Quiz: test your knowledge on the species at risk of extinction

In Asia, it is estimated that fewer than 50,000 elephants remain. Photograph: Tony C French/Getty Images

Thousands of animal species are at risk of extinction, according to the latest red list from the International Union for Conservation of Nature. Researchers found that species are becoming extinct at a faster rate than at any time in human history due to factors such as rising human populations, unsustainable farming and fishing practices, and climate change. The new list also includes two of the world’s most important food crops – rice and wheat – which threatens food security.

But how much do you know about what’s happening? Take our endangered species quiz for teachers, students and anyone wanting to educate themselves on what’s at stake.

1. What is the name of the world’s last surviving male northern white rhinoceros, who went viral in 2017 when a picture of him was posted on Twitter?

   1. Syria

   2. Sri Lanka

   3. Somalia

   4. Sudan

2. Elephants are now better protected from the ivory trade, but poachers have turned their attention to another animal, which is now at risk from extinction. Which is it?

   1. Hippo

   2. Mammoth

   3. Walrus

   4. Narwhal

3. Scientists have reported that Earth is undergoing a new "mass extinction" because of the "biological annihilation" of wildlife in recent decades. How many of these events have occurred in the planet’s history?

   1. 0

   2. 1

   3. 3

   4. 5

4. Which two reasons make grey squirrels dangerous to endangered red squirrels?

   1. They attack them and eat them

   2. They eat the acorns first and carry a disease that kills them

5. 

   What is the name of this endangered creature?

   1. Pademelon

   2. Pangolin

   3. Peccary

   4. Potoroo

6. What controversial dish – made from an endangered species – did Donald Trump eat on a recent trip to Vietnam?

   1. Roast monitor lizard

   2. Porpoise stew

   3. Shark fin soup

   4. Turtle soup

7. The ploughshare tortoise is now "critically endangered" and could be extinct in the wild in around two years, as a result of poaching for the pet trade. How many are now thought to exist in the wild in their native home of Madagascar?

   1. 10

   2. 100

   3. 1,000

   4. 1,100

8. Russian scientists are hoping to clone which extinct Ice Age animal, after finding a perfectly preserved corpse – thought to be up to 50,000 years old – in Siberia?

   1. Mammoth

   2. Cave lion

   3. Mastodon

   4. Sabre-tooth tiger

9. What proportion of the world’s endangered saiga antelope population are thought to have died as the result of a disease known as Peste des Petits Ruminants (PPR) sweeping across Mongolia?

   1. A sixth

   2. A fifth

   3. A quarter

   4. A third

10. A 27-year study in Germany recently found the population of flying insects has declined by what percentage in that time?

    1. 36

    2. 56

    3. 76

    4. 96

11. When was the last confirmed sighting of the now-extinct dodo?

    1. 1442

    2. 1552

    3. 1662

    4. 1772

12. There are only around 30 vaquita porpoises left in the world – but why was a conservation effort, planning to breed them in captivity, criticised recently?

    1. No vaquitas could be found

    2. A vaquita died while being captured

    3. The team used controversial cloning techniques

    4. Several other animals were killed in the process

13. The North Atlantic right whale is once again in danger of extinction – how many were found dead in US and Canadian waters in 2017?

    1. 10

    2. 12

    3. 14

    4. 16

14. Which two types of creatures, native to the UK, are now thriving in the wild again after being hunted to extinction centuries ago?

    1. Beavers and wild boar

    2. Ducks and stoats

15. The most popular breed of which fruit is currently under threat of extinction from a fungus?

    1. Apple

    2. Banana

    3. Strawberry

    4. Orange

16. What percentage of the world’s wild primate populations are on course to die out?

    1. 40

    2. 50

    3. 60

    4. 70

17. How long ago (approximately) did the dinosaurs become extinct?

    1. 55 million years

    2. 65 million years

    3. 75 million years

    4. 85 million years

18. Pollination by bees – whose population is rapidly declining – is said to be worth how much across the globe every year?

    1. $50bn

    2. $100bn

    3. $150bn

    4. $170bn

19. The Australian Museum is trying to help protect endangered species with a smartphone app described as “_______” for frogs. What’s the missing word?

    1. Tinder

    2. Uber

    3. Shazam

    4. Headspace

20. What has Stephen Hawking warned could lead to the extinction of humans?

    1. Artificial intelligence

    2. Obesity

    3. Stupidity

    4. Climate change

Solutions

1:D, 2:A, 3:D, 4:B, 5:B, 6:C, 7:B, 8:B, 9:C, 10:C, 11:C, 12:B, 13:D, 14:A, 15:B, 16:C, 17:B, 18:D, 19:C, 20:A

Scores

1. 20 and above.

   Wow – you know your stuff! Challenge your friends, they'll never beat you

2. 19 and above.

   Wow – you know your stuff! Challenge your friends, they'll never beat you

3. 18 and above.

   Wow – you know your stuff! Challenge your friends, they'll never beat you

4. 17 and above.

   Well done!

5. 16 and above.

   Well done!

6. 15 and above.

   Well done!

7. 14 and above.

   Very impressive!

8. 13 and above.

   Very impressive!

9. 12 and above.

   Very impressive!

10. 11 and above.

    We can see you've really tried, but this is a tricky quiz

11. 10 and above.

    We can see you've really tried, but this is a tricky quiz

12. 9 and above.

    We can see you've really tried, but this is a tricky quiz

13. 8 and above.

    We can see you've really tried, but this is a tricky quiz

14. 7 and above.

    Not bad, but might we suggest a touch more revision?

15. 6 and above.

    Not bad, but might we suggest a touch more revision?

16. 5 and above.

    Not bad, but might we suggest a touch more revision?

17. 4 and above.

    Not bad, but might we suggest a touch more revision?

18. 3 and above.

    Try harder next time!

19. 2 and above.

    Try harder next time!

20. 1 and above.

    Try harder next time!

21. 0 and above.

    Try harder next time!

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