NATURE AND WILDLIFE

Science has described around 2 million species but it is estimated that there could be between 5 to 100 million different species on Earth. This incredible biodiversity is what enriches our lives on this planet and is also essential for our survival. Learn more about some of the different species and what we can do to ensure their continuing survival.



 Share on Tumblr
Below is a list of species that are profiled to greater or lesser degrees on this web site.

Global priorities: Some species are global priority species and are denoted by a red asterisk like this *

Regional and local priorities: Some species are a focus of our work at a regional and local level.

© naturepl.com / Andy Rouse / WWF
Amazon manatee
Anaconda
Arctic Fox
Arctic Tern
Arctic Wolf
Banteng
Bearded vulture
Bears
- Asiatic black bear
- Brown Bear
- * Giant Panda
- * Polar Bear
- Spectacled Bear
- Sun bear
* Big-leaf mahogany
Black spider monkey
Cats: the big cats
- * Amur leopard
- * Clouded Leopards
- Lynx
   - Eurasian lynx
   - * Iberian lynx
- Tigers
   - * Indochinese tiger
   - * South China tiger
   - * Amur (Siberian) tiger
   - * Sumatran tiger
   - * Bengal tiger
   - * Malayan tiger
Dhole
Douc Langur
Dunnarts
Elephants
- * Asian elephants
    - * Sumatran elephant
    - * Indian elephant
    - * Sri Lankan elephant
    - * Borneo Pygmy elephant
- * African elephants
Eld's deer
Freshwater stingray
Giant muntjac
Great Apes
- *Chimpanzees
    - * Western chimpanzee
    - * Central chimpanzee
- Gorillas
    - * Cross River gorilla
    - * Western lowland gorilla
    - * Eastern lowland gorilla
    - * Mountain gorilla
- * Bonobo
- * Orangutans
    - * Sumatran orangutan
    - * Borneo orangutan
* Humphead wrasse
Kangaroo
- Red Kangaroo
- Grey Kangaroo
- * Tree Kangaroo
- * Rock Wallaby
Kouprey
Marine turtles
- * Hawksbill turtle
- * Flatback turtle
- * Olive ridley turtle
- * Kemp's ridley turtle
- * Leatherback turtle
- * Loggerhead turtle
- * Green turtle
Mekong giant catfish
Monarch butterfly
Rhinoceros
- * Asian rhinos
    - * Greater One-horned rhinoceros
    - * Javan rhinoceros
    - * Sumatran rhinoceros
- * African rhinos
    - * Black rhinoceros
    - * White rhinoceros
         - * Southern white rhinoceros
         - * Northern white rhinoceros
Saola
Sharks
- * Pelagic sharks
- * Reef sharks
* (Asian) tortoises and freshwater turtles
Whales & Dolphins
- * Right whales
   - * Bowhead whale
   - * North Atlantic right whale
- * Blue whale
- * Fin whale
- * Sei whale
- * Gray whale
- Humpback Whale
- Minke Whale
- * Hector's dolphin
   - * Maui's dolphin
- * Vaquita
- * Irrawaddy dolphin
- * River dolphins
   - * Ganges River dolphin
   - * Indus River dolphin
   - Pink river dolphin
Wolves
- Maned
- Timber
*  Denotes a species that WWF considers a priority. This means that WWF will specially and specifically focus work around its conservation.
FLAGSHIP SPECIES
Elephants
Panda
Great apes
Marine Turtles
Rhinoceros
Tigers
Whales & Dolphins
Flagship species are the symbolic pin-up species that lead environmental conservation efforts.
Some species are what WWF terms a priority species. A priority species means that it is one of the most ecologically, economically and/or culturally important species on our planet. And so WWF is working to ensure such species can live and thrive in their natural habitats.
WHAT IS WWF DOING TO HELP...
Species conservation and poverty reduction
Save tigers
Reduce fisheries bycatch
Protect African elephants
Protect Asian elephants & rhinos
Protect African rhinos
Save polar bear habitat
Protect African marine turtles
Protect marine turtles in the Asia-Pacific region
Protect marine turtles in Latin America & the Caribbean
Save the giant panda
Combat the trade in endangered species
Save the places where endangered species live
Save bluefin tuna in the Mediterranean
SPECIES NEWS
WWF statement on murder of conservationist in Costa Rica
WWF condemns the brutal murder of Jairo Mora Sandoval, a 26 year-old conservationist who dedicated his life to protecting and defending wildlife in ...
08 Jun 2013 0 comments
YOU CAN HELP WWF TODAY

Show you care about a clean, healthy future for people and the planet... Sign the pledge.
More information on plants & animals
Animal Diversity Web
ARKive
IUCN Red List
Mammal species of the World
Plants Database
Species Database
UNEP Species Database
Encyclopedia of Life
BBC Wildlife Finder