Extinction Countdown

Dozens of frogs, fish, orchids and other species — many unseen for decades — may no longer exist due to humanity’s destructive effects on the planet.

A final rule to remove the iconic species from the Endangered Species Act has now been published. Read more about the science and politics of wolf conservation.

Smalltail shark populations have declined by 90% in Brazil, and new research finds that overfishing has pushed the species perilously close to extinction.

A new paper identifies 65 plant extinctions in the continental United States and Canada — but that’s probably just a fraction of what we’ve lost.

Videos of people getting too close to, and touching, the rare apes motivates other people to want to do the same — and that could spread diseases like COVID-19 to a critically endangered species.

Scientists have rediscovered the endangered Mindo glassfrog, which hasn’t been seen in decades. And it’s just one of many remarkable species they’ve found in an at-risk habitat.

New research indicates a growing online trade in porcupine bezoars — a ball of inedible material that sometimes gathers in their digestive tracks.

Australia’s Bellinger River snapping turtle nearly went extinct in just months — before anyone knew it was in trouble. Conservationists are working to make sure it doesn’t disappear forever.

A new study digs into the market for endangered and threatened snakes, revealing threats to both species and human health.

Endangered seabirds can recover, but only if we control feral cats and other non-native predators, new research finds.