# WARN Wildlife Guides

257 sourced species and companion-animal guides — facts, IUCN status, and conservation context. Every numeric claim is attributable to IUCN Red List, CITES, WWF, BirdLife, Smithsonian or peer-reviewed sources (see each guide's Sources section). Per-guide Markdown: https://worldanimalrescuenetwork.org/llm/wildlife-guides/<slug>.md

- [Orangutan](https://worldanimalrescuenetwork.org/wildlife-guides/orangutan) — Critically Endangered: Orangutans are Critically Endangered great apes found only in Borneo and Sumatra; all three species — Bornean, Sumatran, and Tapanuli — face extinction driven mainly by habitat loss from palm oil and logging, plus the illegal pet trade.
- [Macaw](https://worldanimalrescuenetwork.org/wildlife-guides/macaw) — Varies by species: Least Concern to Extinct in the Wild (several Critically Endangered): Macaws are large, long-tailed tropical parrots native to Central and South America; status varies by species, with several — including the blue-throated and Spix's macaws — Critically Endangered or Extinct in the Wild due to the illegal pet trade and deforestation.
- [Pangolin](https://worldanimalrescuenetwork.org/wildlife-guides/pangolin) — Threatened (Vulnerable–Critically Endangered): Pangolins are the world's most heavily trafficked wild mammals; all eight species are threatened by illegal trade in their keratin scales, used in traditional medicine across Asia, with the Chinese and Sunda pangolins now Critically Endangered.
- [Slow Loris](https://worldanimalrescuenetwork.org/wildlife-guides/slow-loris) — Threatened (Vulnerable–Critically Endangered): Slow lorises are small nocturnal primates from South and Southeast Asia; every species is threatened with extinction — ranging from Vulnerable to Critically Endangered — largely because of the illegal pet trade, which is fuelled in part by viral social media videos.
- [Sun Bear](https://worldanimalrescuenetwork.org/wildlife-guides/sun-bear) — Vulnerable: Sun bears are the world's smallest bears, native to Southeast Asia, and are listed as Vulnerable by the IUCN; they are threatened by deforestation, the pet trade, and the bear bile industry, in which bears are caged for years and milked for bile used in traditional medicine.
- [Spectacled Bear](https://worldanimalrescuenetwork.org/wildlife-guides/spectacled-bear) — Vulnerable: The spectacled bear is South America's only bear species and the last surviving short-faced bear; the IUCN lists it as Vulnerable, threatened by deforestation, conflict with farmers, and the illegal wildlife trade.
- [Elephant](https://worldanimalrescuenetwork.org/wildlife-guides/elephant) — Endangered: Asian elephants are Endangered; their main threats are habitat loss and human-elephant conflict, while African elephants also face poaching for the illegal ivory trade.
- [Street Dog](https://worldanimalrescuenetwork.org/wildlife-guides/street-dog) — Domesticated — Not Evaluated (IUCN): An estimated 200 million street dogs live worldwide; they are the same species as pet dogs (Canis lupus familiaris), and WHO-endorsed Catch-Neuter-Vaccinate-Return programmes are the proven humane way to reduce their numbers and control rabies, whereas culling does not work.
- [Tiger](https://worldanimalrescuenetwork.org/wildlife-guides/tiger) — Species Endangered (IUCN 2022); Sumatran and Malayan tigers both Critically Endangered: A tiger (Panthera tigris) is the largest living cat species, a striped, solitary carnivore native to Asia; the Sumatran tiger of Indonesia and the Malayan tiger of Malaysia are two of the most endangered surviving populations, both listed as Critically Endangered.
- [Markhor](https://worldanimalrescuenetwork.org/wildlife-guides/markhor) — Near Threatened (IUCN, 2015) — a conservation comeback: A markhor (Capra falconeri) is a large wild goat native to the mountains of Central and South Asia, famous for the males' long, twisting corkscrew horns; it is Pakistan's national animal and is currently listed by the IUCN as Near Threatened.
- [Snow Leopard](https://worldanimalrescuenetwork.org/wildlife-guides/snow-leopard) — Vulnerable (downlisted from Endangered in 2017) — but fewer than 3,400 mature adults remain: A snow leopard (Panthera uncia) is a large wild cat native to the high mountains of Central and South Asia, recognised by its pale grey rosette-patterned coat and very long tail, and listed as Vulnerable on the IUCN Red List.
- [Jaguar](https://worldanimalrescuenetwork.org/wildlife-guides/jaguar) — Near Threatened globally — but Endangered or Critically Endangered across most regional populations outside Amazonia: A jaguar (Panthera onca) is a large spotted big cat native to the Americas — the largest cat on the continent and the third-largest in the world — known for the strongest bite of any big cat and a habit of killing prey by piercing the skull.
- [Komodo Dragon](https://worldanimalrescuenetwork.org/wildlife-guides/komodo-dragon) — Endangered (IUCN, 2021) — fewer than ~1,400 mature individuals: A Komodo dragon (Varanus komodoensis) is the world's largest living lizard, a venomous monitor species native to a few islands in eastern Indonesia that can grow to about 3 metres long and 70-90 kilograms.
- [Borneo Pygmy Elephant](https://worldanimalrescuenetwork.org/wildlife-guides/borneo-pygmy-elephant) — Endangered (subspecies, 2024) — ~1,000 left: A Borneo pygmy elephant is the smallest subspecies of Asian elephant (Elephas maximus borneensis), native to the island of Borneo in Sabah, Malaysia and Kalimantan, Indonesia; the IUCN listed it as Endangered in 2024 with about 1,000 left in the wild.
- [Pink River Dolphin](https://worldanimalrescuenetwork.org/wildlife-guides/pink-river-dolphin) — Endangered (IUCN, 2018) — assessed as one species with three subspecies: A pink river dolphin (Inia geoffrensis), also called the boto or Amazon river dolphin, is a freshwater toothed whale native to the Amazon and Orinoco river systems of South America. It is the largest river dolphin, named for the pink colouring adults often develop, and is classed as Endangered by the IUCN.
- [Hyacinth Macaw](https://worldanimalrescuenetwork.org/wildlife-guides/hyacinth-macaw) — Vulnerable (IUCN) — locally reassessed as Endangered in Brazil after the 2020 Pantanal fires: A Hyacinth Macaw is the world's largest flying parrot — a roughly one-metre-long, cobalt-blue bird from central South America, especially Brazil's Pantanal, that uses its powerful beak to crack hard palm nuts; it is listed as Vulnerable by the IUCN.
- [Sloth](https://worldanimalrescuenetwork.org/wildlife-guides/sloth) — Mixed across species: most Least Concern; maned sloth Endangered; pygmy three-toed sloth Critically Endangered: A sloth is a slow-moving, leaf-eating mammal that lives hanging upside down in the trees of Central and South American rainforests. There are six living species in two groups, the three-toed sloths (Bradypus) and two-toed sloths (Choloepus), and they are the slowest mammals on Earth.
- [Capybara](https://worldanimalrescuenetwork.org/wildlife-guides/capybara) — Least Concern (IUCN, 2016) — but locally hunted and traded: A capybara is the world's largest rodent, a semi-aquatic, plant-eating mammal native to South America that can weigh up to about 65 kilograms (140 pounds) and lives in social groups near rivers, lakes and wetlands.
- [Proboscis Monkey](https://worldanimalrescuenetwork.org/wildlife-guides/proboscis-monkey) — Endangered (IUCN, 2020) - CITES Appendix I: A proboscis monkey is a large, reddish-brown Old World monkey found only on the island of Borneo (in Indonesia, Malaysia and Brunei), famous for the male's oversized hanging nose and for living in coastal mangrove and riverside forests; the IUCN classes it as Endangered.
- [Sumatran Rhino](https://worldanimalrescuenetwork.org/wildlife-guides/sumatran-rhino) — Critically Endangered — fewer than ~50 left: A Sumatran rhino is the smallest, hairiest living rhinoceros — a two-horned, rainforest-dwelling species of Indonesia and the only surviving member of the genus Dicerorhinus, now Critically Endangered with fewer than roughly 50 individuals left.
- [Indus River Dolphin](https://worldanimalrescuenetwork.org/wildlife-guides/indus-river-dolphin) — Endangered (IUCN, 2021) — fewer than ~2,000 mature individuals: The Indus River dolphin (Platanista minor), or bhulan, is a small, nearly blind freshwater dolphin found only in the Indus River system of Pakistan; it is the national mammal of Pakistan and is classified as Endangered, with fewer than about 2,000 mature individuals remaining.
- [Working Donkey](https://worldanimalrescuenetwork.org/wildlife-guides/working-donkey) — Domesticated — Not Evaluated (wild ancestor Critically Endangered): A working donkey is a domesticated donkey (Equus africanus asinus) used to carry loads, pull carts, or turn mills; it descends from the Critically Endangered African wild ass, and while the species itself is not threatened, individual working donkeys in regions such as Pakistan commonly suffer from overloading, ill-fitting harnesses, and limited veterinary access.
- [Harpy Eagle](https://worldanimalrescuenetwork.org/wildlife-guides/harpy-eagle) — Vulnerable (IUCN, 2021) — declining: A Harpy Eagle (Harpia harpyja) is the largest and most powerful bird of prey in the Americas, a rainforest eagle that hunts tree-dwelling mammals such as sloths and monkeys from the canopy of Central and South America; the IUCN classifies it as Vulnerable.
- [Giant Otter](https://worldanimalrescuenetwork.org/wildlife-guides/giant-otter) — Endangered (IUCN, 2021) — locally extinct or Critically Endangered across much of its former range: A giant otter (Pteronura brasiliensis) is the world's longest otter, a fish-eating, highly social mammal of South American rivers that grows up to 1.8 metres long and lives in family groups; it is classified as Endangered by the IUCN.
- [Malayan Tapir](https://worldanimalrescuenetwork.org/wildlife-guides/malayan-tapir) — Endangered (IUCN) — fewer than 2,500 mature adults and declining: A Malayan tapir is a large, plant-eating mammal native to the rainforests of Sumatra and Peninsular Malaysia. It is the biggest of the five tapir species and the only tapir found in Asia, recognisable by its black-and-white "saddle" coat and short, flexible snout.
- [Rhinoceros Hornbill](https://worldanimalrescuenetwork.org/wildlife-guides/rhinoceros-hornbill) — Vulnerable (IUCN 2018) — uplisted from Near Threatened: A Rhinoceros Hornbill is a large black-and-white rainforest bird (Buceros rhinoceros) native to Southeast Asia, named for the big curved orange casque above its bill; the IUCN classes it as Vulnerable.
- [Clouded Leopard](https://worldanimalrescuenetwork.org/wildlife-guides/clouded-leopard) — Vulnerable (both species) — island subspecies assessed Endangered: A clouded leopard is a medium-sized arboreal wild cat native to the forests of Asia, recognised by its cloud-shaped coat patches and famous for having the longest canine teeth relative to body size of any living cat; two species exist, the mainland (Neofelis nebulosa) and Sunda (Neofelis diardi) clouded leopards, both listed as Vulnerable.
- [Humpback Whale](https://worldanimalrescuenetwork.org/wildlife-guides/humpback-whale) — Least Concern globally (recovering) — but several subpopulations remain Endangered: A humpback whale (Megaptera novaeangliae) is a large filter-feeding baleen whale found in oceans worldwide, known for its long pectoral fins, acrobatic breaching, and the complex songs sung by males during the breeding season.
- [Golden Lion Tamarin](https://worldanimalrescuenetwork.org/wildlife-guides/golden-lion-tamarin) — Endangered (conservation comeback): A golden lion tamarin (Leontopithecus rosalia) is a small, endangered New World monkey with a bright reddish-gold coat and a lion-like mane, native only to the Atlantic Forest of southeastern Brazil.
- [Golden Snub-Nosed Monkey](https://worldanimalrescuenetwork.org/wildlife-guides/golden-snub-nosed-monkey) — Endangered (IUCN, 2015): The golden snub-nosed monkey (Rhinopithecus roxellana) is an Endangered Old World monkey of central China's mountain forests, famous for its golden fur, pale blue face and upturned nose; it lives in large social groups and is protected under CITES Appendix I.
- [Green Anaconda](https://worldanimalrescuenetwork.org/wildlife-guides/anaconda) — Least Concern (IUCN 2021) — but newly split species means parts of its range are unassessed: A Green Anaconda (Eunectes murinus) is a large, non-venomous, semi-aquatic constrictor snake from tropical South America that is the heaviest snake in the world, killing prey by coiling and squeezing rather than biting.
- [Himalayan Brown Bear](https://worldanimalrescuenetwork.org/wildlife-guides/himalayan-brown-bear) — Not separately Red-Listed; locally Critically Endangered in Pakistan: A Himalayan brown bear (Ursus arctos isabellinus) is a high-altitude subspecies of brown bear native to the western Himalayas of Pakistan, India and Nepal, recognisable by its sandy to reddish-brown coat and considered Critically Endangered within Pakistan even though the wider brown bear species is listed as Least Concern globally.
- [Maned Wolf](https://worldanimalrescuenetwork.org/wildlife-guides/maned-wolf) — Near Threatened (IUCN, 2015) — declining Cerrado habitat: A maned wolf is the tallest wild canid in the world, a long-legged, reddish-coated omnivore native to the grasslands of central South America — especially Brazil's Cerrado — that despite its name is neither a true wolf nor a fox but the only species in the genus Chrysocyon.
- [Dugong](https://worldanimalrescuenetwork.org/wildlife-guides/dugong) — Vulnerable globally — but Critically Endangered in East Africa and Japan's Nansei Islands, and Endangered in New Caledonia: A dugong is a large, plant-eating marine mammal of the order Sirenia (the "sea cows"), reaching about 3 metres long, that lives entirely in warm coastal seas and feeds almost exclusively on seagrass.
- [Dog](https://worldanimalrescuenetwork.org/wildlife-guides/dog) — Domesticated — Not Evaluated (IUCN): A dog (Canis lupus familiaris) is a domesticated mammal descended from the grey wolf, kept worldwide as a companion, working, and assistance animal; it is the same species across every breed, from the Chihuahua to the Great Dane.
- [Cat](https://worldanimalrescuenetwork.org/wildlife-guides/cat) — Domesticated — Not Evaluated (IUCN): A cat (Felis catus) is a small domesticated carnivorous mammal descended from the African wildcat; kept worldwide as a companion animal, it is an obligate carnivore that typically lives about 12–18 years and exists in dozens of recognised breeds, though most pet cats are non-pedigreed domestic shorthairs.
- [Lion](https://worldanimalrescuenetwork.org/wildlife-guides/lion) — Vulnerable: The lion (Panthera leo) is classified as Vulnerable on the IUCN Red List, with an estimated 23,000 mature and subadult lions remaining in Africa plus around 670 in India, and the overall population is decreasing.
- [Shark](https://worldanimalrescuenetwork.org/wildlife-guides/shark) — Varies by species (Least Concern to Critically Endangered): Sharks are a group of more than 500 species of cartilaginous fish found in every ocean; conservation status varies by species, but about one-third of all sharks, rays and chimaeras are threatened with extinction, mainly because of overfishing, the fin trade and bycatch.
- [Horse](https://worldanimalrescuenetwork.org/wildlife-guides/horse) — Domesticated: The horse (Equus ferus caballus) is a domesticated mammal kept worldwide for transport, work, sport and companionship; it is not a threatened species, but the welfare of the tens of millions of working horses in lower-income countries is a serious global concern.
- [Grey Wolf](https://worldanimalrescuenetwork.org/wildlife-guides/grey-wolf) — Least Concern globally (locally Endangered or extirpated in many regions): The grey wolf (Canis lupus) is the largest wild dog and the ancestor of the domestic dog; it is listed as Least Concern globally with an estimated 200,000–250,000 in the wild, but remains locally endangered or extinct across much of its former range.
- [Red Fox](https://worldanimalrescuenetwork.org/wildlife-guides/fox) — Least Concern (IUCN, 2016) — population stable: The red fox (Vulpes vulpes) is the world's most widely distributed wild carnivore, living across the Northern Hemisphere; the IUCN lists it as Least Concern with a stable population.
- [Zebra](https://worldanimalrescuenetwork.org/wildlife-guides/zebra) — Varies by species (Near Threatened to Endangered): A zebra is a striped African member of the horse genus Equus; there are three species — plains, mountain, and Grevy's — ranging from Near Threatened to the Endangered Grevy's zebra, of which fewer than about 2,000 mature animals survive.
- [Giant Panda](https://worldanimalrescuenetwork.org/wildlife-guides/giant-panda) — Vulnerable: The giant panda (Ailuropoda melanoleuca) is a bamboo-eating bear native only to China, listed as Vulnerable on the IUCN Red List with roughly 1,800 to 1,900 mature individuals in the wild as of the 2016 assessment.
- [Giraffe](https://worldanimalrescuenetwork.org/wildlife-guides/giraffe) — Vulnerable overall — varies by species and population (Least Concern to Critically Endangered): Giraffes are the tallest animals on Earth and are listed as Vulnerable on the IUCN Red List; the group was split into four species in 2025, and while overall numbers are now near 117,000, some subspecies such as the Kordofan and Nubian giraffe are Critically Endangered.
- [Penguin](https://worldanimalrescuenetwork.org/wildlife-guides/penguin) — Varies by species (Least Concern to Critically Endangered): Penguins are flightless seabirds of the family Spheniscidae with 18 living species, found almost entirely in the Southern Hemisphere; their conservation status ranges from Least Concern to Critically Endangered, with the African penguin now Critically Endangered and the emperor penguin uplisted to Endangered in 2026.
- [Koala](https://worldanimalrescuenetwork.org/wildlife-guides/koala) — Vulnerable on the IUCN Red List; listed Endangered under Australian federal law in Queensland, New South Wales and the ACT (2022): The koala is a Vulnerable eucalyptus-eating marsupial native only to Australia, where habitat loss, disease and bushfire have made its eastern populations Endangered under national law as of 2022.
- [Kangaroo](https://worldanimalrescuenetwork.org/wildlife-guides/kangaroo) — Varies by species (most Least Concern; one species Near Threatened): A kangaroo is a large hopping marsupial native to Australia and the world's biggest marsupial, carrying its young, called a joey, in a pouch; the main kangaroo species are widespread and assessed as Least Concern.
- [Cheetah](https://worldanimalrescuenetwork.org/wildlife-guides/cheetah) — Vulnerable: The cheetah (Acinonyx jubatus) is the fastest land animal, reaching roughly 100-120 km/h (about 60-75 mph) in short bursts, and is classified as Vulnerable by the IUCN, with the Asiatic cheetah in Iran listed as Critically Endangered.
- [Hippopotamus](https://worldanimalrescuenetwork.org/wildlife-guides/hippopotamus) — Vulnerable: The hippopotamus (Hippopotamus amphibius) is a large semi-aquatic African mammal listed as Vulnerable by the IUCN, with roughly 115,000-130,000 individuals remaining and a declining population driven by habitat loss and demand for its tooth ivory.
- [Sea Turtle](https://worldanimalrescuenetwork.org/wildlife-guides/sea-turtle) — Varies by species (Least Concern to Critically Endangered): Sea turtles are a group of seven species of large, long-lived marine reptiles whose conservation status ranges from Least Concern to Critically Endangered, with most species threatened by fishing bycatch, egg poaching, plastic pollution and coastal development.
- [Saltwater Crocodile](https://worldanimalrescuenetwork.org/wildlife-guides/saltwater-crocodile) — Least Concern globally (IUCN, 2021) — locally depleted in parts of Southeast Asia: The saltwater crocodile (Crocodylus porosus) is the world's largest living reptile, found in the estuaries and mangroves of Southeast Asia and Australasia; it is listed as Least Concern globally by the IUCN, though some local populations remain depleted.
- [Owl](https://worldanimalrescuenetwork.org/wildlife-guides/owl) — Varies by species (Least Concern to Critically Endangered): An owl is a nocturnal bird of prey in the order Strigiformes, made up of about 250 species across two families, distinguished by forward-facing eyes, near-silent flight and the ability to rotate its head up to 270 degrees.
- [Deer](https://worldanimalrescuenetwork.org/wildlife-guides/deer) — Varies by species (Least Concern to Extinct in the Wild): Deer are antlered, hoofed ruminant mammals of the family Cervidae, comprising about 50 species worldwide; most are Least Concern, but several, including Père David's deer (Extinct in the Wild) and the hog deer, are threatened.
- [Rabbit](https://worldanimalrescuenetwork.org/wildlife-guides/rabbit) — Varies by species (Least Concern to Critically Endangered): Rabbits are small herbivorous mammals of the family Leporidae (over 70 species); most are common, but a few wild species such as the riverine and volcano rabbits are Critically Endangered or Endangered, and pet and farmed rabbits raise real welfare concerns.
- [Squirrel](https://worldanimalrescuenetwork.org/wildlife-guides/squirrel) — Varies by species (most Least Concern; some island and high-elevation species Endangered to Critically Endangered): A squirrel is a small-to-medium rodent in the family Sciuridae, a group of more than 280 species worldwide that includes tree squirrels, ground squirrels and gliding flying squirrels; most are common and Least Concern, though some island species are endangered.
- [Octopus](https://worldanimalrescuenetwork.org/wildlife-guides/octopus) — Varies by species (Least Concern to Data Deficient); the order as a whole is not assessed: An octopus is a soft-bodied, eight-armed marine mollusc in the order Octopoda (about 300 species) that is highly intelligent and has three hearts and blue, copper-based blood.
- [Frog](https://worldanimalrescuenetwork.org/wildlife-guides/frog) — Varies by species (Least Concern to Critically Endangered): A frog is a tailless amphibian of the order Anura, a group of over 7,700 species worldwide that begins life as an aquatic tadpole and is widely used as a bioindicator of environmental health.
- [Bat](https://worldanimalrescuenetwork.org/wildlife-guides/bat) — Varies by species (Least Concern to Critically Endangered): Bats (order Chiroptera) are the only mammals capable of true flight, with around 1,400 species worldwide that mostly navigate by echolocation and provide vital pest control, pollination, and seed dispersal.
- [Peacock](https://worldanimalrescuenetwork.org/wildlife-guides/peacock) — Varies by species (Least Concern to Endangered): A peacock is the male of the peafowl, a large ground-dwelling pheasant whose shimmering, eyespotted tail train is fanned out to attract mates; the Indian peafowl is Least Concern, but the green peafowl is Endangered.
- [Flamingo](https://worldanimalrescuenetwork.org/wildlife-guides/flamingo) — Varies by species (Least Concern to Vulnerable): Flamingos are a family (Phoenicopteridae) of six species of tall, filter-feeding wading birds whose pink colour comes from carotenoid pigments in the algae and small crustaceans they eat in saline and alkaline lakes.
- [Hedgehog](https://worldanimalrescuenetwork.org/wildlife-guides/hedgehog) — Varies by species (Least Concern to Endangered); the widespread European hedgehog is now Near Threatened: A hedgehog is a small spiny insectivorous mammal of the subfamily Erinaceinae; there are 17 species across Europe, Asia and Africa, and the widespread European hedgehog was listed as Near Threatened on the IUCN Red List in 2024 after sharp declines.
- [Gorilla](https://worldanimalrescuenetwork.org/wildlife-guides/gorilla) — Critically Endangered (both species): A gorilla is the largest living primate, a ground-dwelling, mostly plant-eating great ape native to the forests of equatorial Africa. There are two Critically Endangered species — the Western and Eastern gorilla — and gorillas share roughly 98% of their DNA with humans.
- [Chimpanzee](https://worldanimalrescuenetwork.org/wildlife-guides/chimpanzee) — Endangered (IUCN); CITES Appendix I: A chimpanzee (Pan troglodytes) is a great ape from the forests and woodlands of equatorial Africa. Along with the bonobo, it is humans' closest living relative, sharing roughly 98-99% of our DNA. Famous for tool use, complex societies and culture, it is classified as Endangered.
- [Axolotl](https://worldanimalrescuenetwork.org/wildlife-guides/axolotl) — Critically Endangered (IUCN, 2020) in the wild: An axolotl (Ambystoma mexicanum) is a neotenic salamander from the Xochimilco canals near Mexico City that stays aquatic and larval-looking for life, keeping external gills. Famous for regenerating limbs, organs and brain tissue, it is Critically Endangered in the wild yet common in captivity.
- [Meerkat](https://worldanimalrescuenetwork.org/wildlife-guides/meerkat) — Least Concern (IUCN): A meerkat (Suricata suricatta) is a small, highly social mongoose native to the arid Kalahari and southern Africa. It lives in cooperative groups of up to about thirty, posts sentinels to watch for predators, and feeds mainly on insects, scorpions and other small prey.
- [Platypus](https://worldanimalrescuenetwork.org/wildlife-guides/platypus) — Near Threatened (IUCN, 2016): A platypus is a semi-aquatic, egg-laying mammal (a monotreme) native to eastern Australia and Tasmania. It has a duck-like bill, webbed feet and a beaver-like tail, hunts underwater using electroreception, and males carry venomous ankle spurs. It is listed as Near Threatened on the IUCN Red List.
- [Chameleon](https://worldanimalrescuenetwork.org/wildlife-guides/chameleon) — Varies by species; many threatened: A chameleon is an arboreal lizard of the family Chamaeleonidae, with around 200 species, about half found only in Madagascar. They are known for independently moving eyes, a fast projectile tongue, gripping feet, a prehensile tail and colour change used mainly for communication and temperature control.
- [Wild Turkey](https://worldanimalrescuenetwork.org/wildlife-guides/turkey) — Least Concern (IUCN): A wild turkey (Meleagris gallopavo) is a large North American ground bird and the wild ancestor of the domestic turkey. Males have iridescent feathers, a bare red-and-blue head and a fan-shaped tail, and produce a loud gobble that carries up to a mile.
- [Hummingbird](https://worldanimalrescuenetwork.org/wildlife-guides/hummingbird) — Varies by species; most Least Concern, some Critically Endangered (IUCN): A hummingbird is a very small, nectar-feeding bird in the family Trochilidae, found only in the Americas. With more than 360 species, they are the world's smallest birds and the only ones able to hover and fly backwards, beating their wings up to around 50 or more times a second.
- [Crow](https://worldanimalrescuenetwork.org/wildlife-guides/crow) — Varies by species; common crows Least Concern (IUCN): A crow is a medium-to-large, mostly black bird of the genus Corvus, part of the corvid family that includes ravens and jays. Found on most continents, crows are among the world's most intelligent birds — using tools, solving problems and recognising individual human faces.
- [Blue Jay](https://worldanimalrescuenetwork.org/wildlife-guides/blue-jay) — Least Concern (IUCN): A blue jay (Cyanocitta cristata) is a bold, crested blue songbird of eastern and central North America, and a member of the corvid family alongside crows and ravens. Known for mimicking hawk calls and caching acorns, it is common, intelligent, and listed as Least Concern by the IUCN.
- [Pelican](https://worldanimalrescuenetwork.org/wildlife-guides/pelican) — Varies by species; most Least Concern, some Near Threatened (IUCN): A pelican is a large waterbird of the family Pelecanidae, recognised by its long bill and the expandable skin pouch beneath it, which it uses to scoop up fish. There are eight species in the genus Pelecanus, living on coasts and inland waters across every continent except Antarctica.
- [Vulture](https://worldanimalrescuenetwork.org/wildlife-guides/vulture) — Varies; many Old World vultures Critically Endangered: A vulture is a large scavenging bird of prey that feeds mainly on carrion. There are two unrelated groups: Old World vultures of Africa, Asia and Europe, and New World vultures of the Americas, which evolved similar features independently. Most have a bald head and soar to find food.
- [Seagull (Gull)](https://worldanimalrescuenetwork.org/wildlife-guides/seagull) — Varies by species; most Least Concern (IUCN): A seagull is any of around 50 species of gull, seabirds in the family Laridae. Typically white and grey with black wingtips and webbed feet, gulls are adaptable, intelligent coastal birds that scavenge, fish and increasingly thrive in towns and cities worldwide.
- [Woodpecker](https://worldanimalrescuenetwork.org/wildlife-guides/woodpecker) — Varies by species; most Least Concern: A woodpecker is a tree-climbing bird of the family Picidae, with around 240 species worldwide. It uses a chisel-like bill to drum and excavate wood, aided by a shock-absorbing skull, gripping zygodactyl feet, a stiff propping tail and a long, barbed tongue for extracting insects.
- [Toucan](https://worldanimalrescuenetwork.org/wildlife-guides/toucan) — Varies by species; most Least Concern, several Near Threatened or Vulnerable (IUCN): A toucan is a brightly coloured, fruit-eating rainforest bird of the family Ramphastidae, native to Central and South America. Around 40 species exist, all recognised by an enormous yet lightweight bill used for feeding, display and heat regulation. They are important seed dispersers in tropical forests.
- [Swan](https://worldanimalrescuenetwork.org/wildlife-guides/swan) — Most species Least Concern (IUCN): A swan is a large, long-necked waterbird of the genus Cygnus and the biggest member of the duck and goose family. There are six living species worldwide. Swans feed mainly on aquatic plants, form strong, often lifelong pair bonds, and are renowned for their graceful appearance.
- [Ostrich](https://worldanimalrescuenetwork.org/wildlife-guides/ostrich) — Least Concern (IUCN) — common ostrich; the separate Somali ostrich is Vulnerable: An ostrich (Struthio camelus) is the world's largest and heaviest living bird, a flightless African species standing over two metres tall. Built for running rather than flight, it is the fastest bird on land at around 70 km/h and lays the biggest eggs of any living bird.
- [Emu](https://worldanimalrescuenetwork.org/wildlife-guides/emu) — Least Concern (IUCN): An emu (Dromaius novaehollandiae) is a large flightless bird native to Australia. The country's tallest bird and the second-tallest living bird after the ostrich, it reaches about 1.9 metres, runs nearly 50 km/h, and is unusual in that males incubate the eggs and raise the chicks.
- [Albatross](https://worldanimalrescuenetwork.org/wildlife-guides/albatross) — Varies; most albatross species are threatened: An albatross is a large oceanic seabird of the family Diomedeidae, comprising about 22 species. Albatrosses have the longest wingspan of any living bird — up to around 3.5 metres in the wandering albatross — and glide vast distances over the Southern Ocean and North Pacific, coming ashore only to breed.
- [European Robin](https://worldanimalrescuenetwork.org/wildlife-guides/robin) — Least Concern (IUCN): A European robin (Erithacus rubecula) is a small Eurasian songbird with a distinctive orange-red face and breast, brown upperparts and a pale belly. Common in gardens, woods and hedgerows, it is famously territorial, sings year-round and is widely associated with British winters and Christmas.
- [Common Kestrel](https://worldanimalrescuenetwork.org/wildlife-guides/kestrel) — Least Concern (IUCN): A common kestrel (Falco tinnunculus) is a small falcon of Europe, Asia and Africa, famous for hovering in mid-air to hunt voles, mice and large insects. Reddish-brown above with pointed wings, it can detect ultraviolet light reflected by rodent urine trails. The IUCN lists it as Least Concern.
- [Red Kite](https://worldanimalrescuenetwork.org/wildlife-guides/red-kite) — Least Concern (IUCN, 2020); formerly Near Threatened: A red kite (Milvus milvus) is a medium-large European bird of prey with rufous-brown plumage, long angled wings and a distinctive deeply forked tail. Mainly a scavenger feeding on carrion, it is famous in Britain for its dramatic recovery from near-extinction through legal protection and reintroduction.
- [Magpie](https://worldanimalrescuenetwork.org/wildlife-guides/magpie) — Least Concern (IUCN): A magpie is a large black-and-white bird in the crow family (Corvidae). The Eurasian magpie, Pica pica, is famous for its long iridescent tail, loud chattering call and exceptional intelligence — it is one of the few non-mammals known to recognise itself in a mirror.
- [Blue Tit](https://worldanimalrescuenetwork.org/wildlife-guides/blue-tit) — Least Concern (IUCN): A blue tit (Cyanistes caeruleus) is a small European songbird with a blue cap and wings, white cheeks and a yellow breast. Weighing about 11 grams, it is a common, acrobatic garden-feeder visitor across Britain, Ireland and much of Europe, and an IUCN Least Concern species.
- [Common Starling](https://worldanimalrescuenetwork.org/wildlife-guides/starling) — Least Concern (IUCN) globally; UK Red List of conservation concern: The common starling (Sturnus vulgaris) is a stocky, glossy black songbird native to Eurasia and North Africa, famous for vast swirling winter flocks called murmurations and for skilled vocal mimicry. Globally common and rated Least Concern, it has declined sharply in Britain and is UK Red-listed.
- [Common Buzzard](https://worldanimalrescuenetwork.org/wildlife-guides/buzzard) — Least Concern (IUCN): A common buzzard (Buteo buteo) is a medium-large, broad-winged bird of prey and Britain's most common and widespread raptor. It soars in slow circles, gives a distinctive cat-like mewing call, and hunts small mammals, earthworms and carrion across farmland, woodland and moorland.
- [Common Kingfisher](https://worldanimalrescuenetwork.org/wildlife-guides/kingfisher) — Least Concern (IUCN); not CITES-listed: A kingfisher is a small, brilliantly coloured bird that hunts by diving headfirst into water for fish. The common kingfisher (Alcedo atthis) of Europe, Asia and North Africa is electric-blue above and orange below, with a long, dagger-like bill, and nests in tunnels dug into riverbanks.
- [Grey Heron](https://worldanimalrescuenetwork.org/wildlife-guides/heron) — Least Concern (IUCN): A heron is a long-legged, long-necked wading bird that hunts in shallow water; the grey heron (Ardea cinerea) is the familiar tall grey species of UK and European rivers, lakes and garden ponds, standing up to a metre high and catching fish and amphibians with its sharp bill.
- [Duck](https://worldanimalrescuenetwork.org/wildlife-guides/duck) — Varies; common species Least Concern: A duck is a waterbird in the family Anatidae — smaller and shorter-necked than its relatives the geese and swans. Ducks have a broad flat bill, webbed feet and waterproof feathers, live on fresh and salt water worldwide, and feed by dabbling at the surface or diving underwater.
- [Goose](https://worldanimalrescuenetwork.org/wildlife-guides/goose) — Varies; common species Least Concern (IUCN): A goose is a large, social grazing waterfowl in the family Anatidae, split mainly into grey and white geese (Anser) and black geese (Branta). Bigger than ducks, geese feed on grass, form lifelong pair bonds and migrate long distances in energy-saving V-formations.
- [Atlantic Puffin](https://worldanimalrescuenetwork.org/wildlife-guides/puffin) — Vulnerable (IUCN, 2021): A puffin is a small North Atlantic seabird of the auk family, best known as the Atlantic puffin (Fratercula arctica). Nicknamed the "sea parrot" for its large, colourful striped bill, it nests in clifftop burrows in summer and spends the winter alone far out at sea.
- [Virginia Opossum](https://worldanimalrescuenetwork.org/wildlife-guides/opossum) — Least Concern (IUCN): An opossum (Didelphis virginiana, the Virginia opossum) is North America's only native marsupial — a cat-sized, pouched mammal with a pointed snout, grasping prehensile tail and grey-white fur. It is famous for "playing dead", eating ticks and pests, and resisting many snake venoms.
- [Groundhog](https://worldanimalrescuenetwork.org/wildlife-guides/groundhog) — Least Concern (IUCN): A groundhog (Marmota monax) is a large North American ground squirrel, or marmot, in the squirrel family. A stout, powerful burrower and true hibernator weighing up to about 6 kilograms, it lives across the eastern United States and Canada and is famous for Groundhog Day.
- [Camel](https://worldanimalrescuenetwork.org/wildlife-guides/camel) — Domestic camels not threatened; the wild Bactrian camel (Camelus ferus) is Critically Endangered: A camel is a large, hump-backed desert mammal of the genus Camelus. The one-humped dromedary and two-humped Bactrian are domesticated; the wild Bactrian camel is rare. Humps store fat, not water, and remarkable adaptations let camels endure extreme heat and long stretches without drinking.
- [Armadillo](https://worldanimalrescuenetwork.org/wildlife-guides/armadillo) — Varies; nine-banded armadillo Least Concern (IUCN): An armadillo is a small to medium New World mammal of the order Cingulata, protected by a distinctive shell of bony plates covered in leathery skin. Around 20 species live across the Americas, digging burrows and feeding mainly on insects, grubs and other invertebrates.
- [Porcupine](https://worldanimalrescuenetwork.org/wildlife-guides/porcupine) — Varies by species; most Least Concern (IUCN): A porcupine is a large herbivorous rodent covered in sharp quills — stiffened, modified hairs that defend it from predators. About 30 species exist in two distantly related families: Old World porcupines of Africa, Asia and Europe, and tree-climbing New World porcupines of the Americas.
- [Walrus](https://worldanimalrescuenetwork.org/wildlife-guides/walrus) — Vulnerable (IUCN, 2021): A walrus (Odobenus rosmarus) is a huge Arctic pinniped, or fin-footed marine mammal, famous for its long ivory tusks and bristly whiskered snout. It hauls out on sea ice and dives to the seabed to feed on clams, using sensitive whiskers to find shellfish in dark water.
- [Lemur](https://worldanimalrescuenetwork.org/wildlife-guides/lemur) — Varies; lemurs are the most endangered mammal group: A lemur is a primate native only to Madagascar and nearby islands, forming the group Lemuriformes. More than 100 species exist, from tiny mouse lemurs to the familiar ring-tailed lemur. Most are tree-dwelling, and lemurs are the most endangered mammal group on Earth.
- [Ferret](https://worldanimalrescuenetwork.org/wildlife-guides/ferret) — Domesticated; not a threatened species: A ferret (Mustela furo) is a domesticated member of the weasel family, bred from the European polecat about 2,500 years ago. Long-bodied, playful and carnivorous, it has long been used to hunt rabbits and is today a popular household pet, typically living seven to ten years.
- [Chinchilla](https://worldanimalrescuenetwork.org/wildlife-guides/chinchilla) — Wild chinchillas Endangered; common as pets: A chinchilla is a small, soft-furred rodent of the genus Chinchilla, native to the Andes mountains of South America. Famous for the densest fur of any land mammal, both wild species are Endangered, yet chinchillas are also bred and kept worldwide as long-lived, dust-bathing pets.
- [Water Vole](https://worldanimalrescuenetwork.org/wildlife-guides/water-vole) — Least Concern globally; rapidly declining in the UK: A water vole (Arvicola amphibius) is a large, semi-aquatic rodent found along rivers, ditches and reed beds across Europe and western Asia. With chestnut fur, a blunt muzzle and a furry tail, it is a true vole — not a rat — and the inspiration for "Ratty" in The Wind in the Willows.
- [Pine Marten](https://worldanimalrescuenetwork.org/wildlife-guides/pine-marten) — Least Concern (IUCN): A pine marten (Martes martes) is a cat-sized, tree-climbing member of the weasel family native to European and western Asian woodland. Chestnut-brown with a cream throat bib and bushy tail, it is rare in much of Britain but recovering, and is globally classed as Least Concern by the IUCN.
- [Hazel Dormouse](https://worldanimalrescuenetwork.org/wildlife-guides/dormouse) — Least Concern globally; protected and declining in the UK: The hazel dormouse (Muscardinus avellanarius) is a small golden-brown European rodent, weighing about 17-20 g, that lives in woodland and hedgerows. Nocturnal and arboreal, it eats flowers, fruit, nuts and insects, and hibernates for roughly half the year, from autumn until spring.
- [Weasel](https://worldanimalrescuenetwork.org/wildlife-guides/weasel) — Least Concern (IUCN, 2016 assessment): A weasel (Mustela nivalis), or least weasel, is the world's smallest carnivorous mammal: a slim, agile, short-legged hunter with a brown back and pale belly. Found across Europe, Asia and North America, it preys mainly on mice and voles, chasing them into their own burrows.
- [Shrew](https://worldanimalrescuenetwork.org/wildlife-guides/shrew) — Varies by species; most Least Concern (IUCN): A shrew is a small insect-eating mammal of the family Soricidae, with a long pointed snout, tiny eyes and velvety fur. Though mouse-like, shrews are not rodents but relatives of moles and hedgehogs, and are known for their extremely high metabolism and near-constant feeding.
- [European Mole](https://worldanimalrescuenetwork.org/wildlife-guides/mole) — Least Concern (IUCN): The European mole (Talpa europaea) is a small, burrowing insectivorous mammal with velvety fur, tiny eyes and powerful spade-like forepaws. It lives almost entirely underground, hunting earthworms in self-dug tunnels across Europe and western Asia, and is best known for the molehills it pushes to the surface.
- [Brown Rat](https://worldanimalrescuenetwork.org/wildlife-guides/rat) — Least Concern (IUCN): A brown rat (Rattus norvegicus) is a large, adaptable rodent that lives alongside humans worldwide. Native to Asia, it has spread to every continent except Antarctica. Highly intelligent and social, it is the wild ancestor of both pet "fancy rats" and laboratory rats, and is listed as Least Concern.
- [House Mouse](https://worldanimalrescuenetwork.org/wildlife-guides/mouse) — Least Concern (IUCN): A house mouse (Mus musculus) is a small grey-brown rodent in the family Muridae, typically 7.5–10 cm long with a long tail and large ears. Native to Asia, it now lives worldwide alongside humans, breeds prolifically, and is the ancestor of pet and laboratory mice.
- [Iguana](https://worldanimalrescuenetwork.org/wildlife-guides/iguana) — Least Concern (green iguana); other iguana species threatened: An iguana is a large, mostly herbivorous, tree-dwelling lizard of the Americas. The familiar green iguana (Iguana iguana) reaches about 1.7 metres including its long tail, sports a spiny crest and throat dewlap, and is listed as Least Concern, though several other iguana species are endangered.
- [Adder](https://worldanimalrescuenetwork.org/wildlife-guides/adder) — Least Concern (IUCN, 2021); declining and legally protected in the UK: An adder (Vipera berus) is a small venomous snake of Europe and Asia, identified by a dark zigzag stripe along its back. It is Britain's only venomous snake, hunts small mammals and lizards, and is shy, biting humans only in defence.
- [Common Toad](https://worldanimalrescuenetwork.org/wildlife-guides/toad) — Least Concern (IUCN), but declining in parts of the UK: A toad is a tail-less amphibian, typified by the common toad (Bufo bufo), with dry, warty skin, short legs and toxin-secreting parotoid glands behind the eyes. Unlike frogs, toads usually walk rather than leap, live mostly on land, and return to ponds each spring to breed.
- [Newt](https://worldanimalrescuenetwork.org/wildlife-guides/newt) — Most species Least Concern; the great crested newt is protected in the UK: A newt is a small semi-aquatic salamander in the subfamily Pleurodelinae. Newts alternate between water and land, breeding in ponds in spring and feeding on insects and other invertebrates. They are famous for regenerating lost limbs and organs, and many produce defensive skin toxins.
- [Slow Worm](https://worldanimalrescuenetwork.org/wildlife-guides/slow-worm) — Least Concern (IUCN); legally protected in the UK: A slow worm (Anguis fragilis) is a legless lizard native to Britain and Europe. Though snake-like, it is a true lizard: it can blink with movable eyelids and shed its tail to escape predators. It lives in gardens and grassland, eating slugs, snails and worms.
- [Grass Snake](https://worldanimalrescuenetwork.org/wildlife-guides/grass-snake) — Least Concern (IUCN); protected in the UK: A grass snake is a large, harmless, non-venomous snake of Europe and western Asia (Natrix helvetica and Natrix natrix). It is Britain's largest snake, lives near water, swims well, eats mostly amphibians, and is recognised by a yellow-and-black collar behind the head.
- [Stingray](https://worldanimalrescuenetwork.org/wildlife-guides/stingray) — Varies by species; many threatened by overfishing: A stingray is a flat-bodied cartilaginous fish in the order Myliobatiformes, related to sharks. Its broad pectoral fins form a disc that flaps for swimming, and most species carry a venomous, barbed tail spine used only for defence. Most are bottom-dwelling ambush predators of shellfish.
- [Starfish (Sea Star)](https://worldanimalrescuenetwork.org/wildlife-guides/starfish) — Varies; most Not Evaluated (some, e.g. the sunflower sea star, Critically Endangered): A starfish, or sea star, is a marine invertebrate in the class Asteroidea (about 1,900 species). It is an echinoderm, not a fish, with radial symmetry, a central disc and usually five arms lined with tube feet. Many can regenerate lost arms and feed by everting their stomach.
- [Crab](https://worldanimalrescuenetwork.org/wildlife-guides/crab) — Most species Not Evaluated (IUCN): A crab is a ten-legged crustacean of the infraorder Brachyura, with a hard exoskeleton, a short broad body, a pair of front pincers and a sideways walk. About 7,000 species live in the oceans, in fresh water and on land worldwide.
- [Lobster](https://worldanimalrescuenetwork.org/wildlife-guides/lobster) — Not a threatened group; some species data deficient: A lobster is a large clawed marine crustacean of the family Nephropidae, including the American and European lobsters. It grows by moulting its hard shell, can regenerate lost claws, has blue copper-based blood, and may live an estimated 45 to 50 years in the wild.
- [Squid](https://worldanimalrescuenetwork.org/wildlife-guides/squid) — Varies; most Least Concern / Not Evaluated: A squid is a fast-swimming cephalopod mollusc of the order Teuthida, related to octopuses and cuttlefish, with eight arms, two longer feeding tentacles, jet propulsion, ink defence and colour-changing skin; the order includes around 300 species, from tiny pygmy squid to the deep-sea giant squid.
- [Alligator](https://worldanimalrescuenetwork.org/wildlife-guides/alligator) — Varies by species (Least Concern to Critically Endangered): Alligators are broad-snouted crocodilians with two living species — the recovered American alligator of the US South-east and the Critically Endangered Chinese alligator of the Yangtze — both vital wetland predators whose status ranges from Least Concern to Critically Endangered.
- [Seal](https://worldanimalrescuenetwork.org/wildlife-guides/seal) — Varies by species (Least Concern to Endangered): Seals are earless marine mammals (family Phocidae) with about 19 species worldwide — expert divers of polar and temperate seas whose conservation status ranges from abundant to Endangered depending on species and region.
- [Parrot](https://worldanimalrescuenetwork.org/wildlife-guides/parrot) — Varies by species (Least Concern to Critically Endangered): Parrots are tropical and subtropical Psittaciformes — about 400 species including macaws, cockatoos and budgerigars — known for intelligence and longevity; many are threatened by habitat loss and illegal trade, with status ranging from Least Concern to Critically Endangered.
- [Red Panda](https://worldanimalrescuenetwork.org/wildlife-guides/red-panda) — Endangered: The red panda (Ailurus fulgens) is an Endangered Himalayan forest mammal unrelated to giant pandas — a bamboo-eating specialist threatened by deforestation, poaching and road deaths across Nepal, India, Bhutan, China and Myanmar.
- [Cockatoo](https://worldanimalrescuenetwork.org/wildlife-guides/cockatoo) — Varies by species (Vulnerable to Critically Endangered): Cockatoos are crested parrots (family Cacatuidae) with 21 species across Australasia — intelligent and long-lived birds threatened by illegal trapping for the pet trade, with several Indonesian species Critically Endangered.
- [Budgerigar](https://worldanimalrescuenetwork.org/wildlife-guides/budgerigar) — Least Concern (IUCN): The budgerigar (Melopsittacus undulatus) is a small Australian parrot — Least Concern in the wild — famous in captivity but naturally a nomadic flocking bird of the Outback, related to macaws and cockatoos within the parrot order.
- [Orca](https://worldanimalrescuenetwork.org/wildlife-guides/orca) — Data Deficient (IUCN global assessment): The orca (Orcinus orca) is the world's largest oceanic dolphin — a black-and-white apex predator found in all oceans, with pod-specific diets and cultures; globally assessed as Data Deficient on the IUCN Red List.
- [Blue Whale](https://worldanimalrescuenetwork.org/wildlife-guides/blue-whale) — Endangered: The blue whale (Balaenoptera musculus) is the Endangered largest animal on Earth — a krill-filtering baleen whale found in all oceans, recovering slowly after twentieth-century whaling.
- [Manatee](https://worldanimalrescuenetwork.org/wildlife-guides/manatee) — Varies by species (Vulnerable to Endangered): Manatees are plant-eating sirenians with three species in the Americas and West Africa — slow-moving mammals threatened by boat collisions, habitat loss and pollution, with IUCN status from Vulnerable to Endangered.
- [Sea Otter](https://worldanimalrescuenetwork.org/wildlife-guides/sea-otter) — Endangered: The sea otter (Enhydra lutris) is an Endangered North Pacific keystone predator that maintains kelp forests by controlling sea urchins — insulated by the densest fur of any mammal, not blubber.
- [Sea Lion](https://worldanimalrescuenetwork.org/wildlife-guides/sea-lion) — Varies by species (Least Concern to Endangered): Sea lions are eared seals (family Otariidae) with visible ear flaps and land agility — about 16 species on Pacific and southern coasts whose IUCN status ranges from Least Concern to Endangered.
- [Manta Ray](https://worldanimalrescuenetwork.org/wildlife-guides/manta-ray) — Endangered: Manta rays are Endangered filter-feeding elasmobranchs — giant and reef species with wingspans up to seven metres — threatened globally by bycatch, gill-plate trade and fisheries.
- [Jellyfish](https://worldanimalrescuenetwork.org/wildlife-guides/jellyfish) — Most species not individually assessed: Jellyfish are gelatinous medusozoans found in all oceans — pulsing drifters using stinging cells to capture prey; most species lack individual IUCN assessments though some face habitat and climate pressures.
- [Seahorse](https://worldanimalrescuenetwork.org/wildlife-guides/seahorse) — Varies by species (Vulnerable to Endangered): Seahorses are upright coastal fish (genus Hippocampus) with ~46 species — males carry eggs in a pouch; many are Vulnerable or Endangered due to habitat loss and huge dried trade for traditional medicine.
- [Narwhal](https://worldanimalrescuenetwork.org/wildlife-guides/narwhal) — Near Threatened (IUCN): The narwhal (Monodon monoceros) is a Near Threatened Arctic whale whose males bear a long spiralled tusk — actually an enlarged tooth — with roughly 80,000 individuals dependent on sea ice and deep-water prey.
- [Sperm Whale](https://worldanimalrescuenetwork.org/wildlife-guides/sperm-whale) — Vulnerable (IUCN): The sperm whale (Physeter macrocephalus) is a Vulnerable deep-diving toothed whale — the largest brain of any animal — hunting squid in abyssal depths after centuries of commercial whaling depletion.
- [Dolphin](https://worldanimalrescuenetwork.org/wildlife-guides/dolphin) — Varies by species (Least Concern to Endangered): Oceanic dolphins (family Delphinidae) include the common bottlenose and common dolphin — social toothed whales of seas worldwide, distinct from river dolphins; IUCN status ranges from Least Concern to Critically Endangered by species.
- [Snake](https://worldanimalrescuenetwork.org/wildlife-guides/snake) — Varies by species (Least Concern to Critically Endangered): Snakes are legless reptiles (suborder Serpentes) with about 3,900 species worldwide — mostly harmless, ecologically important predators whose conservation status varies; this hub is distinct from species guides like the grass snake.
- [Python](https://worldanimalrescuenetwork.org/wildlife-guides/python) — Varies by species (Least Concern to Endangered): Pythons are egg-laying constrictors (family Pythonidae) with ~40 species in Africa, Asia and Australia — non-venomous snakes threatened by skin trade, exotic pet demand and habitat loss.
- [Cobra](https://worldanimalrescuenetwork.org/wildlife-guides/cobra) — Varies by species (Least Concern to Vulnerable): Cobras are hooded venomous elapid snakes of Africa and Asia — including true cobras (Naja) and the king cobra — neurotoxic predators vital for rodent control but threatened by persecution and habitat loss.
- [Rattlesnake](https://worldanimalrescuenetwork.org/wildlife-guides/rattlesnake) — Varies by species (Least Concern to Endangered): Rattlesnakes are American pit vipers (~36 species) with tail rattles and heat-sensing pits — venomous rodent controllers whose status varies from Least Concern to Endangered.
- [Gecko](https://worldanimalrescuenetwork.org/wildlife-guides/gecko) — Varies by species (Least Concern to Critically Endangered): Geckos are gekkotan lizards with ~1,500 species worldwide — nocturnal climbers often with adhesive toe pads and vocal calls — ecologically valuable insect predators threatened locally by habitat loss and trade.
- [Monitor Lizard](https://worldanimalrescuenetwork.org/wildlife-guides/monitor-lizard) — Varies by species (Least Concern to Endangered): Monitor lizards (genus Varanus) comprise ~80 species including the Komodo dragon — intelligent predatory reptiles of Africa, Asia and Australasia threatened by trade, hunting and habitat loss.
- [Cougar](https://worldanimalrescuenetwork.org/wildlife-guides/cougar) — Least Concern (IUCN, 2014): The cougar (Puma concolor) — also known as puma or mountain lion — is a large solitary cat native to the Americas, listed as Least Concern by the IUCN; it is the most widespread wild cat in the Western Hemisphere but faces habitat loss and human conflict in many regions.
- [Bobcat](https://worldanimalrescuenetwork.org/wildlife-guides/bobcat) — Least Concern (IUCN, 2016): The bobcat (Lynx rufus) is a medium-sized North American wild cat listed as Least Concern by the IUCN; it is the continent's most widespread and adaptable felid, recognised by its tufted ears, spotted coat and short tail.
- [Lynx](https://worldanimalrescuenetwork.org/wildlife-guides/lynx) — Least Concern (IUCN, 2014): The Eurasian lynx (Lynx lynx) is Europe's largest wild cat, listed as Least Concern by the IUCN; it inhabits boreal and temperate forests across Eurasia and has recovered in several western European countries after decades of persecution.
- [Ocelot](https://worldanimalrescuenetwork.org/wildlife-guides/ocelot) — Least Concern (IUCN, 2014): The ocelot (Leopardus pardalis) is a spotted wild cat of the Americas, listed as Least Concern by the IUCN but declining locally due to habitat loss and historical over-trapping; a small population persists in southern Texas.
- [Polar Bear](https://worldanimalrescuenetwork.org/wildlife-guides/polar-bear) — Vulnerable: The polar bear (Ursus maritimus) is listed as Vulnerable by the IUCN, with an estimated 22,000–31,000 individuals; climate change and the loss of Arctic sea ice are the primary threats to its survival.
- [Grizzly Bear](https://worldanimalrescuenetwork.org/wildlife-guides/grizzly-bear) — Least Concern brown bear; threatened in parts of USA: The grizzly bear (Ursus arctos horribilis) is a North American brown bear subspecies; the brown bear is Least Concern globally, but grizzlies in the contiguous United States are protected under the Endangered Species Act with roughly 1,900 individuals south of Canada.
- [Black Bear](https://worldanimalrescuenetwork.org/wildlife-guides/black-bear) — Least Concern (IUCN, 2016): The American black bear (Ursus americanus) is listed as Least Concern by the IUCN, with an estimated 800,000+ individuals across North America — the continent's most common and widespread bear species.
- [Gibbon](https://worldanimalrescuenetwork.org/wildlife-guides/gibbon) — Varies by species (Endangered to Critically Endangered): Gibbons are tailless lesser apes of South-east Asian rainforest, brachiating through the canopy in monogamous family groups; most species are Endangered or Critically Endangered due to habitat loss and the illegal pet trade.
- [Tarsier](https://worldanimalrescuenetwork.org/wildlife-guides/tarsier) — Varies by species (Vulnerable to Endangered): Tarsiers are tiny nocturnal primates of South-east Asian islands, with the largest eyes relative to body size of any mammal; most species are Vulnerable to Endangered due to habitat loss and the pet trade.
- [Baboon](https://worldanimalrescuenetwork.org/wildlife-guides/baboon) — Varies by species (Least Concern to Near Threatened): Baboons are large Old World monkeys of the genus Papio, living in complex social troops across African savanna and desert; most species are Least Concern but face habitat loss and conflict with agriculture.
- [Hyena](https://worldanimalrescuenetwork.org/wildlife-guides/hyena) — Least Concern (IUCN, 2014) — spotted hyena: The spotted hyena (Crocuta crocuta) is Africa's most common large carnivore, living in matriarchal clans on the savanna; listed as Least Concern, it is a skilled hunter — not merely a scavenger — facing persecution and habitat loss.
- [Wildebeest](https://worldanimalrescuenetwork.org/wildlife-guides/wildebeest) — Least Concern (IUCN, 2016): The blue wildebeest (Connochaetes taurinus) is a gregarious grazing antelope of African savanna, central to the Great Migration of over a million animals between Serengeti and Maasai Mara; listed as Least Concern but declining outside protected areas.
- [Impala](https://worldanimalrescuenetwork.org/wildlife-guides/impala) — Least Concern (IUCN, 2016): The impala (Aepyceros melampus) is Africa's most widespread medium-sized antelope, listed as Least Concern; it inhabits savanna woodland across eastern and southern Africa and is a keystone prey species for major predators.
- [Warthog](https://worldanimalrescuenetwork.org/wildlife-guides/warthog) — Least Concern (IUCN, 2016): The common warthog (Phacochoerus africanus) is a grazing wild pig of African savanna, listed as Least Concern; recognisable by facial warts and tusks, it kneels to graze and shelters in burrows when threatened.
- [Gazelle](https://worldanimalrescuenetwork.org/wildlife-guides/gazelle) — Least Concern (IUCN, 2016) — Thomson's gazelle: Gazelles are small swift antelopes of Africa and Asia; Thomson's gazelle (Eudorcas thomsonii) of East Africa is Least Concern with roughly 500,000 individuals and is the cheetah's primary prey.
- [Antelope](https://worldanimalrescuenetwork.org/wildlife-guides/antelope) — Varies by species (Least Concern to Critically Endangered): Antelope are horned ruminants of the family Bovidae — roughly 90 species across Africa and Asia; African savanna antelope form the prey base for the continent's great predators, with conservation status ranging from abundant to Critically Endangered.
- [Binturong](https://worldanimalrescuenetwork.org/wildlife-guides/binturong) — Vulnerable: The binturong (Arctictis binturong) is a Vulnerable tree-dwelling viverrid of South-east Asian rainforest, the only Old World mammal with a fully prehensile tail; it is threatened by deforestation and the illegal pet trade.
- [Civet](https://worldanimalrescuenetwork.org/wildlife-guides/civet) — Least Concern (IUCN, 2015) — African civet: Civets are nocturnal viverrids of Africa and Asia; the African civet (Civettictis civetta) is Least Concern and widespread across sub-Saharan Africa, though Asian species face habitat loss and civet musk farming raises welfare concerns.
- [Aardvark](https://worldanimalrescuenetwork.org/wildlife-guides/aardvark) — Least Concern (IUCN, 2016): The aardvark (Orycteropus afer) is the only living species of its order, a nocturnal insectivore of sub-Saharan Africa listed as Least Concern; it digs for termites and its burrows shelter dozens of other species.
- [Gharial](https://worldanimalrescuenetwork.org/wildlife-guides/gharial) — Critically Endangered: The gharial (Gavialis gangeticus) is a Critically Endangered fish-eating crocodilian of India and Nepal with fewer than 900 mature individuals remaining; river damming, sand mining and pollution are the primary threats.
- [Ibex](https://worldanimalrescuenetwork.org/wildlife-guides/ibex) — Least Concern (IUCN, 2015) — Alpine ibex: Ibex are wild mountain goats of the genus Capra; the Alpine ibex (Capra ibex) is Least Concern after recovery from near extinction, with males carrying curved horns up to a metre long on cliffs across Europe and Asia.
- [Alpaca](https://worldanimalrescuenetwork.org/wildlife-guides/alpaca) — Domesticated — wild ancestor vicuña Least Concern: The alpaca (Vicugna pacos) is a domesticated Andean camelid kept for its fine fleece; descended from the vicuña, it has been farmed for over 6,000 years in Peru, Bolivia and neighbouring countries.
- [Llama](https://worldanimalrescuenetwork.org/wildlife-guides/llama) — Domesticated — wild ancestor guanaco Least Concern: The llama (Lama glama) is a domesticated Andean camelid bred for 5,000+ years as a pack animal and fibre source; descended from the guanaco, roughly seven million llamas support highland communities in Peru and Bolivia.
- [Hawk](https://worldanimalrescuenetwork.org/wildlife-guides/hawk) — Varies by species (Least Concern to Critically Endangered): Hawks are birds of prey in the family Accipitridae — roughly 250 species worldwide; they hunt by sight using talons and hooked beaks, with conservation status ranging from abundant to Critically Endangered depending on species.
- [Falcon](https://worldanimalrescuenetwork.org/wildlife-guides/falcon) — Varies by species (Least Concern to Critically Endangered): Falcons are birds of prey in the family Falconidae — roughly 65 species including the peregrine, the fastest animal on Earth at over 320 km/h; most species recovered from DDT declines and are now Least Concern.
- [Osprey](https://worldanimalrescuenetwork.org/wildlife-guides/osprey) — Least Concern (IUCN, 2015): The osprey (Pandion haliaetus) is a Least Concern fish-eating raptor found worldwide, the only member of family Pandionidae; it recovered from DDT declines and hunts by plunging feet-first into water to catch fish.
- [Eagle](https://worldanimalrescuenetwork.org/wildlife-guides/eagle) — Varies by species (Least Concern to Critically Endangered): Eagles are large birds of prey in the family Accipitridae — roughly 60 species worldwide; they are apex raptors with powerful talons and keen eyesight, with conservation status ranging from recovered (bald eagle) to Critically Endangered (Philippine eagle).
- [Rhino](https://worldanimalrescuenetwork.org/wildlife-guides/rhino) — Varies by species (Near Threatened to Critically Endangered): Rhinoceroses are five living species of horned megaherbivores in Africa and Asia; all are threatened by poaching for keratin horn, with three species Critically Endangered including the Sumatran rhino with fewer than 50 individuals.
- [Bear](https://worldanimalrescuenetwork.org/wildlife-guides/bear) — Varies by species (Vulnerable to Least Concern): Bears are eight living species in the family Ursidae across North America, South America, Europe and Asia; conservation status ranges from abundant (American black bear) to Vulnerable (polar bear, sun bear) to dependent on intensive protection (giant panda).
- [Whale](https://worldanimalrescuenetwork.org/wildlife-guides/whale) — Varies by species (Least Concern to Critically Endangered): Whales are cetacean mammals (~90 species) including baleen and toothed forms — from the blue whale to sperm whales and orcas; status ranges from recovering humpbacks to Critically Endangered vaquita and North Atlantic right whale.
- [Wolf](https://worldanimalrescuenetwork.org/wildlife-guides/wolf) — Least Concern globally (IUCN); regional populations vary: The grey wolf (Canis lupus) is a Least Concern pack-hunting canid of the Northern Hemisphere and wild ancestor of dogs — regionally extirpated in much of Europe and North America but recovering where reintroduced.
- [Turtle](https://worldanimalrescuenetwork.org/wildlife-guides/turtle) — Varies by species (many Vulnerable to Critically Endangered): Turtles (order Testudines) are ~360 species of shelled reptiles — sea turtles, freshwater terrapins and land tortoises — many Vulnerable to Critically Endangered from trade, bycatch and habitat loss.
- [Otter](https://worldanimalrescuenetwork.org/wildlife-guides/otter) — Varies by species (Least Concern to Endangered): Otters are 13 species of aquatic mustelids worldwide — from the Endangered giant otter of South America to the recovering sea otter of the Pacific; status ranges from Least Concern to Endangered.
- [Leopard](https://worldanimalrescuenetwork.org/wildlife-guides/leopard) — Varies by species (Vulnerable to Endangered): Leopards are spotted Panthera cats of Africa and Asia — Vulnerable (Panthera pardus) — plus clouded leopards and snow leopards as distinct species covered in separate WARN guides.
- [Crocodile](https://worldanimalrescuenetwork.org/wildlife-guides/crocodile) — Varies by species (Least Concern to Critically Endangered): Crocodilians are ~26 species of large aquatic reptiles — crocodiles, alligators, caimans and gharials — with status from Least Concern to Critically Endangered; WARN covers saltwater crocodile and alligator in detail.
- [Donkey](https://worldanimalrescuenetwork.org/wildlife-guides/donkey) — Domestic species; wild ancestor Critically Endangered: Donkeys (Equus asinus) are domestic equids used worldwide for transport and companionship — their wild ancestor is Critically Endangered; millions are killed yearly for the ejiao skin trade.
- [Tapir](https://worldanimalrescuenetwork.org/wildlife-guides/tapir) — Endangered to Vulnerable (all four species threatened): Tapirs are four threatened species of forest herbivore in Asia and the Americas — all Endangered or Vulnerable — serving as seed dispersers; WARN covers the Malayan tapir in detail.
- [Panther](https://worldanimalrescuenetwork.org/wildlife-guides/panther) — Not a single species — see cougar, jaguar and leopard guides: 'Panther' is a colloquial term — not one species — referring to melanistic leopards or jaguars, cougars (including Florida panther) or large cats generally; WARN covers cougar, jaguar and leopard in dedicated guides.
- [Guinea Pig](https://worldanimalrescuenetwork.org/wildlife-guides/guinea-pig) — Domesticated — not assessed; wild Cavia aperea Least Concern: The guinea pig (Cavia porcellus) is a domesticated South American rodent that must live with companions, needs daily vitamin C and spacious enclosures — not solitary confinement in small hutches.
- [Hamster](https://worldanimalrescuenetwork.org/wildlife-guides/hamster) — Wild Syrian hamster Vulnerable; dwarf species vary — pets are domestic lines: Hamsters are nocturnal cricetine rodents — Syrian hamsters must live alone; dwarf species may tolerate pairs. Wild Syrian hamsters are Vulnerable; pet welfare requires large enclosures, deep bedding and wheels with a straight back.
- [Chicken](https://worldanimalrescuenetwork.org/wildlife-guides/chicken) — Domesticated — wild red junglefowl Least Concern (IUCN): Chickens (Gallus gallus domesticus) descend from Least Concern red junglefowl — the world's commonest bird, raised for meat and eggs; backyard companions need space, dust baths and predator-safe housing unlike industrial systems.
- [Goldfish](https://worldanimalrescuenetwork.org/wildlife-guides/goldfish) — Domesticated — feral populations invasive; wild Carassius species Least Concern: Goldfish (Carassius auratus) are domesticated East Asian carp relatives needing filtered tanks of 150+ litres per fancy fish — not bowls; released fish become invasive ecosystem pests.
- [Betta](https://worldanimalrescuenetwork.org/wildlife-guides/betta) — Vulnerable (IUCN, 2011) — wild populations in Thailand threatened: Betta splendens is a Vulnerable labyrinth fish of South-east Asian rice paddies — males are territorial; pet bettas need heated filtered tanks of at least 15–20 litres, not unheated bowls or vases.
- [Koi](https://worldanimalrescuenetwork.org/wildlife-guides/koi) — Wild common carp Vulnerable in native range; koi are domestic ornamental lines: Koi are ornamental domestic carp bred for pond display — wild Cyprinus carpio is Vulnerable; koi need large filtered ponds, quarantine and never release into wild waterways.
- [Guppy](https://worldanimalrescuenetwork.org/wildlife-guides/guppy) — Least Concern (IUCN, 2019) — widespread in native and introduced range: Guppies (Poecilia reticulata) are Least Concern livebearing fish of South America — popular aquarium species needing heated filtered tanks, not overcrowded cups; males harass females without adequate cover.
- [Cow](https://worldanimalrescuenetwork.org/wildlife-guides/cow) — Domesticated — wild aurochs (Bos primigenius) extinct since 1627: Cattle (Bos taurus) are domesticated descendants of extinct aurochs — social herd animals raised for milk and meat; industrial systems impose calf separation, repeated pregnancy and early culling despite natural lifespans of 15–20 years.
- [Sheep](https://worldanimalrescuenetwork.org/wildlife-guides/sheep) — Domesticated — wild mouflon (Ovis gmelini) Near Threatened: Sheep (Ovis aries) are flock livestock domesticated from wild mouflon — social prey animals needing companions; commercial wool and lamb systems impose tail docking, transport stress and predator culls.
- [Goat](https://worldanimalrescuenetwork.org/wildlife-guides/goat) — Domesticated — wild bezoar (Capra aegagrus) Near Threatened: Goats (Capra hircus) are intelligent browsing livestock domesticated from Near Threatened bezoar ibex — need companions, climbing enrichment and hoof care; tethering and solitary keeping cause severe welfare harm.
- [Raccoon](https://worldanimalrescuenetwork.org/wildlife-guides/raccoon) — Least Concern (IUCN): The raccoon (Procyon lotor) is a Least Concern omnivorous procyonid native to the Americas, famous for its eye mask, ringed tail and dexterous paws; it thrives in wild and urban habitats and has been introduced to Europe.
- [Beaver](https://worldanimalrescuenetwork.org/wildlife-guides/beaver) — Least Concern (IUCN): Beavers are Least Concern rodents of the genus Castor — the Eurasian and American species build dams and lodges that create wetlands supporting fish, birds and amphibians; Eurasian beavers recovered from near extinction through reintroduction.
- [Badger](https://worldanimalrescuenetwork.org/wildlife-guides/badger) — Least Concern (IUCN): The European badger (Meles meles) is a Least Concern mustelid of European and Asian woodlands, living in social groups in extensive underground setts and feeding on earthworms, fruit and small vertebrates.
- [Jackal](https://worldanimalrescuenetwork.org/wildlife-guides/jackal) — Least Concern (IUCN): The golden jackal (Canis aureus) is a Least Concern wild canid ranging from Africa through the Middle East to Pakistan and Nepal — an adaptable omnivore of savanna, scrub and farmland.
- [Mongoose](https://worldanimalrescuenetwork.org/wildlife-guides/mongoose) — Least Concern (IUCN, 2016) — small Asian mongoose; family Herpestidae: Mongooses are small carnivorans of family Herpestidae — roughly 34 species across Africa and Asia; the small Asian mongoose (Herpestes javanicus) is Least Concern and native from Pakistan to Indonesia, famous for hunting snakes.
- [Wild Boar](https://worldanimalrescuenetwork.org/wildlife-guides/wild-boar) — Least Concern (IUCN): The wild boar (Sus scrofa) is a Least Concern suid native across Europe, Asia and North Africa — ancestor of the domestic pig, widespread from Pakistan to Indonesia and increasing across Europe.
- [Sloth Bear](https://worldanimalrescuenetwork.org/wildlife-guides/sloth-bear) — Vulnerable: The sloth bear (Melursus ursinus) is a Vulnerable myrmecophagous bear of India, Nepal, Sri Lanka and Bhutan — adapted for eating ants and termites with long claws and a tube-like muzzle, threatened by habitat loss and conflict.
- [Buffalo](https://worldanimalrescuenetwork.org/wildlife-guides/buffalo) — Near Threatened: The African buffalo (Syncerus caffer) is a Least Concern bovid of sub-Saharan Africa — a 900 kg herd grazer and formidable prey for lions, with roughly 400,000 individuals; Asian wild water buffalo is a separate Endangered species.
- [Yak](https://worldanimalrescuenetwork.org/wildlife-guides/yak) — Vulnerable: The wild yak (Bos mutus) is a Vulnerable high-altitude bovid of the Tibetan Plateau and Himalayas — ancestor of the domestic yak, threatened by hunting, hybridisation and habitat disturbance; remnant populations persist in Pakistan and Nepal.
- [Gaur](https://worldanimalrescuenetwork.org/wildlife-guides/gaur) — Vulnerable: The gaur (Bos gaurus) is a Vulnerable forest bovid — the largest wild cattle species, ranging from India through Malaysia; threatened by habitat loss, bushmeat hunting and agricultural encroachment.
- [Pigeon](https://worldanimalrescuenetwork.org/wildlife-guides/pigeon) — Least Concern (IUCN, 2016) — wild rock pigeon: The rock pigeon (Columba livia) is a Least Concern columbid native to Europe, North Africa and western Asia, now feral in cities worldwide; it is the wild ancestor of domestic racing and homing pigeons.
- [Dove](https://worldanimalrescuenetwork.org/wildlife-guides/dove) — Vulnerable: The European turtle dove (Streptopelia turtur) is a Vulnerable migratory columbid of European woodland and farmland, declining by roughly 80% since 1970 due to habitat loss, hunting and agricultural intensification.
- [Sparrow](https://worldanimalrescuenetwork.org/wildlife-guides/sparrow) — Least Concern (IUCN, 2018) — steep decline in parts of Europe: The house sparrow (Passer domesticus) is a Least Concern passerine found on every continent except Antarctica; globally abundant but declined by over 70% in urban Britain since the 1970s.
- [Raven](https://worldanimalrescuenetwork.org/wildlife-guides/raven) — Least Concern (IUCN, 2018): The common raven (Corvus corax) is a Least Concern corvid of the Northern Hemisphere — the largest passerine, renowned for intelligence, tool use and deep cultural significance.
- [Salamander](https://worldanimalrescuenetwork.org/wildlife-guides/salamander) — Near Threatened: Salamanders are tailed amphibians of order Caudata; the fire salamander (Salamandra salamandra) is Near Threatened in Europe, threatened by Bsal fungus linked to the pet trade, while many species face habitat loss and overharvesting.
- [Eel](https://worldanimalrescuenetwork.org/wildlife-guides/eel) — Critically Endangered: The European eel (Anguilla anguilla) is a Critically Endangered catadromous fish spawning in the Sargasso Sea; populations have declined over 90% since the 1970s from dams, pollution, fisheries and illegal trade.
- [Pufferfish](https://worldanimalrescuenetwork.org/wildlife-guides/pufferfish) — Varies by species — Chinese puffer Critically Endangered; many Data Deficient: Pufferfish (Tetraodontidae) are roughly 200 species of toxic, inflatable fish worldwide; IUCN status varies — Chinese puffer Critically Endangered — threatened by overfishing, habitat loss and bycatch.
- [Clownfish](https://worldanimalrescuenetwork.org/wildlife-guides/clownfish) — Least Concern (IUCN, 2010) — coral reef dependent: The ocellaris clownfish (Amphiprion ocellaris) is a Least Concern anemonefish of the Indo-Pacific, dependent on coral reef and anemone habitat; reef degradation and past wild collection threaten populations.
- [Salmon](https://worldanimalrescuenetwork.org/wildlife-guides/salmon) — Least Concern globally (IUCN, 2018) — Endangered in parts of range: The Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar) is Least Concern globally but Endangered in much of its southern range; anadromous fish threatened by dams, aquaculture, sea lice, overfishing and river pollution.
- [Tuna](https://worldanimalrescuenetwork.org/wildlife-guides/tuna) — Least Concern (IUCN, 2021) — Southern bluefin Endangered: Atlantic bluefin tuna (Thunnus thynnus) is Least Concern after stock recovery (IUCN, 2021); Southern bluefin is Endangered. Global tuna fisheries face overfishing, bycatch of sharks and turtles, and IUU fishing.
- [Swordfish](https://worldanimalrescuenetwork.org/wildlife-guides/swordfish) — Least Concern (IUCN, 2021) — overfished in parts of range: The swordfish (Xiphias gladius) is a Least Concern billfish of global oceans, managed in the Atlantic but overfished in the Mediterranean; longline fisheries cause shark and turtle bycatch.
- [Marlin](https://worldanimalrescuenetwork.org/wildlife-guides/marlin) — Vulnerable: The blue marlin (Makaira nigricans) is a Vulnerable billfish of tropical oceans, declining from longline bycatch and overfishing; white and striped marlin face similar pressures.
- [Angelfish](https://worldanimalrescuenetwork.org/wildlife-guides/angelfish) — Domesticated aquarium fish; wild type widespread in the Amazon basin: Angelfish (Pterophyllum scalare) are tall Amazonian cichlids kept worldwide in aquariums; the many 'varieties' are line-bred colour and fin forms of one species, needing a tall planted tank of 110+ litres and calm tankmates.
- [Cockatiel](https://worldanimalrescuenetwork.org/wildlife-guides/cockatiel) — Least Concern (IUCN) — wild cockatiel; abundant across Australia: The cockatiel (Nymphicus hollandicus) is a small Australian parrot — the smallest cockatoo, Least Concern in the wild — kept worldwide as a gentle pet; its colour 'varieties' are captive-bred mutations of one species.
- [Leopard Gecko](https://worldanimalrescuenetwork.org/wildlife-guides/leopard-gecko) — Least Concern (IUCN) — wild leopard gecko: The leopard gecko (Eublepharis macularius) is a hardy, ground-dwelling South Asian lizard — Least Concern in the wild — and a popular beginner pet; its many 'morphs' are captive-bred colour and pattern lines of one species.
- [Ball Python](https://worldanimalrescuenetwork.org/wildlife-guides/ball-python) — Least Concern (IUCN) but heavily traded; CITES Appendix II: The ball python (Python regius) is a small, docile African snake — Least Concern but heavily traded (CITES Appendix II) — and the world's most popular pet snake; its thousands of 'morphs' are captive-bred colour and pattern forms of one species.
- [Monkey](https://worldanimalrescuenetwork.org/wildlife-guides/monkey) — Varies by species (Least Concern to Critically Endangered): Monkeys are tailed simian primates of the Americas, Africa and Asia — roughly 260+ species with forward-facing eyes, grasping hands and complex social groups. They are distinct from tailless apes; status ranges from Least Concern to Critically Endangered, and most species are protected from international trade.
- [Tarantula](https://worldanimalrescuenetwork.org/wildlife-guides/tarantula) — Varies by species — most Not Evaluated; some Critically Endangered (IUCN): Tarantulas are large, hairy spiders of the family Theraphosidae, with over 1,180 species found worldwide; while most are not individually evaluated by the IUCN, species such as Poecilotheria tarantulas from India and Sri Lanka are listed as Critically Endangered due to habitat loss and the illegal pet trade.
- [Bearded Dragon](https://worldanimalrescuenetwork.org/wildlife-guides/bearded-dragon) — Least Concern (IUCN): The central bearded dragon (Pogona vitticeps) is a Least Concern lizard native to the arid scrublands of eastern and central Australia, renowned for its darkening throat pouch and unique ability to have sex determined by either chromosomes or incubation temperature.
- [Moose](https://worldanimalrescuenetwork.org/wildlife-guides/moose) — Least Concern (IUCN): The moose (Alces alces) is the world's largest deer, standing up to 2.1 m (7 ft) at the shoulder and weighing up to 771 kg (1,700 lb), found across the boreal forests of North America, Northern Europe, and Russia.
- [American Bison](https://worldanimalrescuenetwork.org/wildlife-guides/bison) — Near Threatened: The American bison is the largest land mammal in North America, listed as Near Threatened by the IUCN with an estimated 15,000 truly wild individuals remaining after a dramatic near-extinction in the 19th century.
- [Quokka](https://worldanimalrescuenetwork.org/wildlife-guides/quokka) — Vulnerable: The quokka is a Vulnerable marsupial found only in south-western Western Australia, best known for its photogenic "smile" but facing serious threats from feral predators, habitat loss, and climate change.
- [Uakari](https://worldanimalrescuenetwork.org/wildlife-guides/uakari) — Least Concern (IUCN 2024) — varies by species: The bald uakari (Cacajao calvus) is a short-tailed, crimson-faced primate found exclusively in the seasonally flooded forests of the western Amazon; its fiery red face signals health to potential mates and makes it one of the most distinctive monkeys in South America.
- [Urial](https://worldanimalrescuenetwork.org/wildlife-guides/urial) — Vulnerable: The urial (Ovis vignei) is a Vulnerable wild sheep of Central and South Asia, with around 30,000 individuals remaining and populations declining across most of its range due to poaching, habitat loss, and livestock competition.
- [Vaquita](https://worldanimalrescuenetwork.org/wildlife-guides/vaquita) — Critically Endangered: The vaquita (Phocoena sinus) is the world's rarest marine mammal, a small porpoise found only in Mexico's Gulf of California, with fewer than ten individuals remaining as of 2025 due to drowning in illegal gillnets.
- [Xerus (African Ground Squirrel)](https://worldanimalrescuenetwork.org/wildlife-guides/xerus) — Least Concern (IUCN) — all four species: Xerus are African ground squirrels — small, sociable, burrowing rodents found across sub-Saharan Africa that are famous for using their bushy tails as portable parasols to stay cool in scorching heat; all four species are currently Least Concern on the IUCN Red List.
- [Wombat](https://worldanimalrescuenetwork.org/wildlife-guides/wombat) — Varies by species: Common Wombat — Least Concern (IUCN 2024); Northern Hairy-nosed Wombat — Critically Endangered (IUCN 2015): Wombats are stocky Australian marsupials in the family Vombatidae; the common wombat is Least Concern on the IUCN Red List, while the northern hairy-nosed wombat is Critically Endangered with fewer than 400 individuals surviving in Queensland.
- [Chipmunk](https://worldanimalrescuenetwork.org/wildlife-guides/chipmunk) — Least Concern (IUCN) — most species; Peñasco subspecies Endangered (US ESA, 2024): Chipmunks are small striped rodents of the subtribe Tamiina — found across North America and in one Asian species — that are mostly Least Concern on the IUCN Red List, though one New Mexico subspecies was listed as Endangered under the US Endangered Species Act in December 2024.
- [Skunk](https://worldanimalrescuenetwork.org/wildlife-guides/skunk) — Least Concern (IUCN): The skunk (family Mephitidae) is a small-to-medium omnivorous mammal found throughout the Americas, best known for its powerful sulphur-compound defensive spray, which it can aim accurately at threats up to six metres away.
- [Coyote](https://worldanimalrescuenetwork.org/wildlife-guides/coyote) — Least Concern (IUCN): The coyote (Canis latrans) is a highly adaptable wild canid found across North and Central America — from Alaska to Panama — where it plays a vital role controlling rodent populations and is classified as Least Concern by the IUCN with a stable and expanding population.
- [Hare](https://worldanimalrescuenetwork.org/wildlife-guides/hare) — Least Concern — most species (IUCN); some regional populations declining: Hares (genus Lepus, ~32 species) are large, fast-running lagomorphs found across Europe, Asia, Africa, and the Americas, most classified as Least Concern by the IUCN, though European hare populations have declined significantly since the 1960s due to agricultural intensification.
- [Caracal](https://worldanimalrescuenetwork.org/wildlife-guides/caracal) — Least Concern (IUCN): The caracal is a medium-sized wild cat native to Africa, the Middle East, and South Asia, classified as Least Concern globally by the IUCN but critically threatened in parts of Asia, including Pakistan, where fewer than 150 individuals may remain.
- [Serval](https://worldanimalrescuenetwork.org/wildlife-guides/serval) — Least Concern (IUCN): The serval is a medium-sized African wild cat (Leptailurus serval) renowned for having the largest ears relative to body size of any cat species, a hunting success rate near 50 percent, and the longest legs relative to body size of any wild felid.
- [Giant Anteater](https://worldanimalrescuenetwork.org/wildlife-guides/anteater) — Vulnerable: The giant anteater is a large, toothless mammal of Central and South America listed as Vulnerable by the IUCN, with populations declining by at least 30% over the past three generations due to habitat loss, fire, and road mortality.
- [Echidna](https://worldanimalrescuenetwork.org/wildlife-guides/echidna) — Least Concern (IUCN): The short-beaked echidna is an egg-laying mammal native to Australia and New Guinea, recognisable by its sharp spines, elongated snout, and extraordinary ability to sense prey through electric fields — making it one of the most evolutionarily ancient and biologically unique mammals alive today.
- [Tasmanian Devil](https://worldanimalrescuenetwork.org/wildlife-guides/tasmanian-devil) — Endangered: The Tasmanian devil (Sarcophilus harrisii) is an Endangered carnivorous marsupial found only in Tasmania, Australia, whose wild population has plummeted by around 80% since the 1990s due to a transmissible facial cancer called Devil Facial Tumour Disease (DFTD).
- [Wallaby](https://worldanimalrescuenetwork.org/wildlife-guides/wallaby) — Varies by species — most Least Concern (IUCN); some Near Threatened, Vulnerable or Endangered: Wallabies are small-to-medium marsupials native to Australia and New Guinea, closely related to kangaroos, with more than 30 species ranging from common and widespread to Near Threatened, Vulnerable or Endangered depending on the species.
- [Dingo](https://worldanimalrescuenetwork.org/wildlife-guides/dingo) — Vulnerable (historical IUCN 2008; removed from Red List 2019): The dingo is Australia's native wild dog and apex predator, historically classified as Vulnerable due to widespread persecution and hybridisation with domestic dogs — though it was removed from the IUCN Red List in 2019 following taxonomic reclassification, and new genomic research suggests pure dingoes are more numerous than previously feared.
- [Wolverine](https://worldanimalrescuenetwork.org/wildlife-guides/wolverine) — Least Concern (IUCN): The wolverine (Gulo gulo) is a large, powerful member of the weasel family found across boreal and Arctic regions of North America and Eurasia, classified as Least Concern globally by the IUCN but facing serious pressure from climate-driven snowpack loss, trapping, and habitat fragmentation.
- [Elk (Wapiti)](https://worldanimalrescuenetwork.org/wildlife-guides/elk) — Least Concern (IUCN): The elk (Cervus canadensis) is a Least Concern deer species numbering over one million in North America, renowned for its towering antlers, powerful bugle call, and remarkable recovery from near-extinction in the early twentieth century.
- [Beluga Whale](https://worldanimalrescuenetwork.org/wildlife-guides/beluga) — Least Concern (IUCN): The beluga whale is a small, all-white Arctic cetacean renowned for its extraordinary vocal range, flexible neck and ability to navigate beneath sea ice, currently assessed as Least Concern overall by the IUCN but with several regional populations in serious decline.
- [Marmot](https://worldanimalrescuenetwork.org/wildlife-guides/marmot) — Varies by species — most Least Concern (IUCN); Vancouver Island marmot Critically Endangered; Mongolian marmot Endangered: Marmots are large, burrowing ground squirrels of the genus Marmota found across mountain and steppe habitats in North America and Eurasia; most of the 15 species are Least Concern, though the Vancouver Island marmot is Critically Endangered and the Mongolian marmot is Endangered.
- [Pika](https://worldanimalrescuenetwork.org/wildlife-guides/pika) — Varies by species (Least Concern to Endangered — IUCN): Pikas (genus Ochotona) are small, round-eared alpine mammals related to rabbits that live on cold, rocky mountain slopes across Asia and western North America, where they are threatened by rising temperatures that their heat-sensitive bodies cannot tolerate.
- [Condor](https://worldanimalrescuenetwork.org/wildlife-guides/condor) — Varies by species: Andean Condor — Vulnerable (IUCN); California Condor — Critically Endangered (IUCN): Condors are the largest flying land birds in the Western Hemisphere: the Andean condor (Vultur gryphus) is listed as Vulnerable by the IUCN with roughly 6,700 mature individuals remaining, while the California condor (Gymnogyps californianus) is Critically Endangered but recovering, with approximately 607 birds alive as of 2025 thanks to an intensive captive-breeding and reintroduction programme that saved it from a low of just 22 birds in 1982.
- [Kiwi](https://worldanimalrescuenetwork.org/wildlife-guides/kiwi) — Varies by species: Vulnerable to Near Threatened (IUCN): The kiwi is a flightless, nocturnal bird unique to New Zealand — all five species are threatened, with an estimated 68,000 individuals remaining and unmanaged populations declining at roughly 2 percent per year.
- [Cassowary](https://worldanimalrescuenetwork.org/wildlife-guides/cassowary) — Least Concern (IUCN) — Southern; varies by species: The cassowary is a large, flightless bird native to the rainforests of New Guinea and north-eastern Australia, renowned for its bony head casque, vivid neck colouring, and critical role as a seed disperser for hundreds of tropical plant species.
- [Kookaburra](https://worldanimalrescuenetwork.org/wildlife-guides/kookaburra) — Least Concern (IUCN): The laughing kookaburra (Dacelo novaeguineae) is the world's largest kingfisher, native to eastern Australia, and is famous for its loud, cackling territorial call often described as human laughter.
- [Roadrunner](https://worldanimalrescuenetwork.org/wildlife-guides/roadrunner) — Least Concern (IUCN): The Greater Roadrunner (Geococcyx californianus) is a swift, ground-dwelling cuckoo of the southwestern United States and Mexico, classified as Least Concern on the IUCN Red List with an estimated 1.4 million mature individuals and an increasing global population trend.
- [Crane](https://worldanimalrescuenetwork.org/wildlife-guides/crane) — Varies by species (Critically Endangered to Least Concern): Cranes are a family (Gruidae) of 15 large, long-lived wading birds found on every continent except South America and Antarctica; the family spans conservation statuses from Least Concern (Common Crane, over 700,000 birds) to Critically Endangered (Siberian Crane, roughly 6,500–7,000 birds), making them collectively one of the most threatened bird groups in the world.
- [Caiman](https://worldanimalrescuenetwork.org/wildlife-guides/caiman) — Least Concern (IUCN) — varies by species: Caimans are freshwater crocodilians native to Central and South America, with the spectacled caiman being the world's most numerous crocodilian — estimated at over one million mature individuals by the IUCN and listed as Least Concern.
- [Tortoise](https://worldanimalrescuenetwork.org/wildlife-guides/tortoise) — Varies by species — many Critically Endangered (IUCN): Tortoises (family Testudinidae) are fully terrestrial reptiles found across warm regions worldwide; over 86% of species are threatened or extinct, driven by illegal trade, habitat loss, and the pet industry.
- [Gila Monster](https://worldanimalrescuenetwork.org/wildlife-guides/gila-monster) — Near Threatened: The Gila monster is a heavy, slow-moving venomous lizard of the American Southwest, classified as Near Threatened by the IUCN due to habitat loss, road mortality, and climate-driven changes to its desert home.
- [Black Mamba](https://worldanimalrescuenetwork.org/wildlife-guides/black-mamba) — Least Concern (IUCN): The black mamba (Dendroaspis polylepis) is the longest venomous snake in Africa, capable of speeds up to 19 km/h, with a potent neurotoxic venom that is nearly 100% fatal if untreated — yet it is listed as Least Concern by the IUCN and remains ecologically important as a predator of rodents and small mammals across sub-Saharan Africa.
- [Piranha](https://worldanimalrescuenetwork.org/wildlife-guides/piranha) — Least Concern (IUCN) — species-level status varies across the genus: The piranha is a freshwater fish native to South American river systems, most abundant in the Amazon basin, where it serves as both predator and scavenger; the red-bellied piranha (Pygocentrus nattereri) is rated Least Concern by the IUCN but faces growing pressure from deforestation, dam construction, and mercury pollution across its range.
- [Sturgeon](https://worldanimalrescuenetwork.org/wildlife-guides/sturgeon) — Varies by species — majority Critically Endangered (IUCN): Sturgeons (family Acipenseridae) are ancient, armoured freshwater and anadromous fish of the Northern Hemisphere; they are the most endangered group of animals on Earth, with 17 of 26 surviving species listed as Critically Endangered on the IUCN Red List, driven to the brink by poaching for caviar, dams that block migration, and widespread habitat loss.
- [Shoebill](https://worldanimalrescuenetwork.org/wildlife-guides/shoebill) — Vulnerable (IUCN, 2018): The shoebill (Balaeniceps rex) is a Vulnerable African swamp bird famous for its massive shoe-shaped bill and motionless hunting posture; roughly 5,000–8,000 individuals remain in Central and East African wetlands.