The World’s Most Endangered Mammals

CUBAN SOLENODON

Cuba

A primitive insectivore, unusual for its venomous saliva. It was believed to be extinct until its rediscovery in 2003 but numbers remains critically low

GOLDEN LION TAMARIN

East coast of Brazil

Thanks to deforestation only 2% of the golden lion tamarin’s original habitat remains. Fewer than 1,000 are thought to exist in the wild

RIVERINE RABBIT

South America

One of the rarest and most endangered mammals in the world, conservationists say the South American riverine rabbit’s population is down to just 200 individuals

GREY WHALE

Pacific Ocean

Despite surviving on earth for more than 30 million years, the grey whale population is critically endangered, particularly among Eastern Pacific populations

POLAR BEAR

Arctic

Some predictions suggest the arctic polar bear could be extinct within 30 years. Current global population is somewhere between 22,000 and 24,000

AYE-AYE

Madagascar

Believed by local superstition to be a harbinger of evil, aye- ayes are often killed on sight despite already losing much of their habitat. Fewer than 1,000 left

IBERIAN LYNX

Spain and Portugal

Despite huge conservation efforts, the Iberian Lynx, the most endangered of the world’s 36 cats, stands on the edge of extinction. Just 100 adults are left in the wild

VIETNAM LEAF-NOSED BAT

Vietnam

This large-eared bat is known from only a single specimen and many scientists believe it may already be extinct. Last seen in the wild 60 years ago

JAVAN RHINOCEROS

Java, Indonesia and Vietnam

Once found across much of south-east Asia fewer than 60 of these squat rhinos are thought to exist, making it the rarest of all living rhinoceros species

ETHIOPIAN WOLF

Ethiopia

Rabies and increasing contact with humans has reduced the Ethiopian wolf population to the point where only seven packs remain, constituting fewer than 500 adults