I’m a list person, always have been. So it shouldn’t come as a surprise that I have a wildlife bucket list as well as a travel one. Even though I’ve worked with some of these species hands-on, I still don’t consider them ticked off this list unless I’ve seen a wild one in their natural habitat.

And of course, like all the others, this list will continue to get longer and longer as more amazing species come to my attention.

Click here to read about my favourite wildlife encounters (so far).

Mammals:

An elephant eating, Zambia
A female American Bison with calf in Elk Island National Park, Canada
The beaver is the national animal of Canada
A female caribou in the mist, Canada
  • Cheetah – Etosha National Park, Namibia, September 2024
  • Chimpanzee
  • Civet – Liwonde National Park, Zambia, November 2016
  • Coati – Osa Peninsula, Costa Rica, May 2021
  • Colobus
  • Echidna
  • Elk – Banff, Canada, August 2019
  • Ethiopian Wolf
  • Fennec Fox
  • Genet – South Luangwa National Park, Zambia, August 2016
  • Giant Anteater
  • Giant Otter
  • Golden Jackal
  • Golden Lion Tamarin
  • Gorilla
  • Groundhog – Québec, Canada, September 2018
  • Hippo – Marakapula, South Africa, May 2012
  • Honey Badger – South Luangwa National Park, Zambia August 2016
  • Howler Monkey – Osa Peninsula, Costa Rica, May 2021
  • Jaguar
  • Kangaroo – New South Wales, Australia, March 2015
  • Kinkajou
  • Koala – Queensland, Australia, April 2015
A herd of elk on the lawn of the golf course in Banff, Canada
Reflected hippos in Zambia
A koala and baby in a tree, Magnetic Island, Australia
A howler monkey hangs from a tree by its tail in Costa Rica
A moose - one of the most recognisable Canadian wildlife species - hidden in thick bushes in Elk Island National Park
A platypus swimming in the river in Eungella National Park, Australia
A leopard in Zambia
A quokka mother and her baby on Rottnest Island
  • Raccoon – Hamilton, Canada, April 2019
  • Rhino – (black rhino) Liwonde National Park, Malawi October 2016
  • Ring-tailed Lemur
  • Serval – CCF Reserve, Namibia, September 2024
  • Sloth – Osa Peninsula, Costa Rica, May 2021
  • Snow Leopard
  • Spectacled Bear
  • Spotted Hyena – South Luangwa National Park, Zambia, August 2016
  • Squirrel Monkey – Osa Peninsula, Costa Rica, May 2021
  • Striped Hyena
  • Striped Polecat
  • Sun Bear
  • Tapir
  • Tarsier – Bohol, Philippines, April 2016
  • Tasmanian Devil
  • Tayra – Osa Peninsula, Costa Rica, October 2021
  • Tonkin Snub-Nosed Monkey
  • Wallaby – Byron Bay, February 2015
  • Wolf
A curious raccoon peaks out from its bed at the Sandy Pines Wildlife Centre, Canada
A tiny tarsier stares straight at the camera in Bohol, Philippines
A black rhino runs through the bush in Malawi

Marine:

A friendly beluga whale coming up to a boat in Churchill, Canada
A dugong in the waters at Monkey Mia, Australia
A rare morning turtle on the beaches on Sal, seen during a patrol with Project Biodiversity

Terrestrial Reptiles/Amphibians:

  • Anaconda
  • Black Mamba
  • Brown Snake – Blue Mountains, Australia, April 2015
  • Giant Tortoise – Galapagos Islands, Ecuador, October 2021
  • Golfo Dulce Poison Dart Frog – Osa Peninsula, Costa Rica, July 2021
  • King Cobra
  • Komodo Dragon – Rinca Island, February 2016
  • Marine Iguana – Galapagos Islands, Ecuador, October 2021
  • Rattlesnake
  • Tree Frog – (red-eyed) Osa Peninsula, Costa Rica, July 2021
A rare Golfo Dulce Poison Dart Frog sits on a leaf in the jungle in Costa Rica
Komodo Dragon, Indonesia

Birds:

  • Albatross – Drake Passage, Antarctica, December 2021
  • Andean Condor
  • Arctic Tern – Churchill, Canada, July 2019
  • Bald Eagle – Churchill, Canada, July 2019
  • Barn Owl – Tipperary, Ireland, July 2018
  • Barred Owl – Ontario, Canada, October 2018
  • Blue-Footed Booby – Galapagos Islands, Ecuador, October 2021
  • Blue Penguin
  • Cassowary – Queensland, Australia, August 2015
  • Emperor Penguin
  • Emu – Exmouth, Australia, October 2015
  • Flamingo – Bushmanland, Namibia, June 2010
  • Frigate Bird – Isla Mujeres, Mexico, February 2021
  • Galapagos Penguin – Galápagos Islands, Ecuador, October 2021
  • Griffon Vulture – Parque Natural de la Sierra de Andújar, Spain, January 2026
  • Golden Eagle
  • Harpy Eagle
  • King Penguin
  • Kiwi – Queenstown, New Zealand, August 2014
  • Kookaburra – Queensland, Australia, February 2015
  • Peregrine Falcon
  • Puffin
  • Scarlet Macaw – Osa Peninsula, Costa Rica, May 2021
  • Snowy Owl
  • Toucan – Osa Peninsula, Costa Rica, May 2021
A bald eagle sits in fog, near Churchill, Canada
Emu on the beach at the Ningaloo Coast, Australia
A vibrant Scarlet Macaw picking at fruit in a tree in Costa Rica

What animals are on your bucket list?