FaunaHub

Risk category · CR

Critically Endangered animals

Critically Endangered (CR) species face an extremely high risk of extinction in the wild under IUCN criteria. This list spans every major animal group, from great apes and rhinos to corals and freshwater fish.

Each record links to authoritative sources. Confirm the current status on the official IUCN Red List before relying on it — some of these species are the focus of intensive recovery programmes.

95 records in this view · last reviewed

Critically Endangered is the highest risk category before extinction in the wild. Several entries below are well-known recovery cases — proof that a category is a snapshot, not a verdict.

Data limitations

  • These are educational summaries, not the official assessment. Conservation status can change as new science and threats emerge.
  • We show the global IUCN Red List category. National and local status can differ from the global category.
  • Each record shows a last-verified date and a data-confidence flag so you can see how current and how checked it is.
  • Always verify the current status on the official IUCN Red List and the relevant national wildlife authority. FaunaHub does not replace conservation authorities.

Dataset last reviewed: Full data methodology →

Critically Endangered records

Showing 95 of 95 records

Frequently Asked Questions

What does Critically Endangered mean?
Critically Endangered (CR) is the IUCN category for species facing an extremely high risk of extinction in the wild, based on criteria such as severe population decline, very small population size, or a very restricted range.
Can a Critically Endangered species recover?
Yes. Intensive conservation has pulled species back from the brink before. Recovery is difficult and not guaranteed, but the category can change as populations respond — which is why FaunaHub treats status as a dated snapshot.
Is this every Critically Endangered animal?
No. This is a curated educational selection, not the complete IUCN list. For the full, current list, use the official IUCN Red List.

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