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In reply to the discussion: What are some of the coolest animals you've seen in the wild? [View all]Gato Moteado
(9,853 posts)i've swam with manatees, dolphins, stingrays, manta rays, sharks and even small alligators.
i've seen otters (in SF bay and in florida canals) and whales and crocodiles, walked among elephant seals, bumped into grey and red foxes in the wild, accidentally came within 3 or 4 feet of a young black bear (didn't see the mother anywhere). i've seen bobcats, pumas, antelopes, mule deer. Watched bald eagles mating in mid-air. Twice i've had everglades black bears cross the road in front of me (on two legs, no less!).
since moving to costa rica i see, on a regular basis, scarlet macaws, toucans and toucanets, squirrel monkeys, white faced capuchins, howler monkeys, two and three toed sloths, ant eaters, coatis, kinkajous, fer-de-lances, huge boa constrictors (even got bitten by one of those!), eyelash vipers, poison dart frogs, green and brown basilisks (that can run across the top of water) and too much more to list.
I have also seen jaguarundis, grisons, tayras, spider monkeys and green macaws. but the coolest thing i've run into so far in the rain forest has to be the time i came within 20 feet of a large adult baird's tapir.
i have not yet seen a jaguar, but that is my life's dream.