05/16/2026
Wanted to do something a little different and share some of the endangered animals I’ve recently had the privilege to see for .
Let’s talkin’ about the takin. The takin is a large hoofed mammal from the Himalayas listed as vulnerable/endangered. The best way I could describe this animal is that it looks like a combination of a musk ox, Bear, sheep and possibly even a capybara. 🐂
Dholes (pronounced like dole the fruit cup) is listed as endangered and highly social tending to live in groups ranging in size from a couple individuals to up to 40. They range in size with females weighing in anywhere between 25-35 lbs and the males around 35-45 lbs give or take. Dholes also look and act like if you were to take a red fox and give it some wolf characteristics/traits. 🦊
Grevys zebras is also listed as endangered. Fun fact, grevys zebras are actually brown & white not black & white! 🦓
Southern White Rhinos are listed as near threatened/vulnerable. Unlike their counterparts the northern white rhinos which are essential extinct with only 2 females remaining, the southern white rhinos were able to have their population go from approximately 50 or less in late 1800s to approximately 20000 around 2018. Poaching still is threatening their numbers. 🦏
Cheetahs, the fastest land mammal, is listed as vulnerable/threatened. Fun fact, cheetahs cannot roar like you think of other big cats but they can purr! They can actually purr continuously while both inhaling and exhaling. 🐆
Mexican Wolf is almost extinct in the wild because of hunting & habitat loss. They are currently listed as endangered & as of earlier this year there is only approximately 365 wolves remaining. 🐺
And last but not least, we have tigers who in general are listed as endangered with approximately 5,500 remaining. Unfortunately it’s estimated that there are more tigers living in the backyards of the U.S. than there are tigers that are left in the wild. 🐅
