Examples of animals that are protective include anteaters, African wild dogs, brown bears, chimpanzees, and crows.
Animals can be very protective of their territory. Some animals are more defensive than others, but they all have a natural instinct to protect themselves and their family.
Examples of Animals that are Protective
We all know that animals can be cute and cuddly. They also have the ability to protect themselves and others from danger, as well.
1. Anteater
| Scientific Name | Vermilingua |
| Type of Animal | Mammal |
| Range | Central and South America |
| Diet | Omnivore |
The anteater is a large, mammal that lives in Central and South America. These animals are known for their long tongues and protective nature.
Anteaters will often stand up on their hind legs to look larger and intimidate predators or potential threats.
Anteaters also have only one baby per year which they protect by carrying it on their backs.
2. African Wild Dogs
| Scientific Name | Lycaon pictus |
| Type of Animal | Mammal |
| Range | southern Africa |
| Diet | Carnivore |
These dogs are very territorial and protective of their pack. They will aggressively defend their territory against other animals, including humans.
The average pack consists of around 27 dogs. The IUCN lists them as vulnerable due to habitat loss. They are fiercely loyal to one another and will care for sick or injured companions.
South African Wild Dogs are endangered, with an expected 3k to 5500 remaining in the wild.
3. Bees
| Scientific Name | Anthophila |
| Type of Animal | Insect |
| Range | Worldwide |
| Diet | Omnivore |
Bees have a reputation for being particularly aggressive and protecting themselves by stinging people who get too close to the hive, especially when they feel like the hive is threatened.
This has earned bees a bad reputation, but they are actually quite gentle creatures if left alone.
4. Brown Bear
| Scientific Name | Ursus arctos |
| Type of Animal | Mammal |
| Range | North America |
| Diet | Omnivore |
Bears like to be left alone and would rather not interact with humans. They can become defensive if they feel threatened by a human, but this is usually only when the bear has cubs or food around.
5. Chimpanzee
| Scientific Name | Pan troglodytes |
| Type of Animal | Mammal |
| Range | southern Senegal |
| Diet | Omnivore |
Chimpanzees are very protective of their families and will fight to the death to defend them.
6. Crows
| Scientific Name | Corvus |
| Type of Animal | Bird |
| Range | Worldwide |
| Diet | Carnivore |
Crows are very protective of their nests. They can be aggressive and will attack anything that gets too close to the nest.
7. Dogs
| Scientific Name | Canis lupus familiaris |
| Type of Animal | Mammal |
| Range | Worldwide |
| Diet | Omnivore |
Dogs can be protective animals because they will stand up to any person that might be a threat to their owners.
They have been known to attack people and other animals that they feel are a danger to their family or home. Dogs can be very loyal and protective of the people they love.
8. Dolphin
| Scientific Name | Delphinus delphis |
| Type of Animal | Mammal |
| Range | Worldwide |
| Diet | Carnivore |
Dolphins are very protective of their young and will often fight off predators or protect them from being harmed. They have even been known to help humans when they are in danger.
9. Ducks
| Scientific Name | Anas platyrhynchos |
| Type of Animal | Bird |
| Range | Worldwide |
| Diet | Omnivore |
Ducks are extremely protective of their young. Mother ducks will be very aggressive towards anything that approaches her ducklings, even if the thing is much bigger than her babies. She might hiss or try to peck at you with her powerful bill.
10. Elephants
| Scientific Name | Loxodonta |
| Type of Animal | Mammal |
| Range | Africa and Asia |
| Diet | Herbivore |
The elephant is known for being very protective of their young ones. Although they are huge animals that can be dangerous when provoked, an elephant mom would go out of her way in protecting her baby from any threat.
11. Geese
| Scientific Name | Branta canadensis |
| Type of Animal | Bird |
| Range | Worldwide |
| Diet | Omnivore |
Geese are known for their protective nature. They will often stand in front of their young to protect them from oncoming danger. Geese have even been known to attack predators that come too close to their nests or young.
12. Hippopotamus
| Scientific Name | Hippopotamus amphibius |
| Type of Animal | Mammal |
| Range | Africa |
| Diet | Omnivore |
A hippo mother is very protective of her young and will fight to the death if need be. In fact, male hippos are extremely aggressive with one another in order to establish their place in a social hierarchy.
13. Hyenas
| Scientific Name | Hyaenidae |
| Type of Animal | Mammal |
| Range | Africa and eastwards through Arabia to India |
| Diet | Carnivore |
Hyenas are some of the most well-known animals that protect their young. They live in social communities called clans with up to 80 members, which is unique for carnivores who primarily hunt alone.
The clan usually consists of only females and cubs until they become old enough to fend for themselves when male hyenas join the group as well.
14. Leopard
| Scientific Name | Panthera pardus |
| Type of Animal | Mammal |
| Range | Africa |
| Diet | Carnivore |
Leopards are one of the animals that are most protective of their young. They have been known to fight off predators and even other leopards to protect their cubs. Leopards are also very territorial and will fiercely defend their territory against intruders.
15. Long-Tailed Macaques
| Scientific Name | Macaca fascicularis |
| Type of Animal | Mammal |
| Range | southeast Asia |
| Diet | Omnivore |
The long-tailed macaque is a species of Old World monkey that is native to Southeast Asia. These monkeys are known for being highly protective of their territory and young. They have been known to attack humans and other animals who enter their space.
16. Lions
| Scientific Name | Panthera leo |
| Type of Animal | Mammal |
| Range | Africa |
| Diet | Carnivore |
The lion is one of the most protective animals in the world. They will fiercely defend their territory and family members from any threat. Lions are also very loyal to their pride and will work together to protect each other.
17. Orcas
| Scientific Name | Orcinus orca |
| Type of Animal | Mammal |
| Range | Worldwide |
| Diet | Carnivore |
Orcas are known as the wolves of the sea because they are so protective of their family members. They have been known to help other animals who are in danger, even humans.
For example, an orca was seen protecting a seal from being eaten by a shark. Orcas will also protect their territory from other marine life.
18. Otters
| Scientific Name | Lutrinae |
| Type of Animal | Mammal |
| Range | Worldwide |
| Diet | Carnivore |
Otters are known for being very protective of their young. If they see someone or something near their offspring, they will start to make loud noises and could even attack the intruder.
This is likely because otters are a relatively solitary species and the young is their only chance at continuing their lineage.
19. Penguins
| Scientific Name | Spheniscidae |
| Type of Animal | Bird |
| Range | Antarctica |
| Diet | Carnivore |
Penguins are very protective of their young. They often stand in front of or on top of the baby penguin to protect it from predators like sea lions and leopard seals, which might try to eat them.
However, sometimes they fight among themselves over who gets to be “on guard” first.
20. Panda Bear
| Scientific Name | Ailuropoda melanoleuca |
| Type of Animal | Mammal |
| Range | China |
| Diet | Herbivore |
The panda bear is a great example of an animal that is protective. They are known for being very nurturing and caring parents. If they think their young ones or family members are in danger, they will do whatever it takes to protect them.
21. Piping Plovers
| Scientific Name | Charadrius melodus |
| Type of Animal | Bird |
| Range | United States from North Carolina to Texas |
| Diet | Carnivore |
These little birds are famously known for their willingness to use their own bodies as shields. They live on beaches where they lay eggs in small scrapes or depressions. Piping Plovers begin laying four days after the sun rises above the horizon and stop when it sets below it, taking 23-25 days total. This is because, as the sun rises, so do predators.
This observant small bird will pick up a stick or any other object it can find and place it on its eggs to form a barrier between them and potential predators.
It is believed that this behavior began when European settlers brought cats with them over from Europe
22. Polar Bear
| Scientific Name | Ursus maritimus |
| Type of Animal | Mammal |
| Range | Arctic |
| Diet | Carnivore |
Polar bears are very protective of their young. They also tend to be aggressive toward other animals that come near them or their cubs. Polar bear mothers will fight with anything from a polar bear to a human if the animal is seen as a threat towards her young.
A mother polar bear may even kill another mother’s baby in order to make sure her own cubs survive.
23. Prairie Dogs
| Scientific Name | Tetraodontidae |
| Type of Animal | Fish |
| Range | subtropical ocean waters |
| Diet | Carnivore |
Prairie dogs are rodents that live in the Great Plains of North America. They are very social animals and live in colonies called towns.
Each town has a mayor, who is the dominant male prairie dog. Prairie dogs are very protective of their territory and will bark at intruders.
24. Swans
| Scientific Name | Procyon lotor |
| Type of Animal | Mammal |
| Range | North America |
| Diet | Omnivore |
Swans are very protective of their young. If a human or animal gets too close to the baby swan, this parent will flap its wings and hiss at them as a warning for them to stay away from its child.
25. Rhinoceros
| Scientific Name | Rhinocerotidae |
| Type of Animal | Mammal |
| Range | Africa |
| Diet | Herbivore |
The rhinoceros is known for being one of the most protective animals in the world. These massive creatures are not afraid to stand up to predators or intruders, and they have been known to charge and even kill people who they feel are a threat.
26. Tree Kangaroos
| Scientific Name | Sarcophilus harrisii |
| Type of Animal | Mammal |
| Range | Tasmania |
| Diet | Carnivore |
Tree Kangaroos are the only species of kangaroo that live in trees. They can be found mostly within Australia and Papua New Guinea because they need a lot of foliage for food.
The baby tree kangaroos will ride on their mother’s back until they are about six months old and then start to live on their own.
27. Wolves
| Scientific Name | Canis lupus |
| Type of Animal | Mammal |
| Range | North America, Europe, Asia and North Africa |
| Diet | Carnivore |
Wolves are known for being very protective of their pack and territory. They will fiercely defend their family and home against any threat, whether it be another animal or a human.
Hi, I’m Garreth. Living in South Africa I’ve had the pleasure of seeing most of these animals up close and personal. When I was younger I always wanted to be a game ranger but unfortunately, life happens and now at least I get to write about them and tell you my experiences.