It runs like a pig — not a deer

One of the largest living ducks, often heavier than many geese

Its decline was so rapid and poorly tracked that conservationists only realized how critical the situation was in the early 2000s

Crisp-feathered, fast-flying, and fearless in icy waters

Its boom has been compared to blowing across the top of a giant bottle — a sound low enough to feel in your chest on still mornings

The “cheetahs” of the deep ocean

Can remain submerged for long periods, surfacing quietly with only the tip of their snout exposed

More active on overcast or slightly rainy days, when amphibians are abundant and easier to catch

Rather than hovering constantly, they often glide and make short flutters to conserve energy in open landscapes

It’s perfectly happy near villages, roads, and busy fields — the extrovert of the ibis world

A heavyweight champ — elegant, yes, but you don’t want to mess with that beak

Among the most athletic dolphins, known for their spectacular leaps and spins that can reach several meters high

Sometimes called the “scars in the water” thanks to their many white markings

No need to double check, it is not a snake!

Can rotate its ankles backward—just like a raccoon—allowing it to climb down trees headfirst

Called a “mock viper” because it mimics the look and behavior of true vipers

Believed to guard hidden treasures or sacred sites due to its rare and majestic appearance

Often mistaken for an earthworm because of its size and shiny, cylindrical body

Often seen near the surface, basking or breathing, where it may resemble a drifting piece of seaweed

The most widespread species of snakes on earth are found throughout the Indian and Pacific Oceans and from Africa to Central America

Its thin, translucent skin gives it a ghostly appearance under bright light

With quills that are lighter and more flexible than those of other porcupines

Can spray a strong secretion from its anal glands when threatened—somewhat analogous to a skunk, though not as potent

Can tolerate humid heat extremely well, thanks to its habit of seeking shade and damp soil

Its flight is nearly soundless, thanks to specially fringed wing feathers that disrupt air turbulence

Defies the usual “creature of the night” stereotype by thriving in open landscapes and often hunting boldly in daylight

No two civets look exactly alike—like a fingerprint in fur

A beak built for everything—one of the most versatile tools in the kingfisher family!

Saved from near extinction in Kanha National Park—the same park that inspired Rudyard Kipling’s The Jungle Book

Both predator and scavenger, shy yet bold, wild yet living close to human world

Sometimes called a “scaly anteater,” though it is not related to anteaters at all

Can perform sharp turns and even upward swoops while gliding, almost like birds

A tiny desert survivor, with a rodent-like tail

Has the largest wingspan of any pelican species, and among the very largest of any living bird

A bird that carries the rhythms of the seasons on its wings

A giant among Asia’s harmless snakes

Despite its small frame, this eagle can take prey almost as large as itself

Local birdwatchers sometimes call it the “silver ghost of the grasslands”

Its name comes from its habit of preying on free-ranging domestic hens in medieval Europe—though such encounters are rare today

Quietly appreciated by farmers because it helps control pest populations, especially rats and locusts, in agricultural areas

One of the most charming doves you’re likely to encounter

Have been recorded catching fish nearly half their body length

Sometimes called “Taiwanese rattlesnake” by locals—not because it rattles (it doesn’t), but because of its power and frequency of encounters

Proudly holds the title of the largest woodpecker in Asia—and one of the largest in the world

Its call is considered a sign of hot afternoons, since it often calls persistently during the warmest parts of the day

Often seen in pairs, roosting together snugly in tree hollows

Often mistaken for an earthworm

Its lungs are long and extend almost the entire length of its body

Sometimes mistaken for a rock or a log when it’s resting

Cherished as common, friendly garden birds

A bird that adds both music and style to any landscape it inhabits

One of the rarest birds in the world with feathers that change color depending on the season

Looks ordinary—but transforms into one of the most extravagant birds during breeding season

The largest tortoise species native to mainland Asia

One of the lesser-known members of the dolphin family, despite its dramatic name

May appear grayer when calm and brighter pink when active or overheated

One of the most beautiful of the wild cattle species

One of the rarest storks in the world

Nicknamed the “undertaker bird” because of its bald head and hunched stance, as if dressed in dark mourning clothe

Rare “fine-beaked cleaner” of Asia’s plains and forests

Holds the title of being the rarest bustard in the world

Bristly mane from head to back and backward-curving horns give it a tough, distinctive appearance

Has a piercing yellow eyes with a default “surprised” look

This owl sometimes makes a dog-like “wow-wow” bark when alarmed

The only sawfish known to spend long stretches of its life in freshwater lakes, not just rivers or coasts

One of the few venomous mammals in the world

Remains one of the most captivating and elusive birds ever known

Can go months without touching the ground

Goofy-looking yet evolutionarily refined for life above the waves

Their skin actually darkens, just like a sunburn!

Yes, they really do eat fish!

One of the largest owls in South Asia

Has the body of a duck, neck of a goose, and voice of a goose having a bad day

Despite their name,most of their diet makes up of fruits and seeds

Their tail posture, always curled upward like a pig’s, is a key way to identify them in the wild

Their faces start out pink and red when they’re young, but as they get older, they turn darker, almost brown or black

Love to perch upright on stones, gazing around like calm little forest monks lost in meditation

Have an awkwardly stiff gait, kind of like they’re walking in slow motion with exaggerated leg lifts

Males sport a big, bumpy black “knob” on top of their bill — like a bird-sized bike helmet

They’re the biggest otters in Asia

They flip the script — literally!

One of the most intelligent cobra species, capable of learning from repeated experiences

Have you ever seen one gliding through a stream or sunning itself by a quiet pond?

Famously linked to the production of a luxury coffee called kopi luwak

Believed to have naturally spread across much of Asia

Many people confuse it with the juvenile water monitor, but it has a slimmer build and a more delicate head

Need to escape? No problem! They can dive into water and swim powerfully using their tail like a paddle

Sometimes seen snatching food in mid-air or stealing prey from other birds — a behavior known as kleptoparasitism

When eating fruit, they often toss it into the air and catch it with the tip of their bill

One of the most widespread and adaptable herons in the world

Famous snake-fighter — with strategy

The only mammal known to intentionally eat spicy food

The treasured bird of Saladin, the first Sultan of Egypt

Can make clicking sounds up to 200 times per second to locate prey in cloudy waters where vision is limited

An accomplished climber with the ability to glide!

They help carry the babies to the water in their mouths — gently, without harming them