The word 'rare' is often associated with something limited, unique, and distinctive, such as rare gems, jewels, antique items, and various collectibles. However, being rare also means that once something is gone, it's gone forever. In the animal world, rare also stands for endangered, which is exactly what the rarest animals in the world are.
According to WWF's recent report, since 1970, wildlife populations worldwide have decreased by an average of 69%. Pollution, global warming, deforestation, and other outcomes of globalization, as well as poaching, are some of the leading causes putting rare species of animals on the verge of extinction. And unfortunately, destruction is often easier than recovery. Thus, the list of the most rare animals in the world is unlikely to decrease any time soon.
According to the IUCN Red List, more than 42,100 species are threatened with extinction and thus can be labeled as rare. Most of those threatened belong to the animal kingdom, making them some of the rarest animals in the world. And while extinction has been a natural part of the planet's evolutionary history, human activity significantly increased its rate. In fact, according to a study published in Science Advances, humans are responsible for 96% of all mammal species extinctions of the last hundred thousand years.
Below, we've compiled a list of some of the most rare animals in the world that are on the brink of extinction. And while some of the rare species of animals are in active conservation, the prospects of others remain dim. Do you know any more rare animals that are missing from this list? Have you ever had a chance to see rare wild animals in real life? Let us know!
#61 Diana Monkey (Cercopithecus Diana)
Diana monkeys are medium-sized primates with slim bodies, long legs, and long tails found in Western Africa. Black faces and backs, white fronts and undersides, one white stripe along the outside of the thighs, and a reddish rump are characteristics of this species. The crescent-shaped band of white hair on the brow of Diana monkeys is thought to resemble that of the Roman goddess Diana, who guards nature and woodlands, hence the name. Sadly, Diana monkey populations are dwindling due to deforestation and being coveted by hunters. The IUCN listed them as “Endangered.”
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#62 Liger (Hybrid Offspring Of A Male Lion And A Female Tiger)
The biggest cat in the world is a liger, the offspring of a male lion and a female tiger. This indicates that the liger's parents are of a different species, yet they belong to the same genus. Because the habitats of the parental species do not intersect in the wild, ligers are currently only found in captivity. Usually, they outgrow both of their parent species. Another fun fact is that ligers can weigh up to 165 kg at the end of their first year since they grow at a rate of 1 kg every two days. Thus, by the time they are three years old, they can weigh more than 320 kg. However, as ligers are neither full lions nor tigers, they are not considered in need of protection, despite being rare.
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