Photos of Endangered and Vulnerable Species from Around the Globe

Photo contest contestants capture rare images of threatened animals



sea lions


Galápagos Sea Lions Napping on the Beach at Gardner Bay on the Island of Espanola, Galapagos Islands, Ecuador

Photo by Melissa Estes (Fort Myers, FL); Photographed May 2011

Scientists estimate the population of Galápagos sea lions has declined roughly 50 percent since 1978. According to the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), introduced species such as feral dogs carry diseases that Galápagos sea lions are particularly susceptible to. Sea lions are also vulnerable to fluctuations in ocean currents due to climate change, which directly impacts their food source.

Status: Endangered


 

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