What is an endangered species?

Have you ever heard the phrase “endangered species” and wondered what it meant? It can be a bit confusing because there is not just ONE official “Endangered Species List.” Rather, there are many organizations throughout the world that classify species and determine their conservation status (or risk of extinction).

It helps me to think about “endangered species” in two ways. Big “E” Endangered species are those who have been officially classified as Endangered by a wildlife conservation authority (see examples below). But there are also little “e” endangered species, which have other designations like Threatened, Vulnerable, or Rare. They aren’t officially classified as Endangered (big “E”), but they are still at some degree of risk of extinction and in need of conservation support.

For example, here in the United States, species can be listed for protection by the Endangered Species Act. These are species (of both wildlife and plants) that the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service and the National Marine Fisheries Service (NOAA Fisheries) have determined to be in the greatest need of Federal protection. Species can be listed as either Endangered or Threatened. All are considered at risk of extinction, even if not classified as (big “E”) Endangered.

When you see a sign at the Zoo that says a species is Endangered, that designation has typically been determined by the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. This is considered one of the world’s most comprehensive information sources on the global extinction risk status of species. Species with sufficient data are listed on a scale from Least Concern, Near Threatened, Vulnerable, Endangered, Critically Endangered, to Extinct (in the Wild).

That Vulnerable category can cause some confusion, especially if a species is *downlisted from Endangered to Vulnerable, as happened with the giant panda in 2016. Simply search online for those key phrases, and you will see many articles celebrating that giant pandas are no longer endangered! The problem is that species classified as Vulnerable are still “considered to be facing a high risk of extinction in the wild.” It was a case of losing big “E” Endangered status being confused as losing little “e” endangered status.

At a local level, each state develops a State Wildlife Action Plan (SWAP) and designates Species of Greatest Conservation Need (SGCN). Here in Georgia, this falls under the Department of Natural Resources (DNR) Wildlife Resources Division. The DNR also lists species for protection at the state-level as Endangered, Threatened, Rare, or Unusual. Again, all of these designations indicate that a species needs conservation support. These state-level protections are essential for species who appear stable from a national level but face a high risk of extirpation (extinction within a specific area) in that state. If you’re curious whether your favorite native species is listed for protection in Georgia, check out the Georgia Biodiversity Portal!

When people refer to the “Endangered Species List,” they are likely referring to species either protected by the Endangered Species Act or in a threatened category on the IUCN Red List (which includes Vulnerable!). But it’s important to remember that it takes time for these classifications to catch up with reality. Planning population censuses then collecting, analyzing, and publishing the data used to determine a species’ conservation status can take years. In a rapidly changing world, waiting for species to be classified as (big “E”) Endangered by one authority or another can mean losing vital time for conservation.

Whether a species is big “E” Endangered or little “e” endangered, they need our help. Some simple things we can do to help wildlife around the world are reducing the material waste we produce, reducing our use of natural resources, and doing our part to keep the natural world around us healthy and clean.

*Footnote: When you see references to species being “downlisted” or “uplisted,” this refers to a change in their conservation status. If you think of risk of extinction like a thermometer, being “uplisted” means their temperature is getting higher. On the IUCN scale, Near Threatened would be a low-grade fever – not technically at risk, but we want to keep an eye on it. Vulnerable would be a moderate-grade fever – definitely at risk, but not in imminent danger. Endangered would be a high-grade fever – at serious risk and needing intervention. And Critically Endangered would be hyperpyrexia – an emergency needing immediate action (and a new word I learned while doing research for this metaphor).

Sarah Hamilton
Interpretive Engagement Specialist