5 Lesser-Known Endangered Animals to Discover

Meet 5 rare and endangered animals—from sea stars to stick insects—fighting for survival and deserve their time in the spotlight.

We bet you have heard about sea turtles, tigers, orangutans or even axolotls. These endangered animals are frequently featured in public education, conservation campaigns, documentaries, and children’s media, making them highly recognisable outside of scientific or environmental circles.

However, there are so many unusual, critically endangered animals that you might not have heard of who deserve their shot in the spotlight. With a focus on endangered species conservation, let's look at five lesser-known endangered animals from around the globe. 

Mountain Pygmy Possum

There are many rare Australian animals, and two features on this list. The first is the mountain pygmy-possum, Australia’s only hibernating marsupial. They were thought to be extinct until 1966 when they were rediscovered on Mt Hotham. 

Population: 950 adults

Range:  Three populations in south-eastern Australia between Mt. Bogong and Mt. Higginbotham, Victoria, Mt. Buller, Victoria and Kosciuszko, New South Wales.  

Threats: Reduction of food source, climate change, loss of habitats and predators. 

Conservation:  NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service are working with Saving our Species to protect key habitat during planned and unplanned fire events, controlling pest animals and tracking the possum numbers and health over time.  The Mountain Pygmy-possum Recovery Team is focusing on the decline of the Bogong Moth, the Mountain pygmy-possum's key diet. 

Lord Howe Island Stick-insect

The Lord Howe Island stick-insect, or tree lobster insect, is one of the rarest insects in the world. Up until 2001, they were thought to be extinct after a ship wrecked on the island in 1912 bringing with it an invasion of black rats that decimated the population.

Population: 9-23 adults 

Range: Ball's Pyramid, a volcanic outcrop off Lord Howe Island, Australia

Threats: Invasive plants and non-native predators

Conservation: Melbourne Zoo spearheads a captive breeding programme which has seen zoos throughout America, Canada, and the UK take part. In 2019, the Lord Howe Island Rodent Eradication Project culled black rats from the island, which has allowed the Lord Howe Island stick insect a chance to flourish. 

Sunflower Sea Star

Perhaps one of the endangered animals you have never heard of is the sunflower sea star? This Pacific Ocean marine invert has up to 24 limbs and is the largest, fastest and most endangered sea star. 

Population: 600 million

Range: Eastern Pacific Ocean from Alaska to California

Threats:  Sea star wasting syndrome has wiped out 99.2% of the population. Other threats include ocean acidification, water pollution, dredging and coastal development. 

Conservation: The Aquarium of the Pacific is working with other organisations to monitor and conduct cross-fertilisation and spawning studies. 

Galápagos Pink Land Iguana

The Galápagos pink land iguana is one of the most unique reptiles of Galápagos and an unusual, critically endangered animal.  Despite only being recognised as a species in 2009, this amazing creature is thought to have diverged from other land iguana species in Galapagos approximately 5.7 million years ago, making it one of the oldest examples of evolutionary diversification in Galápagos. 

Population: 211 individuals 

Range: On the Northern slopes of the volcano, Volcán Wolf, on Isla Isabela, Galápagos 

Threats: Animals preying on eggs, drought and volcanic eruptions

Conservation: Fieldwork is currently being carried out on the volcano as well as Galápagos Pink Land Iguana breeding and nesting behaviours 

African Penguin

The African penguin population is in decline, losing 99% of its population over the last century, with predictions of an additional 80% loss over the next three generations. These small penguins act as an indicator species, where the size and health of a colony reflect the ecosystem.

Population:  9,900 pairs

Range: Namibia and South Africa 

Threats: Food shortages, climate change, human interference and pollution 

Conservation: To mitigate the threats to African penguins, efforts have been put in place to ensure safe nesting, flood prevention across breeding sites, rescuing oiled, starving or injured birds and minimising human disturbance around the colonies. 

Is your group studying endangered animals? If so, speak to a member of our team about how we can help.