Niger

23 threatened species · Biodiversity Intelligence Dashboard

Threatened Species

23

CR + EN + VU

Critically Endangered

4

Highest risk

Endangered

9

Very high risk

Vulnerable

10

High risk

Declining

13%

3 species

Category Breakdown
CR 4
EN 9
VU 10
CR: 4
EN: 9
VU: 10

Critically Endangered

417%

Extremely high risk of extinction in the wild.

Endangered

939%

Very high risk of extinction in the wild.

Vulnerable

1043%

High risk of extinction in the wild.

Threatened total — 23 species

Species by Group
🐦

birds

8

8 threatened

🐟

fishes

5

5 threatened

🌱

plants

5

5 threatened

🦗

insects

3

3 threatened

🐾

mammals

1

1 threatened

🪱

other invertebrates

1

1 threatened

Global Share

0.04%

of globally threatened species

Country Rank

#239

of 250 countries

Endemic Threatened

0

Found only here

Conservation Outlook

Outlook: Deteriorating

The northeastern Argentina-southern Paraguay border region encompasses critical portions of the Atlantic Forest and Paraná River floodplains, representing one of South America's most biodiverse yet threatened ecosystems. This area supports exceptional freshwater mollusk diversity in the Paraná-Paraguay river system and harbors endemic invertebrate species adapted to the region's unique wetland-forest mosaic. According to IUCN Red List 2025 data, all 170 assessed species in this transboundary region are critically endangered, indicating an unprecedented biodiversity crisis.

The region faces severe pressure from expanding soybean cultivation and cattle ranching, particularly in Paraguay's Itapuá and Misiones departments. Large-scale agricultural conversion has fragmented remaining Atlantic Forest patches, while dam construction along the Paraná River system threatens endemic aquatic species. Unregulated sand mining and urban expansion around Corrientes further degrade riparian habitats critical for mollusk populations.

Binational conservation efforts include the proposed Trinational Biodiversity Corridor linking protected areas across Argentina, Paraguay, and Brazil. Argentina's recent expansion of Iberá National Park provides crucial habitat connectivity, while Paraguay has established new private reserves in Misiones department. However, enforcement remains inconsistent, and agricultural expansion continues to outpace protection efforts.

The current trajectory suggests continued deterioration without immediate, coordinated transboundary intervention to halt habitat conversion and strengthen species protection measures.

Atlantic ForestParaná River FloodplainsWetlandsRiparian ForestsGrasslands
Top Threats
1.Logging & wood harvesting3 species
2.Housing & urban areas3 species
3.Droughts3 species
4.Pesticide use reducing insect prey2 species
5.Invasive non-native/alien species/diseases2 species
6.Habitat shifting & alteration2 species
7.Climate change affecting water levels2 species
8.Annual & perennial non-timber crops2 species

Protected Areas

15 areas · 34,346 km²

How to Cite

IUCN: IUCN (2025). The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Version 2025-1. Available at: https://www.iucnredlist.org. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2025-1.RLTS

GBIF: GBIF.org (2025). GBIF Home Page. Available at: https://www.gbif.org

This page: SpeciesRadar (2026). Niger: Biodiversity Dashboard. SpeciesRadar: Intelligence for Earth's Biodiversity. Available at: https://speciesradar.org/countries/NE

Species counts reflect IUCN Red List threatened categories (CR, EN, VU). · Full citation guide & data usage terms

Frequently asked questions

How many threatened species are in Niger?
Niger has 23 threatened species recorded on SpeciesRadar — 4 of those are Critically Endangered, facing an extremely high risk of extinction. The figures combine IUCN Red List data with national red list assessments where available.
How many Critically Endangered, Endangered, and Vulnerable species does Niger have?
Of the 23 threatened species in Niger, 4 are Critically Endangered, 9 are Endangered, and 10 are Vulnerable. Together these three IUCN Red List categories make up the "threatened" total.
What is the most endangered species in Niger?
Among the 4 Critically Endangered species in Niger, Eurasian Spoonbill (Platalea leucorodia) is one of the most at-risk — featured prominently on the country dashboard. The full list of Critically Endangered species is filterable on the Species tab.
What protected areas exist in Niger?
Niger has 15 protected areas catalogued on SpeciesRadar, sourced from the WDPA and national designations. Notable sites include Reserva de Biosfera del Bosque Mbaracayú, Reserva de Biosfera Yabotí, Parque Nacional Iberá, and Parque Nacional Mburucuyá, among 11 others. The full list is sortable and downloadable on the Protected Areas tab.
Which animal and plant groups are most threatened in Niger?
The most affected groups in Niger, by number of threatened species, are birds (8), fishes (5), and plants (5). The full taxonomic breakdown is shown on the country dashboard.
What are the biggest threats to wildlife in Niger?
The leading threats to threatened species in Niger are logging & wood harvesting, housing & urban areas, droughts, and pesticide use reducing insect prey. Each threat is mapped to the species it affects in the country's threat breakdown.
How many of Niger's threatened species have declining populations?
3 of Niger's threatened species have populations that are still declining. Reversing these trends is the central focus of the conservation work the country dashboard tracks.
How does Niger compare to other countries for threatened species?
Niger ranks #239 of 250 countries by number of threatened species, and accounts for roughly 0.04% of all threatened species tracked worldwide. Threat is geographically concentrated, so a high rank reflects both rich biodiversity and intense pressure on it.
Where does the data for Niger come from, and can I download it?
SpeciesRadar draws on the IUCN Red List, the Global Biodiversity Information Facility (GBIF), the World Database on Protected Areas, and national red lists. Every table on the Niger profile — species, national red list, and protected areas — can be downloaded as a CSV spreadsheet or a branded PDF report.