Extinct Animal : American Alligator This reptile of the coastal
marshes and inland waters of the southeastern United States is
considered an endangered species. Relentless hunting for hides
reduced the numbers drastically in the 1960s until state and
federal laws provided for complete legal protection. In
addition, there are now import and export restrictions
controlling trade in alligators and their skins. Although
poaching and illegal trade are always a threat, the American
alligator is recovering in the wild. There are also thousands of
them in zoos where they breed successfully.