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#
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Species
[range]
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Photo/art [see credits]
all photos taken in wild unless stated
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Reason for choice
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DR seen?
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11
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Asian Two-horned Rhino
Dicerorhinus sumatrensis
[Sumatra & Borneo]
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Often termed "Sumatran Rhino,"
it lives in the foothills of Sumatra & Borneo; its
dense hair permits existence in colder climes than other rhinos. Like
African rhinos, it has two horns. It is really quite different than
one-horned Asian rhinos of lowland floodplains. Only 300 are still extant; it is now exceptionally rare and elusive.
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No
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12
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Cheetah
Acinonyx jubatus
[e. Africa]
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The fastest mammal in the world
as it chases down antelope in short sprints, the Cheetah is still quite
seeable in some e. African parks. But its range (once including w.
Asia) has been disappearing and fragmenting for years. Brothers often
hunt together. A superb, sleek, and beautiful cat.
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Yes
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13
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Okapi
Okapia johnstoni
[c. Africa]
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This mysterious and little-known
forest animal is only one of the few even-toed ungulates to make my
"top 50" list. It seems next-to-impossible to see in the dense Congo
Basin rainforest. It is unique in many ways; its closest relative is
the Giraffe.
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No
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14
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any Asian One-horned
Rhino
Rhinoceros sp.
[tropical Asia]
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Both one-horned rhinos are endangered. Each has incredible medieval appearing 'body armor.' Indian Rhino R. unicornis is seeable at
Kaziranga NP, India (photo) or Chitwan NP, Nepal, but almost no where else. It is
almost impossible to see Javan Rhino R. sondaicus in the
forests of s.e. Asia, one of the rarest mammals on earth.
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Yes, 1 of 2
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15
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any wild Elephant
Loxodonta or Elephas
[Africa & India]
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There are 3 species of elephants:
the huge Savanna Elephant Loxodonta africana of e. & s.
Africa (left), the smaller Forest Elephant L. cyclotis of c.
& w. Africa, and the Indian Elephant Elephas maximus.
Each is incredibly impressive to observe in the wild [see my elephant page]. |
Yes; 3 of 3
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16
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Aye-aye
Daubentonia madagascariensis
[Madagascar]
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The Aye-Aye is the stuff of
legends on Madagascar, persecuted as 'bad luck' to anyone who sees it.
Actually it is a fascinating nocturnal lemur with a tremendously
elongated middle finger for extracting grubs hidden deep in crevices.
It is everywhere rare, local, and little known.
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No
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17
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Leopard
Panthera pardus
[Africa & tropical Asia]
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Leopards can be reasonable common
in parts of Africa or s. Asia, but seeing one is another thing. They
are elusive and often nocturnal. Despite months in their habitat, I have seen
only a handful. Beautiful and powerful, they have always been among my
favorite animals. Loners except during mating, they personify wild cats.
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Yes
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18
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Pygmy Hippopotamus
Choeropsis liberiensis
[west Africa]
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Very rare and local, most
remaining populations (estimated at >3000) survive in Liberia or
adjacent countries (Nigerian subspecies thought extinct). In behavior
it is more like a tapir than a hippo, spending much time inside the
forest but swimming often.
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No
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19
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Bonobo
Pan paniscus
[c. Africa]
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Also known as "pygmy chimpanzee,"
this is the forgotten great ape. It is restricted to rainforest south
of the Congo River in c. Democratic Rep. of Congo and, until recently,
almost entirely unknown. Now that some studies have occurred, we learn
that its social system is quite unlike the Chimpanzee that it generally
resembles.
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No
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20
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Saola
Pseudoryx nghetinhensis
[Vietnam/Laos]
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Not discovered until 1992, and
sometimes called "Vu Quang ox," this is a mysterious forest bovid
confined to the Annamite Mts. on the Vietnam/Laos border. Genetic
evidence shows it more closely related to nilghai than to cows. Only
about a dozen have been found so far. Like Okapi, this is a large and
wondrous forest animal.
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No
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