Conservation Status

Endangered
Species

Facing a very high risk of extinction in the wild.

75 Species

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Overview

Understanding This Status

Endangered (EN) is an IUCN Red List category for species that face a very high risk of extinction in the wild. A species is listed as Endangered when it meets specific quantitative criteria indicating rapid declines, small or shrinking populations, or severely limited distribution.

Endangered (EN) is one of the IUCN Red List's three "threatened" categories (Vulnerable, Endangered, Critically Endangered), sitting between Vulnerable and Critically Endangered in severity. It means the best available evidence shows the species is at a very high risk of extinction in the wild, based on standardized criteria that may include steep population reductions over time, very small population size and ongoing decline, or a very restricted range combined with fragmentation, fluctuation, or continuing threats.

This status applies to assessed taxa (typically species, and sometimes subspecies) across all groups of organisms, worldwide. It reflects risk in the wild rather than in captivity or cultivation, although ex situ populations can be important for recovery. Endangered listings are supported by documentation of distribution, population trends, ecology, and threats (e.g., habitat loss, overexploitation, invasive species, pollution, disease, or climate change), and are periodically re-evaluated as conditions and data change.

The Endangered category matters because it signals an elevated urgency for conservation action and helps prioritize monitoring, habitat protection, threat reduction, recovery planning, and funding. It also provides a widely recognized benchmark that governments, NGOs, land managers, and researchers can use to communicate risk consistently, track biodiversity trends over time, and evaluate whether interventions are improving a species' prospects.

Common Misconceptions

"Endangered" means the species is almost certainly going extinct soon; in reality it indicates a very high risk, but outcomes can improve with effective conservation and the time horizon varies by species and threat?

"Endangered" means there are only a handful of individuals left; some Endangered species still have thousands of individuals but are declining rapidly or have a restricted range with serious ongoing threats?

"Endangered" is a legal designation everywhere; the IUCN category is a scientific global assessment and may not match national legal protections or local listings?

IUCN Standards

Assessment Criteria

A species qualifies as Endangered (EN) when the best available evidence shows it faces a *very high risk of extinction in the wild* in the near to medium term. This is based on meeting at least one of the IUCN Red List quantitative criteria (A-E), which capture rapid population declines, very small or restricted populations, severe fragmentation/limited distribution, ongoing declines, or a modeled high probability of extinction.

A: Population Reduction

B: Geographic Range Size, Fragmentation, Decline or Fluctuation

C: Small Population Size and Decline

D: Very Small or Restricted Population

E: Quantitative Analysis

How species are assessed: Assessors compile and evaluate the best available evidence on population trends, distribution, threats, and life history, then test the species against criteria A-E using the IUCN Guidelines. The category Endangered is assigned if the species meets at least one EN threshold (or higher). Assessments document assumptions, uncertainty, time windows (generation length), the meaning of "locations," and the evidence supporting inferred/projected declines; they are typically reviewed (often via the IUCN Red List peer-review process) before publication.

~16,000-18,000 species globally listed as Endangered (EN) on the IUCN Red List (order-of-magnitude estimate; exact totals shift with each update) Species Globally

~9-11% of IUCN-assessed species Of Assessed Species

↑ Increasing

The number of Endangered listings tends to rise over time due to (1) genuine worsening of extinction risk from ongoing pressures (habitat loss/fragmentation, overexploitation, invasive species and disease, pollution, and climate change) and (2) expanded taxonomic and geographic coverage on the IUCN Red List plus reassessments that move species from Near Threatened/Vulnerable into Endangered as new data show steeper declines or smaller ranges. In some regions, targeted recovery can downlist species, but these gains are generally outweighed globally by continuing declines and improved detection/assessment.

Geographic Patterns: Endangered species are concentrated in high-biodiversity, high-endemism areas where habitat conversion and exploitation are intense: tropical forests (e.g., Southeast Asia, Madagascar, Mesoamerica, the Tropical Andes, Atlantic Forest of Brazil, parts of West/Central Africa), islands (e.g., Caribbean, Indian Ocean and Pacific islands) where small ranges and invasive species elevate risk, and freshwater biodiversity hotspots (e.g., Mekong, Ganges-Brahmaputra, parts of the Amazon/Orinoco, African rift lakes) affected by dams, pollution, and water withdrawals. Marine EN species are often tied to heavily fished regions and vulnerable habitats such as coral reefs and coastal nurseries.

Implications

What This Means

Faces a very high risk of extinction in the wild in the near- to medium-term under IUCN criteria (e.g., rapid population decline, small/declining range, or very small population).
Survival prospects are poor without active conservation intervention; continued threats can push the species toward Critically Endangered or extinction.
Populations are often fragmented and vulnerable to stochastic events (disease outbreaks, extreme weather, fire) that can cause rapid local extinctions.
Genetic diversity may be reduced due to small population size and isolation, increasing inbreeding risk and lowering adaptive capacity.
Recovery is still feasible with targeted actions (threat reduction, habitat protection/restoration, enforcement, and sometimes ex situ measures), but the window for effective action is narrowing.

High priority among threatened taxa; typically targeted for urgent, near-term action to prevent escalation to Critically Endangered. Conservationists often prioritize Endangered species for intensive threat mitigation, strong site/habitat protection, enforcement against exploitation, and coordinated recovery planning with measurable population and habitat targets. Endangered species are frequently included in national biodiversity strategies, action plans, and "zero extinction"/key biodiversity area efforts when they occur in limited locations.

CITES (Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species): may be listed in Appendix I (generally prohibits commercial international trade) or Appendix II (regulated trade via permits); Endangered status can support proposals for uplisting/tighter trade controls.
U.S. Endangered Species Act (ESA): if listed as Endangered or Threatened under the ESA, triggers prohibitions on "take," requirements for federal agencies to avoid jeopardy, critical habitat designation (where prudent), recovery planning, and permitting frameworks.
EU framework: EU Wildlife Trade Regulations implement CITES (Annex A-D); additionally, the Habitats Directive and Birds Directive can require strict protection, site designation (Natura 2000), and favorable conservation status measures.
National and subnational endangered species laws: many countries and states/provinces provide legal listing, protection from killing/harassment, habitat safeguards, regulated land-use approvals, and penalties for illegal trade or harm.
Regional agreements (where applicable): e.g., CMS/Bon Convention for migratory species, ASEAN Wildlife Enforcement Network cooperation, and transboundary protected-area or river-basin agreements that strengthen coordinated protection.

Endangered status often increases eligibility and competitiveness for conservation funding because it signals urgent extinction risk and clear conservation need. Many government programs, multilateral funds, and NGO grantmakers explicitly prioritize threatened categories (VU/EN/CR), with EN species frequently qualifying for targeted recovery grants, habitat acquisition/restoration funds, anti-poaching/enforcement support, and research/monitoring budgets. The status can also unlock stricter mitigation/offset requirements for development projects (sometimes generating conservation finance), though funding may be contingent on a credible recovery plan, defined outcomes, and demonstrated capacity for implementation.

Stories of Change

Status Transitions

Success Stories

Giant panda

endangered vulnerable

Large-scale habitat protection and restoration in China, plus creation/expansion of reserves and reduced poaching, supported population increases and improved connectivity, leading to downlisting.

2016

Iberian lynx

critically_endangered endangered

Intensive recovery actions (captive breeding, reintroductions, habitat management, prey recovery, and reduced human-caused mortality) increased numbers and expanded the range, improving status.

2015

Mountain gorilla

critically_endangered endangered

Sustained protection in key parks, anti-poaching efforts, veterinary interventions, and community-linked conservation helped populations grow despite ongoing risks, leading to an improved status.

2018

Tragic Losses

Sumatran orangutan

Escalating habitat loss and fragmentation (notably from land conversion and development), alongside hunting and conflict, drove continued declines severe enough to warrant uplisting.

2017

Gharial

River habitat degradation, reduced prey availability, entanglement in fishing gear, and disruption from dams/sand mining contributed to steep declines and increased extinction risk.

2007

How You Can Help

Take Action

Conservation Strategies

Legally protect remaining habitat and prevent further loss (e.g., expand/strengthen protected areas, enforce land-use zoning, stop illegal logging/mining)
Targeted anti-poaching and anti-trafficking operations (patrols, intelligence-led enforcement, snare removal, market/border inspections)
Species recovery planning with measurable population and threat-reduction targets (IUCN-style action plans, regular status monitoring)
Critical habitat restoration and connectivity (reforestation, wetland restoration, riparian buffers, wildlife corridors, road crossing structures)
Reduce human-wildlife conflict (predator-proof livestock enclosures, compensation/insurance schemes, community rapid-response teams, deterrents)
Invasive species and disease management (biosecurity, eradication/control programs, vaccination where appropriate, pathogen surveillance)
Captive breeding/head-starting and reintroduction/translocation when wild recovery is insufficient (genetic management, post-release monitoring)
Climate adaptation actions tailored to the species (refugia protection, assisted gene flow/translocation where justified, water management)
Community-based conservation with livelihood incentives (benefit-sharing, sustainable resource use agreements, conservation employment)
Regulate and certify supply chains driving declines (deforestation-free commodities, sustainable fisheries bycatch reduction devices, traceability)
Strengthen policy and international agreements enforcement (CITES implementation, national endangered species laws, environmental impact assessments)
Long-term funding mechanisms (conservation trust funds, debt-for-nature swaps, payments for ecosystem services)

How You Can Help

Support high-impact, on-the-ground programs for Endangered species (donate monthly to reputable NGOs running protection, restoration, or anti-poaching in the species' range)
Adopt/avoid products linked to habitat loss for threatened wildlife: choose FSC-certified wood/paper, RSPO-certified palm oil, deforestation-free beef/soy/cocoa when available
Never buy wildlife products (skins, ivory, exotic pets, traditional medicines with wild ingredients); report suspected trafficking to local authorities or wildlife hotlines
Reduce bycatch and overfishing pressure: buy seafood rated "Best Choice/Green" by credible guides; avoid products from destructive gear or poorly managed fisheries
Make your home/community safer for wildlife: keep cats indoors, use bird-safe window treatments, reduce nighttime light pollution, avoid rodenticides that poison predators
Participate in habitat restoration where Endangered species occur (native tree planting, invasive removal, wetland cleanups) through vetted local groups
Advocate for strong protections: contact representatives to support protected areas, Endangered Species Act-type enforcement, and funding for ranger services and recovery plans
Choose climate and energy actions that reduce extinction risk: cut personal emissions, support renewable energy projects that include wildlife-safe siting and mitigation
Travel responsibly: avoid attractions involving captive wild animals or unethical encounters; choose certified eco-tour operators that fund conservation locally
Contribute data: join citizen-science projects (eBird, iNaturalist) and report sightings to local conservation bodies-especially for rare/endangered taxa
Support coexistence initiatives: fund or volunteer with programs providing predator-proof corrals, crop-protection fencing, or community compensation schemes
Vote with your wallet for transparency: favor brands with traceable, third-party-audited "nature-positive" commitments and publicly report greenwashing when found

Endangered species are at a very high risk of becoming extinct in the wild or extinct. In the most recent iteration of the list the IUCN identifies 5,766 species as endangered. For the IUCN to add a species to the category it must meet any of the following criteria:

Population Reduction

A taxon’s population size is reduced by 70 percent or more over 10 years or three generations, whichever is longer, and the reduction causes are understood, reversible, and have stopped. For example, let’s pretend there is a bird species that traditionally had a population of 2000. Over 10 years, it drops to 600 because a logging company demolished its habitat. If laws are put in place that bar the logging company from continuing to fell trees in the area, then the IUCN will list it as “endangered” because the reason for the decline is understood and ceased.
A taxon’s population size is reduced by 50 percent or more over 10 years or three generations, whichever is longer, but the reduction cause may not be understood or reversible. For example, let’s say there is a bird species that traditionally had a population size of 2000. Over 10 years, it drops to 1000. However, scientists can’t figure out why they’re dying off. In this case, the IUCN would list it as “critically endangered” because the decimation is evident, but scientists can’t figure out why.
A taxon’s population size is reduced by 50 percent or more over 10 years or three generations, whichever is longer, and the animal is also battling habitat shrinkage or another threat.

Geographic Reduction

The area where a species can live is reduced to 5,000 square kilometers or less, or the area that the species currently and actually occupies is reduced to 500 square kilometers, and at least two of the following criteria are also true:

The population is known to exist in only one location.
Scientists observe or predict that the habitat will continue to shrink or be degraded, and there’s also a decline in subpopulations or the number of reproducing adults.
Scientists observe extreme fluctuations in the number of locations, subpopulations, or the number of reproducing adults.

Dangerously Low Number of Adults

A taxon’s population only has 2,500 or fewer adults left, and a 20 percent decline is anticipated within three years or one generation, whichever is longer. If no subpopulation of the taxon contains more than 250 adults, or 95 percent of the species’ adults live in one subpopulation, it will qualify as critically endangered
Scientists observe extreme fluctuations in the number of mature adults in a given population.

Expected Rapid Decline

Research and studies indicate that there is a 20 percent or greater chance that the species will be extinct in the wild within 20 years or five generations, whichever is longer.