15 Endangered Species You Didn't Know You Could See In Connecticut!

Believe it or not, a species of plant or animal goes extinct every 20 minutes! LEO Zoological Conservation Center in Greenwich, CT is a non profit, low impact, breeding facility for rare and endangered animals. Unlike your typical zoo, this off exhibit conservation center allows only 50 visits a year in order to minimize stress on the animals, making them just as curious about you as you are of them. You can check out their membership or private safari tour options here

Rothschild Giraffe

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With only a few hundred left in the wild, these guys are extremely Endangered. They live in two small metapopulations in Kenya and Uganda.

LEOZCC welcomed baby Sandy Hope last year after an approximate 16 month gestation period!

Cheetah

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Found throughout Africa, the species has lost about 90% of its population in the last 60 years primarily due to human-wildlife conflict. The largest population exists in Namibia, and approximately 200 individuals still exist within Iran

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Mona Lisa is a KING CHEETAH and 1 of 19 in the world! She is also the only King Cheetah in the United States!

Jackass Penguin

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Watch them swim and slide in a gorgeous lagoon at LEO Zoological Conservation Center!

Found in the coastal waters of South Africa, these little guys are Endangered due to some serious habitat loss, coastal development, oil pollution and overfishing.

White-Handed Gibbon

LEOzoo.org

Listed as Endangered, the greatest threats to the species include hunting for meat and the pet trade, agriculture, development, and deforestation.

Lovable and playful, these guys spend most of their time in the trees.

LOWLAND TAPIR

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The largest mammal in South America, these adorable creatures are listed as Vulnerable on the IUCN Red List due to habitat loss from deforestation and competition with livestock

Orangutan

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One of our closest relatives (sharing 97% of our DNA) Orangutans are Critically Endangered. Found only on the islands of Borneo and Sumatra, the Palm Oil industry has contributed to the major decline of this species due to deforestation, the population is said to be extinct by 2023.

LEOZCC just welcomed the first ever successful assisted reproduction of a baby orangutan, a feat which could help to save the entire species!

Eastern Mountain Bongo

LEOzoo.org

With less than 103 left in the wild, these sweet looking dudes are Critically Endangered and found only on Mt. Kenya.

While running, adult Bongos tilt their chins up in order to lay their horns flat against their neck to avoid the trees and increase speed!

Striped Hyena

LEOzoo.org

Native to North and East Africa, the Middle east, and parts of Asia, the species is listed as Near Threatened with a wild population of approximately 10,000 left in the wild. Unlike their relatives, these are not laughing hyenas but are sometimes known to howl or chatter.

Black and White Ruffed Lemur

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Listed as Critically Endangered on the IUCN list, the population has declined >80% in the past 21 years due to habitat loss from deforestation and hunting.

As you know, these guys like to "move it, move it", although they can't whistle like King Julien, they are pretty skilled at laughing loudly with you.

Grevy's Zebra

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With a population of approximately 2,000 left in the wild, the species has declined by over 50% in the past 2 decades. Found only in parts of Kenya and Ethiopia they are losing critical habitat and continue to be hunted.

Thompsons Gazelle

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These tiny little guys can run up to 60mph, and their horns can be almost as long as their bodies!

Listed as Near Threatened on the IUCN Red List, Thompsons Gazelles are found in Kenya and Tanzania, and participate in the Great Migration. Threats include tourist impacts and lack of water availability.

Cotton top Tamarin

Critically Endangered (300-1,000 left in the wild), these stylin' hairdos are found only in the tropical forests of Northwest Columbia. Weighing less than a pound, Cotton Top Tamarins are the smallest primates, and are known to base their decisions on "economical" factors.

Deforestation is the main threat these guys face, as they are so tiny, they live in the trees to avoid predators and get all their water by licking moisture off leaves.

Three Banded Armadillo

LEOzoo.org

Listed as Vulnerable, these guys are from Brazil. Their population has declined by 30% in the past 10 years. Their ability to roll into an armored ball protects them from most predators, the main threats to their existence is habitat loss due to livestock farming.

...And need we even mention the penis to body size ratio....

Siamang

LEOzoo.org

Part of the Gibbon family, this endangered species is from Malaysia, Thailand, and Sumatra. The Siamang is the largest of the lesser apes. Much like a bullfrog, they have a throat pouch which can inflate to the size of the individuals head.

Main threats include poaching and habitat loss.

Bactrian Camel

Photo by Cecilia Cerrilla, a past LEOZCC intern

Found only in Mongolia, the Bactrian camel is Critically Endangered, with approximately only 600 individuals left in the wild. Expanding agriculture and human populations are diminishing critical habitat, as well as human wildlife conflict forcing the species to share resources with livestock, and often be shot.