How to Help Save The World’s Endangered Species
IUCN Red List says there are 44,000 threatened species (around a third of all creatures on earth), ranging from slightly concerned to extinct. At time of writing (2025), the world’s most endangered creatures are:
- Kapako (NZ bird, due to hunting)
- Pangolins (wildlife crime)
- Aye-ayes (habitat loss & superstition)
- Purple frogs (loss of habitat in India)
- Numbat (Aussie marsupial, loss of habitat)
- Rhinos (poaching)
- Orangutans (palm oil)
An Atlas of Endangered Species is a beautifully illustrated guide to the diversity of life on earth, in a world where a species goes extinct every 3 hours.
This book shows how species are adapting: Sharks can navigate using electromagnetic fields, sloths use algae as camouflage, albatross can fly for hours without beating their wings and orca pods have unique cultures and languages.
But our incredible world is at risk. In this book, Megan reveals the stories of scientists, rangers and conservationists who are fighting to save these extraordinary creatures from extinction, and how we all have a part to play.
The book begins with some sobering facts, but also hopeful stories about creatures that had been declared extinct, that are now thriving, thanks to conservation efforts worldwide.
The book features 19 animals from rhinos to elephants, and also one endangered species closer to home. Plus there is a chapter on our orange furry cousins: orangutans:
Orangutans are the victims of years of environmental destruction and illegal human activity. Illegal hunters shoot a mother high up in the tree, and wait for her and her baby to come crashing to the ground.
They then prise the youngster from the mother’s warm, bloodied fingers to be shipped across the world to sit in a cage for the remainder of its life (40 years). The other threat is habitat destruction for palm oil (sold in 50% of products in supermarkets).
Megan McCubbin is a qualified zoologist who is often featured presenting wildlife programs on TV, including BBC Springwatch and Autumnwatch. She often presents alongside her step-father Chris Packham.
This is a lovely book, well-written and beautifully illustrated. And I’m delighted to see that it’s been written by one of the generation of new young naturalists that are helping to change our perception and appreciation of the natural world. Iolo Williams
Support Born Free Foundation (not zoos)
Born Free investigates reports of zoo welfare worldwide. It began after the founders were unable to rescue a little elephant destined for a zoo, and is now run by their son Will Travers.
The charity has rescued animals from appalling conditions, and says zoos never educate, as you are not viewing how animals behave in the wild.
The temperatures are also wrong (too cold for elephants in London, too hot for polar bears). Many develop medical problems and there is high infant mortality for polar bears, lameness in elephants and mental health issues for apes.
In the wild, polar bears have around 1 million times more space, and apes swing from tree to tree. 83% of the British public wish a ban on keeping large animals in zoos.
Submit reports to Born Free about animal concerns for zoos (or circuses abroad) and for animals used in the media. Take photos and videos if you can.
And if abroad, contact the local police and tour operator. Also look up your local animal shelter before you travel, so you can report that too.
Also Support Freedom for Animals
Freedom for Animals is the other main welfare charity for captive animals, which investigates and educations (it sells nice organic cotton and beanies, to help raise funds).
You can also report a mobile zoo, be a whistle-blower (anonymous) and download a free activist pack. This charity also campaigns to stop reindeer being used to ‘entertain children’ at shopping centres, as long journeys, bright lights and noise terrifies them.
