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RAREST ANIMALS ON THE PLANET
MANU K.M
I B.Com, Second Semester
Government First Grade College, Tumkur
mk8784709@gmail.com
If you take it from some researchers, there are, give or take, 8.7 million different species living on the planet. 8.7 million! In other words, for every single individual living in New York City, there’s a totally different, completely unique animal. You’re more than aware of some of them, of course. But for every standard-issue lion or bear, there’s a Northern Hairy Nosed Wombat or a Hispaniola Solenodon.
- The Pangolin: Due to their status as a delicacy in China and Vietnam, and the belief that their scales have medicinal powers, “All four Asian species of pangolin are currently listed as endangered or critically endangered,” says Ian Britton, who works in animal rescue in Namibia for REST Namibia and runs the pangolin & Co. Instagram.
- The Seneca White Deer: The Seneca White Deer are an extremely rare herd of deer that are leucitic, meaning they lack pigmentation in their body, but still have brown eyes. Due to their limited number—there are about 300 in total—the species was given a protected space at the former Seneca Army Depot, where they are free from predators and open to the public to view.
- The Ti-Liger: This man made mix between a liger and a tiger is barely spotted. There exists one in Oroville, California, as well as somewhere six and 10 in total around the globe. While they are much larger than the average tiger cub, don’t usually have the health problems of their hybrid peers, meaning there’s a possibility of their population increasing.
- The Northern Hairy Nosed Wombat: While you may have seen a wombat at your local zoo, odds are you've never set sights on this furry fella. Born with spectacularly poor eye sight, these cute critters use their noses to search for food in the darkness. All in all, Radian explains, "there are only about 115 left in the wild, all of which are found in Queensland, Australia."
- The Amur Leopard: The Amur leopard is unique for its kind in that, instead of the savanna, it's settled in the Russian Far East. With particularly warm fur, and the ability to run up to 37 miles per hour, the Amur is truly a feat of nature. Despite a lifespan of 10 to 15 years, however, the Amur is extremely rare, with only about 84 currently being counted by the WWF.
- Hector’s Dolphins: Hector’s dolphins are not only the rarest but also the smallest, marine dolphin in the world. With short, husky bodies and distinctive facial markings, these unique dolphins are found only in the waters along New Zealand’s North Island. Current estimates place the species at around 7000 individuals, with some subspecies having populations as small as 55.
- The Hooded Grebe: Since their discovery in 1974, the Hooded Grebe—who have been found in Argentina and Chile—have seen their population decline by 98 percent due to climate change and invasive predators. Coupled with a low reproductive rate, this distinct animal is now on the verge of disappearing, with only about 800 members left.
- The Philippine Eagle: Formerly known as the “Monkey eating eagle,” this Philippines native is one of the strongest birds of prey, able to use its strong beak to attack monkeys, snakes, and lizards. Despite being named the National Bird of the Philippines, however, this eagle has faced serious population pressures in the past 40 years due to deforestation and severe weather, leaving them with a population under 300.
- The Pygmy Three-Toed Sloth: It can only be found on an island off of Panama. In addition, they only leave their homes in the canopy of the trees in order to defecate, an activity which they can go almost a week without doing. And, due to environmental changes, the sloth is even more hard-to-find than usual: experts place its population at under 100, and shrinking.
