As the human population continues to grow at an increasingly fast rate, animals are rapidly losing their natural habitats. Millions of acres of land are being cleared for new housing developments, strip malls and skyscrapers around the globe, destroying countless natural habitats. Additionally, illegal trafficking and poaching are negatively impacting many species. Humans are overstepping Mother Nature's line of natural selection and have now brought many species to the level of being critically endangered. The following are four species that have recently become classified as critically endangered because of human interaction.

Sumatran Elephant

Naturally found in Sumatra and Borneo, Sumatran Elephants have lost half of their population in one generation due to habitat loss from deforestation and human-elephant conflict. Two of the world's largest tissue paper brands source their wood from the forests in Sumatra, leaving the local habitants helpless. These elephants are essential to maintaining a healthy ecosystem because they feed on a variety of plants and deposit seeds wherever they go.

Leatherback Sea Turtle

Named for their distinct leathery shell, the Leatherback Sea Turtle is the largest sea turtle in the world. They can be found in the Pacific Ocean, Atlantic Ocean, Indian Ocean and the Mediterranean Sea. Although the Atlantic population seems to be quite stable, the population in the Pacific is declining at an alarming rate due to coastal development, fishery bycatch and egg harvesting. In addition, more and more sea turtles are mistaking floating debris for jellyfish and are choking to death. Marine sea turtles are a fundamental link in marine ecosystems in more ways than one and they are also essential to many coastal regions for productive ecotourism.

Amur Leopard

Located in Far Eastern Russia, the Amur Leopard's population as dropped to below 100 due to prey scarcity and hunting. The Amur Leopard is often poached for it's beautiful spotted-fur that is illegally traded around the world. Amur Leopards are important for keeping a balanced ecosystem as well as maintaining habitat space that they share with the Amur Tiger. With the right conservation efforts, the stabilization of this species could help to ensure long-term conservation of the region and its other habitants.

South China Tiger

With a population that has reached below 20, the South China Tiger has not been spotted in the wild for more than 25 years. Driven to near extinction from tiger hunting, their species solely relies on the few individuals left in conservation centers and zoos. South China Tigers are a reminder to all of us that the threat against tigers around the world is extremely urgent.

Unfortunately, I am only able to address four of the seventeen species that are currently listed as critically endangered by the International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN). Along with the IUCN, the World Wildlife Fund (WWF) is a national organization that works to preserve nature and diminish the threats to the diversity on Earth. To learn more about endangered species and find out what you can do to help visit the WWF website.