Endangered Species

Animals on the Brink of Survival

More than 16,000 of the nearly two million documented species on our beautiful planet are currently classified as endangered – an all-time high. Recent estimates indicate that roughly one million plant and animal species are threatened with extinction in the next few decades. Some of these species are cared for at the Los Angeles Zoo.

Groups such as the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) aid the conservation movement by reporting objective facts regarding the distribution, population trends, and risks facing plant and animal species. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species ranks animal species (based upon criteria such as population size, generation length, habitat quality, and success of existing conservation measures) by their likelihood of extinction.

Conservation Successes at the Los Angeles Zoo

These and other remarkable success stories epitomize the L.A. Zoo’s commitment to conservation and provide reason to hope that other critically endangered animals can be saved from the brink of extinction.

• California Condors
• Peninsular Pronghorn (also known as berrendo)
• Southern Mountain Yellow-Legged Frogs