1. 

African forest elephants are considered to be a critically endangered species. Because they mainly inhabit dense rainforests of west and central Africa, they are difficult to count. African elephant populations have been drastically reduced to their current proportions because of poaching. The main reason for hunting elephants is a  growing demand for ivory, mainly from Asia. Anti‑poaching patrols are trying to reduce the illicit slaughter of elephants through enhanced protection and preservation. Between 2002 and 2011, their populations fell by 62 percent. African forest elephants are necessary for biodiversity through dispersing seeds of many rainforest trees. After passing through the elephant's digestive tract, the seeds of these trees germinate.

2.

The Far East leopard, Manchurian leopard, and Korean leopard are all names for the Amur leopard. It lives in the Far East in Russia. There are fewer than 100 Amur leopards in the wild. The Amur leopard's gorgeous, spotted fur is a major draw for poachers. In the Russian village of Barabash, an undercover investigation team discovered a female and male Amur leopard skin being sold for $500 and $1,000, respectively, in 1999. In order to save the endangered species the Russian government created a protected region in 2012 called the Land of the Leopard National Park.

3.

They can mainly be found in Namibia and Coastal East Africa. They have two horns and sometimes a smaller, third one. Between 1960 and 1995, the number of black rhinos fell by 98 percent, to less than 2,500, but thanks to conservation efforts their numbers have risen to around 5,600 today. Poaching is the deadliest of all the dangers to black rhinos. Because black rhinos have two horns, they are a lucrative target for the illegal rhino horn trade. Today, black rhinos remain critically endangered because of rising demand for rhino horns from some Asian consumers, particularly in Vietnam and China, who use them in folk remedies.

4. 

Over the last 60 years, Bornean orangutan numbers have fallen by more than 50%, and the species' habitat has been reduced by at least 55% in the last 20 years. Orangutans are important for seed dispersion, which keeps forests healthy. In their diet, over 500 plant species have been identified. There are about over 100,000 Borneo orangutans. The pet trade for young orangutans is thriving, with each animal bringing several hundred dollars in major markets on adjacent islands. According to studies, between 200 and 500 orangutans from Indonesian Borneo enter the pet trade each year. Because orangutans have such a poor reproduction rate, this poses a serious threat to natural populations. Orangutan parts are also traded in Kalimantan, with orangutan skulls bringing up to $70 in cities.

5.

All gorilla subspecies are represented by the western lowland gorilla, which is the most numerous and widespread. You can find them in Cameroon, the Central African Republic, the Democratic Republic of Congo. Because they live in some of Africa's most dense and inaccessible rainforests, the actual number of western lowland gorillas is unknown. Even if all dangers to western lowland gorillas were removed, scientists estimate that it would take 75 years for the population to recover. Not only are gorillas found in Central Africa, but so is the deadly Ebola virus. In the isolated forests at the heart of the primates' ranges, Ebola has caused a large number of gorilla deaths. According to some estimates, it has killed almost one‑third of the world's wild lowland gorillas.

6.

They can only be found in the area of the waters of the northern Gulf of California. This marine mammal is on the verge of extinction with only around 10 individuals remaining. The vaquita get entangled and drown in the nets which are intended for other marine animals. President Barack Obama and Mexican President Enrique Pea Nieto announced mutual cooperation measures to protect the vaquita in July 2016.

7.

It’s estimated that there are around 400 Sunda tigers on the island of Sumatra today. Sumatra is the only place where tigers, rhinos, orangutans, and elephants coexist  in the wild, which is an indicator of the forests’ health. Poaching is responsible for about 80% of estimated Sumatran tiger deaths, or at least 40 animals each year. Tiger bones are used in Asia for medical purposes. Human‑tiger conflicts are also responsible for tigers’ shrinking numbers. Clearing for agriculture (especially oil palm), plantations, and human habitats have severely impacted the Sumatran tiger's natural habitat as well.