Sumatran rhinoceros (Dicerorhinus sumatrensis) female eating leaves, Way Kambas National Park, Sumatra, Indonesia

© Cyril Ruoso/Minden Picture

How can we help at-risk animals?. Endangered Species Day

As natural habitats shrink and disappear, thousands of species, like the Sumatran rhino pictured here, are at risk of extinction. Logging and hunting have led to their inclusion on the IUCN Red List of Critically Endangered Species, joining over 38,500 threatened species. Once plentiful across Southeast Asia, fewer than 100 Sumatran rhinos live in the wild today.

While Endangered Species Day highlights at-risk organisms, it's also a day to celebrate successful conservation efforts. Governmental regulations and organizational measures have helped previously endangered species increase their numbers. Humpback whales, gray wolves, tigers and bald eagles have all seen significant population increases. Even with this encouraging progress, we must continue to take action through legislation, conservation, spreading awareness and personal habits.