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The animal kingdom contains so much more than just iconic lions, lone wolves, and our beloved silly cats. Planet Earth is home to millions of different species that make us excited and immediately inspire us to learn everything about them. But while charismatic and cuddly creatures get all the hype, some critters are unfortunate enough to have a bad rep as dangerous, frightening, or even disgusting. So let's balance out the scales a little bit, shall we?

Some nature enthusiasts pay attention to these underappreciated rarities and are ready to share their discoveries with everyone online. So when user sqnyq reached out to Ask Reddit with a very fine question, "Which animal do you think deserves more love and recognition than it gets?", people wasted no time in typing out their answers.

To celebrate their efforts and show some admiration for these overly misunderstood creatures, we have gone through the thread and handpicked some of the best responses it had to offer. So scroll down and enjoy learning more about these species as much as we did. Share your own takes with us in the comments, and be sure to check out our previous feature on weird animal facts right over here!

#1

50 Animals That Don't Get The Recognition They Absolutely Deserve, As Shared In This Informative Online Thread Crows, they are so intelligent

When I was 14, working at a farm some crown opened our chickens door (they were just a different breed that makes blue eggs, to separate them among the others we had them in a huge cage that they can really move around, a huge one). i was so fucking mad like why the fuck a crown would open that fucking door. anyways i closed it. few minutes after, same crown opened the door again. when i went there i was shocked. there was a huge snake there and the crow was literally trying to help the chickens to get away from the snake. people just look at them as some useless bird whatsoever but they are not

SolubleSlug , alex° Report

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Anita Pickle
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2 years ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Crows are amazing. They appreciate you as long as you appreciate them. They can talk, bring gifts of thanks. Truly wonderful.

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#2

50 Animals That Don't Get The Recognition They Absolutely Deserve, As Shared In This Informative Online Thread Bats.
Bats are one of the most beneficial animals on the planet. A single bat can eat over 1,000 insects in one night of feasting. Take into account the largest bat colony is in Texas and is about 20-40 million bats (depending on time of year). Think about how many more bugs there would be without those bats

Winter-Life8196 , René Riegal Report

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Anita Pickle
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2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I LOVE bats!!! They are so amazing, and I know people do not agree but, they are so cute!!!

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To learn more about underrated creatures and why we fail to give them the appreciation they truly deserve, we spoke with Jennifer Verdolin, Ph.D. She is an internationally recognized animal behavior expert, professor at the University of Arizona, and author of Wild Connection: What Animal Courtship and Mating Tell Us about Human Relationships who shares her insights about the animal kingdom on Twitter and Instagram under the handle @RealDrJen.

According to Verdolin, most species are overlooked and underrated, but one that she believes deserves a ton more credit is vultures. "Globally, they are one of the most threatened groups of birds," she told Bored Panda. While there are many incredible species of vulture, "23 to be exact", the animal behavior expert wanted to focus on the black vulture.

"They are socially complex, hanging out together to eat or roost together. When they are socializing there is the usual drama, some friendly interactions, some aggressive ones, that one vulture that wants to be in charge, eat first, etc.," she explained, adding that they are pretty monogamous too. "Of course, they provide an important service. They are the cleaners and I've watched them pick the carcass of a raccoon or possum clean in a little under an hour."

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#3

50 Animals That Don't Get The Recognition They Absolutely Deserve, As Shared In This Informative Online Thread Cows. They're cute smart and kind. Like very big milk puppies

XienDzu , Alasdair Braxton Report

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Fall F.
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Very tasty milkpuppy. Yes, they are cute, but also damn tasty. And no, I'm not advocating the meat-mass-industry, but I'm also omnivorous.

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slg13
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Give a bovine a vigorous back scratch and they'll wag their butt like a happy dog. They'll also stick out their tongue!

Squiff
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

They have the best eyes too. Cows give me lash envy.

Hugh Willie Mungous
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Just remember . . . . . they are big creatures and can inadvertently injure or even kill human beings. Be careful.

Lou Cam
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Except when they're protecting their calves then they're vengeful hellbeasts. Best never to enter a field with cows and calves and never, ever with a dog.

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Anita Pickle
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

They are so sweet. Baby cows are adorable! They make best friends and are so happy playing together.

Auntriarch
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Ooh I am surprised 🤣! On a visit to Scotland my husband took about two dozen photos of Highlands cattle, I think he just got mesmerized. Their cuteness is matched only by jerseys.

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Richard Campbell
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Sometimes when I’m travelling if I see a field of cows I’ll stop and play music for them. If I have my trumpet or my harmonica or even just start singing, they will always gather close and listen intently. It’s magical to behold. For me, it’s proof of their intelligence and sensitivity.

Janelle Dummer
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Cows like most kinds of music and many farmers have a radio in the barn. They don't care for electronic dance/pop music as much, and will get a bit nervous and jumpy.

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BadCat
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I'll be happy to eat potato patty burgers from now on. I want to hug this milk puppy and call her Buttercup.

Mistiekim
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I like those videos where they gather round when someone is playing music. I’m sure they think they are going to be fed or something, but it’s still cute.

Libby Tailor
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Cattle is very, very, very curious animal. Want to see everything is new for him/her. And if one of them go to watch something, the others will go there to watch.

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Joeshar
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

They are on the high levels of Animal Kingdom IQ pyramid.

Bubs623
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Grass puppies. Highland calves are the cutest animals in the world.

glowworm2
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I love the videos where the cows finally get to go outside again after being indoors for the winter. They look so happy running around.

El Dee
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

They are so curious and nosey. If you are standing near their field at a gate/fence they will come over to see what you're doing. They love watching workers do their thing..

Ash
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

My dad has cows and I absolutely love them. My sister and me buy them bread, apples and tortillas every week.

Angela le Page
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

As a retired dairy farmer they are without doubt my favourite animal of all the animal kingdom next to dogs. They are so soppy and friendly.

David Brown
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Allot of people think cows are simple dumb creatures but that couldn't be further from the truth. Cows remembered those that treat them badly and they remember places where they can get things they like. A friend of mine bought a huge bull from a livestock auction with the intention of breading him simply because he was much larger than the average bull and extremely healthy. What he didn't know was that the bull had been regularly beaten and terrorized by the farmers son. We got him to my buddies pasture mid afternoon and opened the trailer to let him out and he did so with little effort. We hoped in the truck and noticed the bull was almost in a full run coming towards us. He never slowed down and ran head first into the driver's door then backed up and did it again. Come to find out the previous owners son drove the same truck and the bull knew that. He did what he did trying to protect himself. It was one of the craziest things I've ever seen.

Alastair Kean
Community Member
2 years ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Cows can be cuddled but be carefull. They have a strong neck. They can also knock your teeth out. Unintentionaly. Most vunrable time to pet a cow like other creatures is during mating season. Strongly advize against it😂. And or if there is a bull in same field

Heather Lambie
Community Member
2 years ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Thus they should not be murder in the millions just so someone can have a 5 minute meal!!

Indosidius
Community Member
2 years ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I grew up in a farming environment. I am not trying to be nasty here, but have you ever seen a cow standing in front of a closed gate in the middle of a thunderstorm? And when you open the gate to let them get to shelter, they still just stand there? And then there is a Thundercrash and they all just swarm AWAY from the open gate and you need to round them up again? Hmmm, good times I had as a child.... But on the flip side of the coin, they know when and where to stand so they can get milked, they socialise with each other, they recognize their owners. And they all have favorite places to be scratched.

Enigma wrapped in a paradox
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I found out the hard way that they have giant cat tongues. I'd like to keep my skin thanks

Joogie
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

No Animals should have been placed on this earth for food. They're all precious, kind & loyal.

Anthea Martin
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Dairy cows live sad miserable and horrific lives on factory farms. They get raped(artificially insemenat). After calf is born the poor baby gets taken away and humans consume the milk while there are SO many alternatives out there. If calves are male they got shot in the head or they get slaughtered at 4 weeks for pies and dogfood....cows feel pain anguish and loss and its all because man wants to make money and refuse to look at alternatives. I think the world is starting to wake up and see how murderous the dairy industry is. Animals want to live just like we do. They have rights too....

CandiBear
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I heard that a cow's fart is so powerful that it can actually moove you if you stand next to it's butt during a blast. 😂

ttttt
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Well, dogs have milk too, so that's a weird thing to call cows. It's weird that we drink their milk. It's weird that we eat them. Stop eating sentient beings, people!

Jules
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Don't make the milk farming industry fluffy and lighthearted. The process is horrific and cruel

Everything is fascinating.
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Cows kill about 5 people in the UK every year. Lions hardly ever kill people in the UK. We know who the real enemy is.

GenericPanda09
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

My mum used to have a cow that she'd rescued off a farmer that was going to have her put to sleep rather than pay for needed vet bills. About three years after that we had the foot and mouth crisis here in the UK and she was ordered to be culled. She fought it as much as she could but in the end the army got sent round to do the job. :(

Zheraa
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Oh no, I'm so sorry :( your mum sounds like a great person and she and her cow were lucky to spend some time together. Wish, it could have been longer.

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Dog Mom
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

There's been an awful lot of farm bashing on here. I think we should be thanking farmers not generalizing them and bashing them.

Rachel Ashwell
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

How anyone can slaughter and eat this beautiful being just befuddles me.

A.
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Upvote for "big milk puppies" and those beautiful eyes.

Kamie Jones
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

My Great Great Aunt and Uncle owned many cows and steer. I went out to their farm every summer. When I got older obviously they were older and couldn't keep up with a whole lot of animals anymore. I went one year and they only had one steer. His name was T-bone and he had very little teeth. He had free roam with the goats and was so sweet but his tongue was constantly out and moving, you pet him youre getting licked, end of story. He was a sweet steer.

Moth
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Cows can and will kill you but through a barrier they are indeed amazing. Not to mention that cows that are abused and don't have their needs met won't produce milk and they become dangerous to the people working with them. A cow that has their (welfare) needs met is a happy cow!! Welfare over rights.

Jaguarundi
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

This has to be someone who has never met an Ayrshire, a Holstein or a Friesian cow. WITH horns.

Charles Chamiux
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Cows aren't the docile creatures we believe they are. On a vacation to the Jura region in France, I wanted to take some photos of the Charolais cows that were in a field near our hostel. The cows actually growled at me!!

Fish Fingers
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Except for that time in my home town when a herd got spooked by a bell, stampeded a random car and stamped the driver's head into a lumpy paste.

Kelli
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

They really are very sweet animals. They will follow you around like a dog, and there tongues are scratchy like a cats. Yes, they will lick you.

Hiram's Friend
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Been chased across the corral by these "kind" milk puppies with intent to maim.

Plutarch
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

The term "Milk puppies" is almost offensive. Cows are forced in to a sicking cycle of inseminations and their babes are rip away from them because people consume the milk. Cows are used and thrown away like all farm animals are. THAT is not cute.

TrippyBanana
Community Member
2 years ago

This comment is hidden. Click here to view.

Cows are great when small and cute, but cows are just as big of an asshat as horses can be. Don't let them fool you lol.

Louise Stange-Wahl
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Sorry you had a bad experience. Humans are the biggest asshats in the universe. Don't let them fool YOU! Here is a hat just about the right size! sombrero-6...49db1c.jpg sombrero-62b8bd849db1c.jpg

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#4

50 Animals That Don't Get The Recognition They Absolutely Deserve, As Shared In This Informative Online Thread The simple honey bee...


They are endangered and are a major part of the ecosystem. Without the honey bee lots of vegetation would die off due to the lack of pollination. No I am not a bee keeper or even work with bees, its just I have a healthy respect for them and what they do.


Spiders on the other hand can all go back to that alien planet they came from.

Spartan0536 , Trollinho Report

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Jeff Gabrisl
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Don't say a bad word about spiders! I had an infestation of Florida Brown Widows, and they were only there because we had an infestation of some type of bug that came in a shipment of dog food. Most spiders aren't harmful to humans, and the ones that are usually hide or show bright colors to scare you off. If you live anywhere near mosquitoes, you should be happy to have spiders, mosquitoes are the deadliest insects on the planet.

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Another animal species Verdolin deems as greatly unappreciated are spiders. "They are talented and, of course, snack on other little critters in our home." The expert continued to explain how they can hear you across the room and how some of them are also known to be incredibly social. Let’s not leave out the desert spider female, "a mom who literally gives her life to her kids."

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#5

50 Animals That Don't Get The Recognition They Absolutely Deserve, As Shared In This Informative Online Thread Octopus, very intelligent creatures and fascinating to watch

bagpipesfart , Pia Report

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Anita Pickle
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Makes me sad everytime I see them butchered in grocery stores. You cannot farm them either, they literally die of depression. They are so smart and aware. People have no clue.

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#6

50 Animals That Don't Get The Recognition They Absolutely Deserve, As Shared In This Informative Online Thread All of the animals deserve more love, recognition, and respect.

Forsaken-Being-6610 , Pixabay Report

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Juan Ghote
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

They get a bad rap because they have adapted to coexisting with humans and take full advantage of it.

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Wildlife is truly remarkable. The whole animal world is fascinating and full of unsolved mysteries we humans are trying so hard to crack. But at the same time, we tend to pay more attention to certain species (often adorable-looking) and continue to carry specific opinions about other critters that usually turn out to be wrong.

When asked why some animals unconsciously appeal to us more, Verdolin pointed out there are a few answers to this. As she explained in her book Raised by Animals: The Surprising New Science of Animal Family Dynamics, animals that are "cute" or look young (just like pandas, dear readers) trigger our brains to be careful, look after, take care of them, and reduce aggression.

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"That's why we will spend hours looking at videos of baby animals. Once animals are all grown up, I think some species, like the panda and koala benefit from this tendency," she continued. "They have large heads, and in the case of pandas, a coloration that makes them look like they have big eyes — even though neither of these species is particularly friendly."

#7

50 Animals That Don't Get The Recognition They Absolutely Deserve, As Shared In This Informative Online Thread Opossum!
Eats ticks and pests, rabies resistant, carries cute babies on its back, has a bunch of teeth, marsupial!

anon , Skyler Ewing Report

#8

50 Animals That Don't Get The Recognition They Absolutely Deserve, As Shared In This Informative Online Thread Owl’s keeping the rodent population under control. Plus they are super cool.

Restrictedbutholding , Ronan Furuta Report

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#9

50 Animals That Don't Get The Recognition They Absolutely Deserve, As Shared In This Informative Online Thread Hedgehogs. They’re literally an endangered species in the UK. I wish people would recognise that and do more to help!

atlapin , Sierra NiCole Narvaeth Report

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"Another factor, though, that we can't ignore is the cultural conversation we have about some species and mythology about certain animals," Verdolin said, adding that the perfect example of this is the wolf. "We literally spend billions to care for our pet dogs, which are essentially juvenile wolves 7000 years + removed, and support movies and policies that decimate wolves. We also have a disdain and fear of coyotes, which are not that different either."

There are countless other species like sharks, snakes, and bats that have a bad rep in the human world and face similar issues like wolves and coyotes. "The cultural stories we have about them reinforce negative tropes and influence our opinions," Verdolin said. "And then there are of course the 'unattractive' animals. We are incredibly biased against species we don't think are 'cute' or attractive."

#10

50 Animals That Don't Get The Recognition They Absolutely Deserve, As Shared In This Informative Online Thread Donkey.
Grumpy horse with bunny ears

ipakookapi , David Selbert Report

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Hae'vyn Smith
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Donkeys are one of the happiest animals I've ever met?? **Happy loud horse w bunny ears

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#11

50 Animals That Don't Get The Recognition They Absolutely Deserve, As Shared In This Informative Online Thread Turkey vultures. Hear me out: they look ugly af, but they're gentle creatures who just clean up the environment naturally. If they get too scared, they will vomit themselves. They can eat diseased flesh without taking on any illness. They live in a flock, and are tied to their mates until death. They're also endangered in some areas.

boomblebeez , Shlomo Shalev Report

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#12

50 Animals That Don't Get The Recognition They Absolutely Deserve, As Shared In This Informative Online Thread Backyard birds.

Set up a bird feeder and see how much enjoyment you can get just by watching and counting the different kinds of birds that show up.

Feels2old , Lidia Stawinska Report

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Troux
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2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

This picture looks like one bird showed up to the other bird's shop to buy 1 seed.

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The animal behavior expert revealed we tend to underestimate most species of other animals. "Historically, modern humans have looked for ways to separate themselves from other animals. This is in direct contrast to Indigenous people that see themselves integrated with nature, reflecting the traits and aspects of other species in their cultures, beliefs, and spirituality," she continued.

"So first we have this notion that we are separate from and then comes the idea that we are better than. Incidentally, this is connected to how we have marginalized groups of people whether it be based on socially defined racial categories, gender, religion, etc." Verdolin pointed out this led to us ranking other species as better or worse according to how "similar" they are to us.

#13

50 Animals That Don't Get The Recognition They Absolutely Deserve, As Shared In This Informative Online Thread Spiders. Most are harmless to humans and they get rid of irritating bugs.

They are also perfect for keeping away irritating humans

falkordragon233 , Erik Karits Report

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#14

50 Animals That Don't Get The Recognition They Absolutely Deserve, As Shared In This Informative Online Thread Pigs!!!! They have emotions very similar to humans

jovi900 , Christopher Carson Report

"Science has had to redefine 'human' so many times because we keep discovering all the ways we are not different," she noted. "Beyond ravens counting and solving puzzles faster than a college student or elephants visiting the bones of their fallen friends and family members, we know that pigs grunt to express their feelings and that other animals have personalities. They are sentient. Period."

#16

50 Animals That Don't Get The Recognition They Absolutely Deserve, As Shared In This Informative Online Thread Orangutans. Being an ape and not being a batshit crazy violent animal is achievement enough in itself, but orangutans take it a step further and are surprisingly smart and docile.

pingasthrowaway , CHUTTERSNAP Report

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HarriMissesScotland
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2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

If you ever get to see the series where robotic animals were placed in certain environments to see if they would be accepted as part of a family group was incredible. Spy in the Wild is the name of the show. Some of the "animals" took 2 years to build as they looked exactly like the animals themselves. The orangutan was one one of my favorite episodes. Smart and very funny.

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#17

50 Animals That Don't Get The Recognition They Absolutely Deserve, As Shared In This Informative Online Thread The platypus; a mammal that lays eggs, has a duck bill, uses electrolocation, and has venomous claws.

Mikemtb09 , Meg Jerrard Report

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#18

50 Animals That Don't Get The Recognition They Absolutely Deserve, As Shared In This Informative Online Thread Squirrels. I could watch squirrels run around and climb trees all day long.

drblah1 , Julian Report

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Spam Musubi
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Veteran cook here. Red vs. grey squirrels = cute vs. delicious. Every bit as tasty as rabbit and a great way to trim the invasive species population.

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So Verdolin would like to remind you that we humans are not that separate from other animals. "What happens to them, how we treat them, is a direct reflection of the state we are in right now. As puffins washed ashore dead earlier this year and little blue penguins followed a few weeks ago, other species are in crisis," she reminded us. "And so are we."

She understands it’s much easier to think about a panda than a squirrel that’s running around in your backyard. "But every squirrel is out there trying to make a living, raise a family, avoid death and suffering, and catch a few naps in the morning sunlight. Stop for a minute next time to watch, observe, and think about how you can make the lives of animals right there around you better today," Verdolin concluded.

#19

50 Animals That Don't Get The Recognition They Absolutely Deserve, As Shared In This Informative Online Thread The Pangolin. It's severely endangered yet It's not protected.

Kovuthebilion , flowcomm Report

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Crystal Spencer
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2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

The Pangolin is very protected. In countries where it is native, the have swat team stings to rescue live as well as dead Pangos to prevent them from being trafficked to China and other places where they are considered magic, medicinal or high end meat... none of which these little guys are.

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#20

50 Animals That Don't Get The Recognition They Absolutely Deserve, As Shared In This Informative Online Thread Chickens. Smart, affectionate, with complex social lives and personalities, they can be kind, affectionate, sneaky, greedy, generous, caring or selfish… each one it’s own unique personality

Cristalsis , Alexas_Fotos Report

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Ranger Kanootsen
Community Member
2 years ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Chickens are such funny animals! My friend's chicken, whose name is Josephine, keeps following me to work each day

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#21

50 Animals That Don't Get The Recognition They Absolutely Deserve, As Shared In This Informative Online Thread Sharks, they do get recognition but most of it is negative. Sharks are 👌👌

--Dominion-- , Gerald Schömbs Report

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Unnamed Hooman
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

… Yeah sorry but I’m still terrified! I think they can be cool, just not in person near me :)

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#22

50 Animals That Don't Get The Recognition They Absolutely Deserve, As Shared In This Informative Online Thread Red pandas... So damn cute.

420farms , Flickr Report

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flutterbyy
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Sadly even with the legal protections, their population has been declining rapidly.

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#23

50 Animals That Don't Get The Recognition They Absolutely Deserve, As Shared In This Informative Online Thread Elephant

SomeBrownChic , David Clode Report

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HarriMissesScotland
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

The most amazing creatures on the planet. Trunks sensitive enough to pick up a pebble, yet strong enough to knock over trees. Or kill a man. Especially a vile one who beat his elephants. I loathed him.

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#24

50 Animals That Don't Get The Recognition They Absolutely Deserve, As Shared In This Informative Online Thread Rats.

They are incredibly smart, sweet, and social animals who *did not cause the black plague*. One reason why they are often used for experiments (lab rats) is because they are so socially similar to us humans. [Rat Park]

ipakookapi , Pixabay Report

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Sasage
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

However they were responsible for carrying the fleas that did spread the plague. Unfortunately humans of the time didn't know that so they killed the cats instead. The cats, of course, were keeping the rat population in check. Once most of the cats were gone... Black Death.

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#25

50 Animals That Don't Get The Recognition They Absolutely Deserve, As Shared In This Informative Online Thread Beavers.

Beavers are incredibly hard workers. Capable of the same level of decision making and precision that goes into our construction of dams or homes or chopping down trees. There ears can sense the slight trickle of water indicating a leak.

In a story linked below the arrival of settlers in the 1800’s wiped out beavers in one area effectively destroying the ecosystems that the beaver dams had created and wildlife depended on. The loss of beavers was still so profound that HUMANS started to make their own beaver dams!! Then like the born workers they are, a few beavers must have heard through the grapevine and took over what humans were doing with far more than their teeth and bare hands.

They work so hard. Their work ethic is better than any humans. They are always on call. No nights off. Now, I truly admire the team work and socialist structure of most any colonies, but beavers can build dams that transform its environment and create their own mini ecosystem. They are incredibly important and considered a keystone species. The largest beaver dam is half a mile long and started in the 70’s and is located in Canada. That’s generations of beavers dedicated to the “family business” of continuing this huge dam. They of course continue to MAINTAIN a dam a half mile long. Made of just sticks and trees and mud and whatever other tricks they have. I have the utmost respect for their abilities and contributions to their environments!

Seeing videos blowing up their incredibly hard work makes me sad. I get it, someone’s poor garden is flooded and we can’t stand for that. Or someone’s property is filling with water and they have the right to not want it to. But, it just seems so horrible to destroy something so incredibly built and with such hard work and dedication and brain power that we need to blow it up to take it down.

For the record, I get that beavers can cost millions in damages to property and some support trapping when their numbers get high or they become a problem.

But, I just truly hope animals have the capacity to just laugh at a species who’s numbers are growing faster than the environment can handle or support, whom quickly destroy and invade their homes before they take over and are everywhere, who cost thousands and thousands of years of growth and strength and survival in trees every year with their destruction, that species having the NERVE to point to others as needing help being controlled. Calling others destructive or a nuisance.

The best part is saying with a straight face how another species population is growing too fast and too large and needs to be culled and controlled. I know, I’m human. But even if it’s just us, it still feels hypocritical to say.

BEAVERS ARE AMAZING

(Just don’t think about the rodent thing)

Rgsnap , Denitsa Kireva Report

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#26

50 Animals That Don't Get The Recognition They Absolutely Deserve, As Shared In This Informative Online Thread Hyenas. For hundreds of reasons.


Disney did them dirty.

escape1979uk , Javi Lorbada Report

#27

50 Animals That Don't Get The Recognition They Absolutely Deserve, As Shared In This Informative Online Thread Beluga Whale.

ITS FOREHEAD IS SO CUTE. And it looks absolutely adorable coated with blubber all around

FamilyGuy-SugarMama , insung yoon Report

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Bubs623
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Although I now know better and will not support Sea World, I went as a teen with a school trip and I swear I had a moment with a beluga. He (she?) stayed perfectly still in the water, right against the glass. I was sitting cross legged on the floor. It was dark, because it was part of the enclosure that you could walk into / under. We just stared at each other. I put my hand up and he put his head against the glass where my hand was. We stayed that way for about 10 minutes and then he swam away. I was so sad- I mean, I seriously aches inside. And I was an a*****e punk teenager. Then he came back! He did somersaults and flips and all sorts of people started pointing and shouting but he just kept staring at me. It was the most profound event

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#29

50 Animals That Don't Get The Recognition They Absolutely Deserve, As Shared In This Informative Online Thread Dogs for sure, they get all the love and recognition and they still deserve more.

Truejewtattoo , Anoir Chafik Report

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Vintage Rose
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Yes ❤️. We humans don’t deserve dogs. Without them, the world would be bleak.

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#30

50 Animals That Don't Get The Recognition They Absolutely Deserve, As Shared In This Informative Online Thread Carrion feeders of every stripe. They are the heroes of the animal kingdom, providing important steps in decomposition and reclamation of matter, and people think they’re yucky.

If you hit an animal with your car, and are able to stop, please stop and move the animal to the side of the road, it helps prevent carrion feeders from getting hit by cars later.

kharmatika Report

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#32

50 Animals That Don't Get The Recognition They Absolutely Deserve, As Shared In This Informative Online Thread Vultures are natures sanitizer.

By eating the carrion, they prevent the spread of diseases. Their stomach acid destroys any pathogens and they also have a very stout immune system and their urine and defecations "cleans" the area of the carcass.

Effroyablemat , Glen Carrie Report

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K- THULU
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Love vultures... Amazing flyers but when they're on the ground they just always look pissed off... " stupid carrion, lying in the stupid dirt, suppose I've gotta clean that up..."

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#33

50 Animals That Don't Get The Recognition They Absolutely Deserve, As Shared In This Informative Online Thread Pigeons!! We domesticated them for communication but now that we don’t need them they’re considered ugly and gross. But they don’t fear humans which is why they’ll come up to us. Poor things.

Danyanks37 , sanjiv nayak Report

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Alicia GriffonLady
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I had a pigeon I raised when i was in second grade. It had fallen out of a nest where my dad worked. That pigeon followed me every where outside after i taught him to fly. He even landed outside the windows when i was indoors and did his little dance. He'd attack the schoolbus when it "ate" me. Once he even chased a bully about a quarter mile, flapping at her head. That bird was my best friend! Unfortunately i pissed off some older kids by sitting in "their" seat on the bus and in retaliation they later shot my poor pigeon. People, can we please get rid of guns?

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#34

50 Animals That Don't Get The Recognition They Absolutely Deserve, As Shared In This Informative Online Thread Reptiles generally. A lot of people think of reptiles and are disgusted. They either think of slimey snakes or agressive dragons. Don't get me wrong, they aren't always cute and cuddly, but there's so many snakes in rescues that never get a home because of the stigma.

I don't think an exotic pet is right for everyone by any means, in fact I think it should be more regulated so that you have to put some thought into having one, but they really can be affectionate with the right owner and time.

KaleidoscopeInside , Jedi Equester Report

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#35

50 Animals That Don't Get The Recognition They Absolutely Deserve, As Shared In This Informative Online Thread Okay so I know a lot of people hate pandas for them eating bamboo even tho they’re designed to eat meat, but it’s not because they’re stupid. They lost their taste for meat. A gene they had which “motivated” them to hunt and eat meat somehow disappeared. It’s not like they can control that. And people also say they don’t mate on their own. Well god made female pandas go in heat for only three flippin days out of an entire flippin year. That’s it. Since their population numbers are so low, what are the chances a male and a female are going to see each other in that time frame

Horror-Award-1144 , Jonathan Meyer Report

#37

50 Animals That Don't Get The Recognition They Absolutely Deserve, As Shared In This Informative Online Thread The shoebill bird. I know most people won’t think so, but I think that it’s the cutest animal I’ve ever seen

Obsessed_with_ducks , Melissa Askew Report

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Brivid
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I love it, but not because it's cute. I love it because it is a living dinosaur!

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#38

50 Animals That Don't Get The Recognition They Absolutely Deserve, As Shared In This Informative Online Thread The Cacomistle or the Maned Wolf, both are really cool animals!

AzryxTheFolf , Jonathan Wilkins Report

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GlamourGhoul
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

The Maned Wolf is one of the strangest, most amazing looking animals ever...like a bunch of mismatched parts of other animals.

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#40

50 Animals That Don't Get The Recognition They Absolutely Deserve, As Shared In This Informative Online Thread Ducks

TheDrawingDucky , Vlad Tchompalov Report

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Emma Dakin
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I had ducks and when they ran to me on wet concrete for their food it always sounded like a round of applause the way there wet feet would slap the floor! Great guard ducks too!

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#41

50 Animals That Don't Get The Recognition They Absolutely Deserve, As Shared In This Informative Online Thread Gorillas. They're cool. But I don't hear people saying they're thier favorite animal much

iUsedRedditSince2010 , Amy Reed Report

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HarriMissesScotland
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Another majestic creature being hunted. Intelligent animals that are gentle enough to care for babies, but strong enough to rip an arm off. Again, the Rangers protecting them are amazing. The gorillas know that they are there and many times come to trust them. 140 Rangers have been killed by poachers.

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#42

50 Animals That Don't Get The Recognition They Absolutely Deserve, As Shared In This Informative Online Thread Rhinoceros.

Caramel-Popcorn321 , Nicole Wreyford Report

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HarriMissesScotland
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

So endangered. They are hunted and killed for their horns, as elephants are for their tusks. The Rangers who are willing to put their own lives in danger to protect these amazing creatures, are heroes in my book.

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#43

50 Animals That Don't Get The Recognition They Absolutely Deserve, As Shared In This Informative Online Thread Swans. They will commit sewer slide if their partner dies. Beautiful and sad at the same time.

Kathy_05 , Drazen Neske Report

#44

50 Animals That Don't Get The Recognition They Absolutely Deserve, As Shared In This Informative Online Thread Turtles

AmAcC67 , Zdeněk Macháček Report

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HarriMissesScotland
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I love all turtles, but we have an endangered tortoise, the gopher tortoise which lives in burrows. I once beat up a boy who was standing on one in the schoolyard. I did not get in trouble.

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#45

50 Animals That Don't Get The Recognition They Absolutely Deserve, As Shared In This Informative Online Thread Skunks, they are wonderful animals.

my2cents3462 , Elisa Stone Report

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BrookeBT
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

The odor is for defense. If they spray a predator it's stuck with that smell and won't be able to hunt. Nobody likes that smell but you gotta respect it.

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#46

50 Animals That Don't Get The Recognition They Absolutely Deserve, As Shared In This Informative Online Thread Lions. I just admire on how majestic and mystifying they can be.

MannyRodriguez146 , Mika Brandt Report

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Alicia GriffonLady
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Don't study them then. Stay happy and live the lions. If you study them, you probably won't like them any more. I studied them after Lion King came out when i was a kid and i was crushed. :(

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#47

50 Animals That Don't Get The Recognition They Absolutely Deserve, As Shared In This Informative Online Thread Lizards in general. I hate when people say that they can not form social connections, I have a bearded dragon that will go out of her way to cuddle up to me, I had a male dragon that was best friends with my golden lab. Their favorite activity was looking out the window together. They would sit there, and my dragon would snuggle up to his ear and they would watch squirrels for hours. I believe that social cues for reptiles are very foreign and alien to us, but if you can find a way to open a door to their heart, you will never find a warmer place, even with cold blood. It is kind of like the way that I am attracted to 'bitchy' women, sure they are scaled and thorny on the outside. But when she wants to love on you and cuddle up, you will feel like the most important person in the world.

NoTop4997 , LOURDES CASTRO Report

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#49

50 Animals That Don't Get The Recognition They Absolutely Deserve, As Shared In This Informative Online Thread The porcupine. I like them and find them interesting, but they smell like stale death. Just any I've been near smell horrible and carry a cloud around them. It's entirely possible my experience is an outlier; I've only encountered them a few times, so I could be misled by a narrow sample. But the smell was assaulting.

Dangercakes13 , Enguerrand Blanchy Report

#50

50 Animals That Don't Get The Recognition They Absolutely Deserve, As Shared In This Informative Online Thread Humans, I see a lot of people (especially on Reddit) that seem to be misanthropes who hate their own species and each other, its a shame really. I wish people showed the same love that they have for other animals towards humans instead of constant hatred towards each other, it would really make the world a better place.

Jman_777 , Ryoji Iwata Report

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Katie Lutesinger
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Humans can be absolutely disgusting, horrible and evil, and yet also incredibly selfless, brave, and kind.

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#51

Frog

DamnDoorman Report

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HarriMissesScotland
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I understand the circle of life, but one day I heard a terrible noise. When I went to investigate, there was a tree frog hanging on my jalousie window for all he was worth. A snake was trying to swallow him, so I went out and smacked the snake just hard enough to make it let go. The frog was appreciative, the snake was not.

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#52

The Fox

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#53

Spiders, geckos and dragonflies. They're usually seen as house pests by many, but they don't touch our food and hunt actual house pests.

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Troux
Community Member
2 years ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Dragonflies are fantastic. They will actually follow you around (even land on you if you're lucky) to eat the tiny bugs that approach you. They are like natural bug spray.

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#54

literally any animal that is used for meat or other products

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InfectedVoiceBox
Community Member
2 years ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Indeed, I still eat meat and I love animals, I am a flawed human being and It's a perpetual inner conflict. I volunteer in shelters and have seen some of the atrocities that humans have done to defenceless little animals, that s**t will never leave me.

#55

Axolotls

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Ara
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

We had them as pets when I was a kid. Really cute faces.

#56

Hognose snakes, just look at that stupid little face

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#57

Ferrets! They are smelly, but are super loving and absolutely hilarious little creatures given the right care and environment ❤️

-killer_koala- Report

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InfectedVoiceBox
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

My grandad always kept ferrets, they used to bite me a lot but they were very cute.

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#59

fishes

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#60

Sloths and raccoons 😍

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K- THULU
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

My theory is that sloths have fooled the world to think they just hang around all the time ...... My theory is they dance all night when no one is watching.....sloth raves! Lol

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#61

Giant anteaters! Or anteaters in general! Some people own the smaller ones as pets and they’re so cute!

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#62

Cats without hair
They are very cute and gives alot of affection
And people that are allergic to cat hair can get one of these since they dont have hair

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#63

Armadillos

RicTheRuler16 Report

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HarriMissesScotland
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Unusual creatures who have one very undesirable trait. They carry leprosy. Florida is having a leprosy from armadillos outbreak. Another reason not to visit.

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#65

Rattlesnakes, Copperheads, Water Moccasins. Take your pick. They perform a vital service and aren't aggressive at all. They are only defensive. You have to pretty much step on them for them to bite. It's not advantageous for them to bite a larger mammal they can't eat, and it means they don't get to eat again for a long time if they inject venom.

Tune in next week when I talk about how your friend who says they were chased by a water moccasin is full of s**t and that's not cottonmouth behavior.

I was going to go with vultures so I'll mention them as well. They are cool animals that perform a vital service.

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HarriMissesScotland
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I was chased by a mama moccasin when I stumbled on her nest. I lived on a river and knew she was around, and until that incident, not a problem.

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#66

The snot otter.

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HarriMissesScotland
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I had to Google this one. It definitely has a purpose, and though not cuddly, it's cute in a slimy way.

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#67

Insects, they are fascinating!

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Purple3262
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Need to add seahorses to this list - mysterious, stunning, and majestic creatures

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#68

Ants

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#69

Skunks, they do so much for your environment and you don't realize it, and they make wonderful pets..we have 6 and no we didn't get them from the outdoors lol

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#70

Tarantulas, most of them aren't super aggressive.

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Ranger Kanootsen
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I love tarantulas a lot! I just can't hold them too much because the hairs often irritate human skin.

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#71

50 Animals That Don't Get The Recognition They Absolutely Deserve, As Shared In This Informative Online Thread The termite.

They are fascinating. They know when it's going to rain. The termites have a caste system. The soldiers will boot out the aeletes only when it will rain within 24 hours. Aeletes are winged reproductives; they will fly out of the nest and try to start a new one. They look like the tie fighters in Star Wars: four fixed wings like a biplane. They are harmless; you will see them in the evening with low wind, about 70% humidity and 30 degrees Centigrade. [world's American, I know. I wasn't brought up with Fahrenheit]

That's also a survival tip. If you see the winged reproductives flying then it's going to rain soon. Go to higher ground, prepare to collect rain etc.

There are many different kinds of termites. Many have not yet been discovered. Some are similar to cockroaches in the way they lay eggs; the Giant Northern Australian termite. Others use parthenogenesis to reproduce. For instance the French Guianan termite.

Dense-Independent-66 , Filipe Fortes Report

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SerumSeven
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I felt bad when I had to get treatment for them, but they were eating my house.

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#72

Snakes

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#73

Centipedes. Females are great mother and will care for their children to death, they come in a variety of color, slither in a hypotonic way, and are not agressive toward human, they just freak out a lot when they feel like they are in danger, they get rid off other bugs and even mice, they are the best!

west_indies971 Report

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#74

Cicada. It looks scary, sounds scary, especially when it flaps it's wings, sometimes it's big, but it's actually harmless.

thefoolru Report