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A gallery of endangered species - PHOTOS

chicagotribune.com — You may be surprised by some of the stuff that's endangered. (Some of these photos are really cute, too!)

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  • Shadowdev, on 05/16/2008, -4/+18I like how other websites are catching on to the whole "slideshow with descriptions" idea.
    As long as they do it well I'm not opposed to it.
    • theotheragentm, on 05/16/2008, -0/+4Agreed. It's much better than loading half a dozen individual pages. Come on, Cracked and Divine Carloine! You know we're talking to you.
    • tmbrwolf19, on 05/16/2008, -0/+5This one I like. The Forbes' ones automatically advance, take forever to load, and generally feel broken. When its done right, it's nice, but so many sites out there are doing it wrong.
    • normalkid0615, on 05/16/2008, -4/+4they alll suck, make one large page with all pics so I dont have to click so much!
      • heymike, on 05/16/2008, -2/+1I wish I could digg your comment more than once.

        1 page ftw, 56k beware
  • Jem7vwh, on 05/16/2008, -9/+4Save the animals start killing people off.
    Start with the contractors!
  • BeeArePro, on 05/16/2008, -10/+2;_;
  • nickspohn, on 05/16/2008, -7/+7So cute :]]]]]]]]]]
  • 1807, on 05/16/2008, -11/+2A good slogan for this would be...."can't catch em' all!"
  • xtinamo, on 05/16/2008, -5/+4I wonder if that's the manatee Colbert was forced to punch?
  • kanvas, on 05/16/2008, -1/+12That lynx is creepy. If you look at only the head he looks like a regular house cat...but as you pan out he turns into a monster
  • whiterice0, on 05/16/2008, -7/+3I want the cat in photo 5.

    Here's the caption for number 8: "Meeh, meeeh, meeeeeh. The Hills are alive, with the sounds of music, la, la, la la...."

    Number 11: "Do you mind. I've had a hard day. I'm trying to catch some zzzz's here!"

    Number 16: "Hellooo, helloooo, hellooooo ... Hello."

  • g00dbye, on 05/16/2008, -1/+18Did they HAVE to pick the cutest pictures of endangered species? Now I just feel terrible.
    • gregdogum, on 05/16/2008, -1/+2A dead sperm whale looks cute to you? Hmm...
    • BTraina, on 05/17/2008, -0/+1i agree... Yet most of these animals would make good rugs.
  • gothelium, on 05/16/2008, -0/+11That lynx is so adorable..
  • mayhemchaos, on 05/16/2008, -8/+4survival of the fittest..
    • hairydotus, on 05/17/2008, -0/+1ya to bad they aren't dying of natural causes. They are being wiped out by overhunting and loss of habitat
  • kookookapoo, on 05/16/2008, -5/+9A few of these surprised me. We're going to be out of animals in 20 years. I am sad.
    • hairydotus, on 05/17/2008, -0/+2Ya we are currently in the midst of another mass extinction. WE are losing anywhere from 18000 to 30000 species per year. That is 1000 times the natural rate.
  • dangsta, on 05/16/2008, -0/+13save the manatees!
    • faceless323, on 05/16/2008, -0/+1Yes, I want more Family Guy episodes.
    • kaplanfx, on 05/17/2008, -0/+1Manatee sweet manatee my buxom bovine of the sea!
  • PhattyPhattMatt, on 05/16/2008, -1/+2I have 2 of those cats in #3. Strictly a house cat!
  • onionlayer, on 05/16/2008, -1/+4I don't eat the cute endangered species.
  • Tyrghast, on 05/16/2008, -14/+14They all look delicious.
  • TheSesom, on 05/16/2008, -9/+2More like a gallery of what is for dinner.
  • lazyleo, on 05/16/2008, -7/+2If some animals disappear new will still come..like those Dino's they went...there were thousands more..don't worry folks. for now just follow the PETA
    • GREEDOnvrFIRED, on 05/16/2008, -2/+2You are quite right lazyleo. In fact, for every living organism around today there are millions that didn't make it. MOST organisms do not survive. The earth is not a nursery, it's a meat grinder and only the super strong survive.
      Everything alive today is a BADASS.
      To quote Neal Stephenson "Everyone and everything that wasn't a stupendous badass was dead."
      But, it cant hurt to help a critter out. I mean if your brain is big enough to do so.
    • hairydotus, on 05/17/2008, -0/+2The only problem with these statements is that those animals died off due to natural causes not overhunting and loss of habitat. animals that die off because they are not fit for survival do not get placed on the endangered species list. For example humpback whales have swam the oceans for millions of years and were here before humans. Their numbers began to decline after humans started hunting them and polluting the oceans. these animals are incredible and are some of the "fittest" the only problem is that with most of these animals is that their reproductive habits cannot keep up with how fast humans are killing them. For example large cats such as the lynx, tigers, and leapords have very slow reproductive cycles and cannot survive if they are continually poached for reasons such as the illegal animal trade.
  • criscoxl, on 05/16/2008, -1/+7Sheep eyes creep me out. Just saying the picture of all the bighorn sheep staring at me gives me chills.

    Just staring....... with their sheep eyes.........
  • FREETHINKER2008, on 05/16/2008, -0/+6Wolves !!! Did'nt they allow them to start being hunted again?
    • faceless323, on 05/16/2008, -0/+1i think they allowed home owners to kill them. if the wolves tresspass on property or attack livestock.
    • hairydotus, on 05/17/2008, -0/+2Yes they did but only within a certain area of the northwest, and it has risen a lot of controversy from organizations such as the national wildlife foundation.
  • Dorian822, on 05/16/2008, -1/+13Another atrocity of the Bush Administration is that it is allowing hunters to go after the gray wolf, despite it's sparse population.
    Every signature counts: www.CallOfftheGuns.org

    I don't normally pander that sort of thing to other Digg users, but a just cause is a cause worth fighting for.
    • BabyWookie, on 05/16/2008, -0/+2We have these assholes driving around here in their giant trucks, with bumper stickers that say: "Save a dozen elk. Kill a wolf". I want one that says: "Save a dozen wolves. Kill a redneck".
      • Surefly, on 05/16/2008, -0/+2I want to hang a redneck's head on my wall.
  • cutekelvins, on 05/16/2008, -0/+2 Preble's meadow jumping mouse. They are plenty in India. Import from here.
  • Flamancot, on 05/16/2008, -3/+3Those ***** sheep are so baller.
  • GREEDOnvrFIRED, on 05/16/2008, -9/+6Yes the animals are adorable and yes it would be nice if they could all thrive. I even think with some hard work we can make that happen. But start the effort by being honest. These animals are failing to survive. They are victims of NATURAL selection. Stop taking humans out of nature. We and all the other organisms on this planet are the natural inhabitants of a vast ecosystem. When a species of whale is hunted to extinction it has simply fallen victim to one of its NATURAL predators. When expanding cities shrink the habitat of bears they are losing their habitat to an encroaching organism. Humans DO NOT exist outside of nature. NOW. Admit this and look at endangered species with a realistic frame of mind and maybe you can begin to help them. Stop tugging at people's heart strings and start tugging at their brain strings.
    • hairydotus, on 05/17/2008, -1/+1Yes humans do exist outside of nature. This is because we have taken ourselves out of nature. Not all of these animals are dying because of loss of habitat which is not natural. last time I checked deforestation is not natural. many of these animals have died due to pollution, and poaching. You are an idiot my friend if you think hunting a whale to extinction is natural. Nothing is natural about how humans now live. It is an atrocity that you think these animals are dying off because of natural selection. It has been proven that humans have seriously disrupted the balance of ecosystems throughout the world and there is nothing natural about that. No species other than humans has negativelly effected every ecosystem on the planet. You need to learn something about nature and ecosystems and evolution before you simply start claiming natural selection.
      • GREEDOnvrFIRED, on 05/17/2008, -0/+1"It has been proven that humans have seriously disrupted the balance of ecosystems throughout the world."

        Why would you say that after reading my comment? I make no attempt to say it isn't so. What you don't realize is that "the balance of ecosystems throughout the world" have been brutalized by nature for billions of year before we came along.

        All the crimes of humans you mentioned (and i agree they suck) are things that happen in nature. Deforestation occurs by fire, drought and climate change. Species are hunted to extinction all the time by other species. Yes animals "wipe out" other animals. For every species that thrives on earth there are 1000 that didn't make it. You haven't a clue how your "balanced" ecosystem works. Your ecosystem is a terrifying obstacle course that allows only a fraction of living things to survive it. You are under the false impression that the earth is a cushy nursery. If it is it is the worst one ever devised. And saddest of all is that you think you operate outside of the system. If a paramecium does something it is natural, if a bear does something it is natural and if a human being does something... anything... it is natural. Sit and think about it for a moment before you write your hasty reply.
  • cmuwriter, on 05/16/2008, -3/+5Are they ranked in order of deliciousness or rarity?
    • BabyWookie, on 05/16/2008, -1/+2Yes. Most of them would find you to be very delicious.
  • DraggingTheLake, on 05/16/2008, -2/+6OH, THE HUGE MANATEE !
  • gregdogum, on 05/16/2008, -2/+3So how the hell is the Black bear on this list... unless wikipedia is totally and utterly WRONG:

    http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/American_Black_Bear (conservation status: LEAST CONCERN)

    Something fishy is going on.
    • VeritasAequitas, on 05/16/2008, -0/+1I was wondering the same thing, as many hunters here in Minnesota just finished applying for their Black Bear Permits for this upcoming fall, granted it's lottery whether or not you get a permit, but so is Wild Turkey hunting here. And please no backwoods comments from anyone that hasn't actually been to Minnesota before.
    • hairydotus, on 05/17/2008, -0/+2It is because there are various levels of endangered species and it may not apply to all areas. Seeing as black bears live all throughout north america they may not be endangered in all areas. Hunting in the United States is sustained and I usually have no problem with it with the exception of bears. Whether they are endangered or not I could never condone the hunting of a top predator because they are not meant to be hunted.
  • amdforever, on 05/16/2008, -5/+9I beg everybody to take a more active role in saving the earth...

    - use more public transportation
    - waste less paper
    - donate money to environmental funds
    - love your animal

    One step at a time, guys, one step at a time. All of your little contribution makes a big difference. It's like Digg, our collaborative efforts killed Scientology.
    • heartcoldfusion, on 05/16/2008, -1/+2Careful. If you pat yourself on the back too hard, you might just knock yourself over.
    • hairydotus, on 05/17/2008, -0/+2I agree people just need to take small steps. If we do not things are going to come back and bite us in the ass. The only reason I say that is because that seems to be the only way to get people to care. They don't care about the animals they just care about whether or not what they do to the animals will effect them in any way.
  • normalkid0615, on 05/16/2008, -3/+4seems like marine large mammals, large cats (felines) and bears are dying. Long live Lapdogs!
  • rockon4life45, on 05/16/2008, -3/+3they all look equally delicious
  • suzywang3000, on 05/16/2008, -6/+2i can't frigging stand manatees
  • itsripitsrip, on 05/16/2008, -0/+5i was at a beach in florida and a manatee swam right by us. it was only about 15 feet away and it wasn't near as cute as the picture provided.
  • Elliottx, on 05/16/2008, -5/+2I'm sorry what was that? This damn Manatee burger is just so chewy...
  • JointVenture, on 05/16/2008, -8/+4***** em , its evolution right Darwin?
    • getbusyliving, on 05/16/2008, -0/+3What does evolution have to do with choosing to be an *****? We can save these species; we don't need to kill them to survive.
      • JointVenture, on 05/17/2008, -1/+1Why do we need to save them?

        We find new species all the time, we lose species all the time, let the earth spin and do its thang.

        Remember YOU'RE an animal too! Ya lil monkey!
      • hairydotus, on 05/17/2008, -0/+2The only problem with people claiming it is natural selection is that most of these animals are survivors of natural selection and they are now only dying off because of human activity. People don't realize that natural selection doesn't allow weak species to survive for long. If they were not fit for survival then they would have never been able to build up a sustainable population. The fact is animals like the polar bear are extreme survivors. They adapted and did not fall victims to natural selection but unfortunatelly they are falling victims to climate change which this time around is not a natural cycle.
        • JointVenture, on 05/17/2008, -0/+1Sorry sparky, but I am an animal, I am natural, so anything I or you do to other animals is natural.

          So if I shoot a polar bear it is no different than an Eskimo spearing a polar bear or another polar bear killing a polar bear.

          If they want to survive they best get busy mating with other bears that have better paw dexterity.
        • hairydotus, on 05/18/2008, -0/+1no you are right it is no different. If killing that animal is what your survival is depending on then it is natural because predators need to hunt. But cutting down entire forests and poaching animals to sell as pets or for their skins is not natural because we don't need to do these things to survive.
  • goddessophia, on 05/16/2008, -0/+6At this rate I will never get to see the whales migrating off the coast of Northern California! Tragic.
    • hairydotus, on 05/17/2008, -0/+1you can still help to save the animals http://pacificwhale.org or wwf.org these are just a couple of sites where you can donate money or adopt an animal and all of the money will go to fund research that is working to help them survive.
  • MarioWhereRu, on 05/16/2008, -3/+2What about the slideshows of the starving kids around the world?Do their exposed ribs not make them cute enough for people to care?
    • hairydotus, on 05/17/2008, -0/+1that is completely different that is an example of natural selection. Those families were not fit to adapt to their surroundings and find food so they are dying off. No other species is hunting them or destroying their habitat they are simply living in an area that they are not fit to survive in.
      • methos75, on 05/18/2008, -0/+1Technically if we over hunt and kill all the whales in an area, it is also because they failed to find an area they were fit to live in. sorry but if an animal cannot survive our presence, it was because they were unable to adapt to their predators, in this case us.
  • greeniemeani, on 05/16/2008, -5/+3OM NOM NOM
    • dan360man, on 05/16/2008, -0/+3Again with the chewing noise (text).
  • Grifter801, on 05/16/2008, -5/+2That's like a menu! They look delicious!
  • nubsaucev3, on 05/16/2008, -0/+5sad how 15 years ago some of these werent even on this list...
    • hairydotus, on 05/17/2008, -0/+1You are very right. Polar bears have been added within the last week due to their threatened habitat from climate change. Humans are killing animals at an alarming rate. I really suggest checking out Planet in Peril it was a cnn production and teamed up with Jeff Corwin and Animal Planet. You can buy it on Itunes for about 5 dollars
  • Gryffydd, on 05/16/2008, -2/+6I didn't see the American middle-class white male on that list for some reason...
  • RomanThommassen, on 05/16/2008, -4/+2just kill yourself, and save these animals. Or at least kill some feds or globalists.
  • Ladymongoose, on 05/16/2008, -0/+4Don't forget the Amur Leopard...less that 40 left in the wild! http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Amur_Leopard We are lucky enough to actually have one of these gorgeous cats at the Portland, Oregon zoo. Extremely sad that it probably won't make it as a species, thanks to us.
  • browny1978, on 05/16/2008, -1/+3dugg for the manatee
  • ultrasur1, on 05/16/2008, -1/+3it's pretty depressing and there's not much anyone can do about it under the conditions the world is rapidly heading toward
    • hairydotus, on 05/17/2008, -0/+1there isn't much you can do but there isn't nothing you can do. Donate to organizations devoted to wildlife conservation you may not realize it but every penny counts
  • forgottenhope, on 05/16/2008, -3/+3ok, we see you like animals. what about the humans that we are killing daily?

    Save the whales, kill the browns near sand!
  • forgottenhope, on 05/16/2008, -4/+4What about the dinosours, are they on the endagered species list? Will be able to go on without dinosours?

    Natural selection, the weakest link, I know america is all about making the weaker last longer and like to put them in charge but this is nature. How many new species are created each day?

    Priorities, you think that the world is going to stop bombing each other long enough to give a ***** about animals?
    • slantyeyed, on 05/16/2008, -1/+1i don't think the third world gives a damn about endangered species. of course, activists would rather have people starve or go broke instead of killing an animal.
    • getbusyliving, on 05/16/2008, -0/+3You seriously think there are new species of these types of animals being "created" each day? Do you own a magical animal creation device? This isn't natural selection, this is the result of people choosing to be assholes and/or ignorance. We don't need to kill off these species in order to survive.
      • GREEDOnvrFIRED, on 05/17/2008, -1/+1You are an species. They are species. If you wipe them out it is most certainly natural selection. It is wrong and avoidable in any sane persons view, but it is natural.
        • getbusyliving, on 05/17/2008, -0/+1Wikipedia's definition of Natural Selection:

          Natural selection is the process by which favorable heritable traits become more common in successive generations of a population of reproducing organisms, and unfavorable heritable traits become less common.

          So please explain how humans killing off entire species of animals is, according to you, natural selection.
        • hairydotus, on 05/19/2008, -0/+1Thank god not everyone on digg is in denial
        • GREEDOnvrFIRED, on 05/19/2008, -0/+1I will keep it simple.

          "unfavorable heritable traits":
          Slowness, soft/attractive pelt, pleasing taste, inability to adapt to new environments, inability to adapt to new food sources. Attractive horns/tusks etc.

          "favorable heritable traits":
          Speed, rough/unattractive pelt, foul taste, adaptable to new environments, adaptable to new food sources. None or unattractive horns/tusks etc.

          Remember this is a simple/partial list for avoiding destruction by the species known as man. Many other factors come into play.
    • hairydotus, on 05/17/2008, -1/+2People really need to realize natural selection happens when an animal is unfit to survive in its environment not when a species invades its environment or senselessly kills it for money. If humpback whales are a weak link how come they have been on this planet for millions of years. If they were unfit for survival they would not have survived that long
  • pinguwin, on 05/16/2008, -0/+2Entirely accurate, but not very representative. Basically a list of charismatic megafauna. Where are the small, simple, green plant that is only found in one valley or an endangered beetle. While charismatic megafauna are good for publicity, they don't capture what is really going on in the ecosystem as a whole. However, if they are the poster children to get other things done, so be it.
  • slantyeyed, on 05/16/2008, -4/+2it'd be nice if they told us how the loss of each species would affect their ecosystem (and thus us)? otherwise, i could care less if I ever saw another manatee again.
  • Iceian3000, on 05/16/2008, -1/+0The problrm with endangered animals is that they dont taste very good... mmmm but fried Manatee, now thats delicious!
  • akermani, on 05/16/2008, -0/+1i would like to see spiders on this list
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