There are many beautiful, strong, and surprising animals in the world that are also rare – there aren't many of them left.
In fact, some of them are so rare that people have to protect them by law.
Here are a few examples of rare wild animals you might've heard about.
Amur Leopard
The Amur leopard is a majestic big cat found in the Russian Far East and northeastern China.
It is one of the most endangered big cats in the world.
Current estimates suggest that there are only about 70 individuals left in the wild.
Sumatran Orangutan
The Sumatran orangutan is a critically endangered species of ape that inhabits the rainforests of Sumatra, an island in Indonesia.
Their numbers have drastically decreased due to habitat loss and illegal hunting.
It is estimated that fewer than 14,000 Sumatran orangutans remain.
Vaquita
The vaquita is a small porpoise species found in the Gulf of California, Mexico.
It is the most endangered marine mammal in the world.
Shockingly, there are less than 10 individuals left, making it critically close to extinction.
The main threat to vaquitas is accidental entanglement in fishing nets.
Javan Rhinoceros
The Javan rhinoceros is one of the rarest large mammals on the planet.
It is found in select areas of Indonesia and Vietnam.
With a population estimated to be around 70 individuals, it is critically endangered due to poaching for its horn and habitat loss.
Previously, we talked about giraffes.
