- In this Tuesday, Nov. 25, 2008 file photo a silverback mountain gorilla is seen in the Virunga National Park, near the Ugandan border in eastern Congo, The 175-nation U.N. Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species, known as CITES, is based in Geneva and regulates nearly 35,000 species of animals and plants. Experts rank wildlife smuggling among the top aims of criminal networks, along with drugs and human trafficking. CITES says wildlife crime remains poorly studied but it says international estimates of the scale of illegal wildlife trade range from between $16 billion and $27 billion a year. Tiger parts, elephant ivory, rhino horn and exotic birds and reptiles are among the most trafficked items. (AP Photo / Jerome Delay, File)
- Sumatran Orangutan – The Sumatran orangutan is the most endangered of the two orangutan species. Found only in the northern and western provinces of Sumatra, Indonesia, the species is fast losing its natural habitat to agriculture and human settlements. World Wildlife Fund has put together a top 10 list of endangered species to be on the look-out for in 2012. © Fletcher and Baylis / WWF-Indonesia
- Mountain Gorilla – The mountain gorilla became known to science on 17 October 1902, and is a subspecies of eastern gorilla. © Martin Harvey / WWF-Canon
- Atlantic Bluefin Tuna – Tuna is perhaps the most high profile victim of unregulated and uncontrolled overfishing. Bluefin tuna populations have declined alarmingly over the past few decades. © Wild Wonders of Europe / Zankl / WWF-Canon
- Leatherback turtle – The leatherback turtle has survived for more than a hundred million years, but is now facing extinction. Recent estimates of numbers show that this species is declining precipitously throughout its range. World Wildlife Fund has put together a top 10 list of endangered species to be on the look-out for in 2012. © Carlos Drews / WWF-Canon
- Tiger – Less than 3,200 remain in the wild, we have lost 97% of our wild tigers in just over a century. © Kevin Schafer / WWF-Canon
- Snow Leopard – There are up to 6,000 snow leopards in the wild across 12 countries, but its numbers are gradually declining, with hunting and habitat loss just some of the reasons that it is endangered. Naturepl.com/ Andy Rouse / WWF-Canon
- Vaquita – The vaquita is a very small porpoise that lives solely in the Gulf of California, Mexico. The species is critically endangered primarily as a result of entanglement in fishing nets. © WWF-US/Eugene Lee
- Irrawaddy Dolphin – Some populations are close to extinction such as those in the Mekong River and Malampaya Sound in the Philippines. The main threats are from fisheries bycatch and habitat loss. © David Dove / WWF-Greater Mekong
- Javan Rhino – The Javan rhino is probably the rarest large mammal on the planet, with no more than 50 left in the wild and none in captivity. © Greater Mekong / WWF-Canon
- Asian Elephant – Sacred but exploited, the Asian elephant has been worshipped for centuries and is still used today for ceremonial and religious purposes. © David Lawson / WWF-U
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