Critically Endangered Animal Species of Asia & Australia

Here are the most endangered species of animals in the continents of Australia and Asia.

Asia is the largest and most populous continent in the world. On the opposite, Australia is the smallest continent in the world in terms of area and population.

The Most Endangered Animal Species of ASIA

Caracal (Caracal caracal)

The Caracal is a medium-sized desert cat related to the lynx. It was once found over large areas of the Middle East and India but has become increasingly scarce. This cat is one of the heaviest of all small cats and one of the quickest too.

Snow Leopard (Uncia uncia or Panthera uncia)

The Snow Leopard of Kazakhstan has been hunted almost to extinction for its fur and only survives high in the mountains.

Persian Onager (Equus hemionus)

Persian Onager of Iran is also known as Wild Asian Ass. Farming has driven the Persian Onager into desert where survival is difficult. It can also be found in Syria, Pakistan, India, Israel and Tibet. Hunting and habitat loss are the major reason for their near extinction.

Giant Panda (Ailuropoda melanoleuca)

The Giant Panda of China lives in the southwestern bamboo forests. Its future is threatened by the loss of this habitat and poaching. As of 2007, there are only 239 Pandas in captivity in China and 27 in other countries. In the wild, it is estimated that there are 1,590 remaining individuals.

Orangutan

The Orangutans of Asia are endangered because people are destroying the forest where they live. They are the largest living arboreal and are the most intelligent primates. They are native to Malaysia and Indonesia.

Indian Python (Python molurus)

The Indian Python of India, a large non-venomous python species, is threatened by hunters. Its beautifully patterned skin is used to make belts, wallets, handbags and shoes. It is also commonly known as Black-tailed Python and Indian Rock Python.

Gharial (Gavialis gangeticus)

The Gharial of Bangladesh, which is also known as Indian Gavial, is a relative of the crocodile. It is hunted for its skin, and its eggs are taken for food. It can also be found in India where it is one of the 3 crocodilians in the country.

Loggerhead Turtle (Caretta caretta)

The Loggerhead Turtle of Turkey breeds on beaches. Numbers are declining because of increasing tourism. This oceanic turtle is also known as Loggerhead Sea Turtle or simply Loggerhead.

Indus Dolphin (Platanista minor minor)

The Indus Dolphin of Pakistan is endangered because dams on the Indus River have divided its breeding and fishing grounds. This river or freshwater dolphin is a subspecies of the South Asian River Dolphin. It can also be found in Bangladesh, India and Nepal.

Manchurian Crane (Grus japonensis)

Manchurian Crane is endangered due to hunting which led to its near extinction. Now it is protected. This large bird, which is the second rarest carne in the world, is also called the Japanese Crane and Red-Crowned Crane.

The Most Endangered Species of AUSTRALIA

Numbat (Myrmecobius fasciatus)

The Numbat of Australia, which is also known as Banded Ant Eater, lives in eucalyptus woodland in Southwest, Australia. It is threatened by the spread of human settlement. This marsupial’s diet is consists almost exclusively of termites. It is now protected by conservation programs.

Yellow-eyed Penguin (Megadyptes antipodes)

The Yellow-eyed Penguin, which is also known as Hoiho and is endemic to New Zealand, nest in the coastal forest of South Island. It is threatened by the loss of its habitat to farming. This penguin species, which is regarded as one of the rarest in the world, has an estimated population of 4,000.

Estuarine Crocodile (Crocodylus porosus)

The Estuarine Crocodile in the Indian Ocean is threatened because of hunting, estuary development and the drainage of coastal swamps. It is also commonly known as Saltwater Crocodile and can be found in Northern Australia, India and Southeast Asia.