1. Quokka or short-tailed kangaroo. Perhaps the most smiling animal! The animal grows the size of a cat, and weighs a maximum of 5 kg. At the same time, the mammal has a bag in which it carries the cubs. Quokkas feed exclusively on plants: grass, leaves, shoots and fruits of trees. Powerful hind legs, like all kangaroos, allow them to easily climb to a height of up to one and a half meters. But the quokka doesn’t know how to fight like a big kangaroo, besides, the animal has 32 small teeth and no fangs. Previously, in the habitats of these cute animals (in Australia), there were no predators that would hunt them, but when people brought cats and dogs, babies became easy prey. Now quokkas can only be found on a few islands off the coast of the green continent. It was there that all these funny selfies with smiling animals were taken, which made the whole world touched. Just look at the title photo!
2. Pygmy hippopotamus. Like his only brother, the common hippopotamus, the baby spends half the time in the water, but unlike him, he does not unite in herds, but lives alone. Baby hippopotamuses are vegans, and besides, they are very peaceful: males do not conflict when they meet, but disperse in an amicable way. An interesting fact: the sweat of these animals is pink. The glands secrete a special secret – colored mucus, which serves as a “sunscreen”. Mini-hippos live in the swampy river valleys of Liberia, Sierra Leone and Côte d’Ivoire. Unfortunately, the species is on the verge of extinction, as the locals uncontrollably exterminate these cute creatures for food. Only about a thousand individuals remain in nature.
3. American tree porcupines. This animal – a funny miniature copy of real porcupines – weighs a maximum of 18 kg. It is both prickly and fluffy at the same time: the body is covered with hair and sharp needles 2,5-11 cm long. At the same time, it has long claws and 20 teeth. Baby porcupines live in the dense forests of North and South America, climb trees perfectly. Their “homes” are usually located in hollows or at the roots, but they can also live in rock crevices or caves. They eat bark, berries and will not refuse an apple. They live alone or in pairs, but not for long – about three years.
4. Pika. They got their name from the sounds they make when they communicate with each other. These are small animals that look like hamsters, but are actually close relatives of hares. Pikas feed on grasses, leaves of shrubs, mosses and lichens, and store hay for the winter, for which they are also called haystacks. Little vegans gather fresh grass and pile it up until it dries. To prevent the grass from being carried by the wind, they cover it with pebbles. As soon as the grass dries up, they carry it to their burrow for storage. Most pikas live in family groups and share the duties of gathering food and watching for dangers. The animals live in Asia, North America, several species can be found in the steppes of Russia.
5. Koala. Another charming vegan, moreover, a mono-raw eater. These marsupials, which touch us there, eat only shoots and leaves of eucalyptus, and then only 120 plant species out of 800 that exist in nature. However, sometimes, to make up for the lack of certain minerals, koalas eat the earth. Koalas are calm, very phlegmatic animals. They lead a measured hermit life in the forests of Australia. It is quite curious that koalas have unique patterns on the pads of their fingers, like humans and some monkeys.
6. Decency. These are miniature antelopes living in the savannas and semi-deserts of central and eastern Africa (from Namibia to Somalia). Cuties weighing no more than 6 kg and no taller than 40 cm. Dikdiks are absolutely herbivorous animals that like to settle closer to bushes. In addition, dik-diks are faithful family men. Couples live together all their lives, take care of offspring and protect each other. Treason in their families is a rarity.
7. Goondies. A small rodent lives in the desert and rocky regions of North Africa. It has short legs, greyish-yellow fur, curled ears, shiny black eyes, and a tiny tail. Gundi are also called comb-toed rats because of the wispy tufts of hair that stick out above the toes of their hind feet. These “combs” help keep balance, look for seeds in the sand and comb out the back. Gundis do not drink water, and the necessary liquid is obtained from plant foods. The crumbs communicate with chirping sounds or tap their paws on stones, such a “Morse code”.
8. Wombat. Reminds me of a large hamster or bear cub. This funny marsupial mammal lives in Australia, loves young grass shoots, plant roots, mosses, mushrooms and berries. Animals have a slow and efficient metabolism: sometimes they need up to 14 days to digest food. They are also the most economical consumers of water after camels. The wombat’s only enemies are dingoes and the Tasmanian devil. However, the rear part of the wombat’s body is so solid that it is able to protect the animal from a predator: if an ill-wisher penetrates the mink, the wombat will crush it with its powerful fifth point. Despite their clumsy appearance, wombats are good at diving and running, and can even climb trees in case of danger. An unusual fact: wombats’ feces are shaped like perfect cubes that animals use for construction or as “border posts”.
For some, plant foods help to remain agile and fast, for others to enjoy a calm, measured life. Each of these animals has its own favorite delicacy: bark, herbs, berries, mushrooms, fruits, or even eucalyptus. Veganism comes naturally to them. And for us.