Group Lists Species

International wildlife conservation

The World Wildlife Fund has released its annual list of the 10 most threatened species.

The group criticized the weakening of the U.S. Endangered Species Act, saying it “could definitely wreak havoc for many foreign species … through uncontrolled trade.”

Despite international protection, black rhino populations have dropped to fewer than 2,000 - more than a 95 percent drop since 1970. The population of the Indo-Chinese tiger, victim of increased poaching, has dropped below 1,500 animals in the wild.

Others on the list include the giant panda; Asiatic black bear; American box turtle; Day geckos; St. Francis’ satyr butterfly; sharks; Tibetan antelope; and lady slipper orchids.

, DataTimes