What defines a species as endangered?

A species is defined as endangered when it is at a high risk of extinction in the near future due to a significant reduction in its population size or habitat. This status indicates that the species is facing various threats that could lead to its decline, such as habitat destruction, environmental changes, invasive species, or excessive hunting and fishing. Protective measures, such as conservation efforts and habitat restoration, are often necessary to prevent these species from becoming extinct.

While thriving in numbers, having a stable population, or being heavily studied may indicate aspects of a species' health or knowledge levels about it, they do not reflect the precarious situation of an endangered species. In fact, a thriving or stable population would suggest that the species is not at risk, while the amount of study does not inherently affect a species' risk of extinction.