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5 unique animals that came back from the brink of extinction
Several species, once on the brink of extinction, are making remarkable comebacks due to dedicated conservation efforts. India's Asiatic lion population has surged to 891, while gharial numbers are now between 2,000 and 2,500. The Iberian lynx has rebounded to over 2,400, and the Arabian oryx, once extinct in the wild, now exceeds 1,000.
Living beings have been inhabiting the Earth for centuries. And each creature has been adapting and advancing according to the changes in the environment. While most of the creatures and their successors moved ahead with changing scenarios, not all of those animals were able to make it amid rising poaching numbers, habitat destruction or global warming.
But nature is often full of surprises, and some creatures still managed to come back from the brink of extinction through persistent conservation efforts, some hope, and the resilience of nature itself.
These comebacks did not happen overnight; behind each animal's return lies decades of hard work, led by scientists, governments, and local communities. Efforts like captive breeding, habitat restoration and strong legal protections, and public awareness campaigns played a necessary role in reviving public support and changing policies.
However, challenges remain, and not every species is out of danger. Here are five wild animals that made a comeback from extinction
Asiatic lion
Found only in India, the Asiatic lion once roamed much of Asia but was nearly wiped out, with just 18 individuals recorded in 1893. Thankfully, because of the strict protection and conservation efforts in Gujarat's Gir Forest, their numbers are now estimated to be 891, from the previous 674, five years ago, according to the latest census conducted in May 2025 by the Gujarat Forest Department.
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Gujarat Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel announced the new figures in Gandhinagar on May 21.
He also mentioned that lions are now being found far beyond the Gir National Park, their traditional home. "The increase of 217 lions is notable, but what is equally important is their expanded presence across 11 districts in the Saurashtra region, including coastal and non-forested areas," he said.
Gharial
By the 1970s, fewer than 300 gharials remained in India's rivers, resulting in the launch of dedicated breeding and release programmes.
According to the ongoing conservation program in Kukrail Gharial Rehabilitation Centre, eggs collected from the Chambal River were reared at the centre, then released into the wild. The current official estimate of the Indian gharial (Gavialis gangeticus) population in the wild is between 2,000 and 2,500 individuals, as reported during the 50‑year celebration of gharial conservation efforts on World Crocodile Day by India's Forest Department and the Society for Conservation of Nature.
Iberian lynx
Once down to only 94 wild individuals in 2002, the Iberian lynx has made an amazing recovery. According to the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), there were 648 mature individuals by 2022. By 2023, Spain and Portugal had a total of 2,021 lynxes, and the 2024 Spain census reported 2,407 total individuals, which marked a total of a 19% increase in one year. Though now listed as "Vulnerable" by IUCN, Spain still considers the lynx legally endangered due to ongoing threats like habitat loss and roadkill.
Oryx
The Arabian oryx was declared extinct in the wild by 1972, with fewer than 20 surviving in captivity. According to IUCN, the captive breeding and reintroduction of conservation efforts in Oman, Saudi Arabia, and the UAE have helped in increasing their numbers to over 1,000 in the wild today. This success marks the first time a species declared extinct in the wild has been reintroduced successfully.
Siberian tiger
By the 1940s, Siberian (Amur) tiger numbers had plummeted to just 20–30 in the wild, making them nearly extinct. Since then, strong conservation measures-- like anti-poaching efforts, habitat protection, and the 1992 'Operation Amba' campaign-- have helped in increasing their population. In Russia's Far East, recent censuses estimate around 550–600 wild tigers, while WWF reports approximately 508 Amur tigers country-wide.
Image credits: Wikimedia commons, Canva
