The UK's Most Instagrammable Animals

Instagram is known as the home of stunning travel content from across the globe, with over one million travel-related hashtags searched on the platform every single week. Research has shown that over 40% of Millennials will actually select their holiday destination based on how Instagrammable the location is.

Animal snaps are huge on Instagram, with creatures such as tigers, monkeys and leopards racking up millions of tags each. Chester Zoo has over 359,000 tags on the platform, with thousands of us flocking to see their more exotic animals.

But with over half of the UK opting for a staycation this year, you might have to look a little closer to home for your wildlife fix. So, which of Insta’s most popular animals can be found in the wild in the UK? Pure Leisure, which offers luxury holiday lodges for sale in the UK, reveals the top ten most Instagrammable animals that can be found in the UK.

10. Otter – 1.2 million tags

At number ten, the humble otter tots up over one million tags on Instagram. Sweet and intelligent, these creatures can be found near bodies of water across the entirety of the UK. They are quiet and fast-moving, so capturing a good shot of one will take a lot of patience!

Smaller river otters tend to be spotted around sandy riverbanks whilst larger sea otters stick to the coast. Sea otters are famed for their tendency to hold hands whilst sleeping, to stop themselves drifting away from each another in strong currents. Mother otters are also known to wrap their pups up in seaweed to stop them from floating away from the family.

These adorable habits no doubt account for a large number of their tags on the platform!

9. Moth – 2.2 million tags

Perhaps a surprising entry at first glance, the moth clocks in at number nine. Whilst you might think of the irritating, small brown moths that find their way into your house in the warmer months, there are a number of quite beautiful moth species to be found in the UK.

Contrary to popular belief, not all moths eat clothes. Actually, most adult moths hardly eat anything and some species, like the Luna moth, don’t even have mouths! It’s actually the moth’s larvae who tend to be attracted to the animal fibres present in clothing, but only if they are a member of the ‘clothes moth’ species.

Some truly gorgeous moth species can be found across the UK, such as the stunning pink and olive Elephant hawk-moth and the highly patterned Emperor moth. You might even spot the elegant Hummingbird hawk-moth which sips nectar from flowers, much like actual hummingbirds do!

8. Dolphin – 2.5 million tags

The intelligent dolphin comes in at number eight, with two and a half million tags.

It might come as a surprise that these aquatic creatures can be seen in the UK, as they’re generally associated with warmer climes and azure blue waves, but at least seven species of dolphin have been spotted in British waters.

Pods of dolphins communicate using a range of distinctive clicking and whistling sounds. Although capable of diving in deeper waters, they tend to prefer shallower areas, making it easier to get that perfect snap.

Southern England, Wales and Scotland are among the best areas to catch a glimpse of a dolphin pod – just remember to bring your binoculars or a good zoom lens for the best view!

7. Bat – 2.7 million tags

At number seven is the bat. These nocturnal creatures are common in both rural and urban areas across the UK, but their nature makes them difficult to photograph in the wild.

Watch the skies around sunset or sunrise to catch a glimpse of a passing bat – they’re also known to emit a chirping noise, but you’re unlikely to hear them when outside, as they’re so quiet. Bats use echolocation to select their flight paths and find prey – they make squeaking noises as they fly and make decisions based on the echoes fed back to them. This is a sophisticated system which tells the bat not only the size and shape of the insect they are chasing but also which direction it’s going!

To have the best chance of spotting a bat or two, try joining an organised bat walk. A guide will lead you around a specific area, known to be popular with bats and often provide you with a bat detector so you can hear the different bat calls.

6. Dragonfly – 3.2 million tags

The stunning dragonfly comes in at number six, with over three million tags on Instagram. With their large, delicate wings and distinctive colouration, dragonflies make excellent subjects for close-up photography.

Dragonflies are typically found near bodies of water, such as ponds, lakes and bogs. There are plenty of sub-species to find across Britain and they are generally in flight during the summer months. However, some of the more tough species can also be found later in the year.

Dragonflies are harmless insects which cannot sting or bite, so you can feel comfortable getting as close to snap a truly brilliant shot!

5. Swan – 4.3 million tags

The elegant swan sits at number five on our list, with over four million Instagram tags. Our monarch still officially holds a prerogative to claim all the swans in Britain and Wales and maintains the title of Swan Keeper.

Four species of swan can be found in the UK, with the white Mute swan being the most common. A Mute swan can grow to achieve a wingspan of 240 centimetres and weigh around 15 kilograms! White swans can be seen across the UK in areas where they have access to a body of water. Black swans are less common as they are native to Australia. However, they have been seen in Devon, Stockton-on-Tees and Buckinghamshire.

Swans mate for life and are capable of displaying grief at the loss of their mate or a chick by abandoning their self-care routine. In extreme cases, this process has been known to end in the death of the surviving swan – so it could be said they can die of a broken heart.

The perfect opportunity for a photo occurs when two swans bring their heads close together, creating a distinctive heart shape with the sweep of their long necks. You might have to be patient to capture this image, but it’s definitely worth it!

4. Hedgehog – 4.3 million tags

The adorable hedgehog sits at number four, also clocking up over four million tags on Instagram. The UK’s hedgehog population is decreasing rapidly, with a decline of 30-75% in rural hedgehog numbers seen since the year 2000.

Hedgehogs are nocturnal creatures and hibernate during the coldest months. You’re most likely to catch sight of one on a summer evening in dry spaces, such as under hedges or behind garden sheds. They’re known to curl into a ball and allow their spines to stick out if they feel threatened.

Hedgehogs are present in urban areas as well as the countryside and can travel as far as 12 miles in a single night! A baby hedgehog is known by the sweet name of ‘hoglet’ and a little hedgehog family makes for the perfect picture if you can capture it without startling the animals.

3. Robin – 4.4 million tags

The robin takes third place in our most Instagrammable list.

The red-breasted robin might be synonymous with winter and Christmas, but these birds can actually be seen year-round in the UK. Highly territorial, robins will protect their space aggressively and won’t hesitate to drive away interlopers.

Interestingly, robins can often be heard singing at night. They are triggered to sing by the presence of artificial light, such as street lamps, which they mistake for daylight. Try going out at dusk to catch a quick shot of a robin singing to the street lamps!

2. Duck – 8.2 million tags

The duck is our runner-up, clocking up over eight million tags on Instagram.

A variety of duck species native to the UK can be seen year-round, close to bodies of water. The Mallard with its bright yellow beak and emerald green head is well-known to many of us, but the UK is also home to the small Teal duck which has a green stripe across its brown head, and the Tufted duck which periodically dives beneath the surface of the water on the hunt for small fish and snails to eat.

Ducks tend to stick together in groups, so visit your local pond or river to try and spot a flock to photograph!

1. Rabbit – 18.7 million tags

Our clear winner is the sweet-natured rabbit, holding over 18 million tags on the social media platform.

Popular as pets, rabbits are a common sight in many UK homes, but our land is also home to a wide variety of wild rabbits. Although generally associated with Easter and the arrival of spring, rabbits can be seen year-round, living in underground warrens in grassy areas, such as woodland or meadows.

Shy, danger-averse animals, wild rabbits will bolt when threatened which may make it tricky to get the perfect shot of them. But persevere and you can proudly post your Instagram-worthy shot and add to the 18.7 million #rabbit tags already out there.