Definition

Endangered species are plants and animals that are so rare that they are in danger of becoming extinct. 

Causes

Species can become endangered due to a variety of factors, including habitat loss, pollution, invasive species, and climate change. 

Conservation

Many nations have laws to protect endangered species, such as restricting land development, creating protected areas, or forbidding hunting. Some endangered species are the target of conservation efforts like captive breeding and habitat restoration. 

Examples

Some examples of endangered species include the hawksbill turtle, the whooping crane, and the Asiatic lion: 

Hawksbill turtle: The hawksbill turtle is critically endangered due to a number of factors, including accidental capture in fishing gears, nesting habitat degradation, and the illegal trade of hawksbill shells and products. 

Whooping crane: The whooping crane population was decimated by hunting and the reduction of their wetland habitat. However, captive rearing and reintroduction have helped to establish two wild populations.

Asiatic lion: The Asiatic lion is endangered and its entire population is restricted to the Gir National Park and environs in Gujarat, India.