Endangered Species
Our neighbours in crisis
On beaches all around the world, it used to be common to see a marine turtle painstakingly heaving herself up the slope to dig a nest and lay her eggs. In doing so, she was taking part in a life cycle that's been ongoing for millenia.So what's changed?
From the beach, where poachers may wait with a knife for her shell, leather and meat, to the sea where dangers range from the very large (fishing nets) to the invisible (life-threatening pollutants), this cycle is breaking down, fast.
Along with turtles, other species such as rhinos, tigers, gorillas and countless other animals and plants share a similar fate.
Facts that speak for themselves
In the Pacific, leatherback turtles face extinction. Giant pandas have lost half their habitat in the past few decades. More than 90% of tiger populations disappeared in the 20th century: today, only around 5,000 individuals remain. And javan and northern white rhinos have become two of the most endangered large mammals on Earth.What we do
WWF has been combating such negative trends for more than four decades. The organization focuses particular attention on a small number of threatened and endangered species which the organization calls flagship species.These species act as ambassadors for a natural habitat, issue, campaign or environmental cause. By focusing on, and achieving conservation of that species, the status of many other species which share its habitat – or which are threatened by the same threats - may also be improved.
To find out about the other species we protect, view more species. You can also search for species by country
