South America
The Amazon rain forest is the largest on earth, with about 6 million square miles, and it's not surprising that it also has the largest number of endangered animals. As of 2009, the list is in the hundreds. Some of the larger animals that are key to keeping the environment healthy are the apex predators, such as the jaguar and the ocelot. Smaller mammals are also critically endangered, and monkey species top the list. The brown headed spider monkey, the Colombian woolly monkey and the buffy-headed capuchin are among some of the many that span nearly the entire continent.
Africa
Because of logging and political unrest in many African countries, the rain forests of central Africa are disappearing at an alarming rate--and with them, many animal species. The gray parrot is captured and exported as pets almost as quickly as their habitat is being lost. The mandrill and the chimpanzee are both endangered. Perhaps the most well known endangered species is the gorilla. These spectacular primates are illegally hunted for their meat, known as bush meat, and their body parts are sold abroad. Numerous international groups are working diligently to prevent more destruction.
Temperate Rain Forests
Temperate, or mild-climate, rain forests, are home to many endangered species of plants and animals. In the temperate rain forests of North America, many of the large animals, such as the red wolf, elk, bison and caribou, have been reduced to 10 percent of their original populations due to over-hunting and habitat loss. In the Southern Hemisphere, Tasmania's bird population is particularly threatened. The orange-bellied parrot, the grey goshawk and the scrubwren have lost much of their nesting areas, making it difficult for the species to continue without intervention.
