Endangered Animals You Can See in Person and Where to Go to Find Them Mary Zakheim October 6, 2016 Adventure Travel We love animals and we love traveling. Naturally, we also love traveling to see animals. Whether it’s on a safari, hiking through a national park, or spotting a fox dart across the road on our daily commute, we get so giddy spotting animals in the wild. If you’re as much an animal lover as we are (and if you aren’t, kindly leave now), you’ll love this list of endangered critters and where you can travel to spot them in the wild. Check ’em out and reduce, reuse, recycle to get all of the endangered and threatened species off of the endangered list. The Whale Shark in Honduras Don’t worry, they won’t bite! You can dive with these gentle giants all around the world, though perhaps the most scenic place is off of the coast of Utila, Honduras. Take cheap flights in March to see the Whale Shark and Oceanic Research Center for eco-friendly dives. The Pallas Cat in Siberia Grumpy cat has nothing on these reclusive felines. Trek over to Sailyugemsky Nature Park in Siberia’s Altai Mountains to see the rare cats up close and personal. Poachers are the main reason for their extinct status, which is why a 32-square kilometer section of the nature park was recently turned into a reserve for the expressive kitties. The African Leopard in Tanzania It’s gonna take a lot to drag us away from these cuties. The Serengeti National Park in Tanzania is home to many of the world’s most captivating creatures — including the beautiful and endangered African leopard. Catch a safari and gain access to leopard sightings that are practically guaranteed! The Himalayan Snow Leopard in Mongolia Yeah, we’ll just take this one home with us, thanks very much. This leopard can be found in Mongolia’s remote Altai Mountain Range. You may need to stay for a while, though, as the cat is often called a “grey ghost” for how little it’s been seen by film crews and villagers alike. Related: 8 Places Where You and Your Kids Can Get Up Close to Exotic Animals! Polar Bears in Canada A photo posted by WWF International (@wwf) on Aug 2, 2016 at 3:39am PDT But… But… They’re so sweeeeet. Churchill, a small town in Manitoba, Canada is one of the few human settlements where polar bears can be observed in the wild! When you go, you’ll get to witness the migration of the bears from their summer homes to their wintery seal-hunting grounds. The sightings happen throughout October and November! Honey Bees in Hawaii Seriously, can we save the bees already? There are plenty of bee farms around the world. However, honey bees are still in decline, which sucks because a third of the food grown in the United States is dependent on honey bee pollination. Check out the balmy farms in Hawaii for a tropical look at the insects. Lions in Tanzania Majestic and iconic, lions can easily be seen on safaris in many African countries. One of the most beautiful places to check out is the Selous Game Reserve in Tanzania, one of the largest faunal reserves in the world. Saimaa Ringed Seals in Finland A photo posted by WWF International (@wwf) on May 17, 2016 at 8:35am PDT OMG, so fluffy. Can you take the cold? Head to Lake Saimaa in Savonlinna, Finland. It borders Russia and offers activities like kayaking and camping in addition to the ringed seal sightings. West Indian Manatees in Belize Manatees were moved off of the endangered list, but there are still necessary measures in place to protect them. Head to the ultra-laid-back town of Caye Caulker, Belize — where signs proclaiming “No shirt, no shoes… No problems” abound. And, get ready to eco-dive with some super cute manatees in the stunning Great Belize Barrier Reef. Have you ever encountered an endangered animal on your travels abroad? Tell us all about it in the comments section below!
