Which Endangered Animal Will You Miss Most: Panda, Elephant, Tiger, or Blue Whale?

The giant panda's habitat is limited to the mountainous forests of Southwest China.  The rarest of all bear species, there are estimated less than 2,500 surviving in the wild.  Loss of habitat is the main threat to the panda.  99% of the giant panda's diet is bamboo.   Reference: World Wildlife Federation website

The Asian elephant is classified as Endangered, with an estimated 40,000 to 50,000 still in the wild.  Habitat encroachment and poaching are threats.  Elephants are extremely intelligent, with sophisticated and enduring social networks. Baby elephants weigh about 200 pounds at birth. Reference: NatGeo website

Tigers are classified as Endangered, with the totality of all tiger subspecies estimated at around 4,000 or less in the wild. Loss of habitat and poaching are serious threats. (NatGeo website) Tigers are the largest of the big cats and are good swimmers. You can assist in NatGeo's big cat conservation program by uploading a photo of your pet cat on their website for $5.

Currently listed as Vulnerable, the polar bear was among the most embattled species in 2010, according to National Geograhic. Melting polar ice associated with global warming is destroying the polar bear's habitat at an alarming rate. There are an estimated 20 to 25,000 polar bears remaining in the wild. All live in and around the Arctic Circle in Russia, Greenland, Canada, Norway and Alaska. Polar bears are the largest land carnivores, with seals making up the bulk of their diet. They may live 20 to 25 years in the wild. References Wikipedia and NatGeo.

The blue whale is Endangered, with an estimated 10 to 25,000 spread out in all four oceans.  Blue whales are the largest creatures ever known to inhabit the earth, measuring up to 100 feet and weighing up to 200 tons.  A blue whale's tongue may weigh as much as an elephant.  The whale's diet consists almost totally of small shrimplike krill.  The lifespan of a blue is comparable to a human--up to about 100 years.  Hunting (historically) and collisions with large sea vessels result in many fatalities.  Reference:  NatGeo website

The mountain gorilla is classified as Critically Endangered. There are believed to be no more than 800 surviving in the wild, in national parks in Central Africa. There are no mountain gorillas in captivity. Poaching, loss of habitat, and disease are all formidable threats. The gorillas are vulnerable to many human diseases due to their genetic similarity to humans. Male mountain gorillas are about 6 feet tall and weigh about 500 pounds. Reference: Wikipedia