• Illegal hunting adds to the critical endangerment of the hawksbill turtle.life under water, hawksbill turtle image by Vladimir Usatschenko from Fotolia.com
  
  The Cayman Islands are home to a rich variety of wildlife. But because of factors such as overfishing and development, a number of species have ended up on endangered lists. In recent years, The International Union of Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources (IUCN) Red List, lists five Cayman Island animals as "endangered" and another five as "critically endangered." A species is listed as endangered when the population is estimated at fewer than 250 mature individuals; a species is critically endangered when population is estimated at fewer than 50 mature individuals.
  
  

Bigeye Tuna

• Bigeye tuna are critically endangered, according to the IUCN, because of overfishing. Late spawning, because they do not reach sexual maturity until they are three to four years old, adds to its endangerment. The flesh of the bigeye tuna attracts high prices, which appeals to commercial fisheries.
  
  

Cayman Island Blue Iguana

• Cayman island blue iguanas are critically endangered and are close to extinction. These lizards are blue grey while resting and turn a striking sapphire blue when excited or during mating season. Threats are trapping or shooting, road fatalities, domestic and wild dogs and cats, destruction of habitat development.
  
  

Goliath Grouper and Nassau Grouper

• The critically endangered goliath grouper is the biggest member of the sea bass family. The goliath grouper is in peril because of its size, slow rate of growth and low rate of reproduction. Overfishing is another huge threat to this fish because of its group spawning activity. Hundreds of grouper cluster while spawning and fisheries often know when and where this group spawning occurs. The Nassau grouper, which can alter its color pattern blend in with its surroundings, is on the ICUN's endangered list, also because of overfishing due to group spawning.
  
  

Great Hammerhead and Scalloped Hammerhead

• Great hammerhead and scalloped hammerhead shark are listed on the IUCN Red List as endangered species. Targeted by commercial fisheries and illegal fishing for meat, fins, carcasses, skin and liver plus the low number of offspring and slow growth makes the hammerheads extremely vulnerable as endangered species.
  
  

Green Turtle

• Green turtles are listed as endangered due to overharvesting, deterioration of habitat and disease. The cartilage of the bottom shell is harvested for use in turtle soup and the meat and eggs are desired for human consumption. Construction, beach armoring by creating hard structures to prevent erosion and the extraction of sand to use in the construction industry threatens habitat. Contaminated water causes fibrous tumors to grow on the turtle's body that can cause illness and death.
  
  

Hawksbill Turtle

• Illegal traders hunt the critically endangered hawksbill turtle for its shell to make jewelry and ornamental goods. There is also a market for the eggs and meat. Juveniles are stuffed and sold as exotic gifts. Other hazards are accidental fishing line entanglement, nesting site loss and the degradation of coral reef feeding sites.
  
  

Loggerhead Turtle

• The main threat to the endangered loggerhead turtle is loss of nesting beaches. Other threats are accidental capture by commercial fisheries by being caught in shrimp nets or entangled in fishing lines, which can lead to injuries and death by drowning. The meat of loggerhead turtles is not desired but the eggs are collected.
  
  

Northern Bluefin Tuna

• The northern bluefin tuna is listed as critically endangered on the IUCN Red List because of its large size and high quality meat, which is a delicacy in Japan. Laws of fishing limits and catch quotas are not followed therefore over fishing, illegal unreported fishing and poor management of the laws have led to the endangerment of this fish. Captured alive, the northern bluefin tuna are taken to a ranch along the Mediterranean coast where they are fed and fattened before being sold to Japan.