While it’s true that more species have gone extinct in the
history of life on Earth than currently exist, scientists
believe the extinction rate is accelerating, and that we may be
to blame. Thousands of species worldwide are at risk of
suffering the same fate as the dodo bird, to name one famously
extinct species. The International Union for the Conservation of
Nature maintains a “Red List” of at-risk species. Certain
animals are classified as either “Extinct” or “Extinct in the
Wild” (animals found only in captivity), but the next most
serious category is “Critically Endangered,” for animals whose
populations have decreased by 80 percent in the past three
generations. Once a population dwindles to a certain point, its
chances of coming back are slim due to a lack of genetic
diversity. Here, in no particular order, are 10 species in that
Critically Endangered category.