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Africa’s endangered species

10,000 Birds

More than 150 bird species are known to have become extinct over the past 500 years, and many more are estimated to have been driven to extinction before they became known to science. Rueppell’s (facing left) and White-backed (three birds facing right) Vultures have worryingly leapt two categories from Near-Threatened to Endangered.

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South Africa’s endemic birds

10,000 Birds

Greater Double-collared Sunbird (right) is less common and more localized than its smaller cousin. In 1996, several pipit specimens were collected for DNA analysis and it turned out that there was not one, but two new species to science in this sample!