Everyone knows that lions can be found in Africa, buffalo in North
America, kangaroos in Australia, and so on. They are native to these
territories, and are common sights. This list, however, sets out to
destroy some misconceptions: a few well-known animals are found in
places you wouldn’t have expected to see them.
These animals are more than just escaped pets; they’re thriving, growing
into ever-expanding colonies. Next time someone swears they saw a
foreign creature hop across the road at night, don’t be so quick to
discount them. They may be right!
10. Camels in Australia
Photo — Link
Traditionally found in Africa and parts of Asia, Australia has a feral
camel population of 1 million. The colony reproduces at an incredible
rate, doubling in size every 9 years. The camels were introduced in 1822
by Conrad Multe-Brun, who needed the hearty creatures to explore the
desolate Australian deserts. Since their introduction, the creatures
have become a major pest, eating leafy greens and destroying
infrastructure in their search for water. In some instances, camels have
been known to charge into houses to drink from the toilet. Hunters are
therefore encouraged to kill the animals – but the large colony is still
expanding.
09. Zebras in Texas
Photo — Link
There is a ranch in Texas that allows hunters to stalk and kill zebras,
for a steep fee. Humans introduced the zebras to Texas, and the species
thrived. There is no human interaction with the colony aside from the
hunt. They are not fed by the ranch-hands or forced to breed; they are
an entirely wild colony. The temperature and environment of Texas is
similar to that of Africa, allowing the creatures to reproduce and live
healthy lives.
08. Hippos in Colombia
Photo — Link
In the 1980s, notorious drug lord/billionaire Pablo Escobar built a zoo
in his backyard. One of his favorite types of animal in the zoo were his
four hippopotamuses, originally found in Africa. Upon his death,
authorities concluded the animals were simply too big and dangerous to
repossess, and as such left them to die. Instead, the animals managed to
escape into the wild, where they remain to this day. As of 2007, the
colony had grown to 16, dwelling in the Magdalena River. Surely, when
Escobar thought about leaving a last legacy he did not imagine this.
07. Parrots in San Francisco
Photo — Link
Parrots are commonly found in the jungles of South America, and are
prized as pets for their beautiful colors. In San Francisco, a number of
parrots escaped from pet owners. Unlike many escaped pets, the parrots
survived and mated, taking residence in Telegraph Hill. The famous
Parrots of Telegraph Hill are now a tourist attraction, with their flock
nearing 100 birds. The beautiful green and red birds are friendly and
approachable, and enjoy being fed by their many fans.
06. Monkeys in Florida
Photo — Link
The continental United States has no recognized natural primates (other
than humans). There is, however, a colony of Rhesus Macaques flourishing
in the humid swamps of Florida, particularly the Silver River State
Park. In 1938, a tour boat operator released the Macaques in an attempt
to attract more business. More than 60 years later, the
already-established colony received a boost in the form of Hurricane
Andrew. The powerful storm destroyed animal testing labs in Florida,
releasing more Macaques into the wild. Despite their friendly
appearance, the creatures are violent and strong, and tourists are
advised not to approach the animals.
05. Panthers in England
Photo — Link
Although not recognized by any official government agency, it is a
widely held belief that there are a number of big cats residing in
England, as there are an average of 4 sightings a day. Residents who
sight the animals describe the cats as being large and black, resembling
a panther. There are a variety of possible explanations for the
animals, with the leading theory involving the Dangerous Wild Animals
Act of 1976. When the act took effect, stiff penalties were enacted
against owners of dangerous animals. Many owners therefore released
their pets into the wild – panthers included.
04. Penguins in South Africa
Photo — Link
Penguins conjure up images of frozen wastelands and floating glaciers.
In truth, there are a variety of penguins, including the Black-footed,
or African, penguin. Unlike the chilly climate Emperor Penguins prefer,
these flightless birds inhabit the warm beaches of South Africa in large
numbers. Traditionally found in the open sea, they occasionally venture
onto land. Lucky beach-goers often enjoy frolicking in the crystal
clear water alongside these docile creatures.
03. Sharks in Land-Locked Lakes
Bull sharks are perhaps the most widely known freshwater sharks, often
found in rivers and bays. In rare circumstances, flooding may carry the
sharks over land, depositing them in land-locked lakes. The
aforementioned circumstance took place in Australia in 2007, depositing
10 large bull sharks into a lake on a golf course. Months passed, and
the sharks remained, growing in size and number. Despite the inherent
dangers, course players grew to like the sharks, and the owners did too,
as it discouraged local children from coming to the lake in an attempt
to take lost golf balls.
02. Emus in Texas
Once again, Texas finds itself housing another unusual animal colony –
this time, it’s made up of emus. In the early 1990s, some farmers in
Texas believed emus would be the next cash-cow. When these investments
never came to fruition, many Emus were left to fend for themselves in
the desert. Given that their natural habitat in the Australian outback
is very similar to that found in Texas, the Emus flourished – and today
their flock contains hundreds of the large, flightless birds.
01. Tarantulas in England
English readers, beware! As if being stalked by panthers wasn’t bad
enough, you have Chilean Rose Tarantulas to fear as well. Growing up to
10 inches in length, these spiders arrive in shipping containers from
their homeland in Central America. During particularly hot and humid
months, the spiders may breed. Although a widespread colony has not yet
been discovered, a handful have been found over a number of years. If
found, do not approach the creature; when threatened, the spider uses
its hind legs to flick small barbs at any predators, causing extreme
pain and even blindness. Just do what most others do when they see a
massive spider, and run the hell away!
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