Can You Keep Up? These Animals Have Unbelievable Endurance

Endurance is the act of pushing through a difficult process, whether mental, physical, or otherwise. To endure is to bear a heavy burden without giving way. Those who endure have great strength and physical stamina, and it doesn’t just apply to humans. Animals, too, can have endurance, and many of them rely on it to survive. Whether they’re pulling a heavy load through snow-covered mountains or traveling thousands of miles during migration, animals show excellent mental and physical strength. Check out these top 10 animals with the absolute best endurance on the planet and discover why they need great physical stamina.  

Wildebeest

Many things make the wildebeest one of the most capable and enduring animals on the planet. Newborn wildebeest calves can stand and walk a little less than seven minutes after being born, allowing them to keep up with their mothers completely within a couple of days. Adult wildebeest require great strength to evade hungry lions, displaying explosive power when leaping to safety and staying with their herd. Blue wildebeest travel 500 to 1,000 miles across the Serengeti each year, with their herds sometimes stretching up to 25 miles long.

Ostrich

While humans need at least two hours to complete the Olympic marathon, ostriches could do it in 40 minutes. Not only do ostriches have great endurance, but they also have incredible speed. These giant birds can run more than 40 miles per hour, covering great distances in a short period. This allows them to easily find fresh grazing pastures or escape predators.

Arabian Horse

Arabian horses have a light build and unique muscle fibers, which give them an advantage over most other breeds. These horses don’t get overheated easily, and their muscles utilize oxygen more efficiently. Their special type of muscle fibers allows for fatigue resistance and high oxidative capacity. In other words, Arabian horses are renowned for their stamina and endurance. They excel at long-distance competitions and journeys. 

Arctic Tern

The Arctic tern is a fascinating creature that spends most of its life in the air, eternally chasing sunlight. In fact, this bird witnesses more sun than any other animal on Earth. Arctic terns have the longest migration in the world, covering more than 50,000 miles in one year. Check out this study on how susceptible migrating birds, like Arctic terns, are to changing Arctic climates.

Camel

As they walk long distances through hot, dry regions carrying heavy loads, camels persevere without food or water. Camels can travel 100 miles in the desert without water. A camel’s hump stores up to 80 pounds of fat, which it can break down into energy and water when needed.

Sled Dog

Could you run through the bitter cold across rough terrain while pulling heavy cargo? Then, could you do it every day for weeks on end? If you’re a sled dog, the answer is yes! These highly trained dogs, such as huskies, laikas, and malamutes, excel at enduring tough conditions and can transfer energy to their muscles much faster than humans.

Wolf

Because wolves require nearly four pounds of meat per day at a minimum, they must spend most of their time hunting for food. Wolves can spend around 10 hours a day trotting through the wilderness looking for prey. They use their powerful legs and back muscles to keep moving even through harsh terrain.

Godwit

The godwit bird is another extremely long migrator that features a specialized body to help it make the incredibly long journey. These birds can fly nonstop from Alaska to New Zealand, a route of more than 7,000 miles. Godwits achieve this great feat by increasing their muscle size, reducing the weight of unnecessary organs, and converting their bodies to store more fat for energy.

Pronghorn Antelope

The pronghorn antelope is one of the fastest land animals on Earth. Not only can it sprint up to 60 miles per hour, but it can also run at sustained speeds of 30 to 40 miles per hour over long distances. These antelopes have adapted to migrate and evade predators by having larger lungs and hearts compared to their body size.

Globe Skimmer

The globe skimmer is a species of dragonfly that makes an exceptionally unique and long journey. These insects migrate over 4,300 miles, more than the distance between Malaysia and New South Wales. Globe skimmers use the wind to help carry them, often flapping their wings a few times before gliding for extended periods.