You might think you’ve seen it all when it comes to animals around the world, but there will still be wonders that will make your eyes pop.
Even if you’re a dedicated animal enthusiast, you can’t honestly expect to know them all.
Our list comprises of some of the rarest there are. Have you ever heard of or seen an Okapi?
Well, it’s an absolutely exquisite, yet very unusual animal that looks something like a cross between a moose and a zebra but is actually related to a giraffe.
Our Today went digging and here is what we found, according to farandwide.com:
Wombat
When you see a wombat — a fuzzy little marsupial with a friendly face and calm demeanor — you’ll probably immediately want to hug this cool animal. But don’t be fooled by appearances.
Wombats sport rodent-like teeth and can get aggressive if they feel threatened.
Wombats are surprising in other ways, too. Unlike other marsupials, their pouches face backward.
To protect the tunnels where they dwell, they dive into them headfirst and stick up their rump, which is tough enough to thwart predators.
Wombats can be found on Australia’s Maria Island, where they are prevalent and easy to spot. The island is located off the Tasmanian coast and is a beautiful place to visit in general.
Sun bear
When most people think of bears, they often imagine the big, fast and potentially dangerous kinds — polar, grizzly, brown and black. They often don’t think of sun bears, which are unlike any of their cousins.
Sun bears are the smallest bears in the world, with many adults weighing under 100 pounds.
But what really makes them stand out is their unusually long tongues, which can measure up to nine inches.
Also known as ‘honey bears’, sun bears climb trees to find honeycombs, and their tongues come in handy when they snatch their loot.
Unfortunately, deforestation is contributing to population declines. But you can still find sun bears in Southeast Asia where, unlike their North American cousins, they thrive in tropical forest environments.
The islands of Sumatra and Borneo are particularly good places to access their habitat.
Okapi
Can’t decide if you’d rather see a zebra or a giraffe? Why not see an animal that looks like both?
The Okapi is the only living relative of the giraffe but features the distinctive black-and-white markings of the zebra on its hind and front legs
Nicknamed the ‘zebra giraffe’ this endangered animal is suspicious of humans and is hard to find (so much so that scientists didn’t discover the okapi until 1900).
It lives in the Uturi Forest in the Democratic Republic of Congo, but travelers can’t access this area.
But if you really want to see one, head to the White Oak Conservation Center in Florida, which focuses on the conservation of okapis, and book a tour led by a wildlife expert.
Fossa
The fossa looks so much like a cat that naturalists and official descriptions refer to it as “cat-like” — even though it is actually part of the weasel family and a close relative of the mongoose.
While this remarkable creature does have the ears and head shape of a cat, it boasts one totally unique feature: a long tail that it uses to grip tree branches as it climbs in search of food.
Like many odd and unusual animals, the fossa calls Madagascar home.
As the largest predator on the island nation, it feasts on everything from rodents to lemurs. Its range is also exceptional, covering everything from the lowlands to the plateaus.
Pangolin
A pangolin can roll up into a ball, and its protective scales will keep predators at bay. It is the only known mammal to have this type of feature.
A nocturnal animal, the pangolin feeds on ants and termites.
Unfortunately, they are currently threatened by poaching for both their meat and scales.
These unusual animals can be found in Asia and parts of Africa.
Shoebill Stork
No shock here, the Shoebill stork has, well … a bill shaped like a shoe.
Also of note about this amazing animal? Shoebills are abnormally tall, with some individuals reaching heights of over four feet.
Guess what? Unlike many other birds that inhabit similar marsh environments, shoebills are highly effective predators.
Their long legs are perfect for traversing shallow waters, where they prey on reptiles, rodents and fish. They are even known to strike against juvenile crocodiles!
Shoebills use their powerful beaks to grasp and strangle just about anything they encounter, but don’t worry — they don’t prey on humans.
Find one in East Africa, where their habitat is concentrated.
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