Have you ever wondered which are the world’s most famous animals? Some animals are cute, some are scary, some are endangered species and others are just ordinary. But there’s nothing ordinary about the animals on this list. Whether they are famous for their owners, their achievements, some controversy or a special trait, there’s no denying that they all are one-of-a-kind specimens.
However, their fame doesn’t necessarily mean that they are economically valuable. If you want to find out which are the Most Expensive Animals in the World just check out our list.
Are you curious about the world’s most famous animals? Let’s take a look at this animalistic celebrity countdown.
10. Knut
Knut was a polar bear that rose to fame back in 2006 when he was born in captivity at the Berlin Zoological Garden. Knut was rejected by his mother and hence raised by zookeepers, which brought along a lot of international controversy and attention. Finally, in 2011, Knut died at the age of four, but not before becoming a commercial success and a Berlin attraction.
9. Tinkerbell Hilton
Paris Hilton’s Chihuahua is probably one of the most famous dogs in the world. Tinkerbell was supposedly purchased by Hilton after she watched Legally Blonde, a well-known movie in which the protagonist had a similar pup. Paris Hilton takes Tinkerbell almost everywhere she goes, so you’ll see her dog on magazines, events, and even on her reality show.
8. Hamilton the Hipster Cat
Hamilton the Hipster Cat is a rescue kitty that became an Internet sensation because of his unusual moustache-looking white spot. Hamilton has a Facebook page, an Instagram account, and even his own line of products which includes calendars, tees, and greeting cards.
7. Bo Obama
Bo Obama could be introduced as the First Dog of the United States, since he is owned by the First Family of the United States, the Obamas. Bo is a Portuguese Water Dog who was joined in 2013 by a female pup of the same breed, named Sunny. Bo was chosen partly because Malia Obama’s allergies required a hypoallergenic breed.
6. Bubbles
Bubbles is a chimpanzee best known because he once was Michael Jackson’s pet. Jackson and Bubbles were inseparable; the chimp travelled with the singer, slept right next to him and even learned how to moonwalk. Finally, as Bubbles grew older he became more aggressive and had to be relocated to an animal sanctuary where he still lives today.
5. Boo
What defines an Internet sensation? Well, probably 17 million ‘likes’ on Facebook are enough to prove that Boo is the perfect example of a pet going viral. Irene Ahn’s Pomeranian is famous mainly for its cuteness and his short haircut. The 8-year-old pup rose to fame five years ago after Khloé Kardashian called him the “cutest dog on the planet”. At the moment things are great for him, with four photo books and his ever-growing fan base.
4. Laika
Laika was a Russian dog famous for being one of the first animals in space. Laika was a stray Moscow dog chosen to be the occupant of the Sputnik 2 spacecraft, which was launched in 1957. The reason why Russian scientists selected strays to experiment with space travel is that they assumed these animals were already prepared to endure extreme living conditions involving cold and hunger.
3. Dolly
Named after Dolly Parton, Dolly the Sheep was the first mammal to be cloned from an adult somatic cell. She only lived six years, and she spent her whole life at the Roslin Institute in Edinburgh, Scotland. There she was constantly analysed and taken care of by various scientists. At the moment you can visit Dolly’s taxidermied remains at the National Museum of Scotland.
2. Punxsutawney Phil
One of the world’s most famous animals is a groundhog who lives in Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania, and who supposedly has the power of predicting an ‘early spring’. Since 1887, every February 2nd the United States and Canada celebrate a unique holiday known as Groundhog Day, a holiday which revolves around Phil.
1. Ham
Also known as Ham the Astrochimp, Ham was a chimpanzee who became the first hominid to be launched into space. Named after the lab that prepared him for his space mission (Holloman Aerospace Medical Center), Ham managed to return safely from his trip and then lived the rest of his life at the Washington D.C. National Zoo.
