South China Tiger

Nobody has seen a South China Tiger in the wild since the 1970s and, save for some local reports of indirect evidence of their survival, most biologists consider them to be “basically pretty screwed”.

Back in the 50s, their numbers were estimated at around 4,000, but they fell under the cross hairs of Chairman Mao’s “pest control” program as part of the “Great Leap Forward”. It is thought that, if they survive at all, their number are probably below 40.

Despite the fact that there are some “rewilding” efforts for the tigers that we have in captivity, many conservationists are actually sceptical of the project, asserting that the time and money would be better spent conserving the Siberian tiger, which has a better chance of survival.

Pangolin

The pangolin, incidentally one of the favourite animals of legend Sir David Attenborough, is one of the most aggressively trafficked creatures in the animal kingdom.

It is estimated that over 200,000 of them were killed in the space of two years.

They’re mostly hunted for bushmeat, which is wildly popular in some parts of their native Africa. The meat is also considered a delicacy in China and Vietnam, where it is under great demand.

Their scales are also highly sought after, due to the unfounded belief that they can be ground up and used to treat asthma and cancer in traditional Chinese medicine.

Vaquita

The vaquita is thought to be the rarest marine mammal, despite only being discovered in 1958. Experts predict that it’ll be gone by some time between now and 2018.

Way to go, mankind.

Their main nemesis is fishing, but the worst part is that it’s not even the vaquita that we’re after, they’re simply collateral damage in China’s demand for something known as “maw” which is made from the swim bladder of the totoaba. These swim bladders are traded by a tiny population of the super-rich Chinese who mostly use them as gifts and status symbols.

Northern White Rhino

We’ve been talking so far about species with populations in the dwindling hundreds. There are currently only three northern white rhino left on the planet.

Three.

They have been poached to almost total extinction, and actual total extinction in the wild, for their horns. Totally uncontrolled hunting during the colonial era started them on their nosedive and now modern poaching is well and truly finishing them off.

The horn is powdered and used in traditional ancient medicine (which, by the way, has absolutely no effect) and has also seen a recent surge in popularity with the Vietnamese upper middle class, who consume it purely as a symbol of wealth and status.

Pygmy Three-Toed

Unless something drastic happens, we’ll almost certainly lose this guys very soon as a 2012 survey found that there were fewer than 80 left on the island.

Although the island has no human inhabitants, the gradual loss of the thick mangroves they inhabit, coupled with the alleged occasional poaching, is threatening the already tiny population. 2016 could be the year we wave goodbye to these docile little dudes.

Lemurs

Deforestation, climate change and hunting have seen 90% of lemur species slide into the vulnerable, endangered or critically endangered categories.

The political turmoil in Madagascar is thought to be largely to blame for the population crash, as poverty has driven up both illegal logging and hunting in order for people to survive.

Hawksbill Turtle

han that to escape the threat of humans.

These little dudes have done pretty well to get this far, as humans have been merrily smashing, shelling and eating them since at least the 5th Century BC.

Their meat is eaten as a delicacy in many parts of the far east, their shells are traded for use in jewellery and ornaments and the nests are destroyed by accident or pollution. Between 1950 and 1993, more than 1.3 million shells were imported into Japan alone, delivering a massive blow on the population.

Animals That Might Go Extinct

It has been estimated that more that half of the species on Earth have gone extinct in just the last 40 years. Half.

Sadly, most, if not all, of these extinctions, are as a result of human activity in one way or another. Looks like we haven’t yet learnt our lesson either, as there are plenty more magnificent species, teetering on the brink of oblivion. Some of these are so precarious, that we could have to say goodbye before the year is out.

These aren’t just super-obscure species of beetles or plankton either (although they are equally important), these are large and often iconic vertebrates that we are pushing to the edge of existence.

Human Animal Behaviours

Humans are generally considered to be the oddballs of the animal kingdom.

We wobble around on two legs, remove what little body hair we do have, and think that things like “Pot Noodles” and “quarterly meetings” are a pretty neat idea.

However, we might not be quite so unique as we once thought. Whilst the ideas of noble man and lowly beast have stayed resolutely separate for much of human history, we’re beginning to see behaviour in animals that is not so different from our own.

We’re not just talking about otters hitting stuff with rocks either, we’re talking about animals that make clothes and musical instruments, that fake orgasms and even stage the occasional revolution.

Vastatosaurus Rex

Despite being the largest of the dinosaurs to call Skull Island their home, Vastatosaurus rex is no slouch. Fast and agile, this beast can tear you limb from limb using its razor sharp teeth.

Let’s hope that visitors to Skull Island never encounter one of these creatures, there are very few that could match the V-Rex in size and strength. Well perhaps the island’s most famous resident could?