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Our closest relative by Francesco Veronesi.




THE TOP TEN WILDLIFE EXPERIENCES?

• 1 The most incredible diversity of mammals and birds on Earth
  in Kenya and Northern Tanzania,
  including the greatest range and highest numbers of large mammals, not least over a million migrating Blue Wildebeest crossing rivers, as well the largest flocks of flamingos in the world and numerous other easy-to-see birds, all in some of the most wonderful landscapes on the planet.


• 2 and 3 Mountain Gorillas and Chimpanzees
  both of which may be seen in Uganda and Rwanda,
  although it's hard to decide which is the best to spend an allotted hour with; the calm and relaxed Gorillas or the noisy and active, some might say menacing, Chimpanzees, but either are sure to be the ultimate singular wildlife experience.


• 4 Tigers in
  Northern India,
  the most beautiful of the big cats, as well as many great birds and possibly the now occasional spectacle of waterbirds and raptors at Bharatpur.


• 5 Humpback Whales off the
  Dominican Republic and the islands of Tonga.
  It is possible to see these huge whales in many places around the world, maybe even breaching clear of the water, but in these two places it is possible to swim with them!


• 6 Grizzly Bears
  fishing for salmon in Alaska and Western Canada,
  where there are also Black Bears and, in Canada, the greatest gathering of Killer Whales in the world.


• 7 Seeing Killer Whales is one thing, seeing them hunt sealion pups on the beaches of
  Southern Argentina is another.
  Here too are Southern Right Whales and Southern Elephant Seals, as well as a rookery of up to a million Magellanic Penguins.


• 8 Polar Bears
  on Spitsbergen,
  from boats and zodiacs, along with Walruses and seabirds in one of the world's most amazing settings.


• 9 Orang-utans
  on Borneo, in some of the richest rainforest on Earth, along with Proboscis Monkeys, Bornean Gibbons and many fabulous birds.


• 10 Monarch Butterflies, millions of them at their winter roosts
  in Central Mexico,
  as well as many other superb butterflies and birds.



WHAT DO YOU THINK?
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TOP 100 OTHER WILDLIFE
and where to see them

Lists such as this one are of course highly subjective but the plants and animals listed below are the ones we believe are the best in the world. They have been chosen very carefully and for a multitude of reasons, but mainly based on personal experience of some of them and on dreams of seeing the rest, dreams resulting from what we have heard, read or seen.

Those that didn't quite make it to the Top 100 include Beluga, Wolverine, and Sea and other otters. To find out more about the wildlife listed here and read about other amazing plants and animals see the great book Animal Records by Mark Carwardine, an updated reprint of which was published by the Natural History Museum, London, in 2010.

Email us which plants and animals you think should be on the list.

The list is in alphabetical order. In most species accounts there is some information about the plant or animal and the best destinations in the world to look for it, with those included in the Top 100 Wildlife Destinations linked.

Birds are dealt with separately under Top 100 Birds.

Introduction

Life exists everywhere on Earth. Microscopic organisms live underneath ice floes, in volcanoes, in pools of sulphuric acid, even on the surfaces of high-altitude clouds. Over 200 species of bacteria live in and on each one of us, about ten million of them per square centimetre of skin and even more inside. It is believed that a colony of shrimps survived in a black lagoon in a seasonless world of perpetual darkness over a thousand feet underground at Monkwearmouth colliery in England, from when the shaft was sunk in 1826 to when the shaft was sealed and they were rescued in 1994, by eating the bacteria which were eating the sulphur in the coal.

Even larger animals live in what we consider extreme places. Polar Bear footprints have been seen within 2 degrees of the North Pole, presumably in pursuit of Ringed Seals which have been recorded there. Two bird species, the Antarctic Petrel and the Snow Petrel, nest within 10 degrees of the South Pole, both further south than where Emperor Penguins raise their young. The Emperor endures temperatures which fall to minus 76 Fahrenheit (minus 60 Celsius) and hurricane-force winds on a regular basis while incubating their eggs during the Antarctic winter. Almost as hardy is the Snowy Owl, individuals of which sometimes spend the Arctic winter on Ellesmere Island, Canada, within 10 degrees of the North Pole. The Siberian Salamander can survive winter temperatures as low as minus 69 Fahrenheit (minus 56 Celsius).

In the cold mountain tops Snow Leopards are occasionally seen as high as 5500 m (18,040 ft), a Wolf has been recorded at 5791 m (19,000 ft), a Puma spotted at 5800 m (19,024 ft) in the Andes, Yaks probably forage as high as 6100 m (20,000 ft) and the highest-living mammal, the Large-eared Pika of Asia, lives as high as 6130 m (20,106 ft). In the Himalayas Jumping Spiders, which probably eat wind-blown waifs, live under stones frozen to the ground nearly 6700 m (21,980 ft) up the slopes of Everest, a Common Toad has been found at 8000 m (26,246 ft) and Alpine Choughs have been seen soaring just 600 metres below the summit of Everest at 8235 m (27,010 ft). Other birds, notably the Bar-headed Goose and Common Crane, fly over the Himalayas each spring and autumn, at heights of up to 10,000 m (33,000 ft), but even they do not reach the heights of the highest-flying bird, a Ruppell’s Griffon Vulture which collided with an aircraft 11,277 m (37,000 ft) above the Ivory Coast.

Below African skies some of the lakes in the Great Rift Valley are caustic enough to burn human flesh and yet support a broth of brine shrimps and blue-green algae which, in turn, feed flamingos with legs protected by scales. Even deserts are not devoid of life. African Skimmers which nest on the shores of Lake Rudolph in north Kenya are able to withstand ground air temperatures of over 100 degrees Fahrenheit (up to 40 Celsius). When temperatures reach 115 Fahrenheit (46 Celsius) at midday in the Sahara, Silver Ants are out and about searching for other insects which have died in the heat, and they do not suffer any ill effects until the temperature rises to 128 Fahrenheit (53 Celsius).

In the oceans life is just as tough. Way down, eyeless shrimps, giant clams, crabs, squat lobsters, giant tube worms, octopuses and fish, a whole community of animals, live in the dark and survive on bacteria which feed on sulphur in the super-hot water gushing from deep-sea vents at 662 Fahrenheit (350 Celsius). Unlike other animal communities on Earth this one is not dependent on the Sun for energy but on the energy generated by the planet’s molten core. Could such vents and communities have been where life on Earth began?

Life exists even deeper. One unidentified red shrimp has been recorded at a depth of 10,913 m (35,802 ft) in the Marianas Trench, while the deepest-living fishes, the Abyssobrotula genus of brotulids, survive down to at least 8370 m (27,450 ft), where one was captured in the Puerto Rico Trench. Even large animals enter the abyss. A Leatherback Turtle has been tracked to a depth of 1200 m (4000ft) and these animals are thought to reach 1500 m (5000 ft) where clouds of jellyfish, their main prey, occur. A Northern Elephant Seal has been recorded diving to a depth of 1603 m (5290 ft) and a Sperm Whale has been tracked down to 2000 m (6560 ft) to the seabed off Dominica. It was underwater for over an hour but Sperm Whales can spend much longer without air. One which was killed south of Durban surfaced after an hour and 52 minutes and in its stomach were two dogfish, which live on the seabed, which for a radius of 48-64 km (30-40 miles) lay at depths exceeding 3193 m (10,473 ft), the depth to which Sperm Whales probably pursue Giant Squid.

The List

Aardvark Orycteropus afer
This mammal’s unique anatomy means it has been placed in its own taxonomic order. It occurs in open country in much of Africa south of Sahara but is nocturnal and because night-drives are not allowed in most parks and reserves it is difficult to see except at places where such drives are allowed. Hence the best places to see Aardvark include Lake Elmenteita in Kenya, and Kimberley, Oudtshoorn and Witsand NR in Western South Africa.

African Wild Dog Lycaon pictus
This elusive predator has a patchy distribution in Africa south of the Sahara where the best places to see African Wild Dog include the Serengeti in Northern Tanzania, Ruaha NP and especially Selous GR (where there are believed to be about 800, about a fifth of a possible total population of about 4000) in Southern Tanzania, South Luangwa NP in Zambia, Moremi GR and Savuti in Chobe NP in Botswana, and Hluhluwe-Umfolozi GR, Mapungubwe NP, Kruger NP and Venetia Limpopo Reserve in Eastern South Africa.

(Giant) Anteater Myrmecophaga tridactyla
This amazing animal may reach up to 2 m (6.5 ft) long including the big, bushy tail which may be up to 90 cm (3 ft) long. It occurs in Central and South America south to Northern Argentina. The best places in the world to see Giant Anteater include Emas and Serra da Canastra NPs, and the Pantanal in Southern Brazil, although it is also possible in the Llanos of Western Venezuela and in Guyana.

Armadillos Dasypodidae
There are about 20 species of armadillo which occur from southern North America to southern South America. The best places in the world to see Giant Armadillo (Priodontes maximus), the largest at up to at least 1 m (3 ft) not including the tail of up to 50 cm (20 in), include Emas and Serra da Canastra NPs in Southern Brazil. The smallest armadillo, Pink Fairy Armadillo (Chlamyphorus truncatus), which grows to a maximum of 15 cm (6 in), occurs in central Argentina.

Aye-aye Daubentonia madagascariensis
This curious creature with elongated fingers for winkling out wood-boring insect larvae is very rare on Madagascar where the best places to look for the nocturnal Aye-aye include Ankarana SR, Ile mon Desir, Masoala (Peninsula) NP, Nosy Mangabe (introduced) and Parc Tsimbazaza, but even where they have been introduced the chances of seeing one are very slim, even during a prolonged stay.

Baboons Cercopithecidae
These mainly terrestrial monkeys occur throughout the open country of Africa south of Sahara. Most of the eight species are easy to see although the Mandrill (Mandrillus sphinx), arguably most attractive, is one of the most elusive. The best place to see Mandrill is Lope NP in Gabon, but it is a nomad which is very difficult to find even there.

Bat Roosts
One of the largest roosts of flying foxes (Black Flying Foxes (Pteropus alecto)) is that at Tooan Tooan Creek near Hervey Bay in Eastern Australia and one of the largest roosts of fruit bats involves up to five million Straw-coloured Fruit Bats (Eidolon helvum) which have been estimated roosting in Kasanka NP in Zambia. There are several sites in the world, usually caves, where such huge numbers of bats may be seen departing their roosts at dusk, including Gomantong Caves in Sabah and Deer Cave (with the world’s largest cave passage) in Gunung Mulu NP in Sarawak, both in Borneo, where the bats are mainly Wrinkle-lipped Bats (Tadarida plicata), but the largest bat roosts in the world are believed to be those on the Edward’s Plateau in Texas, notably the northern summer nursery of 10 million Mexican or Brazilian Free-tailed Bats (Tadarida brasiliensis), as well as potentially 10 million baby bats, in Bracken Cave near San Antonio. Access is restricted to this sensitive site so the best place in the world to see millions of bats leaving their roost at dusk is the private Frio Cave also near San Antonio, where there are up to ten million Mexican Free-tailed Bats. About 1.5 million also roost under Congress Bridge in Austin, Texas, and many too in Carlsbad Caverns NP in New Mexico. The bats are usually present from March to September, with the highest numbers in July-August.

Bears see Brown Bear and Polar Bear.

Beetles Coleoptera
There are more species of beetle than any other animal (about 350,000) and they account for about a quarter of all life-forms. The largest (bulkiest) beetle in the world is Megasoma actaeon, a Rhinoceros Beetle which occurs throughout South America. The longest beetles in the world are two species of Hercules Beetle; Dynastes hercules which may reach 19 cm (7.5 in) and Dynastes neptunus which may reach 18 cm (7 in), both of which occur in Central America, northern South America and on some Caribbean islands. More than half the length of both is taken up by the horns and the longest beetle in the world without long horns is the Titan Beetle (Titanus giganteus) of the Amazon which reaches 16.7 cm (6.25 in). Other big beetles include the five species of goliath beetle (Goliathus) of tropical Africa which can be seen at places such as Odzala NP in Congo and Ituri FR in DR Congo.

Billfish Istiophoridae and Xiphiidae
These large fish occur across the world, including in the Mediterranean and Black Seas. The Sailfishes (Istiophorus spp.) are considered to be the fastest fish over short distances, having been recorded taking out 91 m (300 ft) of line at 109 km/h (68 mph). The next fastest fish is arguably the Swordfish (Xiphias gladius) which is thought to be able to reach 96 km/h (60 mph) then the marlins (Makaira spp.) which have been timed at 80 km/h (50 mph). Billfish are difficult to see away from the end of a fishing line and the best place in the world to see Sailfish swimming free is off the coast of Eastern South Africa where they attend the annual Sardine Run which usually takes place between May and July, especially in late June-early July. Billfish do occasionally leap out of the sea too.

Bisons Bison spp.
These large animals can reach 2 m (6.5 ft) tall and 3 m (10 ft) long. The American Bison (Bison bison) was all but wiped out long ago but has since been reintroduced to many parts of North America. However, the best places to see genetically pure American Bison include Elk Island NP in Alberta, Canada, Yellowstone NP in Wyoming, Wind Cave NP in South Dakota and the Henry Mountains in Utah, in the USA. The European Bison or Wisent (Bison bonasus) was totally wiped out in the wild but has since been reintroduced to the wild in Bialowieza Forest which straddles the border between Poland and Belarus, and the western Caucasus.

Black-and-white Colobus Monkeys Colobus guereza
These very attractive monkeys occur in a variety of forms across central Africa, from the Congo east through Uganda, Ethiopia and Kenya to Northern Tanzania and Southern Tanzania.

Blue Whale Balaenoptera musculus
This is not only the largest animal in the world but also the largest thing that has ever lived. The average length is 26.2 m (86 ft) but it can exceed 30.5 m (100 ft) and the longest recorded was 33.6 m (110 ft 2 in). Such huge mature animals have hearts as big as small cars. They occur around virtually the whole planet and can be seen many places, but the most accessible and reliable places in the world to see Blue Whale include Monterey Bay in Northern California, Baja California and Sri Lanka.

Bonobo Pan paniscus
The ‘Pygmy Chimpanzee’ takes the place of Chimpanzee south of the River Congo in the DR of Congo, a remote part of the world where the best places to see Bonobo are Lomako Reserve, Salonga NP and Wamba.

Brown Bear Ursus arctos
This bear has a large range, encompassing parts of Europe, across north Asia to Kamchatka, and northern North America where the subspecies is known as the Grizzly Bear (Ursus arctos horribilis). The best places to see Grizzly Bears include several places in Alaska including Southeastern Alaska, and Western Canada, where watching them pluck salmon from rivers is one of the top wildlife experiences, and there is also a chance in Alberta and Yellowstone NP in Wyoming. In Europe and Asia the best places to see Brown Bear include Finland, Estonia, the Carpathian Mountains in Romania, and Kamchatka, although it is also seen quite regularly in Abruzzo NP in Italy and there is even a chance in the Cantabrian Mountains of northwestern Spain; in Somiedo NP for example.

Butterflies and Moths Lepidoptera
There are about 180,000 species of butterfly and moth in the world and many of them could claim to be beautiful. The largest butterfly in the world is the very rare Queen Alexandra’s Birdwing (Ornithoptera alexandrae) which casts large shadows over the Popondetta Plain in Papua New Guinea, well off the established circuit taken to see birds-of-paradise. It has an average front wingspan of 21 cm (8 in) but it can exceed 28 cm (11 in). The smallest butterflies in the world are the Dwarf Blue (Brephidium barberae) which has a wingspan of 1.4 cm (0.5 in) and occurs in South Africa, and the Pygmy Blues (Brephidium exilis and Brephidium isophthalma) which occur from the southern USA to South America. The largest moth in the world according to wingspan is the Giant Agrippa (Thysania agrippina), also known as the Owlet or White Witch, of Central and South America, which has been recorded with a wingspan of 30.8 cm (12.25 in). The Hercules Moth (Coscinocera hercules), which occurs in New Guinea as well as tropical north and east Australia, can have a wingspan of up to 28 cm (11 in). The largest moth in the world by surface area is the Atlas Moth (Attacus atlas) which occurs from India through Southeast Asia to Indonesia. It has a wingspan of up to 25 cm (10 in). The smallest moth in the world is Trifurcula ridiculosa which occurs in the Canary Islands and has a wingspan of 2 mm (one sixteenth of an inch) and a similar body length. The greatest diversity of butterflies probably occurs in Amazonia where it is estimated that about 2000 species occur in the small Rio Cristalino (Jungle Lodge) FR in Brazil for example. Also see Monarch Butterfly Winter Roosts.

(Bactrian) Camel Camelus bactrianus
This animal is nearly extinct in the wild. Only a thousand are thought to survive and the best place to see wild camels in the world is the Gobi Desert of China and Mongolia, particularly Lop Nur Wild Camel NR in Xinjiang Province, China.

Capybara Hydrochoerus hydrochaeris
The largest rodent in the world occurs from Panama south to Northern Argentina. The best places to see Capybara include the Llanos in Western Venezuela and the Pantanal in Southern Brazil.

Chameleons Chamaeleonidae
These strange and beautiful creatures have a wide distribution, including Iberia, Africa and south Asia but the best place in the world to see chameleons is Madagascar where over 80 species, over half of the world total, occur, including the Pygmy Stump-tailed Chameleon which is just 2 cm (0.8 in) long.

Cheetah Acinonyx jubatus
The fastest land mammal in the world over short distances (the fastest land mammal in the world over long distances is the Pronghorn (Antilocapra americana)). This beautiful cat can accelerate to 72 km/h (45 mph) in two seconds and run at up to about 96 km/h (60 mph) for 500 m (1640 ft). It occurs in Africa from Mauritania and Algeria across to East Africa and down to Eastern South Africa, with some in Iran and maybe elsewhere in the Middle East-Pakistan region. The best places in the world to see Cheetah include Samburu and the Masai Mara in Kenya, the Serengeti in Northern Tanzania, Southern Tanzania, Etosha NP in Namibia, Kruger NP in Eastern South Africa and Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park in Western South Africa.

Chimpanzee Pan troglodytes
Spending an hour in the company of our closest living relatives as they make their way noisily through the forest is one of the top wildlife experiences. They occur from Guinea through the Congo north of the river to Tanzania but they are shy and wary where they have not been habituated to humans and hence difficult to see in many areas. However, there are a few places where they have been habituated and the best places in the world to see Chimpanzees include Uganda, Rwanda, and Gombe Stream and Mahale Mountains NPs in western Tanzania.

Coatis Procyonidae
The four species of cute coatis occur from Arizona through Central America to Northern Argentina and may be seen in many places.

Coral Reefs
Coral Reefs are probably the oldest ecosystems in the world. Shallow water reefs which are confined to the tropics and subtropics support an astonishing variety of life, especially fish, over a thousand species of which may co-exist in some small areas of reef, and swimming through this psychedelic world is one of the top wildlife experiences. The best Coral Reefs in the world include those in Hawaii; the Caribbean, notably the 300 km (185 mile) long barrier reef (the longest unbroken reef in the world, second in size to the Great Barrier Reef only), which supports 500 fish species, off Southern Mexico, Belize and Honduras; the Red Sea; Kenya; Aldabra; the Maldives; the Philippines; Borneo, particularly the islands of Layang Layang off the northwest coast, and Sipadan, Mabul and Kapalai islands off the northeast coast; the seas between Sulawesi and West Papua in Indonesia where over 3000 fish species have been recorded, the greatest diversity of fish in the world, particularly Bunaken Marine Park, the Lembeh Strait, Wakatobi NMP and the Raja Ampat Archipelago off West Papua (where there are over 1300 fish species alone, part of the greatest concentration of marine life for an area of its size in the world); Komodo; Papua New Guinea; the Solomon Islands, particularly the island of Rennell; Fiji; Palau; Ningaloo Reef in Western Australia; and the Great Barrier Reef off Eastern Australia, the largest structure ever built by living things, at over 2000 km (1242 miles) long.

Crocodiles Crocodilia
These ancient reptiles are largely confined to the tropics. They include two species of gharial (Gavialidae), two species of alligator (Alligatorinae), six species of caiman (Caimaninae) and over ten species of crocodile (Crocodylidae). The largest crocodile in the world is the Saltwater Crocodile (Crocodylus porosus) which occurs from the west coast of India to Fiji, in salt and fresh water. One individual reached a length of 7 m (23 ft) and another, almost certain, record concerns one which measured 8.6 m (28 ft 4 in), but the average size of a mature male is up to 4.5 m (15 ft), similar to that of Gharial (Gavialis gangeticus) and Nile Crocodile (Crocodylus niloticus), both of which can grow to over 6 m (20 ft). The best places in the world to see Saltwater Crocodiles include Northern Australia where Kakadu NP near Darwin is one of the most reliable sites. The best places in the world to see Gharials, which occur on the Indian subcontinent east to Myanmar, include Nepal, Northern India and Northeastern India. Nile Crocodiles are more widespread, occuring in many places in Africa from the Sahara south to Botswana and on Madagascar.

Damselflies and Dragonflies Odonata
There are numerous beautiful damselflies and dragonflies in the world. The largest damselflies or dragonflies in the world are the Giant Helicopter Damselflies (Megaloprepus coerulatus) which occur in Central America and northern South America and have wingspans of up to 19 cm (7.5 in) and body lengths of up to 12 cm (5 in). The smallest damselfly or dragonfly in the world, Agriocnemis naia, occurs in Myanmar. It has been recorded with a wingspan of just 1.8 cm (0.7 in) and a similar body length. Some dragonflies undertake great migrations. Vast numbers migrate from India to eastern Africa via the Maldives in October-December, with the next generation returning in March-June, and countless numbers of Green Darners (Anax junius) migrate south along the east coast of America in September to the Gulf of Mexico, the fresh adults returning the following spring.

Dolphins and Porpoises Cetacea
These vibrant marine mammals may be encountered almost anywhere in the world, at sea and along the major rivers of Asia and South America but the very best places in the world to see dolphins and porpoises include Northern California, the Bahamas, Baja California, Southern Spain, the Azores, the Maldives, Monkey Mia (Shark Bay) in Western Australia, Kaikoura in New Zealand, on the Western Pacific Odyssey, and Hawaii.

Dugong and Manatees Dugong dugon and Trichechus spp.
The Dugong occurs from the Red Sea across the Indian Ocean to northern Australia. The best places in the world to see Dugong include Shark Bay in Western Australia, Mozambique and Dimakya Island in the Philippines, and there is an outside chance of seeing one in Mafia Island Marine Park off Northern Tanzania. Manatees occur from Florida in North America through Central America to Guyana and Amazonia in South America, and in West Africa. The best places in the world to see and even swim with West Indian Manatee (Trichechus manatus) include Florida and Belize although there is an outside chance of seeing one in Tortuguero National Park, Costa Rica, and an outside chance of seeing West African Manatee (Trichechus senegalensis) in Loango National Park, Gabon.

(Short-beaked) Echidna Tachyglossus aculeatus
This strange hedgehog-like mammal lays eggs and incubates its young in a pouch. The best places to see Short-beaked Echidna, which occurs in southeastern New Guinea and Australia, include Litchfield NP in Northern Australia, Cania Gorge NP in Eastern Australia, Bruny Island, Cradle Mountain NP and Narawntapu NP in Tasmania, Southeastern Australia, and Dryandra SF in Western Australia.

Elephants Elephantidae
The African (Bush) Elephant (Loxodonta africana) is the largest land animal in the world, standing, on average, up to 3.7 m (12 ft) at the shoulder, although an individual of the tallest race, the ‘Desert Elephant’ of Damaraland, Namibia, has been measured at 4.42 m (14 ft 6 in). Watching African (Bush) Elephants in the wild is fortunately still possible in many places throughout most of Africa south of Sahara, although African (Forest) Elephants are more elusive. The Asian Elephant (Elephas maximus) which occurs from India to South East Asia is rarer and patchily distributed but can still be seen in the wild in Northeastern India, Northern India, Southern India and Sri Lanka.

Elephant Seals Mirounga
These massive animals, the largest seals in the world, occur from Alaska to Baja California, and in the Southern Ocean on islands around Antarctica north to mainland Southern Argentina. The largest pinniped of all is the Southern Elephant Seal (Mirounga leonine) which may reach a length of 5.8 m (19 ft) and attain a girth of 3.7 m (12 ft). The best places in the world to see elephant seals include Ano Nuevo SNR in Northern California (Northern (Mirounga angustirostris)), Baja California (Northern), Punta Tombo and the Valdes Peninsula in Southern Argentina (Southern), South Georgia (Southern), and the Subantartic Islands of Australia and New Zealand (Southern).

(Golden-rumped) Elephant Shrew Rhynchocyon chrysopygus
There are over 15 species of elephant shrew (sengi), all of which occur in Africa. The largest is the Golden-rumped which can reach 31.5 cm (12.5 in) long not including the tail which may be up to 26.5 cm (10.5 in) long. The best place to see Golden-rumped Elephant Shrew, which occurs only by the southeast Kenya coast, is Arabuko-Sokoke NP.

Fireflies Lampyridae
There are over 2000 species of fireflies, winged beetles which can produce chemical light known as bioluminescence, a wonderful sight, particularly at dusk in many places in the temperate and tropical zones around the world. Some species occur in large numbers and synchronise flashing, at places such as Kuala Selangor on the Malay Peninsula and the Elkmont Campground/Trailhead near the Sugarlands Visitor Centre at the edge of Great Smoky Mountains National Park in Tennessee, USA, where activity usually peaks in the first half of June.

Flying Fish Exocoetidae
Gliding Fish is a more appropriate name but they are still very impressive, being able to remain airborne for about 10 seconds, rise to 3 m (10 ft) above the water and glide over 200 m (650 ft), and in favourable seas and winds, remain airborne for 30-40 seconds, rise to 10 m (33 ft) above the water and glide over 400 m (1300 ft). They occur in the tropics and subtropics and hence may be seen over a wide area of the globe but the best places in the world to see flying fish include Baja California, Belize, the Red Sea, the Maldives and Sri Lanka. Watch out for flying squid too. They have been recorded up to 6 m (20 ft) above the water, covering distances of 55 m (180 ft)! Some even 'fly' in flocks.

Flying Foxes and Fruit Bats Pteropodidae
Flying foxes and fruit bats are the biggest bats. Some are as big as 45 cm (1.5 ft) with wingspans of at least 1.7 m (5.5 ft). They occur in the tropics and subtropics of Africa, Asia and Australasia, and they can be seen in many places, sometimes in large numbers, as described under Bat Roosts.

Fosa Cryptoprocta ferox
This handsome, slinky arboreal predator occurs only on Madagascar where the best place to see a Fosa is Kirindy FR, although there is also a chance at Ampijoroa, Andasibe-Mantadia NP and Ankarana Reserve. It is most likely to be seen during October when females in oestrous climb their favourite trees, year after year, in order to attract males.

Frogs and Toads Anura
There are over 5000 species of these, mainly in the tropics. The most famous, certainly the most photographed, is the Red-eyed Tree Frog (Agalychnis callidryas), an elusive creature which is mainly nocturnal and best looked for at the start of the wet season in the lowland forests of Central America, from far south Mexico to far north Colombia, where the best places in the world to see Red-eyed Tree Frog include Cockscomb Basin WS in Belize, and La Selva and Tortuguero NP in Costa Rica.

Gemsbok Oryx gazella
This is arguably Africa’s and the world’s most striking and beautiful antelope. It occurs in southwestern Africa where the best places to see Gemsbok, or Southern Oryx as it is also known, include Botswana, much of Namibia, and northern Western South Africa (particularly Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park). The best places to see the equally beautiful Beisa Oryx (Oryx beisa), its northeast African counterpart, include Awash National Park in Ethiopia, and Samburu and Meru National Park in Kenya.

Gerenuk Litocranius walleri
This beautiful, long-necked antelope occurs in northeastern Africa, from Somalia south to Tanzania, and the best places to see Gerenuk include Samburu, Meru National Park and Tsavo East National Park in Kenya.

Giant Otter Pteronura brasiliensis
These really are giants, reaching lengths of up to 1.4 m (4 ft 7 in) not including the tail which may reach 1 m (40 in). The best places to see Giant Otter, which occurs from Venezuela to Northern Argentina, include Junglaven in Southern Venezuela, Explorers Inn (Tambopata) and Manu in Southern Peru, and the Pantanal and Rio Cristalino FR in Southern Brazil.

Giant Panda Ailuropoda melanoleuca
This extraordinary bear occurs only in Central China where it is rare and elusive and unlikely to be seen. However, the chances of seeing one in the wild are higher than they used to be, especially in Foping and Laoxiancheng NRs in the Qinling Mountains.

Gibbons Hylobatidae
There are over ten species of these supremely agile and graceful arboreal mammals. They occur from Northeastern India to Southern China and South East Asia to Sumatra, Borneo and Java. The best places in the world to see gibbons include Northeastern India (Hoolock Gibbon (Hylobates hoolock)), Khao Yai and Kaeng Krachan NPs in Southern Thailand (White-handed or Lar Gibbon (Hylobates lar)), Fraser’s Hill in the Malay Peninsula (Siamang (Symphalangus syndactylus)), Danum Valley, Gomantong and Sukau in Borneo (Mueller’s Bornean Gibbon (Hylobates muelleri)), Bukit Barisan Selatan NP in Sumatra (White-handed or Agile Gibbon (Hylobates agilis) and Siamang which is widespread on Sumatra), and Gunung Halimun NP in Java (Javan or Silvery Gibbon (Hylobates moloch)).

Giraffe Giraffa camelopardalis
The tallest, arguably most amazing, animal in the world. The average height is about 5 m (16.5 ft) thanks to their long necks as well as their long legs which enable them to run at 60 k/h (37 mph). Their slow-motion lope does not look fast but their long legs cover the ground quickly and watching a group glide across the African plain, or browsing an acacia grove, is one of the top wildlife experiences. They still occur, in many forms, in large areas of Africa south of the Sahara, especially in East and southern Africa.

Golden Snub-nosed Monkey Rhinopithecus roxellana
This rare and beautiful monkey is endemic to China where the best places to see Golden Snub-nosed Monkey are the Foping and Zhou Zhi NRs in the Qinling Mountains of Central China, where they are most likely to be seen in October and November.

Gorilla(s) Gorilla gorilla
Spending an hour in the company of the largest primates and arguably most magnificent animals in the world - ‘silverback’ males can reach a standing height of up to 1.95 m (6 ft 5 in) – is one of if not thee top wildlife experience. It is also one of the most expensive, with permits costing hundreds of US dollars by 2011, but worth every cent. The best places in the world to see Gorilla include Ivindo NP in Gabon (where they also occur in Loango and Lope NPs), Dzanga Sangha NP in the Central African Republic (as well as the contiguous Nouabale Ndoki NP in Congo, also accessible from Cameroon), Virunga NP in the DR of Congo, Bwindi NP in Uganda, and Parc des Volcans in Rwanda. The 'Western Lowland Gorilla' is the most widespread, occurring from southeastern Nigeria across to the west bank of the River Congo, whereas the 'Eastern Lowland Gorilla' occurs only in the lowlands of eastern DR of Congo and Bwindi NP in Uganda, and the 'Mountain Gorilla' on just a few volcanoes in the eastern DR of Congo, Rwanda and Uganda. In fact the Mountain Gorilla is now so rare that there is just one for every nine million humans and, despite a recent increase in numbers, there seems little hope that they will survive in the wild as long as the human population of the region increases and the tribal conflicts there continue.

Great White Shark Carcharodon carcharias
The ultimate shark occurs across the globe but the best place in the world to see a Great White Shark from the safety of a boat is off Western South Africa between mid-April and mid-September when they come to meat dragged behind the boats, and where it is even possible to watch them from inside underwater cages. Such cages, just below the surface, are also available to scuba-divers and snorkellers around the island of Guadalupe off Mexico, where Great White Sharks are also seen regularly, from August to October. One company who organises trips here is San Diego Shark Diving Expeditions. Although the Great White Shark probably grows the most consistently to the largest size of any shark in the world it is technically only the equal second largest shark, reaching 6 m (20 ft) like the Great Hammerhead Shark (Sphyrna mokarron), but not the 6.4 m (21 ft) reached by the Greenland Shark (Somniosus microcephalus).

Grizzly Bear see Brown Bear.

Hippopotamus Hippopotamus amphibius
This extraordinary animal is still widespread in Africa south of the Sahara, from the Senegal River down to Eastern South Africa, and numerous in some places. The other species of Hippopotamus, known as Pygmy Hippopotamus (Hexaprotodon liberiensis), is very rare and difficult to see in the wild. It occurs in Sierra Leone, Liberia, Ivory Coast and Nigeria.

Humpback Whale Megaptera novaeangliae
This is the most active large whale, at least as far as breaching is concerned, so spectacular in fact that watching them in action is one of the top wildlife experiences. They occur virtually around the whole world and can be seen in many places, but the best places in the world to see Humpback Whales include Southeastern Alaska (where they may even be seen ‘bubble-feeding’), Eastern Canada, Massachusetts, Monterey Bay in Northern California, Puerto Vallarta in Central Mexico, Antarctica and Hawaii. It is even possible to swim with Humpback Whales, on the Silver Bank off the Dominican Republic, off the Abrolhos Islands off Brazil, and off Vava’u in Tonga. The best place in the world to see Humpback Whales from shore is probably Newfoundland.

Hunting Dog see African Wild Dog.

(Spotted) Hyaena Crocuta crocuta
This large carnivore and fearsome predator is as much a part of the scene on the African Plains as the more celebrated elephants, giraffes, lions, cheetahs, zebras, wildebeest and baboons, and the scene would be much poorer without it. There are many places to see this animal which is widespread south of the Sahara except in the Congo but the best places to see Spotted Hyaena include the Masai Mara in Kenya, the Ngorongoro Crater and Serengeti in Northern Tanzania, Southern Tanzania, South Luangwa NP in Zambia, Botswana, and Kruger NP in Eastern South Africa. The other three species of hyaena are the Aardwolf (Proteles cristata) of East and Southern Africa, the Brown Hyaena (Hyaena brunnea) of Southern Africa, and the Striped Hyaena (Hyaena hyaena) of East and Northern Africa, and the Middle East to India.

Indri Indri indri
This loud, boldly marked lemur occurs on Madagascar where the best place to see (and hear!) Indri is Andasibe-Mantadia NP.

Jaguar Panthera onca
This big cat has a large range, from northwest Mexico to North Argentina but it is only seen with relative regularity in the Pantanal in Southern Brazil where the chance of seeing one is fairly good, mainly between June and October, but especially in July-August.

Japanese Macaque (‘Snow Monkey’) Macaca fuscata
This monkey, which is endemic to Japan, is famous for the habit of bathing in hot spring pools during the cold northern winters on the island of Honshu.

(Great) Jerboa Allactaga major
This extraordinary nocturnal rodent occurs on the Asian steppes of Russia, Kazakhstan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan, and the best places in the world to see Great Jerboa include Cherny Zemly in Russia.

(Red) Kangaroo Macropus rufus
There are about four species of kangaroo and they inhabit much of Australia. The most frequently seen is the Eastern Grey Kangaroo which can stand as high as 2 m (6 ft 6 in) but Red Kangaroos are much more impressive animals since they are much bulkier than and slightly taller, reaching 1.8 m (5 ft 11 in) in height when standing in their normal position and up to 2.1 m (6 ft 11 in) on their toes. At a top speed of 56 km/h (35 mph) they can leap about 3.1 m (10 ft) high and jump as far as 12.8 m (42 ft). The best places to see Red Kangaroo, which occurs in the central Australian deserts, are Deniliquin in Southeastern Australia and Outback Australia.

Killer Whale Orcinus orca
The fastest marine mammal in the world, which has been recorded travelling at up to 55.5 km/h (34 mph), is also the largest member of the dolphin family, usually reaching about 8 m (26 ft) although the longest recorded was 9.8 m (32 ft). It occurs all around the world but the best places to see Killer Whale include Kenai Fjords NP in Alaska, the Johnstone Strait (where it is possible to kayak in close proximity to the some of the greatest concentration of these animals in the world) and San Juan Islands off Vancouver Island in Western Canada and Washington state, USA , Punta Norte on the Valdes Peninsula in Southern Argentina (where they may be seen ‘intentionally stranding’ in pursuit of sealion pups, from platforms at the top of the beach), Antarctica and Kamchatka.

Koala Phascolarctos cinereus
This tree-dwelling marsupial occurs in Eastern Australia where the best places to see a Koala include Warrumbungle NP in New South Wales and Redlands in Queensland, and Southeastern Australia where the best places include the Otway Ranges near Melbourne in Victoria.

Komodo Dragon Varanus komodoensis
The largest lizard in the world by far is the Komodo Dragon which reaches a scary average of 2.25 m (7 ft 5 in) long, although the longest recorded was 3.1 m (10 ft 2 in)! It occurs on the Indonesian island of Komodo, where it is easy to see, as well as its smaller satellites and parts of Flores. The smallest lizard in the world is the Dwarf Gecko (Sphaerodactylus ariasae) which measures about 3 cm (1.2 in) and occurs in the Caribbean where the best place to see it is Jaragua NP in the Dominican Republic.

Lemurs see Aye-aye, Indri, Ring-tailed Lemur and Sifakas.

Leopard Panthera pardus
The beautiful and powerful Leopard occurs throughout Africa south of the Sahara, across the Middle East to Asia and from there to Java. The best places in the world to see Leopard are many but include the Masai Mara in Kenya, the Serengeti in Northern Tanzania, South Luangwa NP in Zambia, Kruger NP in Eastern South Africa and Yala NP in Sri Lanka.

Leopard Seal Hydrurga leptonyx
This fearsome seal may reach a length of 3.6 m (11 ft 10 in) and it can be a danger to humans, a fact based on a number of documented cases in which individual animals have been seen suddenly lunging through cracks in the ice to snap at people’s feet and even chasing people across the ice for up to 100 m (330 ft). Several divers have also been attacked. The best places to see Leopard Seal are where it occurs; around Antarctica and its outlying islands.

Lion Panthera leo
Watching a pride of Lions hunting on the African plains is one of the top wildlife experiences. The Lion occurs in open country south of the Sahara in Africa, as well as in a small area of Western India, and the best places in the world to see Lions include the Masai Mara in Kenya, the Ngorongoro Crater and Serengeti in Northern Tanzania, Hobatere and Etosha NP in Namibia, and Kruger NP in Eastern South Africa. In Western India the best place to see Lions is the Sasan Gir National Park where about 400 survive.

Manatees see Dugong and Manatees.

Mandrill see Baboons.

Manta Ray Manta birostris
Most of the huge but harmless Manta Rays, which live throughout the tropical oceans, usually have a ‘wingspan’ of two to four metres when fully grown but the largest known specimen was an awesome 7.6 metres (25 feet) across! They can be seen, often close-up, while scuba-diving or, in a few places, snorkelling, at many places but, arguably, the best places in the world to see Manta Rays include Islas Holbox and Soccora in Southern Mexico, Cocos Island (Costa Rica), Panama, Tofo in Mozambique, the Maldives, the Philippines, Ningaloo Reef (Exmouth) in Western Australia, Fiji, the island of Yap in Micronesia, the island of Rangiroa in French Polynesia and Hawaii.

Marlins see Billfish.

Meerkat Suricata suricata
Also known as Suricate, this famous mongoose occurs in southwest Africa where the best places to see Meerkat include Botswana, Namibia, Wakkerstroom in Eastern South Africa and Kimberley, Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park and Oudtshoorn in Western South Africa.

Monarch Butterfly Winter Roosts
One species of butterfly, the Monarch (Danaus plexippus), is a bit special, because it is beautiful, it migrates long distances between Canada and Mexico, and it spends the northern winter in small groups of trees in the mountains of Mexico in roosts containing millions of individuals (smaller roosts, usually containing a maximum of about 100,000 individuals, also exist in California - at Natural Bridges SB, Santa Cruz, Northern California for example). The sight of the butterflies, several deep, covering whole trees, is extraordinary, but nothing compared to the scene when they take to the air, hence visiting a Monarch Butterfly Winter Roost in Central Mexico is one of the top wildlife experiences. The butterflies, which may represent the third or fourth generation of butterflies which left the roost in the first place, fly to the roosts from as far away as Canada - a tagged individual which was released in Ontario, Canada on 6th September 1986 was recaptured a straight-line distance of 3432 km (2133 miles) to the south near Angangueo, Mexico on 15th January 1987. How they manage to find their way to such specific sites no one knows. Another much smaller but nevertheless impressive gathering involves hundreds of thousands of Jersey Tiger Moths (Euplagia quadripunctaria) which spend the hot northern summer days on the Greek island of Rhodes in the cool shade of the Pelekanos Canyon.

Monkeys see Black-and-white Colobus Monkey, Golden Snub-nosed Monkey, Japanese Macaque ('Snow Monkey') and Proboscis Monkey.

Moose Alces alces
Male Moose are big animals, reaching over 2 m (6.5 ft) at the shoulder with a 1.8 m (6 ft) span across their antlers. The Moose occurs from Alaska south along the Rockies to Utah and Colorado, and east through Canada to New England and upstate New York, and from Poland, the Baltic States and Scandinavia east through Russia. The best places in the world to see Moose include Denali, Glacier and Katmai National Parks, and Nome, in Alaska, Alberta, Algonquin Provincial Park in Ontario, Canada, Yellowstone and Grand Tetons National Parks in Wyoming, and Estonia. In Europe the Moose is known as the Elk. The animal called an Elk in North America is what is known as the Red Deer (Cervus elaphus) in Europe, although it is now considered to be a different species called Wapiti (Cervus canadensis) by some taxonomists.

Musk Ox Ovibos moschatus
This is one of the hardiest animals on the planet. It occurs in north-central Canada and northern Greenland, and has been introduced or reintroduced to several other Arctic regions including Alaska (around Nome for example) and Russia (on the Taymyr Peninsula and Wrangel Island). The best places in the world to see wild stock Musk Ox include Banks Island and Ellesmere Island National Park in north-central Canada, accessible on Arctic cruises.

Narwhal Monodon monoceros
This medium-sized whale usually grows to 4-5 m (13-16 ft) long and the males have tusks, formed by elongated teeth, which may grow to 2-3 m (7-10 ft) long. It occurs in the Arctic, mainly between Canada and Greenland but also in smaller numbers from east Greenland via Spitsbergen to the north of much of Russia. The best places in the world to see Narwhal include the waters off Baffin Island and other islands in the Canadian Arctic.

Okapi Okapia johnstoni
This extraordinary animal occurs only in dense rainforest in the DR of Congo where the best place to see Okapi is Ituri FR.

Orang-utan Pongo pygmaeus
The largest arboreal mammal, split into two species by some taxonomists, one on Borneo and one on Sumatra (Pongo abelii). The best places in the world to see Orang-utan include Danum Valley in Sabah, north Borneo, Tanjung Puting NP in Kalimantan, south Borneo, and Gunung Leuser NP in Sumatra.

Orca see Killer Whale.

Oryx see Gemsbok.

Pandas see Giant Panda and Red Panda.

Pangolins Manis
There are eight species of pangolin. They are all rare and elusive, scaly, ant-eating mammals and occur in Africa south of the Sahara, and from India to South East Asia and Indonesia. The largest pangolin in the world is the Giant Pangolin (Smutsia gigantea) which reaches a length of 1.7 m (5 ft 8 in) including the tail. It occurs from West Africa across the Congo to west Kenya and Tanzania. The best places in the world to look for pangolins include Loango NP in Gabon (Giant), Ituri FR in DR Congo (Tree (Phataginus tricuspis)), the Masai Mara in Kenya (Ground (Smutsia temminckii)), the Serengeti in Northern Tanzania (Ground), Kruger NP in Eastern South Africa (Ground), Bandhavgarh NP in Northern India (Indian (Manis crassicaudata)) and Danum Valley in Borneo (Sunda (Manis javanica)), although the chances of seeing one are slim in all of these places.

Plants Plantae
There are at least 350,000 plant species, from single-celled algae to the Giant Sequoia (Sequoiadendron giganteum), the largest (but not the tallest) tree species in the world. It can grow up to 85 m (280 ft), 30 m (100 ft) less than the tallest tree species in the world, the Coast Redwood (Sequoia sempervirens) which can reach 116 m (379 ft). The best place in the world to see the largest and tallest tree species, as well as the oldest tree species in North America (the Bristlecone Pine (Pinus longaeva), some of which are believed to be over 4700 years old), is Northern California, where the largest known tree is believed to be the one known as 'General Sherman' in Sequoia NP, and the tallest is thought to be the one known as 'Hyperion' in Redwood NP.

The best place in the world to see the largest flowering plant species in the world, Rafflesia arnoldii, is Borneo, although it also occurs in Sumatra. This parasitic plant flowers unpredictably and for a few days only but when it does it may reach a diameter of 1 m (39 in). The greatest diversity of flowers in the world, known as the Fynbos, is present in Western South Africa where there over 2600 flowering plants in 500 sq km (200 square miles). There are also over 2000 in the Drakensberg region of Eastern South Africa and another area of the world with an exceptionally rich flora is Western Australia. In terms of total plant diversity there currently seems to be some confusion over whether the rainforest of the Amazon, or the Malay Peninsula and Borneo, is the richest in the world.

Platypus Ornithorhynchus anatinus
This extraordinary mammal lays eggs and incubates its young in a nesting chamber. The best places to see Platypus include Eungella NP and the Atherton Tablelands in Queensland, Eastern Australia, Lake Elizabeth in the Otway Ranges near Melbourne, and a few sites in Tasmania including Mountain Valley and the Peter Murrell Reserve, in Southeastern Australia.

Polar Bear Ursus maritimus
The largest land carnivore in the world can reach a length of 2.5 m (over 8 ft). The best places in the world to see Polar Bear include the Arctic as seen from cruises or on Baffin Island; Churchill in Manitoba, Canada, where starving bears can be watched at close range from the safety of huge ‘tundra buggies’, and Spitsbergen where they can be watched at close range from the safety of zodiacs.

Porcupines Hystricidae and Erethizontidae
These spiny, mainly nocturnal, rodents occur throughout the world, in Italy, Africa, Asia including South East Asia, and the Americas. Two of the most impressive are the extremely similar Crested or African (Hystrix cristata) and Cape or South African (Hystrix africaeaustralis) Porcupines, with the former occurring mainly north and the latter mainly south of the equator. They are elusive creatures and may be encountered virtually anywhere in Africa apart from the Sahara and central Congo but the best places in the world to see these two porcupines include Ngulia Lodge in Tsavo West NP in Kenya (Crested), Okonjima in Namibia, Kruger NP in Eastern South Africa, and around Kimberley and in Witsand NR in Western South Africa (all Cape). In Asia there is a chance of seeing Malayan Porcupine (Hystrix brachyura) in Khao Yai NP, Southern Thailand.

Proboscis Monkey Nasalis larvatus
This odd-looking monkey with a big, floppy nose and a big belly is endemic to Borneo where the best places to see Proboscis Monkey include Sukau in Sabah and Bako NP in Sarawak.

Puma Puma concolor
This big cat has a large range, from western North America to southern South America but it is only seen with relative regularity in Torres del Paine NP in Chile where the chance of seeing one is fairly good, especially in March when the females usually have cubs to feed.

Red Panda Ailurus fulgens
This ‘panda’ is not related to the other panda. It may belong to a family of its own but is closely related to the mustelids such as skunks, stoats and otters. It is endemic to the Himalayan region of Nepal, India, Bhutan, Myanmar and China where it is elusive and rarely seen. The best places in the world for Red Panda include the temperate forests between Dobate and Hange Tham in far eastern Nepal where they are being tracked by scientists, as well as Wawu Shan and Wolong in Sichuan and Bingzhongluo NP in Yunnan, China; Eaglenest WS in Northeastern India; and along the Tashitang Trek in Bhutan.

Rhinoceroses Rhinocerotidae
The five Rhinoceros species occur in Africa (Black (Diceros bicornis) and White (Ceratotherium simum)), in Nepal and Northeastern India (Indian (Rhinoceros unicornis)), in Java (Javan (Rhinoceros sondaicus)), and in Borneo and Sumatra (Sumatran (Dicerorhinus sumatrensis)). The best places in the world to see rhinoceroses include Nairobi NP in Kenya (Black), Ngorongoro Crater in Northern Tanzania (Black), Etosha NP in Namibia (Black), several sites in Eastern South Africa (where Black and White occur, sometimes as reintroductions), Chitwan NP in Nepal (Indian) and Kaziranga NP in Northeastern India (Indian).

Ring-tailed Lemur Lemur catta
This attractive and confiding lemur occurs on Madagascar where the best place to see Ring-tailed Lemur is Berenty.

Sailfish see Billfish.

Seahorses and Sea Dragons Syngnathidae
There are many strange fish but these are arguably the strangest of all. Seahorses occur throughout the world but the two species of sea dragon, Leafy (Phycodurus eques) and Weedy (Phyllopteryx taeniolatus), occur only along the south coast of Australia roughly between Sydney and Perth. These two fantastic fish have long bony filaments with flaps of skin which resemble the seaweeds and other plants they frequent and the best places in the world to see Sea Dragons include Portsea Pier at the end of the Mornington Peninsula south of Melbourne (Weedy) and the dive site known as Studio One, Deep Glen Bay, Tasmania (Weedy) in Southeastern Australia; Kangaroo Island, South Australia (Leafy); and Bremer Bay, Western Australia (Leafy and Weedy).

Seals Otariidae and Phocidae
These animals occur where there is water throughout much of the world and in some places certain species occur in extraordinary numbers. For example, there are over one and a quarter million Northern Fur Seals (Callorhinus ursinus) present in the Pribilof Islands of Alaska, over half of which breed on the two main islands, St George and St Paul - one of the greatest concentrations of large mammals in the world. The best places in the world to see fur seals and sealions also include Northern California, Baja California, Galapagos, Southern Argentina, South Georgia, Western South Africa, the Commander Islands and the Subantarctic Islands. At places such as Baja California and Galapagos it may even be possible to swim with the California Sealions (Zalophus californianus) there. Also see Elephant Seals and Leopard Seal.

Serval Felis serval
This small, elegant, long-legged cat occurs throughout most of Africa except the Sahara, the Congo and the southwest. The best places to see Serval include the Masai Mara in Kenya, the Ngorongoro Crater in Northern Tanzania and Kruger NP in Eastern South Africa.

Sifakas Propithecus spp.
These beautiful lemurs occur throughout Madagascar where the best places to see sifakas are Ampijoroa (Coquerel’s Sifaka (Propithecus coquereli)), Andasibe-Mantadia NP (Diademed Sifaka (Propithecus diadema)), Ranomafana NP (Milne-Edward’s Sifaka (Propithecus edwardsi)), Marojejy NP (Silky Sifaka (Propithecus candidus)) and Berenty, Kirindy FR and Zombitse NP (Verreaux’s Sifaka (Propithecus verreauxi)).

Skunks Mephitidae
There are about twelve species of skunk, most of which can produce a spray with a sulphurous smell so foul it may cause nausea and retching, but usually do so only under extreme provocation. Two are stink-badgers (Mydaus spp.), occurring on Java and Palawan (in the Philippines). The rest are the more familiar bold black and white skunks of the Americas, including Striped Skunk (Mephitis mephitis) and the spotted skunks (Spilogale spp.) of North America, and the hog-nosed skunks (Conepatus spp.) which occur from the southwest USA to Patagonia. Stink-badgers are rarely seen but skunks may be seen in many places throughout their ranges.

Sloths Pilosa
There are fewer stranger creatures than the sloths, so specialised to life in the trees that they are unable to walk on the ground and have to drag themselves across it if they can find no other way to get from tree to tree. They occur from Honduras to Northern Argentina. There are six species, one of which, the Pygmy Three-toed Sloth (Bradypus pygmaeus), occurs only in the mangroves on the long-isolated Isla Escudo de Veraguas off the north coast of Panama, and another, the Maned Sloth (Bradypus torquatus), occurs only in Eastern Brazil. The best places in the world to see sloths, apart from Pygmy Three-toed and Maned, include Costa Rica (Brown-throated Three-toed (Bradypus variegatus) and Hoffmann’s Two-toed (Choloepus hoffmanni)), Panama (Brown-throated Three-toed), Colonia Tovar and Henri Pittier NP in Western Venezuela (Brown-throated Three-toed), the Amazon (Pale-throated Three-toed (Bradypus tridactylus)) and Southern Brazil (Brown-throated Three-toed).

Snakes Serpentes
There are about 2900 species of snake and they occur on every continent except Antarctica. The longest snake in the world is the Reticulated Python (Python reticulates) which regularly exceeds 6.25 m (20.5 ft) and has reached 10 m (32 ft 9.5 in). The best places in the world to see Reticulated Python, which occurs from Bangladesh to Indonesia and the Philippines, include Khao Yai NP in Southern Thailand, and Sukau in Borneo, although the chances are slim. The largest snake in the world is the Common or Green Anaconda (Eunectes murinus) of South America east of the Andes south to Brazil. It rarely exceeds 6.25 m (20.5 ft) but one individual was 8.4 m (27 ft 9 in) long and had a girth of 1.1 m (44 in). The best places in the world to see an anaconda include the Llanos in Western Venezuela and the Pantanal in Southern Brazil, although the latter site is home to the smaller Yellow Anaconda (Eunectes notaeus). The most venomous land snake in the world is the Fierce Snake or Inland Taipan (Oxyuranus microlepidotus) of Australia but the most venomous snake of all is the Beaked Sea Snake (Enhydrina schistosa) which occurs from the Arabian Sea to northern Australia.

Snow Leopard Uncia (Panthera) uncia
This is the hardest big cat to see. It has a large range but much of this includes the wildest land left in the world; the high mountains of central Asia. There, the best places in the world to see Snow Leopard include Hemis NP in Ladakh, Northwestern India, although there is also an outside chance in the Tien Shan Mountains of Kyrgyzstan and on the Tashitang Trek in Bhutan.

'Snow Monkey' see Japanese Macaque.

Spiders Araneae
There are about 40,000 species of spider and they occur throughout the world except Antarctica. The largest spider in the world is Heteropoda maxima, a huntsman spider which occurs in Laos and has a leg span of 30 cm (12 in). The bulkiest spider in the world is the Goliath Bird-eating Spider (Theraphosa blondi) of Venezuela, Guyana and Brazil, which can have a body as large as 9 cm (3.5 in) long and a leg span of 25 cm (10 in). The largest and strongest spider webs in the world, which have been measured up to 1.5 m (5 ft) in circumference, are built by golden orb-web spiders of the genus Nephila which occur throughout the warm regions of the world. The most venomous spider in the world is believed to be the Brazilian Wandering Spider (Phoneutria fera) of the Amazon.

Spring Hare Pedetes capensis
This extraordinary nocturnal ‘miniature kangaroo’ is actually a rabbit-sized rodent with massive hind legs which enable it to jump over 2 m (6 ft 7 in). It lives on the plains of eastern and southern Africa, from Kenya to South Africa, where the best places to see Spring Hare are those parks and reserves where night driving and spot-lighting are allowed.

Swordfish see Billfish.

Tamanduas Tamandua spp.
These two species of rare and elusive arboreal anteaters occur in Central and South America south to Brazil. The best places in the world to look for Northern Tamandua (Tamandua mexicana) include Carara Reserve, Palo Verde NP and Corcovado NP in Costa Rica. The best places in the world to look for Southern Tamandua (Tamandua tetradactyla) include the Llanos in Western Venezuela, the Amazon, Machalilla NP in Ecuador, Gran Chaco NP in Bolivia, and Copo NP in Northern Argentina.

Tapirs Tapirus
The four species of tapir occur from southeast Mexico to Northern Argentina and from southern Myanmar and Thailand through the Malay Peninsula to Sumatra. They are strangely absent from Africa. The best places in the world to see tapirs include Corcovado NP in Costa Rica (Baird’s (Tapirus bairdii)), the Llanos in Western Venezuela (Brazilian (Tapirus terrestris)), Manu NP in Southern Peru (Brazilian), Emas NP, the Pantanal and Rio Cristalino FR in Southern Brazil (Brazilian), and Taman Negara in the Malay Peninsula (Malayan (Tapirus indicus)).

Tarsiers Tarsius
These tiny primates have got eyes as big as their brains. The smallest primate in the world is the Pygmy Mouse-Lemur (Microcebus myoxinus) of Madagascar, which is just 6.2 cm (2.5 in) long not including a 13.6 cm (5.5 in) long tail, but tarsiers are not much bigger. The best places in the world to see tarsiers, of which there are nine species occuring in Indonesia and the Philippines, include Danum Valley in Borneo (Western Tarsier (Tarsius bancanus)), Tangkoko NP in Sulawesi (Spectral Tarsier (Tarsius tarsier). Dian's Tarsier (Tarsius dentatus) is also possible in Sulawesi) and Bohol Island in the Philippines (Philippine Tarsier (Tarsius syrichta)).

(Streaked) Tenrecs Hemicentetes spp.
These crazy-looking creatures are confined to Madagascar where the best places to see tenrecs include Andasibe-Mantadia NP and Ranomafana NP.

Thorny Devil Moloch horridus
This lizard is just 15 cm (6 in) long but it is one of the most impressive thanks to its ‘skin of thorns’. It lives in the deserts of Australia where the best places in the world to see a Thorny Devil include Uluru (Ayers Rock) NP in Northern Territory and Kalbarri NP in Western Australia.

Tiger Panthera tigris
Watching the largest, most impressive and arguably best-looking big cat is one of the top wildlife experiences. It occurs in east Siberia and from northwest India to South East Asia and Sumatra but is rare everywhere except parts of India where the best places in the world to see Tiger include Bandhavgarh and Kanha National Parks in Northern India. It is also possible but far from reliable in Northeastern India. The Bengal Tiger, the subspecies present in India, is a very big cat but it is not as big as the 'Siberian' Tiger, the largest subspecies, which may reach 3.3 m (11 ft) long.

(Sea) Turtles Chelonioidea
There are seven species of sea turtle and these great wanderers occur in all the world’s oceans except those at the poles. The largest turtle in the world is the Leatherback Turtle (Dermochelys coriacea) which regularly reaches 2.1 m (7 ft) although the largest ever recorded was 2.91 m (9 ft 5.5 in). Turtles can be seen underwater, especially at 'cleaning stations' where they are 'cleaned' by fish, or nesting and/or hatching on beaches, in many places in the warmer parts of the world, from Central America (especially Costa Rica) to South East Asia, Borneo, the Great Barrier Reef and Hawaii. Different species nest at different times so trips to see them need to be timed carefully.

Walrus Odobenus rosmarus
This massive animal occurs only in the high Arctic where the best places in the world to see Walrus include Baffin Island and Ellesmere Island in the Canadian Arctic, Round Island in Alaska, Spitsbergen, and Wrangel Island, Russia.

Warthog Phacochoerus africanus
The African plains experience would be incomplete without the Warthog. It is widespread in open and lightly wooded country in Africa south of the Sahara.

Whale Shark Rhincodon typus
The largest species of fish in the world can reach a length of over 12 m (40 ft) – the largest ever recorded was 12.7 m (41.5 ft) long and had a maximum girth of 7 m (23 ft). It occurs all round the world in tropical and warm temperate waters mainly, but it is a great wanderer and there are rarely many in one place longer than a few months at a time so it is crucial to visit the best sites at the best time of year. The best places in the world to see or even swim with Whale Sharks include Islas Holbox and Mujeres in Southern Mexico, Gladden Spit in Belize, the Bay Islands in Honduras, Djibouti, Tofo in Mozambique, the Seychelles, near Donsol on the island of Luzon in the Philippines, and Ningaloo Reef (Exmouth) in Western Australia. The largest fresh (and brackish) water fish in the world is the Mekong Giant Catfish (Pangasianodon gigas), the longest recorded individual of which was 2.7 m (9 ft) long and weighed 293 kg (646 lb). It occurs in the Mekong River and its tributaries in China, Thailand, Laos and Cambodia. A European (Wels) Catfish (Silurus glanis) caught in Russia in the 19th century measured 4.6 m (15 ft) and weighed 336 kg (720 lb) but this species rarely exceeds 1.8 m (6 ft) and 90 kg (200 lb) these days.

Wild Asses Equus
These attractive horses occur from northeast Africa through the Middle East to Western India and Tibet. The best places in the world to see wild asses include Western India (Asiatic (Equus hemionus)), Chang Tang NR on the Tibetan Plateau (Tibetan or Kiang (Equus kiang), and Arjinshan NR in Xinjiang, China (Asiatic).

(Blue) Wildebeest Migration
Depending on the rains there are usually one to two million large mammals, mostly Blue Wildebeest or Brindled Gnu (Connochaetes taurinus), as well as Thomson’s Gazelles (Gazella rufifrons) and Burchell’s Zebras (Equus quagga), in the southeast Serengeti, in Northern Tanzania, between January and April, the largest gathering of ungulates (hoofed mammals) in the world. They usually calve in February-March, attracting numerous predators. Then they move through the central Serengeti in May-June when herds of Blue Wildebeest up to 40 km (25 miles) long have been seen from the air. They are heading west, toward Lake Victoria, and north, to the Masai Mara in Kenya, and the best places to watch the Blue Wildebeest Migration include the Grumeti River in the Serengeti which they usually cross in June (sometimes July), and the Mara and Talek Rivers in the Masai Mara which they also usually cross in June and July (though sometimes as late as August when they may move back and forth across the Mara several times). They usually remain in the Masai Mara until October-November then begin their long march back to the Serengeti.

Wolf Canis lupus
The Wolf has a large range but there are few easily accessible places where it is seen regularly. It occurs in Spain, Italy, Eastern Europe, Turkey, the Middle East, across Russia south to the Himalayas and India, and across northern North America. The best places in the world to see Wolf include Denali and Glacier NPs in Alaska, Yellowstone NP in Wyoming (reintroduced), and the Sierra de la Culebra in Northern Spain, although it is also seen quite regularly in Abruzzo and Majella Nationl Parks in Italy.

Zebras Equus
These extraordinary horses occur from East Africa to South Africa. There are at least three species: Burchell’s, also known as Common or Plains (Equus quagga), which occurs from East Africa to northeast South Africa; Grevy’s (Equus grevyi), which occurs in northeast Africa including northern Kenya and Ethiopia; and (Cape) Mountain (Equus zebra), which occurs in southwest Africa including Namibia and Western South Africa.

As far as the species which are not widespread or relatively easy to see throughout their range are concerned the top destinations where the highest number of Our Top 100 Wildlife occurs on a regular basis are Madagascar (6), the Arctic and China (4), Southern Brazil, Borneo and Southeastern Australia (all 3), and Kenya, Uganda, Rwanda, DR Congo, Spitsbergen, Philippines, Eastern Australia and Western Australia (all 2), with single species for many more.

WILD TRAVEL
A new 160-page magazine about the most amazing birds and other wildlife in the world, and the best places to see them, is available now, published by Archant Specialist in the UK (Tel: 01242 211 080).

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