5 Ugly Endangered Animals That Need Love Too
Start writing a post
Lifestyle

5 Ugly Endangered Animals That Need Love Too

No pandas or white tigers here!

588
5 Ugly Endangered Animals That Need Love Too
Pixabay

When you think of endangered animals what do you think? Probably something along the lines of a great panda, all fluffy and cute, just lounging around and harmlessly eating bamboo. No predation here! Or perhaps the bald eagle, a symbol of our country soaring through the air, landing by its nest in a tall pine tree carefully caring for its eggs so that the species may live on.

But what if I told you not all endangered animals are as cute as a panda or as regal as a bald eagle? In fact, quite a few of them are ugly as hell. Just awful. Absolutely hideous. And they need love too. Since "pretty" and "cute" endangered animals usually get the most attention and funding.

These animals weren't designed by God to be pleasant for humans to look at, their hideous features are the product of years and years of evolution and serve very specific purposes. Hopefully, by the end of this article, you'll gain a new appreciation for these animals. I also will be roasting them a little in the process.

1. California Condor

If you live in the United States and have ever seen a vulture (either at the side of the road picking at road kill or maybe even flying overhead) it was probably a turkey vulture. For some perspective, the turkey vulture can have a wingspan of up to six feet. The Condor? Ten feet.

Besides that, the condor can be distinguished by the fancy Disney villain-esque feather boa looking ring around its neck and a head that's more fleshy/peach colored than the head of the turkey vulture.

The saddest thing of all is that condors aren't dying out because of drought or habitat destruction or anything like that, they're getting poisoned by lead bullets. Not shot, but they eat the bullets left by hunters and die.

Vultures are actually really important. They're like the garbage men of nature. By consuming decaying meat, they get rid of the bacteria and germs those carcasses would otherwise spread to other animals or the nearby environment.

[Source]

2. Amazon River Dolphin


Give a four-year-old a couple pieces of strawberry Laffy Taffy. The four-year-old drops them on the dusty floor and picks them back up again. Now ask that four-year-old to try and sculpt a dolphin. That is what the Amazon river dolphin looks like.

One of the main threats to the Amazon river dolphin is the installation of hydroelectric dams. It's really unfortunate because the use of hydroelectric dams cuts down on a number of fossil fuels used for power. These fossil fuels emit carbon dioxide into the air which leads to ocean acidification, a process that greatly contributes to the massive death of coral reefs around the ocean which can also harm other species. You're damned if you do, and you're damned if you don't.

[Source]

3. Humphead Wrasse


This reef fish looks like it got hit with an ACME anvil in a roadrunner episode. Humphead wrasses can grow up to six feet in length, and their main downfall is poaching.

Similar to shark finning, its endangerment is due to its culinary appeal.

Sources [1] [2]

4. Maclaud's Horseshoe Bat

There are actually quite a few species of bat that are endangered, but for people who don't like bats, they're gonna think all of them are ugly (like the flying fox bat, who I personally think is adorable, it has a puppy dog face, but the size sketches people out.) But I decided to pick the ugliest, one that even I, someone who appreciates bats, will find ugly.

And WOW this guy looks like he came straight out of your nightmares.

These dudes are from Guinea. Their main threat is habitat loss, as well as bushmeat hunting. So imagine someone breaking into your house, burning it down, and then running after you trying to eat you. That's what the Maclauds horseshoe bat has to deal with.

[Source]

5. Proboscis Monkey

Hey, its Gonzo from the muppets!

The proboscis monkey is only found in Borneo, a large island that's part of Indonesia. Only the males have the shockingly enormous noses. The noses serve no purpose other than to help find mates, its a form of sexual selection. Their main threat is habitat destruction.

[Source]


Report this Content
This article has not been reviewed by Odyssey HQ and solely reflects the ideas and opinions of the creator.
the beatles
Wikipedia Commons

For as long as I can remember, I have been listening to The Beatles. Every year, my mom would appropriately blast “Birthday” on anyone’s birthday. I knew all of the words to “Back In The U.S.S.R” by the time I was 5 (Even though I had no idea what or where the U.S.S.R was). I grew up with John, Paul, George, and Ringo instead Justin, JC, Joey, Chris and Lance (I had to google N*SYNC to remember their names). The highlight of my short life was Paul McCartney in concert twice. I’m not someone to “fangirl” but those days I fangirled hard. The music of The Beatles has gotten me through everything. Their songs have brought me more joy, peace, and comfort. I can listen to them in any situation and find what I need. Here are the best lyrics from The Beatles for every and any occasion.

Keep Reading...Show less
Being Invisible The Best Super Power

The best superpower ever? Being invisible of course. Imagine just being able to go from seen to unseen on a dime. Who wouldn't want to have the opportunity to be invisible? Superman and Batman have nothing on being invisible with their superhero abilities. Here are some things that you could do while being invisible, because being invisible can benefit your social life too.

Keep Reading...Show less
Featured

19 Lessons I'll Never Forget from Growing Up In a Small Town

There have been many lessons learned.

70880
houses under green sky
Photo by Alev Takil on Unsplash

Small towns certainly have their pros and cons. Many people who grow up in small towns find themselves counting the days until they get to escape their roots and plant new ones in bigger, "better" places. And that's fine. I'd be lying if I said I hadn't thought those same thoughts before too. We all have, but they say it's important to remember where you came from. When I think about where I come from, I can't help having an overwhelming feeling of gratitude for my roots. Being from a small town has taught me so many important lessons that I will carry with me for the rest of my life.

Keep Reading...Show less
​a woman sitting at a table having a coffee
nappy.co

I can't say "thank you" enough to express how grateful I am for you coming into my life. You have made such a huge impact on my life. I would not be the person I am today without you and I know that you will keep inspiring me to become an even better version of myself.

Keep Reading...Show less
Student Life

Waitlisted for a College Class? Here's What to Do!

Dealing with the inevitable realities of college life.

132473
college students waiting in a long line in the hallway
StableDiffusion

Course registration at college can be a big hassle and is almost never talked about. Classes you want to take fill up before you get a chance to register. You might change your mind about a class you want to take and must struggle to find another class to fit in the same time period. You also have to make sure no classes clash by time. Like I said, it's a big hassle.

This semester, I was waitlisted for two classes. Most people in this situation, especially first years, freak out because they don't know what to do. Here is what you should do when this happens.

Keep Reading...Show less

Subscribe to Our Newsletter

Facebook Comments