Most Endangered Animals

The most threatened animal in our database is the axolotl, assessed as Critically Endangered on the IUCN Red List, followed by the beluga sturgeon and the bornean orangutan.

#	Animal	IUCN status	Notes
1	Axolotl Amphibian	Critically Endangered	an estimated 50–1,000 mature individuals in the wild
2	Beluga Sturgeon Fish	Critically Endangered	Population decreasing
3	Bornean Orangutan Mammal	Critically Endangered	about 104,700 (2016 estimate)
4	Chinese Giant Salamander Amphibian	Critically Endangered	Population decreasing
5	Giant Clam Invertebrate	Critically Endangered	Population decreasing
6	Great Hammerhead Shark Fish	Critically Endangered	Population decreasing
7	Western Gorilla Mammal	Critically Endangered	roughly 300,000–360,000 western lowland gorillas and fewer than 300 Cross River gorillas
8	Black Rhinoceros Mammal	Critically Endangered	about 6,500 in the wild
9	African Elephant Mammal	Endangered	about 415,000 African elephants of both species (2016 estimate)
10	African Grey Parrot Bird	Endangered	Population decreasing
11	African Spurred Tortoise Reptile	Endangered	Population decreasing
12	African Wild Dog Mammal	Endangered	about 6,600 adults, including roughly 1,400 mature (breeding) individuals
13	Asian Elephant Mammal	Endangered	roughly 40,000–50,000 in the wild
14	Bonobo Mammal	Endangered	at least 15,000–20,000
15	Chimpanzee Mammal	Endangered	an estimated 170,000–300,000
16	Giant Manta Ray Fish	Endangered	Population decreasing
17	Golden Poison Frog Amphibian	Endangered	Population decreasing
18	Goliath Frog Amphibian	Endangered	Population decreasing
19	Hamster Mammal	Endangered	Population decreasing
20	Okapi Mammal	Endangered	Population decreasing
21	Rabbit Mammal	Endangered	Population decreasing
22	Red Panda Mammal	Endangered	thought to be fewer than 10,000 mature individuals
23	Ring-Tailed Lemur Mammal	Endangered	Population decreasing
24	Sea Otter Mammal	Endangered	Population decreasing
25	Tasmanian Devil Mammal	Endangered	Population decreasing

About this ranking

The IUCN Red List is the global standard for extinction risk. Species assessed as Critically Endangered face an extremely high risk of extinction in the wild, Endangered a very high risk, and Vulnerable a high risk. This list shows every animal in our database in those three threatened categories, most at risk first, with its population trend.

How it is ranked: Animals assessed as Critically Endangered, Endangered or Vulnerable, ordered by category and then by population trend. Red List assessments are updated periodically; check the IUCN link on each animal page for the current assessment. The list covers the 214 animals in the AnimalStats database, not every species on Earth.

The top five in detail

1. Axolotl — Critically Endangered

The axolotl is listed as Critically Endangered on the IUCN Red List, with an estimated 50–1,000 mature individuals left in the wild and a decreasing trend. Urban pollution, water extraction and introduced carp and tilapia are the main threats. Huge captive populations exist in laboratories and the pet trade.

2. Beluga Sturgeon — Critically Endangered

The beluga sturgeon is listed as Critically Endangered on the IUCN Red List, and wild populations have fallen by more than 90 percent over three generations. Poaching for caviar, dams that block spawning rivers, and pollution are the main causes. International trade is controlled under CITES, the United States banned beluga caviar imports in 2005, and many stocks rely on hatchery releases.

3. Bornean Orangutan — Critically Endangered

The Bornean orangutan is listed as Critically Endangered on the IUCN Red List, and its population is decreasing. About 104,700 were estimated to remain in 2016, after a decline of more than half since the mid-1900s. Forest clearance for oil palm and timber, fires and illegal killing are the main causes.

4. Chinese Giant Salamander — Critically Endangered

The Chinese giant salamander is listed as Critically Endangered on the IUCN Red List, and wild numbers have fallen by an estimated 80 percent or more since the 1950s. Poaching for the luxury food market, dams and pollution are the main threats. Surveys in 2013–2016 found almost none in the wild.

5. Giant Clam — Critically Endangered

The giant clam is listed as Critically Endangered on the IUCN Red List following a 2024 reassessment; it was previously classed as Vulnerable. It has been wiped out at many sites by harvesting for meat, shells and carvings. International trade is regulated under CITES Appendix II, and hatchery-raised clams are being restocked in the Philippines, Palau and elsewhere.

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