2. Introduction
The earth is comprised of many different life
forms, including plants, animals, humans, and
other organisms. These various life forms are
highly interdependent and have formed important
systems that continually reshape the planet's
landscapes, oceans, and atmospheres. Booming
human population growth over the last two
centuries has put, and continues to put, many of
these life-sustaining systems out of balance and in
serious jeopardy, endangering many of the plant
and animal species that human beings directly and
indirectly depend upon for long-term survival.
3. An Endangered species is a species which has been
categorized by the International Union for Conservation
of Nature (IUCN) Red List as likely to become extinct.
"Endangered" is the second most severe conservation
status for wild populations in the IUCN's plan after
Critically Endangered .
Faces a high risk of extinction in the near future.
Examples: African penguin, African wild dog, Asian
elephant, Asiatic lion, Australian bittern, blue whale,
bonobo, Bornean orangutan, common chimpanzee,
dhole, eastern lowland gorilla, Ethiopian wolf, hispid
hare, giant otter, giant panda etc.