continuous evolvement of new cities and the extended development of existing ones that pretty much lead to most of the forests in the region being cleared up within a short span of time. Illegal poaching is also said to contribute to the steady decline in wildlife in several regions around the country. Accordingly, some of the endangered species that can be found in Malaysia include the orangutan, Malayan tiger and the Sumatran rhinoceros etc.
Indonesia
Located near Malaysia, Indonesia is one of the many countries that is fast becoming a scary abode for endangered species. Constant deforestation and logging for the purpose of industrial development, and illegal wildlife trade have contributed to the staggering total of over 1126 species of wildlife that face extinction here, some of which include the Sumatran tiger, lutang, orangutan, Sumatran elephant, Sumatran rhinoceros etc.
China
China houses over 841 endangered species of birds and animals. The country is known to be home to the most diverse species of birds on the planet, and some really exotic animals like the giant panda. However, factors like air pollution, habitat devastation, fine dining habits (demanding exotic animals for meals), use of animal parts in traditional Chinese medicine, illegal hunting and inadequate measures to protect the animals from the same have led to a sharp decline in the numbers of a wide range of animals, including the crested ibis, river dolphin, Chinese alligator, Chinese pangolin and the South China Tiger etc.
Australia
In a span of over 200 years, almost 18 different species of wildlife in Australia have become extinct; a staggering total when you come to realize that the figure it nearly half of the total species of wildlife that have become extinct in other areas of the world. And the list keeps on increasing with nearly 40 species of living mammals facing extinction in the next few years. And the main reason for this decline is surprisingly attributed to introduced animals and plants, although other factors like habitat destruction and direct exploitation also play major roles in the same.
Some of the animal species that contribute to the list of 804 species of total endangered animals in the continent include Margaret River burrowing crayfish, Bornemissza’s stag beetle, Southern corroboree frog, Lord Howe Island phasmid, Southern bent-wing bat, Short-nosed sea snake, Orange-bellied parrot, Armoured mist frog and the Red-finned blue-eye fish etc.
Brazil
With over a total of 769 different species of wildlife in the country on the endangered list, Brazil owes its declining wildlife population to illegal poaching, habitat destruction and the introduction of new, competing species of wildlife.
And despite taking extra measures to protect its wildlife habitats, the country has started to experience a sharp decline in the populations of the Brazilian arboreal mouse, black-faced lion tamarin, Northern Bahian blond titi monkey, ring-tail monkey, northern wooly spider monkey, buffy-headed marmoset, Brazilian spiny rice rat, golden-rumped lion tamarin, maned three-toed sloth, southern muriqui and the giant armadillo etc.