The jaguar is listed as endangered not only in parts of the United States but also in Mexico and Central and South America. It is the largest cat in these regions and is often mistaken for a leopard because of its beautifully-spotted coat. Those with completely black coats are not as common as the spotted jaguar. Hunting in the 1960s and 1970s for the jaguar's beautiful coat caused a major decline in their population. While they are mainly protected now hunting and killing by man still does occur mainly because they are seen as a threat. The clearing of forests has meant the deterioration and destruction of their natural habit; this clearing also contributes to a decline in population.
The night parrot, known in New Zealand as the kakapo, is one of its many endangered birds. There are approximately 120 known to exist. The kakapo is the world's only flightless parrot and also the heaviest. The oldest known of these nocturnal herbivores reached 80 years old. Feral cats, rats, ferrets and weasels are common predators of the kakapo. New Zealand's Conservation department have worked to eradicate the pests from certain islands and protected areas to preserve the kakapo population. Codfish Island or Whenua Hou, off the coast of Stewart Island, is a specifically protected reserve and now home to the kakapo.
Larger than a golden eagle, the Philippine eagle, otherwise known as the Philippine monkey-eating eagle, weighs up to 9 lbs. and stands over 1 meter tall. With a Philippine eagle population of less than 200, the world is in danger of losing this stunning eagle with its headdress of spiky, warlike feathers. Despite being one of the birds of prey, or raptors like hawks and vultures, their decline has been caused by various factors. Hunting after World War I saw large numbers killed off for recreation and even eventual legal protection did little to stop the prized eagle from being preyed upon. With over 80 percent of Philippine rain forests being destroyed since the 1970s the Philippine eagle has also lost the majority of its natural habitat and food source.
A subspecies of the Asian elephant, the Indian elephant is in rapid decline with around 20,000 left in India. Because it is only the males that bear tusks poaching for these tusks is leaving a major imbalance between the sexes. This, of course, will ultimately affect the number of new offspring coming into the world. The brutal and cruel training of elephants in India is of continued concern. Elephants forced to perform for tourists are often starved and beaten. According to Iqbal Malik, an animal rights activist, the male tusker population is dropping by approximately 10 percent each year due to poaching.
