13 Creatures You Probably Didn't Know The Humane Society Protects

In the wild, elephants thrive with their family groups, but, in circuses, there are still numbers that suffer from poor conditions. The HSUS protects elephants from exploitation and illegal ivory trade.

Manatees, everyone's favorite slow-moving, mermaid-myth-inspiring creatures, face an everyday threat in their home waters from pollution and careless boaters. It's important to support and follow efforts that help protect Florida's beloved sea cows!

While studies show prairie dogs are smart enough to have complex communication systems, their habitats and colonies still face destruction from landowners participating in inhumane removal methods. The HSUS works to relocate these chatty families through the Prairie Dog coalition.

Unwelcome guests in many homes, mice deserve the same protection as any other animal! Each day, thousands of mice are tested and used in cosmetic trial runs, but there are ways and sources to help support cruelty-free testing with your current legislators.

Smarter than dogs and 3-year-old children, pigs are intelligent, emotional creatures who form close-knit communities when living together, but did you know that many still suffer on factory farms? That's why it's important to stay informed, look at where your food is coming from, and support legislation to make living conditions for pigs better.

Sharks have been swimming the oceans for millions of years, but today at least one-quarter of the species are threatened with extinction. Banning shark-finning will help ensure these amazing creatures will live to swim another million years.

These little creatures need a lot of TLC to thrive in a happy, healthy environment, but it's definitely worth it to have a furry little companion at your side. When considering getting a guinea pig, it's also worth contacting your local animal shelter to find out more about adoption so that you're not supporting inhumane conditions in guinea pig mills.

Cougars (or mountain lions) once traversed the wild freely, but as of late their numbers have dwindled as a result of trophy hunting, habitat loss, and predator control. Learning about their habits and habitats is the first step to coexisting peacefully together.

Large whales on the planet face threats, whether from commercial whaling or pollution in oceans. While HSUS petitions for legal protection of whale populations from speeding ships and vessels, there's still more work to be done to ensure the safety of these beautiful creatures!

Your favorite garbage-can hunters may seem like pests to you, but instead of calling the exterminator on these lovable bandits, try some of the resources from the HSUS to ensure a humane resolution to this human/wildlife conflict.

On land and sea, turtle populations are threatened from development and pollution of their natural habitats, but, before you go rescuing these reptiles from the wild, it's also worth considering that turtles and tortoises may struggle in captivity. Learning about protecting turtles rather than inadvertently hurting them is one of the best ways to save your shelled buddies!

Tigers have always been marveled at and admired for their one-of-a-kind striped coats, but, as the years pass, native populations fall and face extinction in Asia. The HSUS works to preserve these magnificent predators from illegal trade or abuse in the entertainment industry.

Once hunted for their warm, thick pelts, otters face a new sort of threat today from the commercial fishing industry, which sees them as competition and try to regulate "no-otter zones." Protecting otters from these threats keeps a balanced marine ecosystem.