San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance Stories

Part of our mission is to educate people that every single organism in an ecosystem is equally important to the health of the ecosystem. A critter's place on the cute scale doesn't correlate to actual environmental value. Sadly, it can be difficult to garner support for animals that are not perceived as "cute," but we're hoping to change that. These are just a few of the animals that are unfortunate victims of "cute bias" and need more love. Vultures Vultures, including the California condor, are nature's clean-up crew. Their bald heads and permanent "scowls" don't make people swoon, but the world would be a much dirtier place without them. Reptiles There are more than 6,500 known species of reptiles. They play varied, pivotal roles in their respective environments but are often vilified due to their appearance and unfair reputation. Reptiles are actually pretty awesome. They have been around forever, some have crazy long life spans, and some are fully independent at birth. Arthropods Arthropods is a phylum of animals that includes insects and spiders. Famous biologist Jonas Salk said, “If all insects on Earth disappeared, within 50 years all life on Earth would end. If all human beings disappeared from the Earth, within 50 years all forms of life would flourish.” Still, arthropods don't get much love. There are more kinds of beetles in the world than any other type of animal, and the weight of ants alone is roughly equal to the weight of all human beings on Earth. It's time to give arthropods some credit. Naked Mole-rats The naked mole-rat and the Damaraland mole-rat are the only two mammal species that are eusocial. This means they live in a colony that may have several generations living together and just a few individuals that produce all the offspring for the colony, much the way bees and ants live. We think that's pretty awesome, but unfortunately, some people just can't get down with them. Ungulates Ungulates are a diverse group of mammals, usually hoofed, that serve as seed-dispersers and food for the many predators that hunt them. While not exactly "ugly," ungulates are rarely singled out as beautiful or especially worthy of conservation, but they're just as important as the rest. Bats Bats are important pollinators and can eat thousands of insects in a single night, but are still feared and reviled by many. If anything, bats deserve respect and admiration. One out of every five mammals in the world is a bat, and some seeds don't sprout unless they've passed through a bat’s digestive system. Warthogs Warthogs may not be the most beautiful or graceful creatures in the Animal Kingdom, but they are remarkable for their strength, intelligence, and flexibility. Also, a warthog’s “warts” are not really warts, but just thick growths of skin. What's not to love? Did we miss any animals that deserve more love? Let us know in the comments. Matt Steele is senior social media planner for San Diego Zoo Global. Read his previous post, Summer Pool Party - Animal Style.