From the cuddly to the bizarre, British photographer captures images of the world's most endangered animals

Humans share the world with millions of animals. In fact, Science Daily reports that scientists estimate the Earth contains 8.7 million species of animals. With so many animals roaming the face of the planet, people forget that some of these are in jeopardy of extinction.

In October 2017, Thought Co. published a list of 100 recently extinct animals. Over the last 200 years, these animals went from flourishing on Earth to extinction. One photographer decided to take upon himself the challenge of documenting the animals on the endangered species list before they disappeared completely.

British animal photographer Tim Flach published a series of compelling photos in 2017 titled Endangered in what he calls "a unique experiment exploring the role of imagery in fostering an emotional connection with species and their habitats."

He states that his desire is "that his work will inspire, challenge, and inform – that we might use this book as a springboard for positive action." The end result is 82 breathtaking pictures of animals on the list of 16,306 endangered species.

Some of these animals may surprise you. The collection includes commonly recognized creatures such as polar bears, which face the threat of extinction thanks to the loss of their sea ice habitat, according to World Wildlife Fund.

Flach also includes the bizarre, such as the proboscis monkey, which Pets states faces extinction because of the loss of its natural habitat and being hunted.

Along with being stunning photos, Flach's collection is a stirring reminder to care for the planet and all it contains.