Among Europe's 1,000 species of native mammals, birds, reptiles and
amphibians, 155 are classified as threatened. Conservation experts warn
there's an extremely high chance that 16 of the endangered animals will soon be extinct.
Many of Europe's most endangered animals are species restricted to islands, notably the Canary Islands. Continental Europe is not, however, without severely threatened animals. Bavarian Pine Vole, for example, went extinct in Germany sometime after 1962 and now its last remaining population survives precariously in Austria.
The information here comes from the World Conservation Union (IUCN), an internationally recognized authority on the status of species around the world. IUCN has recently completed detailed assessments of the health of Europe's mammal, reptile and amphibian populations. Meanwhile, Birdlife International provides IUCN with data on the status of European birds.
The animal assessments cover the continent of Europe as far east as the Ural Mountains in Russia, but excluding the Caucasus Mountains in the southeast. They also include the Canary, Madeira and Azores Islands in the eastern Atlantic Ocean.
Europe's five most endangered mammals, listed below, are classified as "Critically Endangered". That status means populations have declined drastically, or numbers are already precariously low, or the animals presently survive only in a tiny area. Conservation specialists conclude that the likelihood of these animals soon becoming extinct in their natural habitat is "extremely high".
In Europe, saiga antelope have disappeared from Moldova, Poland and Ukraine. At most 18,000 of the antelope remain in European Russia. Illegal hunting and habitat destruction caused saiga populations to decline by over 80% in the last decade.
Lynx are nearly extinct in Portugal where few, if any, remain. Spain's only two breeding populations total 84 to 143 adults. Lynx's main food source, rabbits, became scarce after the 1940s. That, along with much of their habitat being developed, led to drastic population declines.
With a population of at most 450 animals, this is the most endangered seal in the world. Most of the remaining monk seals live in Greece and Turkey. Their numbers continue to decline from people disturbing caves the seals use for breeding, and from fishing gear trapping the endangered marine animals.
Many of Europe's most endangered animals are species restricted to islands, notably the Canary Islands. Continental Europe is not, however, without severely threatened animals. Bavarian Pine Vole, for example, went extinct in Germany sometime after 1962 and now its last remaining population survives precariously in Austria.
The information here comes from the World Conservation Union (IUCN), an internationally recognized authority on the status of species around the world. IUCN has recently completed detailed assessments of the health of Europe's mammal, reptile and amphibian populations. Meanwhile, Birdlife International provides IUCN with data on the status of European birds.
The animal assessments cover the continent of Europe as far east as the Ural Mountains in Russia, but excluding the Caucasus Mountains in the southeast. They also include the Canary, Madeira and Azores Islands in the eastern Atlantic Ocean.
Endangered Mammals
Extinction threatens 15%, or one in seven of Europe's 228 species of mammals. Among the 35 threatened European mammals, six are marine species.Europe's five most endangered mammals, listed below, are classified as "Critically Endangered". That status means populations have declined drastically, or numbers are already precariously low, or the animals presently survive only in a tiny area. Conservation specialists conclude that the likelihood of these animals soon becoming extinct in their natural habitat is "extremely high".
In Europe, saiga antelope have disappeared from Moldova, Poland and Ukraine. At most 18,000 of the antelope remain in European Russia. Illegal hunting and habitat destruction caused saiga populations to decline by over 80% in the last decade.
Lynx are nearly extinct in Portugal where few, if any, remain. Spain's only two breeding populations total 84 to 143 adults. Lynx's main food source, rabbits, became scarce after the 1940s. That, along with much of their habitat being developed, led to drastic population declines.
With a population of at most 450 animals, this is the most endangered seal in the world. Most of the remaining monk seals live in Greece and Turkey. Their numbers continue to decline from people disturbing caves the seals use for breeding, and from fishing gear trapping the endangered marine animals.
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