The Weird & the Wonderful

By Bret Charman

16 April 2020

Here at Wildlife Worldwide we are obviously fascinated by wildlife, from the ocean giants to the smallest insects. However, for some of the team there are a number of species which stand out, not because they are cute and fluffy, but because they are a little bit odd.

We like to call these more unusual species ‘the weird and the wonderful’ and here is our top 5:

Platypus
Surely the world’s weirdest mammal, the platypus is an egg-laying mammal (a monotreme) and is also one of the few venomous mammals on earth – they have a specially adapted venomous spur on their back legs. Despite laying eggs, the platypus’ young still suckle milk, but from anywhere on the adult’s body. The sense their prey through electrolocation, have webbed feet, a duck-styled bill and a beavers tail. They are the epitome of weird and we think they must be at the top of any weird and wonderful list.

Image by Bret Charman

You can see platypus on our Australian Wildlife Photo Safari.

Ground Pangolin
For the past few years, the pangolin family have been in the news for the wrong reason – they have become the most illegally traded animal on Earth. Often referred to the scaly anteater, these bizarre animals are covered in scales made of keratin (the same material as our hair and fingernails). They walk on their hind legs, protecting their digging claws on their front legs, and use their remarkably long and sticky tongue to catch ants and termites. They really are one of the weirdest mammals and one of our absolute favourites.

Image by Micky Wiswedel

We recommend that you head to Tswalu Private Game Reserve for the best chance to see a ground pangolin.

Gharial
A specialist fish-eating crocodile, the gharial has an elongated snout with a bulbous protrusion at the end. They are one of the largest members of the crocodile family, and yet only eat smaller prey species. Sadly they are critically endangered, but they can still be seen in a few protected areas within Nepal and India.

Why not explore the Untamed Terai for a chance to see gharial for yourself.

Raggiana Bird of Paradise
One of the world’s most spectacular species of bird, the Raggiana bird of paradise is the national bird of Papua New Guinea and a must for anyone visiting the country. Luckily, they are one of the easier birds of paradise to see and one of the most reliable places is Varirata National Park, close to the city of Port Moresby. The bird has a remarkable set of tail feathers, which it presents and shakes to any potential mate – it really is quite a sight.

Discover Papua New Guinea for yourself for a chance to see the Raggiana bird of paradise.

Giraffe Weevil
We did say we love all creatures great and small, and the giraffe weevil is definitely on the smaller side. Found only on the island of Madagascar the male weevil is famed for its incredibly long neck (up to 3 times the length of a female), which is used to fight with competitors. It may not be high up on everyone’s list, but we certainly think it is worth the journey (particularly when you throw in all the lemurs, birds and chameleons too).

Mike Dilger is leading a fantastic small group tour to Madagascar and there may well be the chance for the group to see their own giraffe weevil.