IUCN Red List: VU

Vulnerable Species

High risk of endangerment in the wild. Showing 34 species currently cataloged under this conservation tier.

CRCritically Endangered ENEndangered VUVulnerable NTNear Threatened LCLeast Concern DDData Deficient CDConservation Dependent

MammaliaVU

African Lion

Panthera leo

Diet: Obligate carnivore
Wild lifespan: Often 10–16 years; males commonly shorter-lived

ReptiliaVU

Aldabra Giant Tortoise

Aldabrachelys gigantea

Diet: Primarily herbivorous grazer and browser
Wild lifespan: Commonly more than 100 years and potentially around 150 years

ActinopterygiiVU

Blue Marlin

Makaira nigricans

Diet: Carnivore
Wild lifespan: Females may live about 20 years and males around 10 years; estimates vary by ocean and method

MammaliaVU

Caribou

Rangifer tarandus

Diet: Herbivore
Wild lifespan: Often 10–15 years in the wild; some may exceed 20

CephalopodaVU

Chambered Nautilus

Nautilus pompilius

Diet: Opportunistic carnivore and scavenger
Wild lifespan: About 15–20 years or more

MammaliaVU

Cheetah

Acinonyx jubatus

Diet: Carnivore
Wild lifespan: Often 6–10 years in the wild; longer in managed care

MammaliaVU

Chinese Water Deer

Hydropotes inermis

Diet: Herbivore
Wild lifespan: Commonly up to about 10–12 years in the wild

MammaliaVU

Dingo

Canis lupus dingo

Diet: Opportunistic carnivore
Wild lifespan: Up to about 10 years in the wild and 13–15 years in managed care

MammaliaVU

Fin Whale

Balaenoptera physalus

Diet: Carnivore and filter feeder
Wild lifespan: Commonly 80–90 years, with some individuals living longer

MammaliaVU

Giant Panda

Ailuropoda melanoleuca

Diet: Herbivore specializing on bamboo despite carnivore ancestry
Wild lifespan: About 15–20 years in the wild; around 30 years in managed care

ReptiliaVU

Gopher Tortoise

Gopherus polyphemus

Diet: Primarily herbivorous browser and grazer
Wild lifespan: Often 40–60 years, with some individuals living longer

ChondrichthyesVU

Great White Shark

Carcharodon carcharias

Diet: Carnivore
Wild lifespan: At least 70 years is possible, with major uncertainty among estimates

AvesVU

Harpy Eagle

Harpia harpyja

Diet: Carnivore
Wild lifespan: Possibly 25–35 years in the wild

AmphibiaVU

Hellbender

Cryptobranchus alleganiensis

Diet: Carnivore
Wild lifespan: Often 25–30 years and potentially longer

MammaliaVU

Hippopotamus

Hippopotamus amphibius

Diet: Herbivore, primarily grazer
Wild lifespan: About 40 years in the wild, sometimes beyond 50 in managed care

ReptiliaVU

King Cobra

Ophiophagus hannah

Diet: Carnivore specialized on snakes
Wild lifespan: Possibly 15–20 years in the wild

MammaliaVU

Koala

Phascolarctos cinereus

Diet: Herbivore
Wild lifespan: Often 10–15 years in the wild; some females may live longer

ReptiliaVU

Leatherback Sea Turtle

Dermochelys coriacea

Diet: Carnivore specialized on gelatinous prey
Wild lifespan: Uncertain; likely several decades

MammaliaVU

Mandrill

Mandrillus sphinx

Diet: Omnivore with fruit as a major component
Wild lifespan: Wild longevity is poorly documented; managed individuals can live 30–40 years

ReptiliaVU

Marine Iguana

Amblyrhynchus cristatus

Diet: Herbivore specialized on marine algae
Wild lifespan: Often estimated at five to twelve years, with some individuals living longer

InsectaVU

Monarch Butterfly

Danaus plexippus

Diet: Herbivore as a larva; nectar feeder as an adult
Wild lifespan: Most breeding adults live two to five weeks; migratory overwintering adults may live six to nine months

ChondrichthyesVU

Nurse Shark

Ginglymostoma cirratum

Diet: Carnivorous bottom feeder
Wild lifespan: At least several decades; exact wild maximum remains uncertain

ReptiliaVU

Olive Ridley Sea Turtle

Lepidochelys olivacea

Diet: Omnivorous marine forager with a strong invertebrate component
Wild lifespan: Unknown; commonly estimated at 30–50 years or more

MammaliaVU

Polar Bear

Ursus maritimus

Diet: Marine carnivore
Wild lifespan: Often 15–25 years in the wild

MammaliaVU

Quokka

Setonix brachyurus

Diet: Herbivorous browser and grazer
Wild lifespan: About 8–10 years in the wild

AvesVU

Shoebill

Balaeniceps rex

Diet: Aquatic carnivore
Wild lifespan: Can exceed 30 years

MammaliaVU

Sloth Bear

Melursus ursinus

Diet: Omnivore specializing on ants and termites
Wild lifespan: Wild longevity uncertain; managed individuals can live 25–30 years or more

AvesVU

Snowy Owl

Bubo scandiacus

Diet: Carnivore
Wild lifespan: Often at least 10 years in the wild

MammaliaVU

Spectacled Bear

Tremarctos ornatus

Diet: Omnivore with a strongly plant-based diet
Wild lifespan: Wild longevity uncertain; often 20–30 years under managed care

MammaliaVU

Sperm Whale

Physeter macrocephalus

Diet: Carnivore
Wild lifespan: At least 60 years and possibly longer

ReptiliaVU

Sulcata Tortoise

Centrochelys sulcata

Diet: High-fiber herbivore
Wild lifespan: Often several decades and potentially around a century; exact wild maximum is uncertain

MammaliaVU

Sun Bear

Helarctos malayanus

Diet: Opportunistic omnivore
Wild lifespan: Wild lifespan poorly known; often 20–25 years in managed care

MammaliaVU

Walrus

Odobenus rosmarus

Diet: Benthic carnivore specializing on clams and other seafloor invertebrates
Wild lifespan: Commonly 30–40 years

MammaliaVU

Zebra Duiker

Cephalophula zebra

Diet: Fruit-specialist browser with leaves and shoots as supplements
Wild lifespan: Poorly known; comparable forest duikers can live more than 10 years