Vulnerability is mainly caused by habitat loss or destruction of the species' home. Vulnerable habitat or species are monitored and can become increasingly threatened. Some species listed as "vulnerable" may be common in captivity, an example being the military macaw.
There are currently 5,196 animals and 6,789 plants classified as Vulnerable, compared with 1998 levels of 2,815 and 3,222, respectively.[1] Practices such as cryoconservation of animal genetic resources have been enforced in efforts to conserve vulnerable breeds of livestock specifically.
Criteria
Mexican red-knee tarantula (Brachypelma hamorii), a vulnerable species from MexicoSnares penguin (Eudyptes robustus), a vulnerable species from New Zealand
The International Union for Conservation of Nature uses several criteria to enter species in this category. A taxon is Vulnerable when it is not critically endangered or Endangered but is facing a high risk of extinction in the wild in the medium-term future, as defined by any of the following criteria (A to E):
A) Population reduction in the form of either of the following:
An observed, estimated, inferred or suspected population size reduction of ≥ 50% over the last 10 years or three generations, whichever is the longer, provided the causes of the reduction are clearly reversible AND understood AND ceased.[2] This measurement is based on (and specifying) any of the following:
direct observation
an index of abundance appropriate for the taxon
a decline in area of occupancy, extent of occurrence or quality of habitat
A reduction of at least 20%, projected or suspected to be met within the next ten years or three generations, whichever is the longer, based on (and specifying) any of (2), (3), (4) or (5) above.
B) Extent of occurrence estimated to be less than 20,000km2 or area of occupancy estimated to be less than 2,000km2, and estimates indicating any two of the following:
Severely fragmented or known to exist at no more than ten locations.
Continuing decline, inferred, observed or projected, in any of the following:
extent of occurrence
area of occupancy
area, extent or quality of habitat
number of locations or subpopulations
number of mature individuals
Extreme fluctuations in any of the following:
extent of occurrence
area of occupancy
number of locations or subpopulations
number of mature individuals
C) Population estimated to number fewer than 10,000 mature individuals and either:
An estimated continuing decline of at least 10% within 10 years or three generations, whichever is longer, or
A continuing decline, observed, projected, or inferred, in numbers of mature individuals and population structure in the form of either:
severely fragmented (i.e. no subpopulation estimated to contain more than 1,000 mature individuals)
all mature individuals are in a single subpopulation
D) Population very small or restricted in the form of either of the following:
Population estimated to number less than 1,000 mature individuals.
Population is characterised by an acute restriction in its area of occupancy (typically less than 20km2)[2] or in the number of locations (typically less than five). Such a taxon would thus be prone to the effects of human activities (or stochastic events whose impact is increased by human activities) within a very short period of time in an unforeseeable future, and is thus capable of becoming Critically Endangered or even Extinct in a very short period.
E) Quantitative analysis showing the probability of extinction in the wild is at least 10% within 100 years.
Sanzinia madagascariensis, also known as the Madagascar tree boa or Malagasy tree boa, is a boa species endemic to the island of Madagascar. It was once considered conspecific with the Nosy Komba ground boa. Like all other boas, it is non-venomous.
Montivipera albizona, the central Turkish mountain viper, is a viper species endemic to the mountainous regions of central Turkey. Like all other vipers, it is venomous. No subspecies are currently recognized.
Vipera kaznakovi, known as the Caucasus viper, Kaznakow's viper, Kaznakov's viper, and by other common names, is a species of venomous snake in the subfamily Viperinae of the family Viperidae. The species is endemic to Turkey, Georgia, and Russia. No subspecies are currently recognized.
An IUCN Red List Critically Endangered species is one that has been categorized by the International Union for Conservation of Nature as facing an extremely high risk of extinction in the wild. As of December 2023, of the 157,190 species currently on the IUCN Red List, 9,760 of those are listed as Critically Endangered, with 1,302 being possibly extinct and 67 possibly extinct in the wild.
Kleinmann's tortoise, also called commonly the Egyptian tortoise, Leith's tortoise, and the Negev tortoise, is a critically endangered species of cryptodire turtle in the family Testudinidae. The species is native to Egypt, Libya, and Israel/ Palestine. The species was once more widespread, but its numbers are now dwindling. The species is nearly extinct in Egypt, and complete extinction in the wild is a looming threat unless more actions are taken to protect this species.
Garcinia rubroechinata, commonly known as malamkongu and sometimes known as Garcinia rubro-echinata, is a species of flowering plant in the family Clusiaceae. It is a tree which grows to 20 meters tall. It is found only in the Western Ghats of southern India.
Lemurophoenix halleuxii is a species of palm tree, the only species in the genus Lemurophoenix. It is found only in Madagascar. It is threatened by habitat loss and overcollection. There are perhaps 300 mature individuals remaining in the wild.
Bothrops pirajai is a species of venomous snake, a pit viper in the subfamily Crotalinae of the family Viperidae. The species is endemic to Brazil. There are no subspecies that are recognized as being valid.
Khaya madagascariensis is a species of plant in the family Meliaceae. It is found in Comoros and Madagascar.
Bothriechis aurifer is a venomous pit viper species found in Mexico and Guatemala. No subspecies are currently recognized.
Bothriechis rowleyi is a species of pit viper, a venomous snake, in the subfamily Crotalinae of the family Viperidae. The species is endemic to Mexico. There are no subspecies that are recognized as being valid.
Heterodon simus, commonly known as the southern hog-nosed snake, is a harmless snake species endemic to the southeastern United States. No subspecies are currently recognized.
Monachoides vicinus is a species of air-breathing land snail, a terrestrial pulmonate gastropod mollusk in the family Hygromiidae, the hairy snails and their allies.
The Cantabrian capercaillie is a subspecies of the western capercaillie in the grouse family Tetraonidae. It is one of two subspecies found in Spain.
Betula klokovii is a species of tree restricted to Ukraine. These trees grow on sandy hills in steppe grasses and dry chalkstone or in open woodlands. It is only found in two mountains: Strakhova and Maslyatyn, near Kremenets in the Ternopil region.
Podonephelium subaequilaterum is a tree species endemic to the sclerophyllous forests of New Caledonia. This species of trees suffers from forest reduction and fragmentation due to agriculture on the west coast of the country. The main threat to the species comes from habitat destruction due to the Javan rusa deer and uncontrolled forest fires. Its area of occupancy (AOO) is estimated to be 12 square kilometres (4.6 sq mi) and its extent of occurrence (EOO) is around 15 square kilometres (5.8 sq mi). The species is observed to be in a continuing decline of its quality of habitat, number of subpopulations, extent of occurrence, area of occupancy and the number of mature individuals.
Endangered species, as classified by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), are species which have been categorized as very likely to become extinct in their known native ranges in the near future. On the IUCN Red List, endangered is the second-most severe conservation status for wild populations in the IUCN's schema after critically endangered. In 2012, the IUCN Red List featured 3,079 animal and 2,655 plant species as endangered worldwide. The figures for 1998 were 1,102 and 1,197 respectively.
Photuris bethaniensis is a species of firefly in the genus Photuris.
Hernandia voyronii, commonly known as Hazomalany, is a species of plant in the Hernandiaceae family. It is endemic to Madagascar.
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