A photo taken May 20, 2001, shows a 3-year-old American black-footed ferret peering out from its owner's hand at Centennial Park in Sydney, Australia.
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Threatened with extinction

A photo taken May 20, 2001, shows a 3-year-old American black-footed ferret peering out from its owner's hand at Centennial Park in Sydney, Australia.

A photo taken May 20, 2001, shows a 3-year-old American black-footed ferret peering out from its owner’s hand at Centennial Park in Sydney, Australia. (Greg Wood / AFP/Getty Images)

A cheetah is among residents at the animal orphanage at National Park in Nairobi, Kenya. According to the African Wildlife Foundation, cheetahs have become extinct in many areas, mainly because of shrinking habitat, loss of species to prey upon, disease and a high rate of cub mortality.

A cheetah is among residents at the animal orphanage at National Park in Nairobi, Kenya. According to the African Wildlife Foundation, cheetahs have become extinct in many areas, mainly because of shrinking habitat, loss of species to prey upon, disease and a high rate of cub mortality. (Roberto Schmidt / AFP/Getty Images)

African elephants at play at the Masai Mara game reserve in Kenya in May.

African elephants at play at the Masai Mara game reserve in Kenya in May. (Mladen Antonov / AFP/Getty Images)

An albino zebra feeds at Nairobi's National Park this month.

An albino zebra feeds at Nairobi’s National Park this month. (Roberto Schmidt / AFP/Getty Images)

A photo from July 4, 2004, shows a Tasmanian devil (Sacropilus harrasii) patroling his enclosure at the National Zoo in Canberra, Australia.

A photo from July 4, 2004, shows a Tasmanian devil (Sacropilus harrasii) patroling his enclosure at the National Zoo in Canberra, Australia. (Torsten Blackwood / AFP/Getty Images)

A male Indri lemur feeds on leaves at a nature reserve in Andasibe, Madagascar, in September. According to the National Geographic Society, Madagascar is the last refuge for several endangered species, particularly lemurs.

A male Indri lemur feeds on leaves at a nature reserve in Andasibe, Madagascar, in September. According to the National Geographic Society, Madagascar is the last refuge for several endangered species, particularly lemurs. (Roberto Schmidt / AFP/Getty Images)

A Chinese white dolphin is seen in the waters off Hong Kong in September 2000.

A Chinese white dolphin is seen in the waters off Hong Kong in September 2000. (Vincent Yu / Associated Press)

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