The Indian gharial might go extinct in your lifetime; 5 other animal species that are ‘critically endangered’

1. Eastern Lowland Gorilla (Gorilla beringei graueri)

🛑 Status: Critically Endangered
🔴 Population: Declining rapidly
📍 Location: Democratic Republic of Congo

The largest subspecies of gorilla, the Eastern Lowland Gorilla, is losing its home to deforestation, mining, and human encroachment. Poaching has also decimated their numbers, as these gentle giants are often targeted for the bushmeat trade.

With fewer than 7,000 individuals remaining, urgent action is needed to protect them.

2. Hawksbill Turtle (Eretmochelys imbricata)

🛑 Status: Critically Endangered
🔴 Population: Rapid decline due to human activity
📍 Location: Tropical oceans worldwide

Hawksbill Turtles are among the most beautiful sea turtles, but their striking shells make them a target for illegal trade. They are also highly vulnerable to climate change, which affects their nesting beaches.

Rising ocean temperatures lead to fewer male hatchlings, further threatening the species.

Once widespread across Southeast Asia, the Javan Rhino is now confined to a single location (file)

3. Javan Rhinoceros (Rhinoceros sondaicus)

🛑 Status: Critically Endangered
🔴 Population: Less than 80 in the wild
📍 Location: Ujung Kulon National Park, Indonesia

Once widespread across Southeast Asia, the Javan Rhino is now confined to a single location—Ujung Kulon National Park in Indonesia. Habitat loss and poaching for their horns have pushed them to the brink.

Conservationists are working tirelessly to protect their habitat, but with such a small population, genetic diversity is a concern.

4. Amur Leopard (Panthera pardus orientalis)

🛑 Status: Critically Endangered
🔴 Population: Around 100 in the wild
📍 Location: Russia and China

Often called the world’s rarest big cat, the Amur Leopard has been driven to near extinction by poaching and habitat loss. These magnificent animals are adapted to extreme cold, but their numbers have dwindled due to human expansion.

Conservation efforts in Russia and China have helped stabilize their population, but they remain highly vulnerable.

5. Yangtze Finless Porpoise (Neophocaena asiaeorientalis)

🛑 Status: Critically Endangered
🔴 Population: Fewer than 1,000
📍 Location: Yangtze River, China

The Yangtze River ecosystem is collapsing, and this porpoise is paying the price. Industrial pollution, overfishing, and habitat degradation have made survival nearly impossible. Unlike dolphins, they lack a dorsal fin, making them unique among cetaceans.

Their numbers have declined by over 50% in the last 40 years, and without intervention, they could disappear forever.

6. Gharial (Gavialis gangeticus)

🛑 Status: Critically Endangered
🔴 Population: Less than 250 in the wild
📍 Location: India, Nepal

The gharial is one of the most unusual crocodiles, with its long, narrow snout perfectly adapted for catching fish. However, dam construction, pollution, and loss of river habitats have caused severe population decline.

Once widespread across South Asia, gharials are now found in just a few fragmented river systems.