Mammals are at risk from (1) anthropogenic activities such as slash-and-burn agriculture; (2) climate change; and (3) habitat degradation, loss, and fragmentation. Larger mammals, especially predators such as big cats and wolves in addition to migrating herds of herbivores, are at high risk because they are susceptible to climate change and habitat loss, since these mammals require a lot of land to roam. Furthermore, specialists such as the Iberian Lynx, which specialize in certain prey, or specialists that are restricted to unique habitat types are at great risk from habitat loss. From the New York Times, United States:

Experts who helped lead the study said the hazards were, if anything, increasing.

“What we’ve found is that one in four mammals are truly in peril, but these assessments were done largely without accounting for the potential impacts of climate change,” said Jonathan Baillie, the director of conservation programs at the Zoological Society of London.

“If we continue emitting greenhouse gases at the current rate, we’re looking at 40 percent loss of biodiversity by the end of the century,” warned Dr. Baillie, referring to the potential extinction of all species.

Jan Schipper, the director of the global mammal assessment for the conservation union and for Conservation International, an environmental group, said it was hard to draw a direct comparison with its last detailed survey on mammals in 1996. New species have been identified, others discovered, and the criteria used to assess species have been changed to make them more broadly applicable across all animals and plants.

But he gave a mostly bleak assessment.

“Although 5 percent of mammals are recovering, what we observe are rates of habitat loss and hunting in Southeast Asia, central Africa and central and South America that are so serious that the overall rate of decline has steadily increased during the past decade,” Mr. Schipper said.

10 highlighted endangered or threatened mammals from around the world:

The Iberian lynx (Lynx pardinus), Status: Critically Endangered

The Iberian lynx survives in isolated areas of Spain and perhaps Portugal. The IUCN 2008 Red List of Threatened Species reports that a “minimum of 84 and a maximum of 143 adults [survive] in two breeding populations (in the Coto Doñana and near Andújar-Cardeña in the eastern Sierra Morena).” The Iberian lynx is a specialist in preying on the European rabbit (Oryctolagus cuniculus), and its decline is attributed to the decline of the European rabbit. Habitat degradation, loss, and fragmentation threatens the Iberian lynx as well, since habitat fragmentation prevents populations from intermingling or sharing genes through sexual reproduction.



The vaquita (Phocoena sinus), Status: Critically Endangered

The decline of this small porpoise species is linked to the increase of the gillnet fishery. This species, one of the smallest cetaceans, also has one of the smallest ranges, since it is “endemic to [just the] upper quarter of [the] Gulf of California.” Strategies to save this species include conservation education and providing local fishers with alternative employment and fishing methods.



The pygmy hog (Porcula salvania), Status: Critically Endangered

The IUCN 2008 Red List of Threatened Species reports that the “only viable population of the species [is in Assam, India], with a few hundred individuals, [existing] in small grassland pockets of Manas National Park (500 km²) and an adjacent reserve forest in the Manas Tiger Reserve and nowhere else in the world (Narayan and Deka 2002).” Work to save this little species of pig is being undertaken via a captive breeding program at the Durrell Wildlife Conservation Trust. Pygmy hogs raised at the Trust have been reintroduced back to the wild.



The aye-aye (Daubentonia madagascariensis), Status: Near Threatened, but population is decreasing

Certainly one of the oddest mammals in the world, the aye-aye is a species of lemur endemic to Madagascar. Although they don’t look like primates at first blush, aye-ayes are primates. It is rarely seen in the wild, and deforestation via the practice of tavy, or slash-and-burn-agriculture, threatens this species.



The Amur leopard (Panthera pardus orientalis), Status: Critically Endangered, and only 30 exist

The Amur leopard is one of the most beautiful and rarest of the big cats. Hunting and habitat loss have decimated this species, and only some 25 individuals exist today in southwest Primorye. Another threat to the Amur leopard is the lack of genetic variability, since its population is so small.



The Black rhinoceros (Diceros bicornis), Status: Critically Endangered

“Relentless hunting” has decimated this species. There are four subspecies of black rhino, and one subspecies may be extinct. According to the IUCN 2008 Red List of Threatened Species:

In Cameroon, no evidence of the Western Black Rhino was found during extensive surveys over much of its known range during the dry season in 2006. The population was estimated at 10 to 13 individuals in 2002, though these were unconfirmed. This subspecies may now be extinct. The South-western Black Rhino currently numbers 1,510 individuals, while the South-central subspecies numbers 1,980. Numbers of the Eastern Black Rhino stand at 700.



The Sumatran rabbit (Nesolagus netscheri), Status: Vulnerable

This species of rabbit is endemic to Sumatra, and it is very rarely seen. Deforestation and other anthropogenic influences such as agriculture activities threaten this species. More data to determine abundance and range is needed to accurately conserve this species.



Hawaiian monk seal (Monachus schauinslandi), Status: Critically Endangered

Hawaiian monk seals are threatened by ciguatera poisoning, human expansion, and pollution. Conservation efforts to save the Hawaiian monk seal include a species recovery plan, which is implemented by NOAA. Earlier this year, NOAA declared another species of monk seal—the Caribbean monk seal—extinct.



Southern marsupial mole (Notoryctes typhlops), Status: Data Deficient

This unusual marsupial is endemic to sandy areas of the Northern Territory in Western Australia. Little data is available for this species, but climate change may threaten it as some areas either become drier or wetter.



Baiji (Lipotes vexillifer), Status: Critically Endangered, possibly extinct or functionally extinct

The demise of the Baiji seemed to catch the world by surprise, and there are several species of freshwater dolphins that suffer similar anthropogenic threats, which resulted in the demise of the Baiji. These unique aquatic mammals are both indicator species of a river’s health and flagship species for conservation. Certainly, any extinction is a loss, but every time a species becomes extinct due to anthropogenic activities, it sends a negative message about our priorities as a civilization.

Iberian lynx image found here
Vaquita image found here
Pygmy hog image found here
Aye-aye image found here
Amur leopard image found here
African black rhinoceros image found here
Sumatran rabbit image found here
Hawaiian monk seal image found here
Southern marsupial mole image found here
Baiji image found here