Observe World Wildlife Day with 15 Tattoos of Endangered Species

On December 20th 2013 the United Nations General Assembly proclaimed March 3rd as World Wildlife Day, a national holiday which raises awareness of wildlife, in particular, endangered species. On the World Wildlife Fund website, there are 80+ species listed as being in the endangered category, many of are listed as critically endangered. These animals have been wiped out by destruction of habitat, poaching, deforestation and land development. Take a look at a small handful of animals that are at risk of extinction in the gallery below and let us know what you think of the tattoos on social media.

Amur Leopard

Status: Critically Endangered

Population: ~85 animals

Habitat: Northeastern China

Threats: Poaching

Black Rhino

Status: Critically Endangered

Population: ~5,500 animals

Habitat: Coastal East Africa

Threats: Poaching, Habitat destruction

Bornean Orangutan

Status: Critically Endangered

Population: ~104,700 animals

Habitat: Borneo and Sumatra

Threats: Habitat destruction, Bushmeat trade

Cross River Gorilla

Status: Critically Endangered

Population: ~200-300 animals

Habitat: Congo Basin

Threats: Habitat destruction

Hawksbill Turtle

Status: Critically Endangered

Population: 20,000 to 30,000 nesting females

Habitat: Oceans

Threats: Poaching

Sunda Tiger

Status: Critically Endangered

Population: ~400 animals

Habitat: Sumatra

Threats: Habitat destruction, Poaching

Sumatran Elephant

Status: Critically Endangered

Population: ~ 2,400-2,800 animals

Habitat: Sumatra

Threats: Deforestation, Poaching

Blue Whale

Status: Endangered

Population: ~10,000-25,000 animals

Habitat: Oceans

Threats: Ship strikes

Chimpanzee

Status: Endangered

Population: ~127,000-299,700 animals

Habitat: Congo Basin

Threats: Habitat destruction, Poaching

Red Panda

Status: Endangered

Population ~10,000 animals

Habitat: Eastern Himalayas

Threats: Deforestation

Giant Panda

Status: Vulnerable

Population: 1,864 animals in the wild

Habitat: Southwest China

Threats: Deforestation

Great White Shark

Status: Vulnerable

Population: ~3,500 animals in the wild

Habitat: Oceans

Threats: Poaching

Hippopotamus

Status: Vulnerable

Population: ~115,00-130,000 animals

Habitat: Sub-Saharan Africa

Threats: Habitat destruction, Poaching

Polar Bear

Status: Vulnerable

Population: ~22,000-31,000 animals

Habitat: Arctic Circle

Threats: Habitat Loss from Climate Change

Snow Leopard

Status: Vulnerable

Population: ~4,080-6,590 animals

Habitat: Eastern Himalayas

Threats: Poaching