Endangered Animals of Wetland Habitats

Threatened Species Dependent on Wetlands

Wetlands support a disproportionate share of biodiversity. Many endangered species rely on these ecosystems:

• African Wild Dog (Lycaon pictus) – Sub-Saharan wetlands; endangered by habitat fragmentation, snaring, disease.
• Asian Elephant (Elephas maximus) – Southeast Asian wetlands; endangered by habitat loss, human conflict, poaching.
• Black Rhinoceros (Diceros bicornis) – African wetlands/savannas; critically endangered from poaching for horn.
• Bengal Tiger (Panthera tigris tigris) – Sundarbans mangroves and Indian wetlands; endangered by habitat loss, poaching.
• Greater Flamingo (Phoenicopterus roseus) – African, European, Asian wetlands; near threatened by habitat degradation.
• Siberian Crane (Leucogeranus leucogeranus) – Russian/Chinese wetlands; critically endangered by habitat loss, hunting.
• Wattled Crane (Bugeranus carunculatus) – Sub-Saharan wetlands; endangered by dam construction, agriculture, hunting.

Wetland conservation is critical for these and hundreds of other threatened species.