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10 Majestic Animals Facing Extinction

Wednesday, 14 March 2012 14:22 Published in Science & Technology

While it’s true that more species have gone extinct in the history of life on Earth than currently exist, scientists believe the extinction rate is accelerating, and that we may be to blame. Thousands of species worldwide are at risk of suffering the same fate as the dodo bird, to name one famously extinct species. The International Union for the Conservation of Nature maintains a “Red List” of at-risk species. Certain animals are classified as either “Extinct” or “Extinct in the Wild” (animals found only in captivity), but the next most serious category is “Critically Endangered,” for animals whose populations have decreased by 80 percent in the past three generations. Once a population dwindles to a certain point, its chances of coming back are slim due to a lack of genetic diversity. Here, in no particular order, are 10 species in that Critically Endangered category.

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