From pink dolphins to scaley mammals, these animals might be a little strange, but they also need your protection.
The natural world is full of strange and surprising animals. But “weird” doesn’t mean bad – in fact, we say it with wonder and appreciation. These animals may look or behave differently, but each one is perfectly adapted to survive in their environment and deserves our compassion and respect.
Many of these bizarre animals face serious threats from habitat loss, factory farming and the global wildlife trade. That’s why we’re working to protect them, and with your help, we can give them the future they deserve.
These are some of the most unique and wonderfully strange animals on the planet:
1. Amazon river dolphin
The amazon river dolphin (Inia geoffrensis) is also known as the pink river dolphin due to their unique rosey hue! It is believed that this pink colouring is a result of several factors, but largely due to scar tissue from fighting (hence why the males are typically pinker than the females!). Not only are these unique animals pink, but they also live exclusively in freshwater rivers far from their oceanic cousins!
This species is endangered - they are threatened by habitat fragmentation and fisheries, but with your support, we have made massive strides to protect this unique species in the Amazon!
Photo: World Animal Protection
2. Axolotl
Potentially one of the strangest creatures, the critically endangered axolotl (Ambystoma mexicanum) is a truly weird and magical animal. Unlike most amphibians, axolotls never undergo full metamorphosis, remaining in a larval-like state with external gills for their entire lives. They can regrow lost limbs, but more surprisingly, they can also regrow damaged spinal cords and even parts of their hearts and brains!
Their unique appearance has led these creatures to become popular pets – but a life in captivity can lead to stress, improper care and health issues. Wild animals kept as pets suffer. So, let’s keep them in the wild!
Photo: rsaggin / Shutterstock
3. Maned wolf
Not a wolf, but also not a fox... the maned wolf (Chrysocyon brachyurus) is a long-legged beauty. Its combination of fox-like appearance, unusual proportions and strange behaviours make the maned wolf a truly weird and fascinating animal.
Sadly, these magnificent creatures are listed as ‘near threatened’. Their homes are being cleared to grow food to sustain the billions of factory-farmed animals around the world.
Photo: Alex Satsukawa / Shutterstock
Photo: World Animal Protection
4. Pangolin
Pangolins are unique animals... they are the one and only mammal covered head to toe in scales. These hard scales are made of keratin – the same protein found in your hair and nails – and provide these animals with a protective armor.
Sadly, this armor does not protect these animals from humans . Pangolins have the devastating title of the ‘world’s most trafficked mammal’. They are heavily trafficked for their meat and scales for Traditional Asian Medicine.
5. Tapir
Cousins of hippos? Pigs? Maybe even anteaters? These funny looking mammals are actually most closely related to rhinos and horses!
They use their prehensile nose to grab leaves when foraging, but more interestingly, they can use it as a snorkel when swimming!
Due to significant habitat loss, poaching and the encroachment of human development, tapirs are at risk of extinction. We are supporting the rescue, rehabilitation and protection of these vulnerable animals and advocating for critical systemic changes before it’s too late.
Photo: AJK04 / Shutterstock
More of the world’s weirdest animals:
Because we couldn’t choose just five... here are five more of some of the most unusual animals in the world!
Photo: Agnieszka Bacal / Shutterstock
6. Star-nosed mole
They have 22 fleshy tentacles on their snout that help them feel their way and detect prey with lightning speed.
Photo: esdeem / Shutterstock
7. Anteater
They have no teeth and use an incredibly long, sticky tongue to eat up to 30,000 ants a day.
Photo: imageBROKER.com / Shutterstock
8. Bald Uakari
They have a bright red face that signals health and stands out in the Amazon rainforest.
Photo: D. Longenbaugh / Shutterstock
9. Great potoo
They look like a tree branch during the day and have haunting, wide eyes for night hunting.
Photo: Lukas_Vejrik / Shutterstock
10. Platypus
They lay eggs, have a duck bill and detect prey using electroreception – like no other mammal.
Help protect (weird) animals 🧡
All animals need our protection, even the weird ones. At World Animal Protection, we work around the world to protect animals – from factory farming to the wildlife trade, we are stopping suffering at the source.
Together, we can ensure all animals are treated with the dignity and respect they deserve. Because when animals thrive, we all do.