What was an animal that took your breath away?

Spike

Spike

Well-Known Member
For me it was when I saw whale sharks at the Georgia Aquarium. I went during Covid and had to use a side entrance with a smaller viewing into Ocean Voyager when a giant shark just came around and blocked the entire viewing window. At moment I was like “Wow, my pilgrimage is complete”.
What animal made you lose your breath?
 
Bottlenose dolphins.

I had adored cetaceans for about 9 years before I ever had the opportunity to see one in person, and a bottlenose dolphin was the very first species I ever laid my eyes on first-hand. I saw a dolphin breaching while walking by about a hundred feet away from the animal, and I was immediately struck by how unexpectedly massive they were in person, even at that distance with such a brief sighting.

I'm a very emotional person so I could probably list off a million different animal encounters that left a lasting impression on me, but that one stands out in my mind. Such an incredibly impactful moment for me despite being nothing "special" or extraordinary, other than the animal itself.
 
I would have to say Bottlenose dolphins too.

I've had the amazing opportunity to see these guys both in captivity and in the wild, and every time I see one there is just something so spectacular and breath taking about them.

Another species I could say the same about is Saltwater Crocodile, but I think it took my breath away for a completely different reason.:p
 
Shock and awe are not the only powerful emotions which can feel when we see an animal. I think my most emotional moment happened on my first zoo visit after my mother's funeral, when I was particularly responsive. That made seeing this little one so special. She is Indali.
Elephant calf, 18 hours old

Elephant calf, 18 hours old

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Born around 19.00 hours Friday 16th December 2016. Photograph 13.00 hours Saturday 17th December.
 
Not sure about taking my breath away, but when I saw my first pangolin at Prague last year my legs were trembling from the excitement, and for the next few days I kept having to remind myself that it was real and I had in fact seen one. :p

That said, I think the moment when my tour guide on a boat tour to Staffa Island in Scotland turned back to inform us that we were approaching a pod of dolphins is the most excited that I have ever been for a single encounter with any one species. I think walruses and maybe even pangolins are lifeticks that I treasure more than the dolphins, but something about the build-up to the encounter, the fact that they were in the wild, and the presence of a massive pod made it feel a little more special.
 
Several years ago it was the orca show at SeaWorld Orlando. I don’t like most animal shows now, but I won’t forget that experience.
 
1) Platypus - Taronga 2017
2) Numbat - Pert Zoo 2017
3) Amazon river dolphin - Duisburg Zoo 2008
4) Saiga - Cologne Zoo 2008
5) Marbled cat - Al Bustan 2023
Hard to choose:)
 
Kalaw said:
Not sure about taking my breath away, but when I saw my first pangolin at Prague last year my legs were trembling from the excitement, and for the next few days I kept having to remind myself that it was real and I had in fact seen one. :p
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I had quite a similar experience seeing the pangolin in Zoo Praha, especially with the pangopup on its tail!

I thought for a moment about an answer to OP's question, but it's too hard as there's too many memories - and memorable encounters with animals is, after all, one of the things zoos are for.
 
It's always cetaceans for me. When dolphins were briefly back at the Minnesota Zoo a few years ago, I was reminded of just how magical it is to see them- even if I don't think they should make a permanent return to Minnesota Zoo without a major enclosure overhaul. Swimming with Naya at the Shedd was also just remarkable... I had no idea, but she about 2 weeks away from giving birth when I did.

I have very mixed feelings about cetaceans in captivity but their intelligence is always just so marvelous to behold. I'm equally enraptured by primates but I think the big difference for me is that cetaceans are just so different... primates are close enough to people that I'm amazed, but not surprised, if that makes sense. Cetaceans feel so alien.
 
Spotting my first purple heron in the wild definitely took my breath away! They're quite rare in the Czech Republic. I was still a newbie at birdwatching, so I really did not expect to encounter one at a pretty much random pond. It suddenly appeared next to me, as it flew out of the bushes. Back then I didn't even own an actual telephoto lens, just a cheap 18-250mm, so I was left with a really poor photo - but I still cherrish it.
 
Seeing White Tigers for the first time when I was 11years old in 1966 at Bristol Zoo, I couldn't stop talking about them to anyone who would listen.
 
Spike said:
For me it was when I saw whale sharks at the Georgia Aquarium.
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This would be my answer, alongside the reef and giant oceanic mantas they have at the very same institution lol. However, I experienced much the same awe upon seeing the tiger shark that Aquarium of the Pacific acquired in 2009 - I had not heard even a hint of one coming to my little local aquarium, so I was completely shocked at her presence. Seeing an adult one (also, of course, in Georgia!) many years later was also fantastic.
 
The most emotional zoo-wise was seeing the river dolphins in Rio Negro in Duisburg Zoo. I had seen them a few years before in their atrocious “exhibit” (basically a small bedroom) which they were kept in for over 30? years. Seeing them able to swim, I was just happy for them.

Other memorable encounters were standing amid 5 whooping male greater Birds of Paradise in Pairi Daiza. After hearing their call on Sir Davids “Attenborough in Paradise”, it was amazing to hear them in person.

Also seeing the manta’s at both Lisbon and Nausicaa.

But there were many more, and that’s without what I’ve seen in the wild…
 
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