Just 84 Amur leopards remain in the wild, making it one of the world's rarest and most endangered big cats. It's also one of the most attractive, with a distinctively patterned coat with black splodges and flecks that sets it apart from other leopards. If you're very lucky, you may be able to find this critically endangered cat in Russia's Primorsky Krai or north-east China's Jilin Province. 1)
The Sumatran rhino, like the Javan rhino, is one of the world's most endangered rhino species. It is also the tiniest. Less than 80 are left in small populations in Sumatra, Borneo, and the Malay Peninsula.2)
The Hainan gibbon is endangered due to poaching and habitat destruction, with just 30 individuals remaining, making it the world's rarest ape. The Bawangling National Nature Reserve on China's Hainan Island is the only location where you can see one. This is home to the last surviving population, which is restricted to a single spot within the forest. 3)
Despite the fact that the mountain gorilla population has grown in recent years, due to WWF conservation efforts, seeing a gorilla in the wild is still a very rare occurrence. This is mainly due to the gorillas' position and the cost of getting to them. Only the most daring travelers choose the Democratic Republic of Congo. Having these primates in the wild is an exciting experience since they are the biggest of the great apes and share over 98 percent of their genetic code with humans. 4)
The black-eyed leaf frog's bulging inky pupils and lime-green skin are truly incredible… That is if you are fortunate enough to catch a glimpse of it. Although the species is critically endangered, it can be found in Belize, Brazil, El Salvador, Mexico, Honduras, and Guatemala's wetlands. Make sure you look closely because this small amphibian is less than 65mm long. 5)
The California porpoise is one of the rarest animal species in the world - critically endangered (largely due to Chinese demand for swim bladders) - and also the smallest of the cetaceans. 6)
The Kakapo is an endemic species of parrot found only in New Zealand. It is the world's only flightless parrot and can live for over 90 years. Kakapo has extremely soft green feathers and is very friendly. Maori and early European settlers were known to keep kakapo as pets. 7)
The red wolf is the rarest and most endangered member of the canine family in the world. It reaches 1.2 m in length and weighs 20-36 kg. These animals have a light, reddish coat that is a mixture of coyote and gray wolf fur. It was these canine species that interbred in the past, giving rise to the red wolf line. 8)
The Malabar civet is one of the rarest animals of the Western Ghats. Hunting and habitat loss have brought this small, dog-like predator to the brink of extinction. 9)
The Philippine Eagle is a species of a large bird of prey in the hawk subfamily that inhabits the Philippines. It is one of the rarest, most endangered, and most powerful birds in the world.10)
Flexible nasal structures allow saigas to filter the air, clearing it of sand and dust. This feature is dictated by the nature of the environment that saigas inhabit - the steppe and semi-arid areas of Mongolia, Kazakhstan, and Kalmykia. 11)
When you look at an axolotl, you can get quite a shock. A fish equipped with legs? How is that possible? Well, although the appearance of this surprising creature clearly suggests it, the axolotl (Mexican Ambystoma) is not a fish. It is an aquatic form of tailed amphibians of the genus Ambystoma, or simply put - an aquatic lizard. Characteristic features: eyes without eyelids and the ability to completely regenerate lost limbs. It is found in Mexican lakes. 12)
The long-fingered lemur (known as aye-aye) is one of the rarest primate species. In 1933, this unusual animal was declared extinct. Its presence was not rediscovered until 28 years later. Aye-aye resembles a rodent more than a primate, mainly because of its ever-growing incisors. Its most distinctive feature is its yellow-orange eyes, which appear extremely penetrating. They are found in the northwestern and eastern coastal areas of Madagascar. 13)
Almost the entire body of the thorny devil is covered with large and fully functional (i.e. sharp) spikes. The largest can be seen just above the eyes. In combination with the red-brown coloration of the body, they create a perfect camouflage, effectively blending the devil into the landscape of its natural habitat - the desert areas of Australia. 14)
The next unusual animal on our list looks like a creature not of this world. The spectral tarsier, a mammal in the family of the tarsier, is characterized by a disproportionately large head, large, bulging eyes, and long hind limbs. The animal's unusual paws are unusually strong and allow the phantom to make long leaps of up to 6 meters. The animal is found on the Indonesian island of Celebes. 15)
The frilled lizard is a member of the agama family, characterized by an impressive collar around its head, which it unfolds when threatened. The skin of this distinctive lizard is covered with brown, orange, or black scales. It is found on the northern coast of Australia and in southern Papua New Guinea. 16)