Understanding Endangered Species: Why They Matter and How to Protect Them

Endanger means that something is at risk of being harmed or destroyed. In the case of species, it means that they are at risk of becoming extinct due to various threats such as habitat loss, pollution, hunting, etc.

For example, if a species of animal is considered endangered, it means that its population is declining and it may become extinct if conservation efforts are not made to protect it. Similarly, if a species of plant is considered endangered, it means that it is at risk of being lost due to habitat destruction or over-harvesting.

The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) maintains a list of endangered species, which provides information on the status of various species and the threats they face. The IUCN Red List categorizes species based on their conservation status, with "Critically Endangered" being the highest category before extinction in the wild.