The world we live is full of wild animals, some of them we see regularly while others are quite elusive and seeing them is a memorable lifetime experience. However due to their uniqueness most of these animals are hunted down by poachers who wrongly sell their meat or hides in the black market. These activities have rendered the remaining animals endangered as their numbers continue reaching alarming rates. However, you can still endeavor to see these animals before they become extinct. Below are some of the world’s rarest animals that you didn’t know before:
10. The Dhole
Dholes are medium-sized canid species that are native to Southeast and South Asia. This is a highly sociable creature that lives in clans that occasionally split into smaller packs for hunting purposes. It predominantly preys on medium-size ungulates by hunting them down in lengthy chases, and killing by disemboweling the prey. Though somewhat fearful of people, dhole packs can be bold and are known to attack big and dangerous animals like water buffalo, wild boar and tigers.
9. The Babirusa
It’s also known as ‘Hog deer’ and belongs to the pig family. This animal has long tusks that continuously grow throughout its lifetime. As such, The Babirusa needs to continuously grind its protruding tusks so that they don’t penetrate into the animal’s skull. It is commonly found in Sulawesi, Buru, Togian and Sula islands of Indonesia.
8. Pink-Fairy Armadillo
This animal is roughly 3.5 to 4.5 long without counting the tail. It’s also pink or pale rose in color with the ability to completely bury itself when frightened. The pink Armadillo is predominantly nocturnal and usually burrows holes near ant burrows; it feeds on the insects and their larvae while using the large anterior claws to stir up sand. This allows the animal to feed on bugs that are adjacent to the burrows. The animal is largely torpedo-shaped with a wide shielded head and vertebral.
7. The Fossa
This is a cat-like carnivorous creature only found in Madagascar. Scientists believe that it’s the biggest mammalian carnivore in its native island, and has in fact been likened to a small-sized cougar. The Fossa contains powerful semi-retractable claws as well as flexible ankles which allows them to climb any tree headfirst; it also gives the animal ability to seamlessly jump from one tree to another.
6. The Gerenuk
It’s a long-necked antelope species particularly found in the long thorny plains of East Africa, Gerenuk is also referred to as Waller’s gazelle in its native land. In fact, the word comes from Somali language that means ‘giraffe necked’. These animals have quite small heads in comparison to other parts of the body, though their ears and eyes are proportionately large. They rarely graze but you will find them slowly browsing on prickly bushes or tress like acacia. Gerenuks can comfortably reach higher branches or twigs by standing upright on their legs, and gently stretching their necks forward.
5. Naked Mole Rats
This creature has peculiar characteristics which make it quite important amongst human beings. For instance, it’s resistant to health anomalies like cancer and can live to about 28 years when in their natural habitat. These statistics are not found in any other mammal of this diminutive size. Moreover, it seemingly doesn’t age fast during the 28 years of its lifetime but remains young, healthy and fertile throughout its days. In our own language, it can be compared to an elderly woman of 80-years old having the same biological clock as someone who’s 50 years much younger. Due to these amazing characteristics, the Naked Rat is used by scientists to study the process of aging and cancer research.
4. Irrawaddy Dolphin
It’s a rare oceanic dolphin species found along major sea coasts and river estuaries along Southeast Asia and Bengal Bay. Genetically, this incredible sea mammal is very much related to the orca popularly known as killer whale.These magnificent creatures communicate through creaks, clicks and buzzes at a standard frequency of about 60 kilohertz. Its main ingredients include fish eggs, crustaceans and cephalopods.
Researchers have also found that the animal can consume some of its food through mouth suction. These beautiful round-head animals sometimes spew streams of sea water from their nostrils, either through spy-hopping or during feeding, seemingly to expel water that may have been trapped in the lungs while chasing fish underwater, some Irrawaddy kept in captivity have also been trained to perform spy-hopping stunts on command. This mammal is usually a slow swimmer, however when being chased by boat some of them have reached speeds of up to 25km/hr.
3. Markhor
This is a massive wild goat species that lives in Pakistan and Afghanistan. It is categorized by the IUCN amongst endangered species since there are less than 2,500 mature Markhors living in the wild. This amazing animal is currently the national symbolic creature of Pakistan Republic.
When chewing up the cud, a frothy substance usually drops from its mouth to the ground and then dries. The foam is popularly sought after by natives who believe it’s helpful in removing snake poison from snake wounds. Their coat is usually grizzled tan brown to black or gray and tends to be cozy and short during summer, but grows thicker in winter.
2. Snub- Nose Monkey
They reside in various parts across Asia and specifically get their names from a short stout nose found on their chubby faces. These creatures mostly inhabit mountainous forests, but during winter season they move into more secluded regions to avoid the chilly weather conditions. They spend most of their time up in the trees where they live in large extended families of about 600 members. These animals have a massive vocal repertoire, they may either chant individually or together in a melodious fashion-like choir.
1.The Rare Maned Wolf
This creature is believed to be the largest surviving canid living in South America. It resembles a giant fox with red-golden fur. The mammal mostly resided in plain and semi-plain habitats particularly grassland with scattered trees and bushes. Moreover, maned wolf stands as the tallest of all wild canids plus its long legs may have evolved as an adaptation to its grassland savannah habitat. This animal mainly feeds on rabbits that live in the tall savannah grasses.
