Born Free’s top 20 endangered species
It’s Endangered Species Day, a wonderful opportunity to tell you about some of the rare and threatened animals we help keep safe, thanks to your incredible support.
(c) www.georgelogan.co.uk
Every year, on the third Friday in May, people around the world take action and hold events to celebrate endangered species. But, today is particularly special, as 2025 is the 20th year since the day was founded in 2006, by the Endangered Species Coalition.
With your help, Born Free is devoted to ending the exploitation of wild animals in captivity, as well as tackling the critical challenges faced by wild animals in the wild. To us, the well-being of every single one matters! Let’s take a look at some of the endangered and threatened animals you help us protect.
1. The lion
The mighty symbol of Born Free, these top predators keep their savannah ecosystem in balance by hunting herbivores such as zebras and antelope.
A male lion’s roar can be heard five miles away!
2. The elephant
Our charity actually began because of just one elephant. The largest land mammal, a male can top 3m.
Ancient elephants evolved over 60 million years. And humans? We emerged just 200,000 years ago.
3. The tiger
The largest of all big cats, their tail alone can be over 1m long.
A tiger’s stripey coat blends into their surroundings as, hunting alone, they creep silently on soft padded paws to pounce on unsuspecting prey.
4. The cheetah
Famous as the world’s fastest land animal, these elite sprinters can top almost 60mph in the wild.
This is twice as fast as 2024 Olympic 100m gold medallist Noah Lyles. His top speed? 27mph.
5. The leopard
With an exceptionally strong jaw, leopards can take down prey much larger than themselves.
Powerful yet supple, they can hoist their meal weighing twice their body weight into a tree, to feed in peace.
6. The black panther
What IS a black panther?! With ebony spots on dark fur, the name is actually used to describe melanistic jaguars AND leopards.
This includes shy leopard Mowgli, rescued from a zoo and now safe at our sanctuary in South Africa.
7. The pangolin
Known as ‘scaly anteaters’, they’re more closely related to dogs and cats. Their name comes from ‘penggulung’, Malay for ‘rolls up’.
One pangolin eats up to 70 million insects per year – helping protect forests from termite destruction.
8. The rhino
Black and white rhinos are actually both grey! So, how do you tell them apart?
Black rhinos browse on bushes helped by their hooked upper lip. White rhinos have a square-shaped lip, adapted to graze on grass.
9. The giraffe
Beautifully described by our Founder Patron Dame Joanna Lumley as “a fairytale animal, from the land of fables”.
A keystone species, browsing giraffes prune plants and trees, spreading nutrients and seeds in their dung.
10. The orangutan
The only great ape in Asia, the orangutan has one of the longest childhoods of any animal.
Mums care for their young for up to eight years, until they’re ready to be independent in the wild.
11. The chimpanzee
Chimpanzees are so inventive. They’re well-known for using sticks to ‘fish’ for ants and termites.
But, did you know they also use twigs to clean their teeth and groom their fur, as well as stones to crack open nuts?
12. The gorilla
Nature’s gardeners, gorillas help shape their rainforest home.
Munching all day on fruits and leaves, their huge bodies create clearings as they stop to eat or rest, which get replanted with seeds from their dung.
13. The hippo
One of nature’s most powerful animals, semi-aquatic hippos spend most of their day in rivers and lakes.
Most active at night, they leave the water to graze for hours, devouring up to 40kg of grass.
14. The polar bear
The world’s largest bear and the Arctic’s top predator, polar bears can run at 25mph, roaming vast areas in search of food.
No wonder they can behave so abnormally in zoos, repeatedly pacing or neck-twisting.
15. The grey parrot
Super intelligent and highly social, grey parrots can mimic human speech – which sadly makes them sought-after as pets.
We fight this trade and help rehabilitate rescued parrots back to the wild in Cameroon.
16. The orca
Although known as ‘killer whales’, the distinctive black and white orca is actually the largest species of dolphin.
Around the world, several populations are endangered. With your help we fight their captive exploitation.
17. The long-tailed macaque
Found in SE Asia, they’re also known as crab-eating macaques – but actually enjoy a variety of food not least fruit.
Thriving in a variety of habitats, they’re often seen close to people, so thought to be more common than they are.
18. The hedgehog
Famous for their prickly spines and one of our best-loved animals, sadly hedgehogs are now officially vulnerable to extinction in the UK.
But, did you know there are lots of ways you can help them?
19. The gelada
The only grass-eating monkey, found only in Ethiopia and also known as bleeding-heart monkeys – you can see why!
Although not officially endangered, they’re threatened by the wild pet trade and habitat loss.
20. The serval
The long-legged serval can leap 2.7m (3x body length) into the air to grab prey – the human high jump record is 2.45m!
Again, these small cats aren’t officially endangered, but they’re heavily exploited as wild pets.
