There are many common species that we all are familiar with in the UK. Animals of the British Isles that we are all familiar with are wild animals such as; the red fox, the red squirrel, roe deer, badgers and, of course, everyone's favourite feathered friend - the red robin.
These animals of the British Isles are mostly common species, that most of us aren't too far from living from. There are, however, animals of the British Isles which still exist in the wild. These animals who live in the wild in modern Britain can be surprising, as you think they would be extinct.
Let's look at the top five animals of the British Isles, which surprisingly still exist in the wild today.
#5 Walrus
The Walrus is an animal you'd expect to find in the icy lands of the Arctic. Surprisingly though, these animals have been found on multiple occasions have been found far away from home in some coastal areas of the British Isles. Their presence though is rare, so they become quite the celebrity when one or two does end up far South in the UK.
#4 South American Coatis
These are animals that are native to South America. They are found in South American countries like Argentina. They are not animals that you would expect to find in the wild of the UK - but, surprisingly, they are.
A small population of the South American Coatis has been found living wild in Cumbria. Their discovery was not a one-off, as these animals have been tracked for almost 10 years. What isn't known, is how they got there.
#3 Golden Eagles
When you think of the Golden Eagle, you think of the United States of America. Afterall, the US does have an Eagle as their national bird. The national bird is a different species of Eagle though; the bald eagle.
In saying that though, Golden Eagles are found throughout the US, where they are very common. There are around 300,000 of them in America and Canada. They are rare in the UK though, with fewer than 500 remaining in the wild.
#2 The Adder Snake
When we think of snakes, we think of them residing in areas like Australia, or the Amazon rainforest. That is true. But, did you also know that the UK has its very own snake? - poisonous too!
That snake is called the Adder. They are found throughout the British Isles. They are cool to look at, but they are not animals you either want to handle or want to go near, as they are poisonous. They are, however, the UK's only poisonous snake. We do have another snake, known as the grass snake.
#1 Wild Boar
Wild Boar surprisingly still exist in the wild today. They can only be found in a handful of wild areas in the South of England.
These are wild animals that you would expect to see in the middle ages, rather than in modern Britain. They were once extinct but were brought back into the English countryside - mainly forest areas.