It's Endangered Species Day — here are 18 critically endangered animals

Endangered Species Day is May 17, where people are encouraged to learn more about the endangered species who live among us.

While there are thousands of species currently endangered, some are facing an even more serious status as "critically endangered." 

"Critically endangered" means a species is facing an extremely high risk of extinction in the wild. 

 Here is World Wildlife Fund's list of critically endangered animals, listed in alphabetical order.

Amur Leopard, Panthera pardus orientalis     Black Rhino, Diceros bicornis          Bornean Orangutan, Pongo pygmaeus        Cross River Gorilla, Gorilla gorilla diehli    Eastern Lowland Gorilla, Gorilla beringei graueri           Hawksbill Turtle, Eretmochelys imbricata          Javan Rhino, Rhinoceros sondaicus Malayan Tiger, Panthera tigris jacksoni         Orangutan, Pongo abelii, Pongo pygmaeus       Saola, Pseudoryx nghetinhensis       South China Tiger, Panthera tigris amoyensis   Sumatran Elephant, Elephas maximus sumatranus       Sumatran Orangutan, Pongo abelii    Sumatran Rhino, Dicerorhinus sumatrensis     Sumatran Tiger, Panthera tigris sumatrae     Vaquita, Phocoena sinus  Western Lowland Gorilla, Gorilla gorilla gorilla Yangtze Finless Porpoise, Neophocaena asiaeorientalis ssp. asiaeorientalis    

To help endangered animals, the Endangered Animal Coalition has a few suggestions. Visiting a national wildlife refuge, park or other open space
 can help you learn more about animals and their habitats. Recycling and using more sustainable products keeps garbage out of habitats. And keep an eye out for your own local endangered animals and find out how you can get involved in helping them. 

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