Extinction Countdown

The discovery of a lost plant species highlights the need to protect other endangered species in one of the most biodiverse regions in the United States.

The once-common native guava species has nearly vanished — killed off by an invasive fungus that arrived just 10 years ago. Other plant species may soon follow.

The New England medicinal leech could be a poster child for invertebrate and parasite conservation, according to researchers. We just need to find it first.

New research reveals clear guidance for reducing human-wildlife conflict and restoring wolf populations.

The Mindo harlequin toad, last seen in Ecuador in 1989, was feared a victim of the amphibian-killing chytrid fungus. Have other lost species survived, too?

New research proposes classifying the threatened tree as an “umbrella species” because of its oversized ecological role.

As biodiversity disappears, the risk to human health increases. Experts say we need to protect wild spaces and species to help prevent future outbreaks.

Livestock owners needlessly fear these massive South American birds — and lure them to their deaths with illegal poisons. That puts the entire species at risk.

And they’re not the only ones in trouble — orchid species around the world face increasing threats from illegal trade and habitat destruction.

When a species is critically endangered, every individual matters.