The Rarest Animals In The World

Quick Take

• One animal on this list exists as a single living individual, which is not the species most people would guess. See the rarest animals →
• For one of these critically endangered species, scientists still have no idea why its numbers are collapsing. Explore the mystery decline →
• Hunting isn't the main killer wiping these animals out. One culprit dominates the list, and it hits closer to home than most expect. See the top threat →
• Two species on this list are actually fighting back, and the method keeping them alive might surprise you. Find the survivors →
• Several of the world's rarest animals live in places you'd never think to look for them. Discover their habitats →

Over the years, the human race has expanded more and more rapidly , leaving a trail of environmental damage in the process. The biggest impacts on our planet are caused by pollution and deforestation, which means the loss of habitat for some of the world’s rarest species.

But at a time when we are becoming more aware of the destruction we have caused and are looking more and more to conserving the world’s habitats, how many of us actually know which animals are our rarest? Here are the 10 rarest animals in the world:

1. The Pinta Island Tortoise – Native to the Galapagos Islands. There is only one left due to hunting and habitat loss.
2. The Yangtze River Dolphin – Native to the Yangtze river in China. There are fewer than 50 in the wild due to hunting and habitat loss.
3. The Vancouver Island Marmot – Native to the Vancouver mountains. There are only 75 in the wild but captive breeding programmes are under way.
4. The Seychelles Sheath-tailed Bat – Native to the island of Madagascar. There are fewer than 100 on the island, but the reason for their demise is uncertain.
5. The Javan Rhinoceros – Native to Indonesia and Vietnam. There are fewer than 60 in the wild due to habitat loss.
6. The Hispid Hare – Native to the Himalayan foothills in Nepal. There are fewer than 100 in the world due to habitat loss.
7. The Northern Hairy-nosed Wombat – Native to the tropics of Australia. There are fewer than 100 left in the wild, due to habitat loss.
8. The Dwarf Water Buffalo – Native to the Philippines. There are fewer than 200 in the wild due to hunting and habitat loss.
9. The Iberian Lynx – Native to the Spanish region of Andalusia. As few as 100 remain in the wild due to habitat loss.
10. The Red Wolf – Native to the south-east of the USA. Just over 100 are thought to be in the wild today thanks to captive breeding programmes.
    

All of these animals have been classified as being Critically Endangered, and for many of them, their numbers in the wild are at an all-time low. Global deforestation is the primary cause for their demise, something which is being done by us.

Here is a list of rare animals in the world: