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
Endangered & Critically Endangered Animals at the Los Angeles Zoo
MAMMALS
Addax (Addax nasomaculatus) – CR
Bettong (Bettongia penicillata) – CR
Bongo, mountain (Tragelaphus eurycerus isaaci) – CR
Capuchin, crested (Cebus apella robustus) – EN
Chimpanzee (Pan troglodytes) – EN
Deer, Calamian (Axis calamianensis) – EN
Dog, African painted (Lycaon pictus) – EN
Elephant, Asian (Elephas maximus) – EN
Gazelle, Speke’s (Gazella spekei) – EN
Gibbon, buff-cheeked (Nomascus gabriellae) – EN
Giraffe, Masai (Giraffa camelopardalis tippelskirchi) – EN
Gorilla, Western lowland (Gorilla gorilla) – CR
Langur, Francois’ (Trachypithecus francoisi) – EN
Lemur, blue-eyed black (Eulemur flavifrons) – CR
Lemur, ring-tailed (Lemur catta) – EN
Leopard, snow (Panthera uncia) – EN
Mangabey, red-capped (Cercocebus torquatus) – EN
Markhor, Tadjik (Capra falconeri) – EN
Monkey, black-handed spider (Ateles geoffroyi) – EN
Okapi (Okapia johnstoni) – EN
Orangutan, Bornean (Pongo pygmaeus) – EN
Otter, giant (Pteronura brasiliensis) – EN
Peccary, Chacoan (Catagonus wagneri) – EN
Pig, Visayan warty (Sus cebifrons) – CR
Pronghorn, peninsular (berrendo) (Antilocapra americana peninsularis) – CR
Siamang (Symphalangus syndactylus) – EN
Sifaka, Verreaux’s (Propithecus verreauxi coquereli) – EN
Tamarin, golden lion (Leontopithecus rosalia) – EN
Tapir, Baird’s (Tapirus bairdii) – EN
Tapir, mountain (Tapirus pinchaque) – EN
Tiger, Sumatran (Panthera tigrissondaica) – CR
Zebra, Grevy’s (Equus grevyi) – EN
AMPHIBIANS
Axolotl (Ambystoma mexicanum) – CR
Frog, phantasmal poison dart (Epipedobates tricolor) – EN
Frog, golden poison dart (Phyllobates terribilis) – EN
Frog, mountain yellow-legged (Rana muscosa) – EN
Newt, emperor spotted (Neurergus kaiseri) – EN
Salamander, Chinese giant (Andrias davidianus) – CR
REPTILES
Gharial, Indian (Gavialis gangeticus) – CR
Lizard, Mertens’ water monitor (Varanus mertensi) – EN
Pitviper, black-tailed (Mixcoatlus melanurus) – EN
Pitviper, Mangshan (Protobothrops mangshanensis) – EN
Rattlesnake, Aruba Island (Crotalus durissus unicolor) – CR
Rattlesnake, Catalina Island (Crotalus catalinensis) – CR
Terrapin, Malaysian painted river (Batagur borneoensis) – CR
Tomistoma (false gharial) (Tomistoma schlegelii) – EN
Tortoise, Madagascar radiated (Astrochelys radiata) – CR
Turtle, Mary River (Elusor macrurus) – EN
Turtle, McCord’s snake-necked (Chelodina mccordi) – CR
Viper, Caucasus (Vipera kaznakovi) – EN
Woma (Aspidites ramsayi) – EN
BIRDS
Amazon, yellow-naped (Amazona auropalliata) – EN
Condor, California (Gymnogyps californianus) – CR
Conure, sun (Aratinga solstitialis) – EN
Curassow, blue-billed (Crax alberti) – CR
Crane, East African grey-crowned (Balearica regulorum) – EN
Curassow, blue-billed (Crax alberti) – CR
Hornbill, wrinkled (Rhabdotorrhinus corrugatus) – EN
Macaw, blue-throated (Ara glaucogularis) – CR
Macaw, hyacinth (Anodorhynchus hyacinthinus) – EN
Macaw, red-fronted (Ara rubrogenys) – EN
Mynah, Bali (Leucopsar rothschildi) – CR
Vulture, Cape (Gymnogyps californianus) – EN