8 endangered animal encounters to put on your bucket list
We as humans have an insatiable curiosity when it comes to animals, yet as a species we have endangered the future of many of them. Thankfully, there are many organisations trying to right the wrongs of man and the severity of the food chain.
However, even low impact tourism can have negative impacts on animal populations and fragile habitats. Dermet O’Gormaan from the World Wildlife Fund explains that
"Massive influxes of tourists, often to a relatively small area, can add to the pollution, waste, and water needs of the local population, putting local infrastructure and habitats under enormous pressure."
For many animal lovers, a visit to a wildlife sanctuary provides the rare opportunity to interact with species on a more intimate level, however to truly support the plight of endangered animals, these “sanctuaries" need to meet certain requirements.
World Expeditions has now developed its own animal welfare in tourism code of conduct in partnership with World Animal Protection. There are no guaranteed sightings, forced breeding or animals jumping through hoops. Instead, these are respectful and passive nature experiences.
So pack your binoculars, tread lightly, and enjoy the rewards of observing these amazing top 8 endangered animals.
1. King Penguin
Where to see them: Antarctica; Tierra del Fuego, Argentina
2. Grey Wolf
Where to see them: Yellowstone National Park or Grand Teton National Park, Wyoming
3. African elephant
Where to see them: Botswana; Serengeti National Park, Tanzania; Kruger National Park, South Africa
4. Giant Panda
Where to see them: Zoo’s in Chengdu, China
5. Mountain Gorilla
Where to see them: Virunga Mountains, Rwanda, Uganda
6. Marmot
Where to see them: Mountainous areas in Europe, north-western Asia and North America. Head out for walks on trails at a higher altitude.
7. Humpback whale
Where to see them: Eastcoast of Australia. Head to Sydney's beach cliffs for a chance to observe these ancient creatures of the sea gracefully breaching.
8. Giant sea tortoise
Where to see them: The beaches of Galapagos Islands.
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