Endangered species: Where are they now
Read on to learn more about how critically endangered species have fared since these first lists were compiled.
Bald Eagle
Today, thanks to the banning of DDT, captive breeding programs, habitat protection and other measures, populations have soared to over 10,000 pairs, according to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. The Bald Eagle was removed from Endangered Species Act protection in 2007, but remains protected by other laws.
Florida Manatee
After increased conservation efforts, including manatee speed zones, a high count of 5,076 animals was recorded in 2010. However, the IUCN Red List of Endangered Species still classifies these gentle giants as vulnerable and predicts further population decline due to habitat loss.
Black Footed Ferret
Nearly all wild black-footed ferrets were wiped out by disease and the extermination of prairie dogs, which were the animals' main food source. But a small population of the species was discovered in 1981 and was successfully bred in captivity. Today, more than 1,000 ferrets live in the wild and their numbers are expected to increase.
Brown Pelican
Aggressive conservation efforts, including the ban on DDT, led to a full recovery and the bird is no longer listed under federal protection.
Loggerhead Sea Turtle
But not all hope is lost for these turtles. Targeted nest protection and habitat conservation efforts have led to some progress and in 2012, the Archie Carr National Wildlife refuge in Florida reported 18,797 loggerhead nests, a record high.
Mountain Gorilla
According to the IUCN Red List there are now approximately 680 individual mountain gorillas living in two isolated populations in central Africa, up from an estimated 320 gorillas in 1989.
Whooping Cranes
An innovative human-led migration program helped cranes to rebound in 2001. The species is still endangered, but populations have made gains. Recent numbers estimate the total wild population at 382 cranes.
See more: Whooping Cranes of the Aransas Wildlife Refuge
Higgins Eye Pearly Mussel
Government agencies have developed methods for breeding Higgins Eye Mussels in captivity and since 2002, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service says they have released 42,000 mussels into the Mississippi River watershed.
California Condor
After an intensive captive breeding program, the condors were re-introduced to the wild in 1991. The IUCN Red Book still classifies these condors as critically endangered, with just an estimated 213 individual birds in the wild, but populations are expected to increase.
Indiana Bat
The bats were further threatened in 2006 when white-nose-syndrome, a fungal disease, killed more than 5.7 million bats, including Indiana bats, in the U.S. and Canada. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has called the syndrome "the most deadly wildlife disease of our time."