There are some animals on the endangered species list that we're all familiar with.

Tigers, elephants, and polar bears immediately spring to mind when you think of threatened animals that we're trying to save. The reality is there are so many more animals out there that face extinction, and part of the reason we don't know is that we're not exposed to them on a regular basis.

British photographer Tim Flach decided to take on this challenge in his new collection Endangered. He spent two years traveling the world and taking portraits of the animals that may soon be extinct, and they're totally stunning.

The Yunnan snub-nosed monkey was thought to be extinct until it was rediscovered in 1962. It lives in the mountains and is revered by the Chinese people. There were less than 2,000 left in the wild in 2006.

The local people describe this animal as their ancestor, and call them "˜wild men of the mountains' This Yunnan snub-nose monkey, who lives at a higher altitude than any primate in the dense bamboo thickets of the Henduan mountains in south-western China. Scientists first describe the species in 1890, but faded into obscurity and thought extinct until rediscovered in 1962. #yunnanmonkey #endangered #iucnredlist #wildlife #photography #timflach #monkey #sassy #monkeylips #portrait

A post shared by Tim Flach (@timflachphotography) on Jan 3, 2018 at 3:56am PST

Bengal tigers are primarily found in India, where the government is working to protect them from habitat loss and poaching. The current population stands at less than 2,500, and the population continues to trend downward.

For me, there is something strange and yet familiar about this image, maybe because it reminds me of a dog doing a similar action. What I find rather surprising is there is more tigers held in captivity in the USA alone, than there are estimated to be in the wild. #cat #bigcat #tiger #shaking #hasselblad #broncolor #endangered #wildlife #iucn #timflach #photography

A post shared by Tim Flach (@timflachphotography) on Feb 19, 2018 at 6:41am PST

The Shoebill is a stork-like bird that exists in only a few countries in Africa. With less than 3,500 individuals taking up a small habitat, their vulnerable status is clear. Having only one location and population makes a species less likely to survive if faced with disease or famine.

The Shoebill is a large stork like bird that spends its time foraging for fish in East African swampland. As a result of habitat distraction this magnificent bird is considered Vulnerable on the IUCN Red List #shoebill #bird #portrait #wildlife #photography #timflach #conservation #endangered

A post shared by Tim Flach (@timflachphotography) on Nov 17, 2017 at 9:33am PST

The saiga looks like an alien species, but it's an antelope whose range used to span southern Europe all the way through central Asia. Now, there are just four populations: one in Russia and three in Kazakhstan. There are around 18,000 adult saiga, but there used to be millions, making this species critically endangered.

I'm talking @zsllondonzoo this evening about how artists and scientists can work together to raise awareness of endangered species. Here's the magnificent Saiga, who is relatively unknown and would probably feel at home in the cantina in Star Wars. #zsl #endangered #saiga #wildlife #wild #starwars #nature #antelope #timflach #photography #conservation #critical

A post shared by Tim Flach (@timflachphotography) on Nov 20, 2017 at 8:15am PST

Yellow-eyed tree frogs face climate change and the pet trade as their biggest challenges. They persist in fragmented habitats, and the exact number is unknown.

Yellow Eyed Tree Frog IUCN Red List status: Endangered This frog is approximately 12mm across and the father of the previously posted eggs. The gentle wo-o-rp of the male yellow eyed tree frog used to be a common sound during May-November. Unfortunately due to a combination of climate change, the pet trade and a damaging fungus the population as nearly halved since the 1990s.  #endangered #timflach #conservation #wildlife #anphibians #costarica #frog #yelloweyedtreefrog #macro #canon5ds

A post shared by Tim Flach (@timflachphotography) on Nov 28, 2017 at 9:46am PST

Hyacinth macaws also face a huge decrease in number thanks to the pet trade, but it's also threatened by modern farming practices. There are 4,300 mature individuals left in the wild.

Delighted to be featured on the cover of January's @bjp1854 The Hyacinth Macaw is a beautiful South American bird that is unfortunately threatened by modern farming and the pet trade #bird #macaw #blue #hyacinthmacaw #hyacinth #photography #wildlife #conservation #endangered #timflach #studio #colour #broncolor #hasselblad

A post shared by Tim Flach (@timflachphotography) on Dec 6, 2017 at 9:23am PST

As for some good news, recently the snow leopard was taken off of the endangered species list. While the elusive big cat is still extremely threatened and faces challenges, their numbers have grown thanks to conservation efforts and awareness through campaigns like Flach's.

The majestic snow leopard is one of the most endangered big cats, with its mountain territories shrinking due to farming and climate change, and an average of four snow leopards killed every week since 2008. Around four to seven thousand remain in the wild. IUCN Red List: Endangered #endangered #iucnredlist #timflach #photography #wildlife #leopard #snowleopard #mountains #bigcat #portrait #character #hymalayas

A post shared by Tim Flach (@timflachphotography) on Dec 11, 2017 at 10:38am PST

If you want to see more beautiful animal portraits and follow the important work Tim Flach is doing, you can find him on his website, Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. By raising awareness about the plight of these endangered animals, perhaps we can work together to save them.

The post Photographer Spends Years Taking Photos Of Endangered Animals, And They're Tragically Beautiful appeared first on Goodfullness.