These 10 Animals May Go Extinct In Our Lifetimes

<p> <a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/hbarrison/5850488271/sizes/l/">Flickr/HBarrison</a><span></span> </p>
<p> <a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/hbarrison/5850488271/sizes/l/">Flickr/HBarrison</a><span></span> </p>

Animal populations today are dwindling at a rapid rate, with many species facing extinction. Some animals are approaching the brink sooner than you might think. Below are the animals most likely to go extinct in our lifetimes. Read on to see how you can help.

Amur Leopard

Only about 35 Amur leopards exist in the world today, with few left in the wild due to loss of habitat and poachers who hunt them for their coats.

Flickr/Pierre Guinoiseau

You can help rescue them by donating to an effort to reintroduce Amur leopards to the wild or by symbolically adopting an Amur leopard to help care for.

Hawksbill Turtle

Though sea turtles have made a comeback in recent years, hawksbills are still subjected to accidental capture in fishing nets and are eaten by people who believe their eggs are a delicacy.

Flickr/Tchami

Help sea turtles by encouraging the enactment of harsher laws against hunting hawksbills and other animals.

Mountain Gorilla

Mountain gorillas are continuous casualties of decades-long wars in central Africa and only about 700 of them are thought to still exist.

Flickr/Sara&Joachim;

To save them, it's necessary to find sustainable ways of farming and to stop charcoal harvesting, which destroys their habits, and find alternative resources for cooking and heating.

Javan Rhinoceros

The Javan rhino has the smallest remaining population of any rhinoceros species. Just 35 still survive in the wild due to natural disasters, diseases caused by a lack of genetic diversity and invasive species.

Shutterstock/Al Pidgen

To help, consider donating toward the effort to establish suitable, natural habitats in Indonesia for these beautiful creatures.

Saola

Saolas were only recently discovered in 1992 and are already in danger of being wiped out, with populations estimated to be as low as a few dozen, mainly due to hunting and habitat loss.

Wikimedia Commons/Silviculture

To help these guys out, consider donating to rescue efforts to help rebuild habitats and protect them against hunting practices by enacting harsher laws.

South China Tiger

The South China tiger is so close to extinction there may not be any left in the wild at all, thanks largely in part to hunting efforts by the Chinese government.

Flickr/HBarrison

With so little sustainable habitat left, the only option is to try and force Chinese legislators to protect their natural habitat so that one day the tigers might be reintroduced to the wild.

Vaquita

The vaquita is a small porpoise on the brink of extinction, with less than 100 surviving in the wild due to fishery bycatch, the accidental and unnecessary capture of non-target marine animals during fishing.

Wikimedia Commons/Paula Olson

It's estimated vaquitas will become extinct by 2018 if illegal bycatching isn't stopped in the Gulf of California. Support WWF in its efforts to stop bycatching in the Gulf by making a donation.

Sumatran Orangutan

There are only a few thousand Sumatran orangutans left in the wild and populations are declining rapidly due to hunting, fires that destroy their habitat and planned construction that makes it easier for illegal loggers to encroach upon their territory.

Flickr/Schristia

Conservation efforts are taking place, but there is a need for donations to help protect the orangutans and grow more trees in which they can live.

Sumatran Elephant

These big guys live in the same area as the Sumatran orangutan and have hit populations below 3,000 due to poaching for their tusks, deforestation and dangerous encounters with humans resulting from a lack of habit, forcing them to come into contact with humans.

Flickr/vincentraal

There are numerous ways to help the Sumatran elephants, either through donations or sponsorship of an elephant or endangered area.

Pangolin

Pangolins are some of the most highly trafficked animals in the world, particularly in Asia. Their meat and scales are commonly used in folk remedies. It is estimated that over 200,000 were killed between 2011 and 2013.

Shutterstock/Maggy Meyer

You can help save the pangolin by educating others about the need to protect them and by avoiding any products from around the world that contain pangolin scales or meat.

Most of these animals need our help to make a comeback, especially since we're the reason so many species are dying off in the first place. Spread the word and let's help these amazing creatures start thriving again.