10 Best Places to Observe Rare and Endangered Species in the World

Photo taken by 123rf.com. Endangered animals in the world

The opportunity to see some of the rarest animal species in their natural environment may be strong motivation to travel, and so this top-10 list contains some of the better known animals that are relatively easy to spot in their natural habitats, because, let’s face it, not everyone is able spend an entire month in a tent in the Himalayas purely to see the snow leopard.

1. The Panda, Sichuan Province, China

Photo taken by 123rf.com. Panda, Sichuan, China

China is the only country in the world where one can observe pandas living in the forest. If you want to see these iconic animals, go to Chengdu, located in the Province of Sichuan. Wake up early in the morning, when the pandas are active, and head to the nearby Panda Breeding and Research Centre. If you’re lucky, you’ll be able to see not just the regular, but also the smaller red pandas.

2. The Koala, Queensland, Australia

Photo taken by 123rf.com. Koala relaxing in a tree, Queensland, Australia

The koala is one of the world’s laziest animals. Sleep – their favourite activity – takes up around 22 hours of their day. This is why most travellers assume finding a group of koalas asleep in a tree is easy. The truth is, however, that since most of these animals had been evicted from their habitats or affected by human activity in some other way, the best place to see them is in the Lone Pine Koala Park in Brisbane, Australia.

3. The Sloth, Costa Rica

Photo taken by 123rf.com. Portrait of brown-throated three-toed sloth on a tree, Costa Rica, Central America

As these animals are true masters of camouflage, so spotting them in the foliage might be a difficult task. To get the best chance of seeing these unique creatures, go to the Costa Rica Sloth Sanctuary or the Manual Antonio National Park. If you are willing to stray from the beaten path, you can also visit the Corcovado National Park where you’ll be able to see not just sloths, but also sea turtles, crocodiles or even the elusive jaguar.

4. The Lemur, Madagascar

Photo taken by 123rf.com. Ring-tailed lemur in Madagascar

Lemurs are the symbol of Madagascar’s natural diversity and uniqueness. Around 100 different species of lemurs – from the smallest primates to large, furry-tailed critters – live in the forests of one of the world’s most spectacular islands. Since these animals are found only in Madagascar, each species you spot will be lodged in your memory for a long time. By the way, the Vakona Forest Lodge is a great place to visit if you want some undisturbed time with these fascinating animals.

5. The Orangutan, Borneo Island, Indonesia

Photo taken by 123rf.com. Orangutan in Sumatra

Orangutans share around 97 per cent of their genes with humans, and this is why these unique creatures have garnered so much attention from anthropologists. Recently, however, urban sprawl, deforestation and agricultural activities have brought this fragile species to the brink of extinction. The world-renowned orangutan researcher Birutė Galdikas – who was born to Lithuanian parents in Germany – has been protecting these apes on the Indonesian island of Borneo for many years. Go to Borneo and you might just get lucky enough to hear some incredible stories about the hard job of protecting these human “relatives” first hand.

6. The Tiger, Madhya Pradesh, India

Photo taken by 123rf.com. Tiger laying in the water in Ranthambhore National Park - India

The spread of civilization has also brought these mighty cats to the brink of extinction. Tigers have been hunted not just for their fur, but also due to them being dangerous to people and farm animals. Even though there are only about 2,000 tigers left in the wild, India – the second most populated country in the world – is doing its best to protect these rare and unique animals. Reservations, located in the region of Madhya Pradesh, are the best places to observe these predators.

7. The Gorilla, Rwanda and Uganda

Photo taken by 123rf.com. silverback gorilla in wild on Uganda

Gorillas are the world’s largest apes. Many travellers dream about looking straight into the dark eyes of a wild gorilla however, even though there are quite a few places in the Democratic Republic of Congo where gorillas can be found, incessant warfare and armed clashes make DRC a dangerous place for tourists. This is exploited by Uganda and Rwanda – two small African jungle states, where “gorilla-watching tourism” is especially well-developed. To go on such a tour, however, you might have to pay up to 700 dollars.

8. The Polar Bear, Hudson Bay, Canada

Photo taken by 123rf.com. Canadian Polar Bear walking in the colorful arctic tundra of the Hudson Bay near Churchill, Manitoba in summer

As the global climate warms, polar bears find themselves in dire straits. This is why their crowds that gather in the Hudson Bay during October-November attract the attention of many curious onlookers. Having come to Churchill, scores of tourists observe thousands of polar bears waiting on the coast for the first frost, which will allow them to begin hunting seals.

9. The Hyacinth macaw, Pantanal Wetlands, Brazil

Photo taken by 123rf.com. Two Hyacinth macaws Anodorhynchus hyacinthinus on a perch

It’s the world’s largest macaw that would cost 12,000 dollars to own – a sum only true bird lovers are willing to pay. And yet, observing these beauties in the wild is much more fun. Once in the jungle, though, many animals are heard, but not seen. This why the world’s largest tropical wetland area, the Panantanal Wetlands, located in Brazil, is a much better place to observe South American fauna. Apart from the hyacinth macaw, here you’ll also see capybaras, anacondas, piranhas, caimans and many other animal species.

10. The River dolphin, Pacaya Samiria Reservation, Peru

Photo taken by 123rf.com.

The river dolphin, also called the pink dolphin due to its colour, is another mystical South American animal that many travellers wish to see. Occasionally, they can be spotted in the river basins of the Amazon, but the best place is the Pacaya Samiria Reservation in Peru. This remote natural haven will not only help you get away from the thousands of tourists, but also see some pink dolphins and arapaimas – one of the largest freshwater fishes.