Some of the more familiar species that have become endangered are African and Asian elephants, the tiger and the world's most powerful primate, the gorilla. Other big cats facing the danger of extinction are eastern Asia's snow leopard and the Florida cougar and Texas ocelot. The wild bactrian camel, the world's only wild two-humped camel, is at risk as are the giant and lesser pandas of southern Asia, South America's marine otter and the blue whale, which is the largest mammal on earth. Critically endangered mammals include the red wolf, black rhinoceros, Turkey's amur leopard and India's Manipur brow-antlered deer.
Numerous bird orders face the threat of extinction, including representatives of cranes, parrots, finches, ducks, eagles, hawks and vultures. Gouldian and Cochabamba mountain finches, blue bellied parrots, southern Asia's white winged duck and the United States and Canada's whooping crane are all endangered, while those under critical threat include the California condor, the Hawaiian crow and the crested shelduck of eastern Asia.
The silver shark, the Siberian sturgeon and the Alabama shad are among the fishes that are considered endangered, while the risk to wild common carp, the Alabama sturgeon and the Chinese paddlefish have reached critical levels. Much concern about aquatic species has arisen in the United States where one-third of the fish species are in trouble as are two-thirds of the crayfish species and almost three-fourths of the mussels species.
Protecting habitats is one way to help protect animals and help endangered ones survive. Allow them to live peacefully and with little human interference at national parks, wilderness areas and nature reserves. Follow wildlife codes and fire regulations when visiting these habitats, and do not expose a wildlife environment to domestic pets, which may have germs or diseases that can affect wildlife. Dispose of all trash and leave flowers, rocks, nests, eggs and everything else the way you found it. At home, avoid chemical fertilizers, invite neighborhood birds to visit feeders and birdbaths and attract native butterflies and insects by only planting trees, bushes, flowers and grasses native to the area. Introducing foreign species can upset the balance of the environment. Join or start a conservation group that helps care for habitats by keeping them clean and weeded, makes their voices heard through media outlets, supports agencies that oversee wildlife protection and educates schools and community leaders about endangered species and how to help them.