“charismatic megafauna” is a non-technical term in biology that refers to large animals that have a common role in popular and traditional culture. Typical examples are bears, lion, tigers, crocodiles, zebras, elephants, etc.
Which do you, on average, find more beautiful? Do you like looking at cat pictures more, or images of lions and other magnificent wild beasts?
I’m strongly slanted towards the wild animals. I don’t like cats. The only domestic dogs that I like are huge ones that really make you go “wow, that is an impressive living thing”.
Domestic animals could include pet cats, dogs, rabbits…
I am not including a poll because I think the poll would make people less likely to actually describe what they like. The point is that I want people to describe why they think bears or zebras are cute, or why they think that cats and dogs are cute.
Really, I “oogle” at animals whenever I can. In the city, I watch pigeons. In town, if there are no vertebrates about I will spend half an hour watching ants or bees or centepedes. True, wild animals have novelty going for them, but I’m equal-opportunity.
In the wild, I’ll be watching the megafauna, becuase it might get hungry. On TV, or in otherwise safe circumstances, any animal will do–big, little, wild, tame, whatever.
Cats and puppies and elephants and siberian tigers before cows and sheep. You either gotta have “cute” or “beautiful” going for you if you want oogles.
I like and admire most animals (except monkeys and apes- I have an illogical aversion to them) but I really care more for domesticated animals, especially useful ones and cats- who are not really useful but have a cuteness factor of their own. My favorite animals are working dogs and horses, I’m pretty fond of sheep (currently have a flock) and watching a horse race might make me teary-eyed.
Some dogs are cool, but I generally don’t find dogs or cats all that interesting since I see them all the time. I love to see osprey flying with fish in their talons - birds of prey are cool. I love seeing the occasional alligator, dolphin, manatee, etc. I still love spotting great blue herons and wood storks which are both very large birds. Even turtles or the badger I recently spotted scurrying across the road give me a thrill. In captivity these are still okay but not as exciting since I know that they’ll be there.
I’d have to agree that an animal needs ‘cute’, ‘beautiful’ or just ‘wow’ before I’d oogle it, but sometimes horses and cows can be cute, it’s nice to be out walking in the countryside and pass a field where they’re grazing, and pet and feed them the nice long grass from our side of the fence.
Sheep however…well. They’re just not right. Those eyes are all wrong.
Things like tiger, wolf or bear cubs, or monkey infants get a double oogle, because they get the ‘cute’ and ‘beautiful’ or ‘wow’ all in one.
If it’s a dog or a cat then domestic. Otherwise, the wilder the better.
Especially if it’s the kind of animal that could eat me in a snap. So…tigers. Sharks. Killer whales. (Oh, I know they usually don’t. But they could! I’m seal sized!)
We go to the Zoo more often than the City Farm, so put me down for megafauna, although not necessarily charismatic! I sponsor the tapirs at the zoo and they don’t appear in much folklore I’ve come across…
I also prefer the less iconic animals there to the classic zebras, elephants, giraffes*, etc. - give me giant anteaters, takins and wolverines!
as it happens, Edinburgh Zoo no longer has elephants or giraffes for reasons of space, but I quite enjoy seeing them in safari parks where thay have plenty of room…
For me when it comes to dogs, I’m the opposite of most people. Big majestic dogs are okay and sometimes nice but I love seeing sweet cuddly dogs. Or even average sized dogs who act all sweet and licky and tail waggy. Makes me want to scoop them up and nuzzle them!
