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Ralph Lee Hopkins

Named for the thin black strip beneath its 'chin' the chinstrap penguin is indigenous to Antarctica.

Weddell seals are known for their docile nature and are easily approached by humans.

A herd of African buffalo gather in Botswana's Okavango Delta. The large herbivores often cluster together as protection against predators.

An Adelie penguin jumps on an iceberg in Antarctica.

In the winter months, thousands of whales migrate from Alaska to Hawaii, where the warm waters offer an ideal habitat for mating and calving. To protect humpbacks, in 1992 Congress established a marine sanctuary in the main Hawaiian islands.

Three killer whales swim in a row at the surface of the water. Over the years, orcas have been hated by fishermen, but then loved by the public as they were put into marine shows.

Although the island of Borneo is shared by three countries (Malaysia, Indonesia, and Brunei), monkeys, birds, and small carnivores cross borders with ease. On the Malaysian side of the island, Nat Geo Expeditions’ 11-day “Borneo Wildlife Adventure” leads guests through the orangutan rehabilitation center at Kabili-Sepilok Forest Reserve, on elevated walks through treetops, and on a climb to a mud volcano. Stays include two nights at one of Nat Geo’s Unique Lodges of the World, Sukau Rainforest Lodge.

The future for the species is unclear, although there is a silver lining in the form of refuges that may serve as strongholds.

Visitors watch two polar bears walk across the ice in Svalbard, Norway. To ensure an animal-friendly itinerary, it can help to work with a reputable tourism company focused on sustainability.

A lone polar bear walks on Arctic pack ice in Spitsbergen, Norway.