Beauties on the Brink of Extinction
It’s no surprise that the world’s a big place, and on this vast land of ours lie millions of species you’ve probably never heard of! Don’t worry, we aren’t going to list every one of them—just the five rarest animals you’d be lucky to see in the wild.
1. Northern White Rhino
It’s hard to believe that only two females remain, but the Northern White Rhino is a rarity indeed. The world lost its last remaining male in 2018, leaving these two lovely ladies behind, dangerously close to extinction. Over the years, habitat loss and poaching played a big role in wiping out the species.
2. Amur Leopard
Unless you’re on the Russia-China border, you likely won’t spot one of these stunning animals. It’s probably for the best—only 100 or so remain due to poaching and fewer available prey. We currently have about 200 of them in captivity, but it still cuts a measly number compared to their cousins.
Colin Hines www.ColinHinesPhotography.com on Wikimedia
3. Kākāpō
When you think about parrots, you likely think of brightly colored feathers and hilarious mimicry. You probably don’t think about this rare, flightless parrot found in New Zealand. This nocturnal species is the heaviest parrot on record, and we only have about 250 of them left.
4. Hainan Gibbon
If you ever sat down next to this guy, you’d swear he was about to impart wisdom. Something about their little faces seems almost human-like, and the fascination only doubles when you realize they’re the world’s rarest primate. To date, only around 30 or so remain in China.
User:Anna Frodesiak on Wikimedia
5. Vaquita
Believe it or not, that isn’t a shark you’re looking at—it’s technically a porpoise! If you’re lucky, you might just catch one on the northern end of the Gulf of California. However, as of 2022, only ten remaining souls have been reported.
