With Earth Day just a month away, it is a great time to reflect on our impact on the planet and the steps we can take to protect wildlife. For decades, conservationists have fought to protect endangered species from extinction. While headlines often spotlight habitat destruction and population decline, there is another side to the story—one of resilience and recovery. Thanks to conservation efforts worldwide, numerous species are making a remarkable comeback, showing that environmental actions can yield real results.
What Makes a Species Endangered?
A species becomes endangered when it faces significant risks of extinction due to factors such as habitat destruction, overhunting, pollution and disease. Human activities often accelerate these threats by disrupting ecosystems and reducing resources needed for animals to survive. When populations fall to dangerously low numbers, species struggle to maintain genetic diversity and reproduce. The World Wildlife Fund regularly updates a comprehensive list of endangered species.
Species That Are Coming Out of Extinction
Giant panda
Threatened by habitat loss, the giant panda population dropped to 1,200 in the 1980’s. In response, China banned logging of natural forests in 1998, helping the panda population grow 16.8% between 2003 and 2015. However, habitat fragmentation—where parts of the habitat are destroyed—continues to isolate pandas into small, genetically vulnerable groups. While over 50 panda reserves exist, only 57% of wild pandas live in protected areas. To address this issue, conservationists are creating bamboo corridors to reconnect habitats and support breeding, which has helped increase the panda population. Today, there are more than 1,800 giant pandas in the world.
Sumatran orangutans
Historically, Sumatran orangutans were found in islands throughout Indonesia, such as Sumatra and Java. Sumatran orangutans have seen a decline in population over the past few decades, largely due to deforestation, palm oil plantations and illegal hunting. Thanks to improved habitat protection, stricter law enforcement and awareness campaigns, the number of orangutans has started to stabilize. Efforts to reintroduce orangutans rescued from illegal trade have aided their recovery, with about 70 Sumatran orangutans now successfully reproducing. While this species remains critically endangered, ongoing conservation efforts offer hope for the future. Seven of nine remaining populations, each with at least 250 orangutans, are considered viable for long-term survival. Today, there are about 14,000 Sumatran orangutans worldwide.
Sea otters
Once abundant along the Pacific coast, sea otters faced near extinction in the 18th and 19th centuries, with their population plummeting to just a few hundred due to the maritime fur trade. The Marine Mammal Protection Act (MMPA) of 1972 helped conserve the sea otter population by banning hunting and capture in U.S. waters. While sea otters still face threats from habitat degradation, oil spills and fishing gear entanglement, they have made an impressive recovery. Today, Morro Bay and other parts of the Central Coast serve as a haven for these cute and playful marine animals, giving SLOCAL residents the pleasure of admiring them in their natural habitat. With roughly 125,000 sea otters worldwide, these animals continue to be a conservation success story.
Humpback whales
Humpback whales were heavily hunted for their blubber during the 19th and 20th centuries, leading to a dramatic population decline. Conservation efforts such as enforcing anti-whaling regulations, protecting breeding areas and reducing ship strikes have played crucial roles in stabilizing the humpback whale population. In 2016, the U.S. government announced the removal of most humpback whale populations from the endangered species list, recognizing their full recovery over the last five decades. Nine populations, including those from Hawaii and Australia, no longer need protection. Today, there are over 80,000 humpback whales, a significant increase from 10,000 whales in the late 20th century. If you are lucky, you might even see a humpback whale in SLO. Every summer, blue whales migrate north to the Central Coast for the seasonal krill bloom. According to Avila Beach’s website, peak whale-watching season occurs from April through November.
White rhinos
The white rhino, Ceratotherium simum, is one of Africa’s most iconic species. Divided into two subspecies—the northern and southern white rhinos—the species faces significant threats, including poaching and habitat loss. While the northern white rhino is critically endangered, with only two left, southern white rhinos have made a recovery from near extinction and are now classified as “near threatened.” Though much work remains, efforts like breeding programs and conserving protected areas have contributed to the survival of the southern subspecies. Today, there are about 17,500 southern white rhinos.
Bald eagles
In the 1960s, bald eagles were on the brink of extinction, with only 400 breeding pairs in 48 states due to factors such as hunting and DDT poisoning. DDT is a pesticide that, when ingested, prevents eagles from reproducing successfully. However, following legal protections, habitat restoration and the banning of harmful pesticides, the bald eagle population has soared (pun intended). Today, there are over 316,700 bald eagles and 71,400 nesting pairs in North America. As the U.S. national bird, the bald eagle’s recovery represents not just a conservation success story but also the country’s commitment to protecting its natural heritage.
Bengal tigers
Bengal tigers faced near extinction due to habitat loss, poaching for fur and body parts and human-wildlife conflict. Bengal tigers were also severely impacted as forests were cleared for agriculture and urban development. Enforcing stricter anti-poaching laws, establishing protected areas and creating wildlife corridors have been key to their recovery. Between 2000 and 2022, 3,377 tigers were taken from traffickers from over 50 countries. Many organizations are working on community-based conservation programs to reduce human-wildlife conflict, while dedicated breeding and monitoring initiatives continue to ensure the species’ survival in the wild. In 2010, the International Conservation Forum committed to double their global tiger population by 2022—a goal that was successfully achieved. Today, roughly 3,200 Bengal tigers roam the wild.
What You Can Do To Help:
To support endangered species, you can get involved with organizations such as:
- World Wildlife Fund (WWF): Works on conservation efforts worldwide, focusing on species protection and climate change.
- The Nature Conservancy: Preserves land and water resources for wildlife.
- Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS): Dedicated to saving wildlife and wild places through science, global conservation efforts and education.
- The Endangered Species Coalition: Advocates for federal and state protections for endangered species in the U.S.
From the revival of humpback whale populations to successful conservation efforts for species like the Sumatran orangutan, these population recoveries show that our collective efforts can help prevent extinction and restore balance to ecosystems. While there is still work to be done, these successes give us hope for a future where species thrive for generations to come.