10 Species That Refused to Go Extinct

We usually hear about animal and bird species that have already gone extinct or are about to go extinct sometime in the near future. While the general outlook for the animal kingdom is still bleak, a few species have been saved from extinction in the past few decades, thanks to sustained efforts by governments and conservation agencies around the world.

Here are 10 species that refused to go extinct.

Related: 10 Extraordinary Animal Migration Journeys

10 Peregrine Falcon

The American peregrine falcon is a large predatory bird found in a variety of habitats across North and South America. Beginning in the 1900s, the species started declining in numbers due to the widespread use of DDT in agriculture. Ingesting the chemical resulted in thinner eggshells and low reproductive rates, and by the mid-1960s, all peregrine populations had disappeared in the eastern United States, followed by a 90% decline in western populations in the following decade. By 1975, only 324 nesting pairs remained in the entire country.

To aid its recovery, the bird was added to the endangered list under the Endangered Species Conservation Act of 1969 and later protected under the Endangered Species Act of 1973. DDT was banned in 1972, largely due to the efforts of the Peregrine Fund, a nonprofit organization established in 1970. Federal and state agencies in the United States and Canada also coordinated captive-breeding and reintroduction campaigns.

Those efforts proved wildly successful. More than 6,000 falcons were released into the wild, and the species was removed from the Endangered Species List in 1999. Peregrine falcons have since adapted remarkably well to urban environments, nesting on skyscrapers and bridges, and they are once again thriving as the fastest animals on Earth, capable of diving at speeds exceeding 200 miles per hour.^[1]

9 Aleutian Canada Goose

The Aleutian Canada goose is named after the Aleutian archipelago, where it breeds during the summer before migrating to the California coast for the winter. The species nearly went extinct in the mid-20th century, largely due to foxes introduced to the islands for the fur trade. These predators devastated nesting colonies, while hunting and habitat loss further accelerated the decline. The bird was believed to be extinct between 1938 and 1962 until a small population was rediscovered in the western Aleutian Islands.

Beginning in the 1970s, conservationists mapped migration routes and breeding grounds while working to remove foxes from critical nesting islands. Habitat protection, land acquisition, and careful monitoring followed, often under harsh and remote conditions.

As a result, the population rebounded dramatically, growing from just 790 birds in 1975 to more than 30,000 by 1999. The Aleutian Canada goose was officially removed from the endangered species list in 2001 and now stands as a clear example of how targeted predator removal and habitat protection can reverse even severe population crashes.^[2]

8 Galápagos Giant Tortoise

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The Galápagos giant tortoise is native to the Galápagos Islands, a volcanic archipelago in the Pacific Ocean renowned for its biodiversity. By the mid-20th century, the species had been pushed to the brink of extinction, with only 14 individuals—two males and 12 females—remaining on the island of Española.

The species’ survival hinged on one of those males: Diego, a tortoise estimated to be more than 100 years old. Beginning in the 1960s, Diego became the centerpiece of a captive-breeding program, mating repeatedly with the remaining females. Over the decades, he fathered more than 800 offspring, helping restore the population to sustainable levels.

The program has since produced more than 2,000 tortoises, and Diego returned to Española to join a population of roughly 1,800 individuals by 2020. Conservation efforts also included removing invasive species such as goats, which had destroyed vegetation. As keystone herbivores, giant tortoises play a crucial role in shaping island ecosystems by dispersing seeds and maintaining plant diversity.^[3]

7 American Bison

American bison once numbered in the tens of millions, roaming across North America from Canada to northern Mexico. Indigenous tribes relied on them for food, clothing, tools, and shelter. While hunting was always part of Plains life, bison populations collapsed during the 19th century as commercial hunting expanded.

The introduction of horses and increasingly powerful firearms, combined with deliberate efforts to undermine Native American societies, led to mass slaughter. Between 1820 and 1880, bison numbers plummeted. By 1890, an estimated population of nearly 30 million had been reduced to around 1,000 animals.

Concerned conservationists, including Theodore Roosevelt, helped establish the American Bison Society. Bison preserves were created at places like Yellowstone National Park and the Bronx Zoo, and the federal government established the National Bison Range in Montana. While bison have rebounded, the wild population in the United States remains around 20,000—less than 1% of historic levels. In 2016, the species was designated the national mammal of the United States, symbolizing both loss and recovery.^[4]

6 Golden Lion Tamarin

The golden lion tamarin is a small primate native to southeastern Brazil, known for its bright reddish-gold fur and mane-like hair. It lives in close-knit family groups and depends entirely on the Atlantic Forest, one of the world’s most threatened ecosystems.

By the late 1960s, rampant deforestation had destroyed roughly 95% of the tamarin’s habitat, reducing the population to around 200 individuals. Fragmented forests left groups isolated, limiting breeding and access to food.

In the 1980s, an international conservation effort led by zoos and Brazilian organizations launched captive-breeding and reintroduction programs. Habitat corridors were restored to reconnect forest fragments, allowing populations to mix and expand. Today, thousands of golden lion tamarins live in the wild. Still, continued deforestation means the species remains vulnerable, and its survival depends on maintaining connected forest landscapes where it can continue dispersing seeds and supporting forest regeneration.^[5]

5 Pemba Flying Fox

The Pemba flying fox is a large fruit bat native to Pemba Island in Tanzania. In the late 20th century, it was driven to near extinction by hunting and widespread deforestation. By the 1990s, nearly 95% of its habitat had been destroyed, and the population fell to critically low levels.

Conservation efforts led by Fauna & Flora International focused on protecting remaining forests and discouraging hunting. Two forest reserves were established, and community education programs emphasized the bat’s ecological importance.

As a result, the population rebounded to an estimated 22,000 to 35,600 individuals by 2008. The species is now classified as Vulnerable by the IUCN. Beyond their dramatic recovery, flying foxes play a vital role as pollinators and seed dispersers, making them essential to the health of tropical forests.^[6]

4 Siamese Crocodile

The Siamese crocodile once ranged widely across Southeast Asia but suffered catastrophic declines due to hunting for its skin. By the 1990s, the species was believed to be extinct in the wild until a small population of about 200 individuals was discovered in Cambodia’s Cardamom Mountains.

Conservation efforts followed, including habitat protection, captive breeding, and reintroduction programs. By 2022, captive-bred crocodiles were released into protected areas such as the Pang Wildlife Reserve.

Cambodia now hosts around 400 Siamese crocodiles out of a global population of roughly 1,000. Conservationists have also employed former hunters as protectors and worked with local communities to safeguard wetlands. These crocodiles play an important ecological role by regulating prey populations and maintaining healthy aquatic ecosystems.^[7]

3 Monito Gecko

The Monito gecko is a tiny reptile found only on Monito Island, a small, rocky island off the coast of Puerto Rico. The species declined rapidly due to invasive rats, which preyed on eggs and juveniles.

Listed as threatened under the Endangered Species Act in 1982, the gecko’s fate changed after an intensive rat eradication program. By 2014, Monito Island was declared rat-free.

Subsequent surveys counted nearly 7,600 geckos, leading to the species’ removal from the Endangered Species Act. The Monito gecko’s recovery highlights the effectiveness of invasive species removal, particularly on isolated islands where targeted conservation can produce dramatic results.^[8]

2 Przewalski’s Horse

Przewalski’s horse is the last remaining species of truly wild horse, native to the steppes of Central Asia. By the 1950s, only 12 breeding individuals remained, and the last confirmed wild horse was sighted in 1969.

Threats included harsh winters, overgrazing, and difficulty surviving in captivity. Through coordinated breeding programs and reintroductions beginning in the late 20th century, the species gradually recovered.

Today, around 2,000 Przewalski’s horses live in the wild across Mongolia, China, Russia, and Kazakhstan. Unlike domestic horses, they have 66 chromosomes, highlighting their genetic uniqueness. Though still endangered, they now play an important role in restoring grassland ecosystems once thought lost to history.^[9]

1 Bald Eagle

The bald eagle became the national bird of the United States in 1782, but by the mid-20th century, it faced near extinction. DDT exposure caused eggshell thinning and nest failure, reducing the number of nesting pairs in the lower 48 states to just 412 by the 1950s.

The species was protected under the Endangered Species Preservation Act of 1967, and the nationwide ban on DDT in 1972 marked a turning point. Additional efforts, including habitat protection and reintroduction programs, accelerated recovery.

The bald eagle was removed from the endangered species list in 2007. By 2019, the population in the lower 48 states had climbed to an estimated 316,700 individuals. While threats like lead poisoning remain, the bald eagle stands as one of the most powerful symbols of successful wildlife conservation in modern history.^[10]