This hermit ibis in the Bronx Zoo is considered Critically Endangered by the IUCN Red List. Photo by: Rhett A. Butler, 2008.
‘Critically Endangered’ is the highest rating given to a species by the IUCN Red List until the species vanishes into extinction. Native to North Africa, the hermit ibis (Geronticus eremite), also known as the Northern bald ibis, is threatened by a variety of impacts including illegal developments, agriculture, hunting, firewood collection, and overgrazing. Most of the population remains in Morocco.
Currently 3,566 species are listed as Critically Endangered. However, the IUCN Red List has only evaluated a small portion of the world’s known species (around 2 percent).
To see more photos of Critically Endangered species: Critically Endangered Species.
