The animal kingdom is an amazing place, full of colorful creatures that swim, fly, run, walk, and roam freely around the Earth. Sadly, a lot of animals are on the brink of extinction, including some you might have never even heard of. Here are 7 of the rarest animals in the world.😄

 Giant otters can be as long as six feet and are the largest otters in the world. Residing only in South America, Giant otters used to be hunted for their pelts, which led to their decline over the years. When the rivers and lakes they live in get destroyed, their food supply of fish dies.🐾 

Giant otters

This species, native to Laos and Vietnam, is so rare that scientists have only seen it in the wild a total of four times. That’s part of why it’s referred to the Asian unicorn. It’s also called that because of the two horns on its head and white markings on its face. Saolas are cousins to cattle, though they look a little more like antelopes. Hunting and human destruction of their natural habitat are the main causes leading to Saola’s risk of extinction.🦌

You’ve probably never heard of the solitary and nocturnal pangolin, who lives in the forests and grasslands of Asia and Africa. They’re cute and small, and defend themselves by curling up in a ball when they feel attacked. They’re also incredibly popular and are considered to be the most trafficked mammal in the world. People capture them for their scales and their meat. 🦖

 Found in just two parts of the world, Darwin’s fox is named after Charles Darwin, who first discovered the species of fox in 1834. They now live in Chile on the island of Chiloè and in the Nahuelbuta National Park. You’ll find Darwin’s fox out and about between twilight and dawn. 🦊