Can You Find These International Wildlife Species?

Visiting new places is one of the best ways to see wildlife you’ve never seen before – especially if you travel internationally. Yet due to habitat destruction and fragmentation, climate change, and other environmental factors, some species are harder to find than others. The National Wildlife Federation works to conserve many threatened wildlife species through programs such as symbolic adoptions.

Multiple migratory birds that can be found in the United States travel south for the winter. They often journey to their homes overseas in warm places such as rainforests in South and Central America. If we want to see migratory species like the ruby-throated hummingbird and blackpoll warbler return to the U.S. each year, then we need to conserve their wide range of breeding, migration and wintering habitats.

Winter is one of the most popular times for people to travel as well, whether we study abroad, visit family or friends, or take a vacation. As you finalize your travel plans, see what wildlife species might live near your destination. You may spot some vulnerable species like these:

Pandas

The giant panda, listed as endangered by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), is a well-known face abroad. This charming herbivore symbolizes wildlife conservation efforts around the world. Pandas once lived throughout south eastern China, but now their entire population of less than 2,000 animals live in the Minshan and Qinling mountains in central China.

Unlike other bear species that live in temperate climates, giant pandas do not hibernate. Pandas spend most of their days resting, searching for food, and eating. Their diet consists almost entirely of bamboo stalks which also help act as a water source since bamboo is about half water.

Symbolically adopt a giant panda today! 

Lions

Lions are considered one of the most majestic animals in the world. The African lion can be found in certain regions in central and southern Africa. The IUCN has declared them a vulnerable species since their population has decreased 42% in the last 21 years. There is also a small population of about 200 Asian lions in India.

Often called the “king of the jungle”, African lions actually live in open savannahs. These carnivorous predators feed primarily on zebra, antelope, and gazelle. They are the only social member of the cat family and live in groups called prides. Female lions are the main hunters while the male defends the pride’s territory.

Symbolically adopt a lion today!

Anteaters

Anteaters, found in central and south America, use their long tongues to eat up to 35,000 ants and termites a day. Since anteaters do not have teeth, they swallow their prey whole and rely on small spikes on their tongue that hold onto insects.

There are four different species of anteaters ranging in size. Silky anteaters are the smallest, about the size of a squirrel, while giant anteaters are the largest, sometimes growing to be seven feet long. Giant anteaters are considered a vulnerable species by the IUCN.

Symbolically adopt an anteater today!

Camels

Two types of camels can be found around the world: Arabian camels and Bactrian camels. Arabian camels, also known as dromedary camels, have only one hump, while Bactrian have two humps. Camels’ humps are used to store fat which sustain them if they need to travel long distances in search of water.

Dromedary camels, the more common of the two, can be found in North Africa and the Middle East, whereas Bactrian ones can only be found in three separated habitats in northwest China (Lake Lop, Taklamakan desert and the ranges of Arjin Shan). The IUCN has determined that Bactrian camels are critically endangered.

Symbolically adopt a camel today!

 

See other wildlife species available for symbolic adoption today! Your donation will be used where it is needed most to help protect imperiled wildlife.