Wildlife Wednesday: Cute Animals on Verge on Extinction

Nature's most prized wild animals are already stressed and in danger from human influences alone, mainly because of deforestation and poaching. The changing climate is now becoming more of a threat to these cute animals, causing a loss in the number of species. Some are critically endangered and others are on the verge of extinction. Here are a few of them: 

Polar bears have been the face of climate change for many years and have been listed as a "threatened species" since 2008. This is because polar bears need icy conditions and cool temperatures to live in the polar regions. Over the years, these areas have gone through quite a change with rapid melting of ice due to warmer ocean temperatures. Sadly, there are only about 22,000-31,000 polar bears living in the wild currently. 

Another is the American Pika. It is a cousin to the rabbit and has been facing falling numbers. It is not yet federally declared on the Endangered Species Act, but could be soon as more die off. Rising global temperatures are pushing them out of their habitat, which is causing them to overheat. Pikas have adapted to cold alpine temperatures in which they call home. With warming temps, they can actually overheat in just a few hours and die.

Other endangered animals include pandas, koalas, orangutans, and sea turtles.