Define endangered species.

Hint: IUCN has categorised the organisms as endangered, extinct, vulnerable, critically endangered, and rare with respect to the number and distribution. The endangered species if not protected can get extinct.

Complete Answer:
Endangered species are the species which are going to get extinct or vanish in near future either from the world or from a particular location. For example Asiatic lions are an endangered species which is only found in a few numbers in the Gir forest, India.

Causes of the Extinction: The risk factors for the endangered species are habitat loss, hunting, poaching, or presence of competitive species. Natural disasters and epidemic diseases are also a major risk factor for the species.

Consequences: If the species is endangered and is not protected, it may get extinct. This will result in loss of biodiversity. Also the ecological balance of nature will get disturbed which will directly and indirectly affect other flora and fauna.

Steps taken to prevent extinction:
- Many countries have made laws which forbid the hunting and poaching of animals.
- Protected areas like national parks and sanctuaries are being made to protect the animal from extinction.
- Conservation steps like captive breeding which involves the breeding of rare and endangered species in controlled environments. It saves the species and helps in stabilizing the number.

Note: Red data list documented by the IUCN has all the records of the rare and endangered species. Over 50% of the species are under the threat of extinction. It gives the status of all the endangered organisms present globally.