The 17 animal species that are critically endangered

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Newly discovered species in the Amazon could become extinct 0:52 (CNN Spanish) — The vaquita marina is the smallest marine mammal in the world and there are only about 10 specimens left in its only habitat, the Gulf of California, in Mexico. For this reason, the vaquita is part of the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) list of “critically endangered” species — facing an extremely high risk of extinction. Global assessments reveal that 40.7% of amphibians, 25.4% of mammals, 21.1% of reptiles and 13.6% of bird species face the threat of extinction. What is the main cause of biodiversity loss? Changes in land use, unsustainable use of natural resources, invasive alien species, climate change and pollution, according to the WWF. The WFF also has a list of threatened species that are considered a priority, since their level of threat is maximum and their ecological value is fundamental, since their survival would guarantee the future of the rest of the species with which they share a habitat. In this list, there are pandas, tigers, sea turtles, sharks, rays, jaguars, among others. Speaking specifically of animals that are currently “critically endangered,” however, the WWF listed the following: The Sumatran tiger (Ulet Ifansasti/Getty Images) The African forest elephant (Photo by STEEVE JORDAN/AFP via Getty Images) The Amur leopard (SEBASTIEN BOZON/AFP) The Bornean orangutan (JORGE GUERRERO/AFP via Getty Images) The western Cross River gorilla (JORGE GUERRERO/AFP via Getty Images) The eastern lowland gorilla (Photo by John Moore/Getty Images) Hawksbill sea turtle (Mark Kolbe/Getty Images) Javan rhinoceros The Javan rhinoceros is estimated to have a maximum of 68 individuals, while the Sumatran rhino (in this photo) is estimated to have fewer than 100. orangutan La saola Source: World Wildlife Fund Inc. Sumatran elephant (Photo by Ulet Ifansasti/Getty Images) Sumatran orangutan ( MICHAL CIZEK/AFP via Getty Images) Sumatran rhinoceros (Mike Simons/Getty Images) Sumatran tiger Sumatra (Jeff J Mitchell ll/Getty Images) The vaquita (Credit: UN Mexico) The western lowland gorilla (Matt Cardy/Getty Images) The finless porpoise (Credit: JOHANNES EISELE/AFP via Getty Images)