Here is a list of just a few of the animals under threat or on the verge of extinction, according to the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species and the WWF.

Polar bear (Ursus maritimus): Polar bears, considered the largest carnivore on land and one of the top predators in the Arctic, are known for their lustrous coat. Highly dependent on their sea ice habitat, most of them now face malnutrition and even starvation. It is estimated that there are only 20,000 polar bears left in the world.

Bengal Tiger (Panthera tigris tigris): The Bengal tiger, which lives in India, Bangladesh, Bhutan, China, Myanmar and Nepal, is considered to have the most number of members out of all living tiger subspecies. Known for its golden coat and black stripes, it is threatened by habitat loss, poaching and killings caused by human and tiger conflicts.

Siberian Tiger (Panthera tigris altaica): All remaining 4,000 tigers in the world are considered endangered species. Of these numbers, it is estimated that only 400 to 500 Siberian tigers survive in Russia and China. Usually covered in a golden coat similar to other tigers, some rare Siberian tigers are famous for their white fur.

Amur Leopard (Panthera pardus orientalis): The extremely rare Amur leopard, which lives in Russia and China, is known for being a solitary hunter. The Amur leopard is threatened by illegal poaching and trade as well as habitat loss. Normally seen in a thick golden fur coat with black and orange spots, there are Amur leopards with black fur. Of these, fewer than 300 remain worldwide.

Philippine Eagle (Pithecophaga jefferyi): The Philippine eagle (also known as the monkey-eating eagle), which is endemic to the Philippines, is considered the country's national bird. Known as one of the most powerful and rarest birds in the world, it is said to resemble the legendary griffin. Critically endangered and threatened with poaching, pollution, and habitat loss, it is estimated that there are only 180 to 500 Philippine eagles alive today.

Giant Panda (Ailuropoda melanoleuca): The giant panda, which is the rarest kind of bear and is only found in China, is also one of the most endangered species. Hugely popular all over the world, giant pandas are known for their distinctive black and white coat and 99 percent of their diet is composed of bamboo. Primarily threatened by habitat loss, it is estimated that there are less than 1,000 giant pandas living in China.

African Penguins (Spheniscus demersus): The African penguin (also known as the black-footed penguin) is known for its unique black stripes and spots. African penguins are monogamous and pairs go to South Africa and Namibia when breeding and nesting. Threatened by excess hunting, habitat loss and pollution, it is estimated that the African penguin may become extinct in 15 years.

Other endangered species include the Kagu (Rhynochetos jubatus), the Red-crowned Crane (Grus japonensis), the Silverback Gorilla (Gorilla beringei beringei), the Bonobo (Pan paniscus), the White Rhinoceros (Ceratotherium simum) and the Loggerhead Turtle (Caretta caretta).

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