Green sea turtle (Chelonia mydas) at cleaning station at Olowalu Reef, Maui, Hawaii, USA

Adult male green sea turtle (Chelonia mydas) in the protected marine sanctuary at Honolua Bay on the northwest side of the island of Maui, Hawaii, USA

A younger polar bear (Ursus maritimus) scavenging a fresh bearded seal kill, Monacobreen Glacier, Spitsbergen, Norway

Polar bears (Ursus maritimus) adult and cub in snow. Monacobreen Glacier, Spitsbergen in the Svalbard Archipelago, Norway

Polar bear (Ursus maritimus) adult on snow, Monacobreen Glacier, Spitsbergen in the Svalbard Archipelago, Norway

Polar bears (Ursus maritimus) adult and cub hunting, Monacobreen Glacier, Spitsbergen in the Svalbard Archipelago, Norway

Adult common (northern) minke whale (Balaenoptera acutorostrata) sub-surface feeding in the rich waters of Woodfjord, Spitsbergen, Svalbard Archipelago, Norway

Hawaiian Spinner Dolphin (Stenella longirostris) spinning, possibly to dislodge attached remoras, Lanai, Hawaii, USA, Pacific Ocean

Gentoo penguin (Pygoscelis papua) chicks covered with mud and guano on Cuverville Island, Antarctica, Southern Ocean

Adult common (northern) minke whale (Balaenoptera acutorostrata) sub-surface feeding in the rich waters of Woodfjord, Spitsbergen, Svalbard Archipelago, Norway

Black-browed albatross (Thalassarche melanophrys) breeding colony on Steeple Jason Island in the Falkland Islands, South Atlantic Ocean

Polar bear (Ursus maritimus) adult on snow, Monacobreen Glacier, Spitsbergen in the Svalbard Archipelago, Norway

Adult humpback whale (Megaptera novaeangliae) breaching in the fjord of Isfjardardjup, Iceland

Green sea turtle (Chelonia mydas) at cleaning station at Olowalu Reef, Maui, Hawaii, USA

A well-scarred old male polar bear (Ursus maritimus) defending a fresh kill against an intruder, Monacobreen Glacier, Spitsbergen, Norway

Two young polar bears (Ursus maritimus) feeding side-by-side on a fresh bearded seal kill near Monacobreen Glacier, Spitsbergen, Svalbard Archipelago, Norway

A curious young polar bear (Ursus maritimus) approaches the National Geographic Explorer in Woodfjorden, Spitsbergen, Svalbard Archipelago, Norway

A well-scarred old male polar bear (Ursus maritimus) on a fresh bearded seal kill near Monacobreen Glacier, Spitsbergen in the Svalbard Archipelago, Norway

Polar bears (Ursus maritimus) adult and cub swimming. Monacobreen Glacier, Spitsbergen in the Svalbard Archipelago, Norway

Curious Polar bear (Ursus maritimus) looking up at National Geographic Explorer, Spitsbergen, Svalbard Archipelago, Norway

Adult green sea turtle (Chelonia mydas) in the protected marine sanctuary at Honolua Bay, Maui, Hawaii, USA

A curious young polar bear (Ursus maritimus) approaches the National Geographic Explorer in Woodfjorden, Spitsbergen, Svalbard Archipelago, Norway

Polar bear (Ursus maritimus) adult on snow, Monacobreen Glacier, Spitsbergen in the Svalbard Archipelago, Norway

Polar bears (Ursus maritimus) adult and cub hunting, Monacobreen Glacier, Spitsbergen in the Svalbard Archipelago, Norway

Green sea turtle (Chelonia mydas) at cleaning station at Olowalu Reef, Maui, Hawaii, USA

Polar bears (Ursus maritimus) adult and cub swimming. Monacobreen Glacier, Spitsbergen in the Svalbard Archipelago, Norway

Adult macaroni penguin (Eudyptes chrysolophus) on Elephant Island, South Shetlands, Antarctica

A younger polar bear (Ursus maritimus) scavenging a fresh bearded seal kill, Monacobreen Glacier, Spitsbergen, Norway

Polar bear (Ursus maritimus) adult with seal kill. Monacobreen Glacier, Spitsbergen in the Svalbard Archipelago, Norway

A curious young polar bear (Ursus maritimus) approaches the National Geographic Explorer in Woodfjorden, Spitsbergen, Svalbard Archipelago, Norway

Green sea turtle (Chelonia mydas) at cleaning station at Olowalu Reef, Maui, Hawaii, USA

Wild Large Male Northern fur seal ( Callorhinus ursinus ), Solo, In water, Endangered, part of massive colony. Srednego Island (Bering Sea), Russia, Asia

Siberian Tiger (Panthera tigris altaica) captive adult male, critically endangered. Bozeman, Montana.

Bengal Tiger (Panthera Tigris Tigris), wild, two 12 month old cubs, critically endangered. Bandhavgarh Tiger Reserve, India

Bengal Tiger (Panthera Tigris Tigris), wild, adult female, critically endangered. Bandhavgarh Tiger Reserve, India

Siberian Tiger (Panthera tigris altaica) captive adult male, critically endangered. Bozeman, Montana.

Bengal Tiger (Panthera Tigris Tigris), wild, adult male, critically endangered. Bandhavgarh Tiger Reserve, India

Siberian Tiger (Panthera tigris altaica) captive adult male, critically endangered. Bozeman, Montana.

Wild Adult Male and Female, Steller sea lions (Eumetopias jubatus), endangered, colony, rookery, haul out, raft, above water.Bering Islands (Bering Sea) Russia, Asia. MORE INFO: This sea lion in the largest member of the eared seals.

Bengal Tiger (Panthera tigris tigris),wild adult male, critically endangered. Bandhavgarh Tiger Reserve, India.

Bengal Tiger (Panthera tigris tigris),wild adult male, critically endangered. Bandhavgarh Tiger Reserve, India.

Siberian Tiger (Panthera tigris altaica) captive adult male, critically endangered. Bozeman, Montana.

Bengal Tiger (Panthera Tigris Tigris), wild, adult female, critically endangered. Bandhavgarh Tiger Reserve, India

Wild Adult Male Orangutans (Pongo Pygmaeus). Endangered. Sepilok Orangutan Rehabilitation Centre, Sandakan, Sabah, Malaysia

Bengal Tiger (Panthera Tigris Tigris) wild sub-adult male, critically endangered. Bandhavgarh Tiger Reserve, India.

Bengal Tiger (Panthera tigris tigris), wild adult male, critically endangered. Bandhavgarh Tiger Reserve, India.

Wild Adult Proboscis Monkey (Nasalis larvatus). Endangered.; Sepilok Orangutan Rehabilitation Centre; Sandakan; Sabah; Borneo; Malaysia

Wild female Northern Fur seal (Callorhinus ursinus), Endangered, rookery, haul out, Colony, Tyuleniy Island (Bering Sea), Russia, Asia

Northern Rockhopper Penguins, Eudyptes moseleyi, endangered, endemic to the Tristan Da Cunha island group, taken from a Zodiac at Gough Island (landing is not allowed on Gough Island itself), South Atlantic Ocean.

Bengal Tiger (Panthera Tigris Tigris), wild, 12 month old cub, critically endangered. Bandhavgarh Tiger Reserve, India

Wild Adult Female, Steller sea lions (Eumetopias jubatus), new pup, fresh born, endangered, colony, rookery, haul out, raft, above water.Bering Islands (Bering Sea) Russia, Asia. MORE INFO: This sea lion in the largest member of the eared seals.

Green sea turtle (Chelonia mydas) Adult animal swimming above a coral reef plateau. Palau, Micronesia, Pacific Ocean. More info: This species is listed as endangered by the IUCN.

Bengal Tiger (Panthera tigris tigris),wild adult male, critically endangered. Bandhavgarh Tiger Reserve, India.

Wild Adult Male and Female, Steller sea lions (Eumetopias jubatus), endangered, colony, rookery, haul out, raft, above water. Bering Islands (Bering Sea) Russia, Asia. MORE INFO: This sea lion in the largest member of the eared seals.

Wild Adult Female and Baby Orangutans (Pongo Pygmaeus). Endangered. Sepilok Orangutan Rehabilitation Centre, Sandakan, Sabah, Malaysia

Captive Western gorilla, gorilla gorilla. Female and baby and adolescent in La Vallee Des singes, Poitou - Charentes France. More info: Status, critically endangered due to loss of habitat, hunting and infectious disease.

black tailed marmoset Mico melanura. captive adult eating.La Vallee Des singes, Poitou - Charentes France. More info: status, least concern.

Captive adult Chimpanzees Pan troglodytes verus Standing in La Vallee Des Singes, Poitou - Charentes France. More info: Status, endangered. This rare sub species of chimp came from a breeding centre in Holland. They were originally rescued from a laboratory when the Netherlands at last made it illegal to experiment on primates.

Captive adult Barbery Macaque Macaca sylvanus. in La Vallee Des singes, Poitou - Charentes France. More info: Status, Endangered. Once common but being exterminated by farmers and loss of habitat

Captive adult Chimpanzees Pan troglodytes verus in La Vallee Des Singes, Poitou - Charentes France. More info: Status, endangered. This rare sub species of chimp came from a breeding centre in Holland. They were originally rescued from a laboratory when the Netherlands at last made it illegal to experiment on primates.

Polar bears (Ursus maritimus) adults and cub hunting, Monacobreen Glacier, Spitsbergen in the Svalbard Archipelago, Norway

Wild Adult Females Steller sea lions (Eumetopias jubatus), endangered, colony, rookery, haul out, raft, above water. Bering Islands (Bering Sea) Russia, Asia. MORE INFO: This sea lion in the largest member of the eared seals.

Wild Large Male Northern fur seal ( Callorhinus ursinus ), Solo, In water, Endangered, part of massive colony. Srednego Island (Bering Sea), Russia, Asia

Wild Adult Proboscis Monkey (Nasalis larvatus). Endangered.; Sepilok Orangutan Rehabilitation Centre; Sandakan; Sabah; Borneo; Malaysia

Green sea turtle (Chelonia mydas) at cleaning station at Olowalu Reef, Maui, Hawaii, USA

Adult green sea turtle (Chelonia mydas) in the protected marine sanctuary at Honolua Bay, Maui, Hawaii, USA

Adult macaroni penguins (Eudyptes chrysolophus) porpoising for speed while traveling to their breeding colony on South Georgia, Southern Ocean

Adult humpback whale (Megaptera novaeangliae) breaching in the fjord of Isfjardardjup, Iceland

A well-scarred old male polar bear (Ursus maritimus) defending a fresh kill against an intruder, Monacobreen Glacier, Spitsbergen, Norway

Adult humpback whale (Megaptera novaeangliae) breaching in the fjord of Isfjardardjup, Iceland

Bengal Tiger (Panthera Tigris Tigris), captive , adult male, critically endangered. Bozeman, Montana, United States

Bengal Tiger (Panthera Tigris Tigris), wild, 12 month old cub, critically endangered. Bandhavgarh Tiger Reserve, India

Wild Adult Male Steller sea lions (Eumetopias jubatus), endangered, colony, rookery, haul out, raft, above water. Bering Islands (Bering Sea) Russia, Asia. MORE INFO: This sea lion in the largest member of the eared seals.

A well-scarred old male polar bear (Ursus maritimus) defending a fresh kill against an intruder, Monacobreen Glacier, Spitsbergen, Norway

Wild Adult Male Orangutan (Pongo Pygmaeus). Endangered. Sepilok Orangutan Rehabilitation Centre, Sandakan, Sabah, Malaysia

Macaroni Penguins (Eudyptes chrysolophus) in Elsehul Bay on South Georgia Island in the Southern Ocean

Wild Adult Male and Female, Steller sea lions (Eumetopias jubatus), endangered, colony, rookery, haul out, raft, above water.Bering Islands (Bering Sea) Russia, Asia. MORE INFO: This sea lion in the largest member of the eared seals.

A curious young polar bear (Ursus maritimus) approaches the National Geographic Explorer, Spitsbergen, Norway

Adult Southern Rockhopper Penguins (Eudyptes chrysocome chrysocome) in the Falkland Islands. This is the smallest yellow-crested, black-and-white penguin in the genus Eudyptes. It reaches a length of 45-58 cm (18-23 in) and typically weighs 2-3.4 kg (4.4-7.5 lb), although there are records of exceptionally large rockhoppers weighing 5 kg (11 lbs). Their common name refers to the fact that unlike many other penguins which negotiate obstacles by sliding on their bellies or by awkward climbing using their flipper-like wings as aid, Rockhoppers will try to jump over boulders and across cracks. This behavior is by no means unique to this species however - at least the other "crested" penguins of the genus Eudyptes hop around rocks too. Southern Rockhopper Penguins have a global population of roughly 1 million pairs, perhaps a bit more. About two-thirds of the global population belongs to E. c. chrysocome which breeds on the Falkland Islands and on islands off Argentina and southern Chile. The Southern Rockhopper Penguin is classified as Vulnerable species by the IUCN.

A well-scarred old male polar bear (Ursus maritimus) on a fresh bearded seal kill near Monacobreen Glacier, Spitsbergen in the Svalbard Archipelago, Norway

White backed vulture (Gyps bengalensis) wild adult male, critically endangered. Bandhavgarh Tiger Reserve. India.

Florida manatee (Trichechus manatus latirostris) Juvenile animal swimming near spring. Crystal River, Florida, USA. More info: This is a subspecies of West Indian manatee and listed as an endangered species by the IUCN.

Magellanic penguins (Spheniscus magellanicus) at a breeding and molting site in Estancia San Lorenzo on Peninsula Valdez, Patagonia, Argentina, South Atlantic

A curious young polar bear (Ursus maritimus) swimming the width of the fjord near Monacobreen Glacier, Spitsbergen in the Svalbard Archipelago, Norway

A small pod of bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus) surfacing of the west coast of the Island of Maui, Hawaii, USA. Pacific Ocean.

Hawaiian Spinner Dolphin (Stenella longirostris) spinning, possibly to dislodge attached remoras, Lanai, Hawaii, USA, Pacific Ocean

A small pod of bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus) surfacing of the west coast of the Island of Maui, Hawaii, USA. Pacific Ocean.

Gentoo penguin (Pygoscelis papua) chicks covered with mud and guano on Cuverville Island, Antarctica, Southern Ocean

Polar bears (Ursus maritimus) adult and cub swimming. Monacobreen Glacier, Spitsbergen in the Svalbard Archipelago, Norway

Bengal Tigers (Panthera tigris tigris) wild adult female and cub, critically endangered, Bandhavgarh Tiger Reserve, India.

Green sea turtle (Chelonia mydas) at cleaning station at Olowalu Reef, Maui, Hawaii, USA

Two young polar bears (Ursus maritimus) disputing feeding rights on a fresh bearded seal kill, Spitsbergen, Norway

Bengal Tiger (Panthera Tigris Tigris), wild, 12 month old cub, critically endangered. Bandhavgarh Tiger Reserve, India

Adult southern rockhopper penguin (Eudyptes chrysocome chrysocome) at breeding and molting colony on New Island in the Falkland Islands, South Atlantic Ocean

Adult macaroni penguin (Eudyptes chrysolophus) in Elsehul Bay on South Georgia, Southern Ocean

Wild Males Walrus (Odobenus rosmarus), Endangered, Haul out, colony, Bogoslov Island (Bering Sea) Russia, Asia

Hawaiian Spinner Dolphin pod (Stenella longirostris) underwater in Honolua Bay off the northwest coast of Maui, Hawaii, USA, Pacific Ocean

Magellanic penguins (Spheniscus magellanicus) on the beach at a breeding and molting site on Carcass Island, Falkland Islands, South Atlantic

Galapagos penguin (Spheniscus mendiculus) hauled out on Isabela Island in the Galapagos Island Archipelago, Ecuador

Adult humpback whale (Megaptera novaeangliae) surfacing near researchers in Zodiac in the late evening at Siglufjordur, Iceland