What is the 'Red List'?

The list of endangered species is known as the Red List. It lists all those plant and animal species that are facing the threat of extinction worldwide. The list is revised every 2 years. For the year 2006, the list contained around 16,000 species of plants and animals; 530 species more than the list for 2004. One-fourth of all the mammals are present in the list. All species of elephants, rhinos, gorillas, orangutans, chimpanzees, most species of whales, and half of all vertebrates living in freshwater are also part of the Red List.