When it comes to endangered animals it’s not all bad news.

Here are 7 animals where conservation efforts have made a massive difference and they’ve been taken off the endangered list:

Bald Eagles

The Bald Eagle is a North American bird of prey that is known for being the symbol of the United States of America.

The range that the eagle covers is the majority of Alaska and Canada, northern Mexico and the whole of the contiguous United States.

Bald Eagles are excellent flyers and use thermal convection currents to soar high above the air. They can reach speeds of around 35 to 43 mph while they are gliding, and their diving speed, which is used when they are hunting their prey, can be up to 99 mph.

The eagle feeds mainly on fish although it will eat other small animals.

“It’s fitting that our national symbol has also become a symbol of the great things that happen through cooperative conservation. Eagles could not have recovered without a support network of strong partnerships among government at all levels, tribes, conservation organizations, the business community and individual citizens,” said H. Dale Hall from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.

First Listed as Endangered: 1972
Removed from Endangered List: 2007

How their numbers have increased: 417 breeding pairs in 1963 to 9,789 breeding pairs in 2007.

Did you know… that although their name suggests it the bald eagle is not bald – their name comes from the old meaning ‘white headed’

Yellowstone Grizzly Bears

Yellowstone Grizzly Bears are grizzly bears that can be found in the Yellowstone National Park. An adult male will weigh between 300lb – 700lb whereas an adult female will weigh between 200lb – 400lb.

A fully grown male will measure around 3 1/2 feet when standing on all fours and being measured up to the shoulder.

While these bears are able to climb trees their weight can make this particularly tricky. Grizzly bears will eat insects, elk calves, pine nuts, large mammals, rodents and other small mammals.

They will mate in the springtime and a female will tend to have 1 to 3 cubs.

“The grizzly’s remarkable comeback is the result of years of intensive cooperative recovery efforts between federal and state agencies, conservation groups, and individuals. There is simply no way to overstate what an amazing accomplishment this is. I believe all Americans should be proud that, as a nation, we had the will and the ability to protect and restore this symbol of the wild.” Lynn Scarlett from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.

First Listed as Endangered: 1975
Removed from Endangered List: 2007

How their numbers have increased: 136 in 1975 to 312 in 2007

Did you know… grizzly bears are actually very agile and can run up to 40 mph.

Brown Pelicans

The Brown Pelican is a marine bird that lives mainly on the coasts in America between Washington and Virginia and down to Peru.

There are also Brown Pelicans living at the mouth of the Amazon River and some areas of Tobago. The Brown Pelican is a symbol of Louisiana and it is shown on the state’s flag.

Adult birds can weigh between 6.1lb to 12lb and they can have a wingspan of up to 2.5 m.

While the numbers of these birds are healthy and they have been removed from the endangered animals list they are still at threat from oil spills.

“We can say the brown pelican is back. Once again, we see healthy flocks of these graceful birds flying over our shores. The brown pelican is endangered no longer,” said Interior Secretary Ken Salazar in November 2009.

First Listed as Endangered: 1970
Removed from Endangered List: 2009

How their numbers have increased: from an estimate of 12 breeding pairs in 1970 to 650,000 in 2009

Did you know… the reason that the Brown Pelican was threatened with extinction was the use of the pesticide DDT.

Peregrine Falcons

Peregrine Falcons are birds of prey that are known for their fantastic speeds when flying, with some birds reaching up to 202 mph. It is this speed that makes the Peregrine Falcon the fastest animal on Earth.

The falcon will mainly eat medium-sized birds although it will sometimes eat small reptiles and mammals and insects on occasion.

From the age of one year the birds are able to reproduce and once a bird has found a mate it will stay with it for life. It was the use of DDT that threatened the numbers of the Peregrine Falcon in the wild.

“Before California banned DDT in 1972, the peregrine falcon was pushed to the brink of extinction. The number of breeding pairs fell to 10. Scientists say the pesticide causes falcons and other birds to lay eggs with shells too thin to support the weight of their parents,” reported San Jose News.

First Listed as Endangered: 1972
Removed from Endangered List: 2009

How their numbers have increased: 10 breeding pairs in 1972 to an estimated 10,000 – 100,000 worldwide

Did you know… females are larger than males

Borneo Crocodiles

Borneo crocodiles are the largest of all the reptiles and they live in saltwater. There are 23 different species of crocodile of which the Borneo crocodile is one of them.

While a crocodile is not able to run at speeds over great distances it is very fast over shorter distances and can reach up to 7 mph.

The jaws of a Borneo crocodile are very strong however they are unable to chew their food, they can simply tear and then swallow.

Borneo crocodiles like all other crocodiles are able to digest anything that they eat as the liquid inside their stomachs is very acidic.

“A lot of the crocodile’s habitat has been destroyed by development and much of its food sources have also been depleted so this and the frequent human use of the rivers mean that such attacks will occur,” said Deputy director of the Sabah Wildlife Department.

First Listed as Endangered: 1990
Removed from Endangered List: 2010

How their numbers have increased: 1,000 – 5,000 in 1990 to 11,000 – 15,000 in 2010

Did you know… the Borneo crocodile can grow up to 23 feet in length!

Morelet’s Crocodiles

The Morelets Crocodile or Mexican crocodile as it is also known is a crocodile might inhabit fresh waters in Belize, Mexico and Guatemala.

This species of crocodile was discovered in 1850 and at first it was confused with the American crocodile and Cuban crocodile.

It was not until 1920 that experts realise that the Morelets crocodile was a new species. These crocodiles are carnivores and they will feed on fish and insects, however they will also eat other reptiles, birds and small mammals.

The crocodiles will breed between April and June and a female will lay between 2 and 45 eggs at one time and the hatchlings are around 17 cm long.

“There is currently no evidence that disease, native or alien predator species, tourism, or scientific activities represent negative factors or threats for the wild populations of the Morelet’s crocodile.” Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES)

First Listed as Endangered: 1973
Removed from Endangered List: 2010

How their numbers have increased: A few thousand to 10,000 – 20,000 today.

Did you know… these crocodiles have up to 68 teeth which is a lot more than the average of 24 teeth for a crocodile.

Gray Wolves

Gray Wolves live in the northern Rockies and were pretty much wiped out in the US apart from Alaska during the early 20th century.

The gray wolf is the largest of the Wolf family and will live in groups consisting of a mating pair, their cubs, and occasionally they will adopt wolves that are immature.

The wolves eat ungulates that they chase and wear down before killing them.

The largest type of gray wolf that comes from Europe can weigh up to 85lbs, although it is not common to find wolves that are able to reach such a size.

“Gray wolves in the Northern Rocky Mountains are thriving and no longer require the protection of the Endangered Species Act,” said Interior Deputy Secretary Lynn Scarlett.

First Listed as Endangered: 1974
Removed from Endangered List: 2008

How their numbers have increased: 66 in the 1990s to 1,500 in 2008

Did you know… genetic evidence has shown that Gray Wolves are a direct ancestor of domesticated dogs.