As the endangered species list grows it becomes more and more apparent the role humans have in causing this growing trend.  Most of the animals on the endangered species list are there due to poaching and habitat loss, a major consequence of human actions.  These five animals--African Elephant, Rhinoceros, Amur Leopard, Great Apes, and Dolphins--made the endangered species list as a repercussion of human interference.

African Elephant:

There are two main factors that contribute to the African Elephant joining the growing list of endangered species, poaching and habitat loss.  Poachers are attracted to the African Elephant because of its ivory tusks and plentiful meat.  The inhabitants and natural environment of the African Elephant are directly dependent upon the existence of the African Elephant.  With the African Elephant's size it clears paths in forests which helps trees regenerate.  They can also thin out bush areas making them more easily accessible to grazing animals.  There are also many plants with seeds that are dependent on passing through the elephant’s digestive system for germination.

Rhinoceros:

The Rhinoceros, or Rhino, were once an abundant species, but now rarely live outside of the reservations where they are protected from poachers and habitat destruction.  Though there are five different species of Rhinoceros, the Rhino is still a resident of the endangered species list on four of five accounts.  The Javan, Sumatran, and Black Rhinoceros are considered to be critically endangered and the Indian Rhinoceros is newly endangered with fewer than 2,700 individuals remaining in the wild.  The fifth species, the White Rhino, is vulnerable of becoming endangered with approximately 17,500 remaining in the wild.  The  The rhino is native to Africa and Asia, where it once thrived over both continents.

Amur Leopard:

While its cousins roam the African savanna, the Amur Leopard is found in Korea, Northeast China, the Russian Far East.  The Amur Leopard is endangered because of loss off prey caused by deforestation, inbreeding, poaching, and development projects. The Amur Leopard preys upon hoofed species such as deer and moose, and unlike a normal predator, hides the carcass of its prey from scavengers.  Though there has not been much attention paid to the growing endangerment of the Amur Leopard, there has been a lot of progress in protecting the Amur Leopards.  There is a coalition of 13 international and Russian NGOs, which have pooled resources by creating ALTA (The Amur Leopard and Tiger Alliance).

Great Apes:

The Great Ape, also known as Hominidae, is relative to chimpanzees, gorillas, humans, and orangutans.  The Great Apes, found mainly in Africa and Asia, are in endangered and suffering from habitat loss, fatal climate change, poaching, infectious disease, and pet trading.  The Great Apes are hunted for their meat and pets.  All of the great apes genus face serious threats and are all endangered, but some are critically endangered. The Great Apes are the closest relatives to humans, sharing 97% of our DNA.  The Great Apes are able to communicate, and use tools.

Dolphins:

Dolphins are found in the Oceanic. They are facing problems with ships, including collisions and getting tangled in fishing nets and fishing lines. As well as the unintentional hazards of ships, the dolphins are also being poached. Oil spills and gas leaks also add to the dolphin’s endangerment. Dolphins are known to be one of the most intelligent species with the ability to communicate and use tools, such as covering their noses with sponges to protect them while foraging.