These are the wild animals that are surprisingly friendly with humans!
Can you name ten wild animals that seem docile and friendly, even if they cannot be adopted as pets? Well, let’s define “friendly” first. It means “gets along well with humans” in this context. But “gets along” and “makes a good pet” are two different things.
Certain animals may be charming, but that doesn’t mean we should keep them as pets. Humans and other animals have basic needs, and we shouldn’t take on responsibility if we struggle to meet them.
But enough of the preaching! I bet you’re already curious about all the wild animals that are surprisingly friendly with humans, so let’s start.
Spoiler: I bet you can’t guess the number one!
Dolphins
Since the inner lives of sea sponges are unknown, scientists typically refer to dolphins as the friendliest and smartest aquatic creatures.
Dolphins frequently chase boats and ships and usually travel in big groups known as pods. The Amazon, Yangtze, and Ganges river dolphins are among the forty species that still roam the world’s oceans, but unfortunately, many are in danger of becoming extinct.
Where is the best spot to watch them having fun? They can be found all over the world, from South Africa and New Zealand to the coasts of Florida and Hawaii.
Dolphins have long been admired by humans, which is why they’re among the wild animals that are surprisingly friendly. They are often benevolent and regarded as good luck omens in Greek mythology.
Dolphins love to make eye contact and seem truly curious about us! If you’ve ever had the chance to swim close to one, you know just how friendly and engaging they can be.
Penguins
Who doesn’t love penguins? After all, what’s not to love about them? Penguins are among wild animals that are surprisingly friendly with humans.
Penguins of different species, like the emperor, king, and Adélie penguins, have unique traits and adaptations that help them survive in their environments. Although they are different, they all like people as long as they watch them from a safe distance.
Monkeys
Since the beginning of time, monkeys were considered wild animals, but as we know from movies and documentaries, monkeys are extremely friendly toward people. Primarily because they are highly intelligent, monkeys will protect a human in the future if they are offered a tasty food item. Certain monkey species can live to be over 60 years old. Wow!
Evolutionists and scientists agree that all humans are descended from monkeys. Monkeys can be kept as pets by some people, but this is possible only in certain places, and of course, you have to look up if the monkey is allowed to be kept as a pet or not.
Some of the smaller monkeys, such as capuchins, are used as service animals to help disabled people and others who have mobility problems or spinal injuries. Such monkey species can remain active helpers for 25 to 30 years after being trained for up to 7 years.
Capybara
Capybaras grew in popularity in the past years when almost every social media platform “exploded” with reels and videos of them. And guess what? Otters are among the wild animals that are surprisingly friendly with humans.
Native to Central and South America, capybaras are primarily found in wetlands and swamps. They can reach heights of 2 feet (60 cm) and weights of up to 143 pounds (65 kg). An adult may consume up to 8 pounds (3.6 kg) of grass per day, making it their primary food source.
Capybaras require a lot of water to hydrate their naturally dry skin, even though they are excellent swimmers. Because they are gregarious and easy to train, capybaras make excellent companions for anyone around them.
With an average lifespan of 8 to 10 years in the wild and a lifespan of 12 to 15 years in captivity (in zoos), capybaras live in social groups of 10 to 30. However, capybaras aren’t suitable to be pets.
Are you looking for a way to show your juniors the wonders of wildlife with everything it has to offer? For my kids, I got this fun interactive book called Wild Animals: A Touch and Feel Book—Children’s Board Book—Educational.
In 10 pages, you and your junior can read about and touch five different surfaces that resemble the woolly fur of a koala to the leathery ear of an elephant! Each spread has touch-and-feel materials and entertaining, rhyming text about each animal.
Give your kids the opportunity to use their senses to explore their environment without facing any hidden danger. Trust me, they will love it!
Sea Otters
When it comes to wild animals that are surprisingly friendly with humans, otters might be my favorites. They’re so sweet with their tiny hands and cute faces; if I could, I would hug them all.
These tiny marine mammals are witty and vivacious; you can frequently see them floating on their backs or using rocks to crack open shellfish. Why are they considered friendly?
Sea otters appear to like interacting with one another and live in close-knit communities. Wild sea otters have adapted to human presence in some coastal areas and will sometimes approach divers or kayakers.
However, despite their cuteness, otters have strong teeth, and they’re still wild animals, so it’s advisable to maintain a safe distance between them. Get yourself a camera with a good zoom and snap some pics of them from afar!
Swans
Swans are so gracious and beautiful that if I were allowed to keep them as pets, I wouldn’t think about it twice. Soothed by the human voice, swans are considered one of the wild animals that are surprisingly friendly in our presence.
These incredible long-necked birds mate for life, in case you were unaware. Some human life lessons, huh? Nonetheless, roughly 3% are “divorced,” typically as a result of a nesting failure. Male swans even alternate incubating eggs as part of their egalitarian daily routine.
But be careful—they will fiercely defend their eggs, and they might become aggressive.
Elephants
We couldn’t get almost to the end of the article without mentioning one of those wild animals that are surprisingly friendly with humans, the elephant.
They are known for being emotionally intelligent, having strong family bonds, and having empathy, even though they are very big. People have seen elephants in the wild comforting each other, grieving for those who passed away, and even helping other animals that are in trouble.
In sanctuaries in Africa and Asia, elephants often form close bonds with the people who take care of them, and some will recognize their human friend even after many years.
Together with dolphins and octopuses, elephants are considered among the most intelligent wild animals in the world.
Llamas
Did you know that llamas have been used as therapy animals? Limas are now being brought to hospitals and nursing homes by their owners as therapy animals. The cute llamas enjoy being around the people who live there, and vice versa.
I am not entirely sure if you can keep a llama as a pet; you may want to look that up, but if it is possible, make sure you get two since they love permanent company.
Foxes
Who would have thought that foxes are among the wild animals that are surprisingly friendly with humans? Well, they really are! Even though foxes are known for being sneaky, they’re actually very curious and, believe it or not, can be very friendly. Because of things like climate change, red foxes have gotten used to living close to people in many parts of the world.
There is even a whole “fox village” in Japan where they live freely and get along with people. Foxes are smart, playful, and expressive. Folks have seen them play with toys, pet dogs and cats, and even go back to see those they trust.
Manatee
People can see manatees sticking their heads out of the water when they see people. They are friendly animals that like to interact with people and sometimes like being petted on the head.
Because manatees don’t have any natural enemies, they don’t have to be aggressive. As a result, they are usually calm and friendly around people.
Which of these wild animals is your favorite? Let me know in the comments. Until next time!
Are you new to our blog? Get ready to discover a ton more articles! Check out this one, also written by yours truly: 10 Fascinating Nocturnal Animals From Around the World.
