Download 2015 Teachers Resource Booklet 1st version: May

2015 Teachers Resource Booklet
1st version: May 2015
More information to be added.
Download our self-guided tour resource
booklet to use as you visit the zoo.
Containing facts & information pertaining to
each species.
Dear Teachers:
Truly there is no better way to teach your students about the wonderful animals
of this world then by being able to bring your class room to life.
Come see and experience the amazing and diverse animals of the world here at
“The Brantford Twin Valley Zoo” “Just let nature do the talking while you do the walking.”
BRANTFORD TWIN VALLEY TEACHERS RESOURCE INFORMATION INDEX GUIDE
The main purpose of this resource guide is to provide simple data for use by
Primary/Elementary School teachers & pupils.
Name :The name given is that by which the animal is commonly referred to.
Its scientific name is listed at the top of each page.
Habitat : Only the animal's most typical habitats are given here. In all reality, many variations of this
are possible. Some animals (e.g. raccoons) are happy to live almost anywhere.
Where found : Further details of distribution.
Diet : In most cases the animals are categorized as either: carnivore, herbivore, or omnivore.
(information about the natural diet of each species is given.)
Average length : For mammals, this is the head and body measurement, excluding the tail length.
For birds and reptiles it is the measurement from the top of the head to the tip of the tail.
Average weight: there is a variation within animals of the same species.
Sex, social position and food availability can all affect weight.
Average no. of young per year: This can vary greatly, but these figures give a general guide.
Gestation / Egg incubation: The figures given are an average.
Lifespan: These figures are largely based on animals living in captivity.
(In the wild, animals generally die younger, mostly due to predator's, environment, and habitat loss.)
SUB CATEROGIES OF SPECIES
BIRDS, WATERFOWL
MAMMALS
REPTILES
OTHER
native species' & plant life
Scientific Name: Balearica Pavonin
Habitat: They are found in open marshes and
grasslands near rivers and lakes; also inhabit
farmland.
Diet:: Plants, seeds, grain, insects, frogs,
worms, snakes and small fish.
Fun Fact: Their wing span
can reach to 6.5 ft. Both
parents incubate and feed
the young. The crowned
cranes have existed for
over 50 million years.
They perform dances.
Life span: Up to 25 year in captivity.
Young: Lays 2-4 eggs with small brown spots.
The incubation duration is 30 days and fledging
duration is 50-90 days.
Size: Height:110cm-130cm/ Weight: 3-4 kg
Status in the wild: Not endangered, but rapidly
declining.
Foot Print
Scientific Name: Grus Antigone.
Habitat: Wetland habitats, grassland, and
cultivated fields.
Found in Pakistan, India, Nepal, south East Asia,
and Australia.
Diet: Omnivorous; aquatic plants, rice, seeds,
other grains, snails, crustaceans, insects,
amphibians, reptiles and fish.
Life span: Longevity of Sarus Crane exceeds
up to 15- 20 years in the wild and for 40 years
in captivity.
Young:: They lay 2 eggs, and incubation lasts
about 31-34 days. Fledging can last 3 months.
Size: Height: Up to 5.9 ft.
Weight: 16-18.5 lb.
Fun Fact: Worlds tallest flying bird.
Status in the wild: Vulnerable:
Sarus cranes have loud trumpeting
calls. These calls are produced by the
elongated TRACHEA that form coils
within the sternal region.
Pairs may indulge in spectacular
displays of calling in unison and
posturing.
These include "dancing" movements
that are performed both during and
outside the breeding season and
involve a short series of jumping and
bowing movements made as one of the
pair circles around the other.
Sternum & trachea of Sarus crane.
Foot Print
Scientific Name: Rhea Americana/ Rhea pennata
There are two species: the greater or American
Rhea(Rhea Americana) and the lesser or Darwin
rhea.(Rhea pennata)
Habitat: Native to South America ,Argentina,
Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, Paraguay, Peru and Uruguay.
Diet: Omnivore/ vegetarian likes broad-leafed
plants, fruits, seeds, roots, also insects like
grasshoppers as well as small reptiles and rodents.[
Life span: 15 years
Young: Rheas are polygamous, males will court
between two and twelve females. After mating,
the male builds a nest, in which each female takes
a turn to lay her eggs. A The male incubates from
ten to sixty eggs.
Size: Weight of 20–27 kg (44–60 lb)
Hieght1.5 m (4.9 ft.)
Status in the wild:
When chased the Rhea will run in a zigzag
pattern, alternately raising one wing and then
the other wing.
Scientific Name: Dromaius Novaehollandiae
Habitat: Emus live in most habitats across
Australia, although they are most common in
areas of sclerophyll forest and savannas.
Diet: Omnivore- feeds mainly on plant foods,
prefers the juicy, nutritious parts of the plant
like fruits, young shoots and flowers.
They refuse to eat dry old leaves and grass
even when very hungry. Emus will occasionally
eat insects or other small creatures, and are
very fond of caterpillars.
Life span: 12 - 20 years
Young: Average clutch size is approx. 12 eggs.
Although the female emu lays the eggs, from
then on the male does all the work. He sits on
and incubates the eggs for 8 weeks, he wont
even leave them to eat or drink and he lives
off his fat reserves, the male emu also looks
after the chicks for an entire year and he even
protects the chicks from their own mother.
Size: H:1.5m-1.9m (4.9ft-6.2ft).
W:18kg- 60kg (40lbs - 132lbs).
Status in the wild:
Fun Facts:
Top speed: 40km/h (25mph)
The emu is the largest bird
native to Australia and the
second largest bird in the
world, behind the ostrich.
Emus can grow to nearly 2
meters tall and have
extremely soft feathers.
Emus are flightless birds
mainly because of their
enormous size, which means
that they are just too heavy
to fly.
Emus are nomadic animals
which means that they rarely
stay in the same place for
long.
Scientific Name: Anthropoids' Virgo
Habitat: They prefer marshy areas during the
breeding season and arid grasslands during the
winter.
Location: Ukraine to Siberia, and in parts of
northwest Africa and central India.
Diet: seeds, insects, worms, and small animals
such as lizards and snakes.
Life span: 25-65 years.
Young: Females usually lay two eggs The mating
system of the Demoiselle Crane is monogamous.
A male and a female will remain a pair for their
entire lives. However, this remains true only if
reproduction is successful, and reproduction is
usually not successful until the age of four to
eight years.
Gestation Period: Both parents help incubate
the eggs which hatch in about 30 days. Fledging
can last 55-65 days.
Size: Height: 3 ft. Weight: 4-7 lb.
Status in the wild:
Fun Fact: Cranes mate for
life and are famous for their
dancing rituals.
Demoiselle cranes take one
of the toughest migration
paths in the world.
In late August through
September, they gather in
flocks of up to 400 individuals
and prepare for their flight
to their winter range.
They must cross the
Himalayan mountains to
get to their over-wintering
grounds in India.
Scientific Name: Phoenicopterus ruber
Habitat: Flamingos live in lagoons or lakes, where there is lots of mud and water
Diet: Algae, diatoms, worms, crustaceans, aquatic plants and insect larvae.
Life span: 44 years in captivity.
Gestation Period: :Flamingos mate for life. Female lays only one egg and
both parents incubate; incubation lasts 31 days. Fledging lasts 70-90 days.
Young: one egg
Size: 40-48 in.
Their wingspan reaches 5 ft.
Flamingo prints
Flamingos mate for life.
Fun Fact: Did you know that their diet plays
a roll in the color of their plumage? Flamingos eat
algae and crustaceans that contain pigments called
Carotenoids. Captive flamingos are feed a special diet
that includes prawns (a pigmented crustacean)
or additives such as beta-carotene or canthaxanthin,
otherwise they would be white or pale pink.
Status in the wild:
Scientific Name: Haliaeetus leucocephalus
Habitat: They make their homes along costal areas,
marshes, and riverbanks. Florida, Aleutian Islands,
Alaska, northern and eastern Canada and northern
United States.
Diet: Mainly fish, rodents, small mammals and carrion.
Life span :Up to 28 years in the wild.
Young: The Bald Eagle lays 2 eggs and incubation
lasts 35 days. Fledging can last 10-11 weeks.
Usually only one chick survives to maturity.
Size: Length: 2.5-3 ft.
Weight: 10-13 lb.
Status in the wild:
Fun Fact:
Wingspan reaches
6-8 ft.
Eagle foot prints
Scientific Name: Pavo
Habitat: : India and Sri Lanka.
Introduced worldwide as a captive bird,
it lives wild or semi-wild in some places.
Diet: Grain, seeds, berries, insects, snakes
and mice.
Life span: 23 years.
Young: They lay 4-6 eggs and incubation
lasts 28 days.
Size: Length: 2.5-4.5 ft.
Weight: 6-13 lb.
Status in the wild: Least concern
Fun Fact: The average
peacocks train contains more
than 200 feathers!
Back view of tail / Front view
Scientific Name: Meleagris gallopavo
Location: Northern Mexico and the Eastern
United States. Turkeys lived in North
America almost 10 million years ago.
Habitat: Wild turkeys prefer hardwood and
mixed conifer-hardwood forests with
scattered openings such as pastures, fields,
orchards and seasonal marshes.
Fun Fact: The turkey was
domesticated in Mexico
and brought to Europe in
the 16th century. Turkeys
have 5000-6000 feathers.
Diet: Omnivorous; they eat acorns, nuts,
various trees, seeds, berries and insects.
Life span: 10 years.
Young: Hens lay a clutch of 10-14 eggs,
usually one per day. The eggs are incubated
for at least 28 days.
Size: Length: 100-125 cm.
Weight: 11-24 lb.
Status in the wild:
Turkey Tracks
Scientific Name: Numididae
Habitat: Wild guinea fowl can be found inhabiting
jungles, forests, shrub-lands, grasslands and even
areas of desert, depending on the abundance of
food.
The guinea fowl is a large wild bird that is found
inhabiting a variety of areas across the African
continent.
Today, the guinea fowl has been introduced to
various countries around the world and is farmed by
humans.
Diet: The guinea fowl is an omnivorous bird and
therefore has a diet that consists of both plants and
other animals. Guinea fowl primarily feed on worms
and insects on the ground, along with seeds, berries
and small mammals and reptiles.
Life span:10 - 20 years
Young: The female guinea fowl lays between 8 and
15 small eggs which hatch after an incubation
period of around a month.
Size: Length: 40cm – 71 cm, Weight: 1.5 - 3.5 lb
Status in the wild: Least Concern.
Fun Fact: The guinea fowl chicks,
known as keets, remain with their
mother until they are big enough to
fend for themselves.
Scientific Name: Cygnus Atratus
Habitat: It is native to much of Europe and Asia.
Prefers shallow coastal ponds, estuaries, ponds,
bogs, and streams flowing into lakes.
Diet: Omnivore-Swans eat aquatic vegetation
and insects, even tiny fish and tadpoles.
Life span: 8 - 12 years.
Young: 5 to 10 eggs that take from 35 to 42 days
to hatch. The female does most of the egg
incubation.
Size: weight- from 6.5 – 13 kg (14 – 30lbs.)
length-l160 cm (5 feet).
wing span: up to 2.5 meters (8 feet).
Status in the wild:
Fun Fact: A mute swan’s neck has 23
vertebrae, more than any other bird.
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A male swan is called a "cob" .
A female swan is called a "pen" .
A baby swan is called a "cygnet“.
A group of cygnets or eggs is called a "clutch“.
A group of swans in the wild is called a “herd”.
In captivity a group of swans is called a “fleet”.
Scientific Name: Cygnus atratus
Fun Fact: Black swans, like
Habitat: The Black swan is a large water bird, a species of swan,
many other water fowl, lose
which breeds mainly in the southeast and southwest regions of
all their flight feathers at
Australia. This species was hunted to extinction in New Zealand,
once when they moult after
but later reintroduced.
breeding, and they are unable
This species can be found in both freshwater and brackish areas.
to fly for about a month.
Although the black swan prefers permanent bodies of water, it
can also be found in flooded areas such as pastures, tidal mudflats
and other areas with temporary flooding.
Diet: almost exclusively herbivorous, diet is generally dominated by
aquatic and marshland plants.
Life span: Black swans can live for forty years in the wild.
Young: A typical clutch contains 4 to 8 greenish-white eggs that are
incubated for about 35–40 days, baby black swans are called (cygnets)
and are taken care of by both parents for about 9 months until fledging.
Cygnets may ride on their parent's back for longer trips into deeper water.
Size: The black swan has the longest neck of any swan species.
Mass:3.7 – 9 kg (Adult)
Length: 1.1 – 1.4 m (Adult)
Wingspan: 1.6 – 2 m (Adult
Status in the wild:
Scientific Name: Bubo bubo
Habitat: The Eurasian eagle-owl is found in a
number of habitats but is mostly a bird of
mountain regions, coniferous forests, steppes
and other relatively remote places.
They need secluded areas for nests.
Location: Found in northern Africa and central
Europe, Scandinavia, east to Siberia, Korea and
China.
Diet: Mammals, birds, reptiles, amphibians,
fishes, crabs, insects and spiders.
Life span: Oldest record, 21 years.
Young: The Eagle Owl lays 2-4 eggs.
Fledging can last 5.5-8.5 weeks.
Size: The Eagle Owl is one of the largest species
of owl, and females can grow to a maximum
total length of 75 cm (30 in), with a wingspan
of at least 188 cm (6 ft. 2 in), males being
slightly smaller, Weight: 5-7 lb.
Status in the wild: Least Concern.
Fun Fact: Nesting eagle owls have
been seen at elevations as high as
15,000 ft.
The nest is a scrape in which
averages of two eggs are laid at
intervals and also hatch at
different times.
The female incubates the eggs and
broods the young, and the male
provides the food for her as well as
the young chicks when they hatch.
Scientific Name: Ara ararauna
Habitat: The natural habitat for the Blue and Yellow
Macaw is the Rain forest in South America, found
mostly in the northern countries where the weather
is warm. Brazil, Venezuela, Peru, Bolivia, and
Paraguay all have native populations of the Blue and
Yellow Macaws.
They naturally prefer to be in forests with swampy
ground and along rivers, and they will nest high up in
trees.
Diet: Nuts, fruits, seeds and berries.
Life span: Up to 50 years in captivity
Young: The blue-and-yellow macaw generally mates
for life. They lay 2 eggs and incubation can last about
25 days. Fledging can last 3 months.
Size: Length: 81-91.5 cm, Weight: 0.9 -1.8 kg.
Status in the wild: Threatened to some extent and
some are probably close to extinction.
Fun Fact: Blue and Yellow
Macaws fly as far as 15
miles to feed.
Macaws use their “Bill” or
(beak) as a “third foot”,
used for climbing in trees,
or hanging on to branches.
Scientific Name: Buteo jamaicensis
Habitat: Its preferred habitat is mixed forest and field,
with high bluffs or trees that may be used as perch sites. It
occupies a wide range of habitats and altitudes, including
deserts, grasslands, coastal regions, mountains, foothills,
coniferous and deciduous woodlands, tropical rain forests,
agricultural fields and urban areas.
Diet: The red-tailed hawk is carnivorous, and an
opportunistic feeder. Its diet is mainly small mammals, but
it also includes birds and reptiles. Prey varies with regional
and seasonal availability, but usually centers on rodents,
comprising up to 85% of a hawk's diet. Most commonly
reported prey types include mice,gophers,voles,
chipmunks, ground squirrels and tree squirrels.
Life span: In the wild, red-tailed hawks have lived for at
least 25 years.
Young : Red tailed hawks are monogamous and mate for
life, using the same nesting site for years. A clutch of 1 to 3
eggs is laid in March or April
Size: weight 690 to 1,600 g (1.52 to 3.53 lb)
length 45–65 cm (18–26 in)
wingspan from 110–145 cm (43–57 in).
Status in the wild:
Fun Fact:
The feathers and other parts of the redtailed hawk are considered sacred to
many American indigenous people and,
like the feathers of the bald eagle and
golden eagle, are sometimes used in
religious ceremonies and found adorning
the regalia of many native Americans in
the US these parts, especially their
distinctive tail feathers, are a popular
item in the Native American community.
As with the other two species, bald
eagles and golden eagles the feathers
and parts of the red-tailed hawk are
regulated by the eagle feather law which
governs the possession of feathers and
parts of migratory birds.
Conservation is Key at Twin Valley Zoo
Our resident Red Tailed Hawks
have unfortunately been injured in
the wild and rehabilitated but
As a result can no longer survive
without assistance, and that is why
we have been asked by the Ministry
of Natural Resources to provide a
forever home, so that they may
continue to live in safety and thrive.
Scientific Name: Lemur catta
Habitat: Dry brush and scrub, closed canopy forest
Diet: Lemurs are herbivores and eat flowers, fruit,
leaves, bark and sap.
Young: 1-2
Size: Body Length: 39–46 cm/Weight: 2.5–3.5 kg
Status in the wild: Endangered.
Description: The Ring-tailed Lemur has a white face
with a dark nose and eye patches. Its underbelly is
whitish-grey and its upper fur is brown-grey to
rosy-brown.
The lemur’s tail is very distinctive with black and
white rings all along its length, hence the name
‘ring-tailed’. Its tail is used for visual and scent
communication.
Hand/ Paw Print
Fun Fact: did you know? Ring-tailed
Lemurs like to sunbathe. They sit in an
upright position with their hands on
their knees and face the sun.
Scientific Name: Varecia variegata
Habitat: They live in small trees in small groups
of 2-5 members. They are found in the Eastern
Evergreen rainforests of Madagascar.
Ruffed lemurs spend most of the day feeding, traveling,
and resting high up in the forest canopy. They are the
most active in the morning and late afternoon.
Diet: Fruit, leaves, nectar, seeds, flowers and soil.
Life span: 19 years.
Young: Gestation Period: 90-120 days and the
lemur will have 2-3 babies at once.
Size: Black and white ruffed lemurs are among the
largest of the true lemurs, Lemurs have long, soft fur
and are famous for their variation of color and pattern.
In fact, many consider ruffed lemurs to be the most
beautiful species in its family.
Length: Up to 4 ft.
Weight: 8-10 lb.
Status in the wild:: Endangered. 17 species of lemur are
already extinct.
Fun Fact: Black and White
Ruffed Lemurs mate for life and
are the only lemur to have
litters. The mother hides the
babies in a safe place for 1
week.
Scientific Name: Saimiri
Habitat: Squirrel monkeys can be found in Central and South
America and live in dense tropical rainforests, wetlands,
marshes and mangrove forests. Squirrel monkeys live in large
groups called “Troops". A “Troop” may consist of up to 500
members, but it is usually smaller, composed of 40 to 50
members.
Squirrel monkeys are arboreal (they live on the trees)
animals. They spend 99% of their life in the trees.
Diet: Squirrel monkeys are omnivores. They eat different
types of flowers, leaves, buds, nuts, insects, lizards and eggs.
Life span: 15 year in the wild and 20 years in captivity.
Young: Gestation lasts 160 days ,and the result is one baby.
Babies are born during the rainfall season as food supplies are
the most abundant at this time.
Size: Males are bigger than females. On average, they can
reach 9.8 to 14 inches in height and 1.7 to 2.4 pounds in
weight.
Status in the wild:
Fun Facts: Squirrel Monkeys
rub urine on their hands and
feet so that they can leave
their scent behind as they
move through the branches.
This tells other monkeys
where they have been.
Did you know?
Squirrel monkeys have the
largest brains of all primates
relative to their body size.
Scientific Name: Hylobatidae
Habitat: They are found in the wild in the tropical and subtropical
rainforests of South, Southeast and East Asia.
Small populations are found in China, Myanmar, Indonesia,
Malaysia, Bangladesh, Vietnam, Northeast India, Thailand and
Cambodia.
Diet: Omnivorous, therefore, they eat anything and everything,
from plants to meats to fruit. 75% of their diet is made up of fruit.
They also eat seeds, leaves, bark and flowers.
Life span: Gibbons live about 35-40 years.
Young: Gestation Period: is 7 months and they usually have a single
baby at a time; twins are rare. Female gibbons carefully nurture
their young. Babies can grasp their mother's fur and cling to the
mother's belly soon after birth.
Size: Height: 44 to 64 cm
Weight: 9 to 29 lbs
Status in the wild:: Most species are endangered, primarily due
to degradation or loss of their forest habitats
Fun Fact: Baby gibbons are
born hairless! Young gibbons
stay with their mother for
about 6 years. The young then
venture out (or are forced out
by the same-sex parent) to
start a new family group of
their own.
Scientific Name: Macaca nigra
(Sulawesi Crested Macaque)
Habitat: Usually restricted to the northeastern parts of the Sulawesi island and
other surrounding islands, and they are mainly found in tropical rainforests and
mangrove swamps.
Diet: Mostly frugivorous, but will sometimes eat insects, small invertebrates,
reptiles, birds and bird eggs.
Main diet includes fruits, leaves, roots, seeds, sprouts, buds, and flowers.
Life span: The average lifespan of crested black macaques is 18 to 20 years.
Young: Gestation period is approximately 162 to 186 days, Gives birth to one young,
which will nurse for one year. A peculiar characteristic of female black crested
macaques is that their buttocks or rumps become extremely swollen, and turn bright
pink or red in color when they are ready to mate.
Size: length of 44 cm (17 in) to 60 cm (24 in.)
weight of 3.6 to 10.4 kg
Status in the wild:
Scientific Name: Macaca silenus
Habitat: They spend most of their time in
trees in dense, wet forests.
Location: India and Asia.
Diet: In the wild: Macaques feed on fruit,
leaves, bark, roots, insects, eggs, bird
nestlings, tree frogs and lizards.
At the zoo: Monkey chow, fruits, vegetables,
nuts, crickets, mealworms, seeds and
grains.
Life span: Up to 20 years in the wild;
macaques may live 30 or more years in zoos.
Young: Gestation period is 165 days. Liontailed macaques mate and give birth at any
time of the year.
Size: Length: 42 to 61 cm
Weight: 2-10 kg.
Status in the wild:
Fun Facts: Of the world's
21 macaque species, liontailed macaques are
among the rarest.
A lion-tailed macaque can
store food in its “cheek
pouch” to eat later. This
“storage space” has the
same amount of room as
its stomach.
The lion-tailed macaque
gets water from licking it
off tree leaves.
The lion-tailed macaque is
also known as the
wanderoo.
Scientific name: Papio Anubis
The olive baboon, also called the Anubis baboon,
is a member of the family Cercopithecidae. The
species is the most widely ranging of all baboons:
It is found in 25 countries throughout Africa,
extending from Mali eastward to Ethiopia and
Tanzania.
Conservation Status: least Concerned
Diet: Omnivores, baboons eat almost everything, they are
considered to be opportunistic animals and will even eat other
primates they mainly forage on grasses, seeds, roots, leaves,
fruit, bark, grasshoppers, spiders, scorpions fresh and
saltwater shellfish), lizards, turtles, frogs, fish, eggs, baby
birds, crocodile eggs, and young mammals.
Average life span in the wild: 30 years.
Size: Head and body, 20 to 34 in (60 to 86 cm);
Tail, 16 to 23 in (41 to 58 cm)
Weight: 33 to 82 lbs. (22 to 37 kg)
Group name: Troop Did you know?
Baboons use at least ten different and unique
vocalizations to communicate with other members
of the troop.
Size relative to a 6-ft (2-m) man:
Fun Fact:
Travels in groups
of 50 in the wild
called troops.
Females are the
most dominant.
Scientific Name: Callithrix jacchus
Habitat: Marmosets are found primarily in the
tropical rainforests of South America with a few
remnant populations located in Central America.
The common marmoset is distributed throughout
the Atlantic Coastal Forest of northeastern Brazil.
The common marmoset is entirely arboreal
(tree dwelling) and prefers secondary or disturbed
forests and edge habitat.
Diet: Spiders, tree sap, bird eggs, and small
vertebrates make up the diet of the Common
Marmoset.
Life span: 12 years.
Young: Gestation 144 days, producing 2 babies on
average- have been known to have as many as 4
offspring at one time. The parents mate for life
and if possible never leave each others side.
Size: weight: 300-500 grams.
length (without tail): 14-19 cm.rs.
Status in the wild:
Fun Fact: A fully grown adult weighs
less the a stick of butter.
Scientific Name: Panthera Leo
Habitat: Open woodland, scrub, and grassland.
Diet: Carnivore, Antelope, Warthog, Zebra.
Life span: 8 - 15 years.
Young: Average litter-3 young are called cubs.
Size: 1.4m - 2.5m (4.7ft - 8.2ft).
Weight: 120kg - 249kg (264lbs - 550lbs).
Status in the wild: Vulnerable, Biggest threat.
- Habitat loss
Lion Paw Print
Fun Fact: Lions can reach
speeds of up to 81 km ph.50 mph) but only in short
bursts because of a lack of
stamina. The roar of a lion
can be heard from
8 kilometres (5.0 miles)
away.
The Lion is one of the largest, strongest and powerful felines in the world second only
in size to the Siberian Tiger.
They are the largest cats on the African continent and are unique among felines in a
number of ways but the biggest difference between Lions and other cats is that they
are incredibly sociable animals that live together in family groups known as prides.
Despite their size, male Lions do hardly any hunting as they are slower and easily seen
unlike their female counterparts. The Lionesses in the pride hunt together they are
more successful on their trips, and they are also able to catch and kill animals that are
both faster/ and larger then them.
Scientific Name: Panthera tigris altaica
Habitat: Occupies a large territory, and its home land is
covered in snow for most of the year.
Location: Amur- Ussuri region of Siberia, also in northern China
and Korea.
Diet: Deer, boar, elk, lynx, bear, fish, rabbits and hares
Life span: Up to 25 years.
Young: Gestation Period: 3-3.5 months, and they can have up to
6 cubs, but usually have 3-4.
Size: Height: 3.5 ft.
Length: 9-12 ft.
Weight: 400-650 lb.
Status in the wild:
Fun Fact: The Siberian tiger needs to eat over 20 lb. of meat a
day to sustain itself in the cold climate.
It is capable of eating 100 lb. of meat in one sitting.
Tiger Paw Print
Scientific Name: Lynx rufus
Habitat: Boreal and coniferous mixed forests,
hardwood forest, coastal swamps, desert and
scrubland.
Location: North America from southern Canada
to southern Mexico.
Diet: Carnivorous; mainly rabbits, hares, rodents,
sheep, deer and birds.
Life span: : Over 30 years in captivity.
Young: Bobcats can have 1-6 kittens, usually 3.
Gestation Period: 60-63 days
Size: Height: 20-24 in. Length: 25-42 in.
Weight: 13-24 lb., but can reach 40 lb.
Status in the wild:
Fun Fact: Bobcats
are extremely
territorial and marks
it boundaries with
urine and droppings.
Males may defend 40
sq. miles of territory.
Scientific Name: Felis Lynx
Habitat: Canada and Alaska south into Washington, Oregon,
Idaho and Montana. Parts of New England, New York,
Michigan and Wisconsin. Also in Europe and the Soviet
Unions.
Diet: Carnivore- eats small mammals such as birds, hares,
rabbits, foxes and deer.
Life span: Live for up to fourteen years in captivity.
Young: :Lynx mate in early spring or late winter. About two
months later, females give birth to a litter of one to four
young.
Size: Head and body, 32 to 40 in (80 to 100 cm); Tail, 4 to 8
in (10 to 20 cm).
Weight:22 to 44 lbs (10 to 20 kg).
Status in the wild: Still quite common.
Lynx Paw Print
Fun Fact: The Lynx is a nocturnal hunter
that ambushes its prey. They are solitary
animals.
All lynx are skilled hunters that make use of
great hearing (the tufts on their ears are a
hearing aid) and eyesight so strong that a
lynx can spot a mouse 250 feet (75 meters)
away.
Scientific Name: Puma concolor
Habitat: The cougar is adaptable to almost every habitat
type: it is found in all forest types, as well as lowlands
and mountainous deserts. The cougar prefers regions
with dense underbrush, but can live with little
vegetation in open areas. Its preferred habitats include
canyons, escarpments, rim rocks, and areas with dense
underbrush and rocky areas for stalking.
Diet: The cougar will eat any animal it can catch, from
insects to large ungulates (over 500 kg). It is t is an
obligate carnivore, meaning it needs to feed exclusively
on meat to survive.
Fun Fact: When babies are born,
they have spots, but they lose
them as they grow, and by the
age of 2 1/2 years, they will be
completely gone.
Life span: 8 – 13 y (In the Wild).
Young: Cougars typically average one litter every two to
three years throughout their reproductive lives.
Only females are involved in parenting.
Size: Height: 60 – 90 cm (Adult, At Shoulder).
Length: 2.4 m (Adult, Male).
Status in the wild:
Cougar Paw Prints
Scientific Name: Canis lupus
Habitat: They live in a variety of habitats; from
the Arctic tundra and open steppes, of the Soviet
Union to the mountains and regions and forests of
northern America.
Location: Found mainly in Canada, the eastern
Soviet and parts of the United States and Europe.
Small numbers occur in the Abbruzzi Mountains in
Italy.
Diet: Moose, elk, small deer, wild sheep and
domestic livestock.
Life span:10 years in the wild
Young: 3-10 pups in an underground den she has
dug. Gestation Period: 9 weeks.
Size: Length: Up to 5 ft.
Weight: 35-175 lb
Status in the wild:
Fun Fact: A wolf that has
been driven from the pack
or that has left on its own is
called a lone wolf. It
avoids contact with packs
and rarely howls.
Wolf Paw Print
Scientific Name: Vulpes Vulpes
Habitat: Fox dens are often dug under tree roots
or into the side of embankments.
Native to North America, Europe, Asia and North Africa.
Introduced to Australia.
Diet: : Earthworms, rabbits, birds, rodents, insects and
fruit.
Life span: Average only 18 months – 2 years in the wild,
but in captivity they can live up to 15 years.
Young: 4 to 5 cubs.
Gestation period: 53-63 days.
Size: Length: 42-45 in.
Weight: 11-13 lb
Fox Prints
Fun Fact:
Status in the wild:
The Red Fox buries or
hides its food for later
use.
Scientific Name: Ursur Americanus
Habitat: Bears are forest dwellers, they can be
found in deciduous, coniferous, or mixed forest
regions from sea level to 10,000 ft. in elevation.
Found in many state, especially in Washington,
Oregon, Idaho and in all Canadian provinces.
Diet: All types of vegetation and plant material,
fish, small mammals and carrion
Life span: About 25 years
Young: Gestation lasts 220 days, and the American
Black Bear can have up to 5 young but usually they
have 2-3. The young weigh no more than 12 oz.
Size: Weight: 100-300 lbs. (male is much larger)
Height: 3 ft. Length: 4-6 ft.
Status in the wild: : Now a partially protected
species. Although numbers have decreased, they are
again increasing in national parks.
Fun Fact: The male’s
home range is 8-60
square miles, where
females will not share
territory and range 115 square miles.
Bear Paw Prints
Scientific Name: Addax nasomaculatus
Habitat: Sahara Desert.
Diet: Grasses; also shrubs such as acacia.
Life span: 25+ years
Young: 1 young.
Size: up to 135 kg (300 lbs); height: 95-115 cm
(37-50 in.)
Fun Fact: The Addax is one of the most
endangered mammals in the world.
Current estimates show there to be less than
500 individuals left in the wild.
Both male and female Addax have horns.
Desert adapted, addax rarely drink, getting most of
their water from the plants they eat.
They dig depressions in the sand to escape the hot sun
and strong winds.
STATUS IN THE WILD: ENDANGERED /Conservation.
The Addax is one of the most endangered mammals in
the world.
Hoof print
Scientific Name: Ovis orientalis
Habitat: Mountainous terrain, usually above tree
line or in mountain meadows.
Originated from south Asia and was introduced to
Corsica, Sardinia, Cyprus and Europe.
Diet: Herbivore; grasses, heather, and shrubs.
Life span:15-20 years.
Young: Can give birth to 1-2 lambs.
Gestation Period: 210 days.
Size: Length: 4-5 ft.
Weight: 55-120 lb.
Status in the wild:
Hoof Print
Fun Fact:
The lambs are up on
their feet minutes
after birth!
Scientific Name: Zebra-Equus quagga boehmi.
Habitat: Open grassland and plains.
Diet: Herbivore, grasses, leaves and buds.
Life span:20 - 30 years.
Young: 1
Size: It can reach heights of over 140 cm, generally weighs
about 300kg and is capable of running at speeds of 56kph.
Status in the wild: Endangered/ there is concern due to
declining habitat loss.
As unique as each human fingerprint, the black and white
pattern that covers the body, head and limbs of the
Grant’s Zebra makes it one of the most recognisable
wild animals in the world.
The species is a member of the horse family and has
Hoof Prints
excellent hearing and eyesight.
Other Name(s): Mountain Zebra, Common Zebra, Plains Zebra,
Burchells Zebra, Gravy's Zebra.
Most Distinctive
Feature: Long, slender
legs and one toe on
each foot.
Fun Fact: Stripe
patterns are unique to
each individual!
Scientific Name: Vicugna pacos
Habitat: Arid grasslands of the Andean plateau.
Diet: Herbivore- Leaves, Grass, Shoots.
Alpacas process their food through 3 stomachs where
special secretions enable the animal to absorb 50%
more nutrients than sheep.
Hoof print
Life span: 20 to 25 years.
Gestation period:11 ½ months.
Young: 1-2
Size: 48 – 84 kg (Adult).
Height: 81 – 99 cm (Adult, At the withers).
Status in the wild: Least concerned/there are currently more than 3
million alpacas and their numbers are rising due to farming.
Do Alpacas Spit? : Not very often and only at each other,
to signal displeasure at a herd member.
A pregnant female 'spits off' an inquisitive male to let
him know she is disinterested in his advances.
Fun Fact: The hair of the
alpaca is called 'fleece' or
'fiber' rather than 'fur' or
'wool.' Alpaca fleece has 22
natural shades.
Scientific Name: Capra aegagrus hircus
Habitat: Originally African grasslands and
semi-desert areas, but now are domesticated
and live mostly on farms.
Diet: Hay, grasses and other vegetation.
Life span: Normal lifespan is 8-12 years, but
they can live up to 22 years in captivity.
Young: Usual litter is two kids.
Gestation is 21-23 weeks.
Size: Height: 18-21 inches. Weight: about 4460 lbs.
Description: Their hair is short and smooth
and can be gray, black, white or any
combination of the three.
Status in the wild: No Danger/ Domesticated.
Fun Facts: Both sexes have horns. The females’
horns are usually short and straight, and the males
can have scimitar-shaped or spiraling horns.
Although the goats might look “fat” that shape is
normal for this breed.
Scientific Name: Camelus dromedarius
Habitat: The dromedary camel is domesticated but
came from hot, dry climates of the desert. Thought
to have origination on the Arabian Peninsula. Present
domesticated range extends from northern Africa and
across central Asia to Mongolia and Australia.
Fun Fact: Camels often spit when
something annoys them. In very hot
weather, a camel that has not drunk
any water for a long time can drink
up to 50 gallons at a time.
Diet: Any available vegetation. Domesticated
dromedaries are fed dates, grains and grasses.
Life span: 17-50 years.
Young:370-440 days. The female gives birth to a
single calf; it is born with its eyes open and covered
in a soft woolly fleece.
Within 2-3 hours the calf can walk.
Size: Height: 6-7 ft. Length: 7-11 ft.
Weight: 1,000-1,500 lb.
Status in the wild: Domesticated.
Camel Foot Prints
Scientific Name: Equus asinus asinus miniature
Habitat: Miniature donkeys were originally from
the islands of Sardinia and Sicily in the
Mediterranean.
They are now found throughout the world.
Diet: Donkeys are grazers, they are able to break
down nearly-inedible vegetation and can extract
the moisture from it.
Because of their small size, it enables them to
easily adapt to the small amount of fresh grasses
available in their very dry natural range.
Life span: Can live from 25-30 years.
Young: Gestation lasts for 12 months, but
donkeys can have a foal every year.
Size: Height: Under 90 cm at shoulder.
Weight: Up to 160 kg.
Status in the wild: Domesticated.
Fun Fact: Male donkeys are known as
“jacks” and females as “jennies”.
Almost all donkeys will have a
"cross". The cross is a darker brown
or black stripe running from the top
of the donkey's back and extending
to the rear and down the tail.
There is also a shoulder stripe that
intersects the dorsal stripe running
down each shoulder.
There is a legend called the
“Legend of the Donkey's Cross“.
It states that Jesus rewarded the
donkey for his loyalty to Him when
he carried Jesus into Jerusalem and
for staying with Him at the
crucifixion by placing the shadow of
the cross across the donkeys back for
all to remember the importance of
God's humblest of creatures.
Scientific Name : Rangifer Tarandus
Habitat: Forests and mountains
Diet: Herbivore; lichens, moss, leaves and herbs.
Life span: Up to 10 years in the wild
Reindeer Hoof prints
Weight: Up to 300 lb.
Height: 4 ft. Length: 6 ft.
Young: 1 /Gestation Period: 45 days
The reindeer (also known as the caribou) is found in large herds in the very north
of the world. Reindeer inhabit both the Arctic Tundra and the North Pole regions
which include parts of North America, Europe and Asia.
The reindeers hooves adapt to the season so in the summer when the tundra is
soft and wet, the reindeers footpads become sponge-like in order to get a bigger
surface area on the damp group.
In the winter, the reindeer’s footpads shrink and tighten, exposing the rim of the
hoof which cuts into the ice and crusted snow to stop the reindeer from slipping.
The reindeers coat has two layers of fur, a thick woolly undercoat and a longerhaired overcoat which consists of hollow, air-filled hairs which helps to keep the
reindeer warm.
The reindeer travels the furthest of any land mammal with these migrations
often containing thousands of reindeer. The caribou of North America can run at
speeds up to 50 mph and can travel as many as 3,000 miles a year.
The most extensive migrations occur in spring and fall. The largest reindeer
migrations take place in the spring and autumn when the reindeer are hungry and
in search of food.
Status in the wild:
Scientific Name: Dama dama
Habitat:: Woodland and parkland habitats. Native to
Mediterranean regions and parts of the Middle East.
Introduced to Europe and in parts of North America, South
America, Southern Africa and Australia.
Diet: Grass, herbs, foliage, berries, nuts, fungi and bark.
Life span: 15 years.
Young: Gestation Period: 230-240 days, and they usually have 1
fawn, twins are rare.
Size: Height: 2.5-3 ft.
Weight: 85-225 lb
Status in the wild:
Fallow deer hoof prints
Fun Fact: Only males have
horns, which begin to grow
after the age of 2.
Scientific Name: Hystrix cristata
Habitat: Prefers rocky terrain with plenty of
ground cover.
Located in North and northwest Africa, also
found in southern Italy, Sicily, Albania and
Yugoslavia.
Diet: Roots, bulbs, and fruit.
Life span:12-15 years, longer in captivity.
Young: Females have 2-3 young per litter;
gestation last 112 days, and they have 2-3
litters a year.
Size: Length: 2-3 ft. Weight: 30-60 lbs.
Status in the wild:
Not in danger; least concern.
Fun Fact: Porcupines are excellent swimmers.
Porcupines do not actually shoot their quills at
an enemy; they raise their spine and rattle
their quills rigorously, if that does not work
they charge at their predator and the quills
detach. Their quills can grow up to a foot long.
Scientific Name: Hydrochoerus hydrochaeris
Habitat: Dense vegetation close to freshwater
Diet: Herbivore: Grass, aquatic plants and bark.
Life span: 8 to 10 years.
Young: 5 called pups.
Size: 30kg - 70kg (66lbs - 154lbs).
Top speed: 35kph (22mph).
Status in the wild: Least concern/stable.
The Capybara is a large, semi-aquatic rodent
that is found inhabiting the water-logged
regions of Central and South America.
Closely related to other South American
rodents such as Chinchillas and Guinea Pigs,
the Capybara is the largest rodent in the
world weighing up to 75kg and measuring
nearly 1.4 meters long.
Fun Fact:
Like all other species of rodent, their two front teeth
grow continuously throughout their life meaning that
they must gnaw and chew their food to grind them
down which they do in a back and forth motion rather
than from side to side. They are also known to both
regurgitate their food in order to chew it again
(similar to a Cow) and also eat their own droppings
which help to break down the cellulose in the grass,
along with aiding their digestive system in general.
FRONT
HIND
Scientific Name: Macropus rufus
Habitat: Australia's deserts and open grasslands.
Diet: Herbivore, primarily eat green vegetation, particularly
Fun Fact: The red kangaroo's range of
fresh grasses and can get enough even when most plants look
vision is approximately 300 degrees,
brown and dry.
due to the position of its eyes.
Life span: Up to 23 years.
Young : Normally only one young is born at a time. It is blind,
hairless, and only a few centimetres long. Its hind legs are just
stumps; so it uses its more developed forelegs to climb its way
through the thick fur on its mother's abdomen into the pouch.
The hole process takes about 5 minutes. Once in the pouch, it
fastens onto one of the two teats and starts to feed. Usually
ready to reproduce immediately. Another egg descends into the
uterus and she becomes sexually receptive. Should she mate a
second egg is fertilised, but its development is temporarily
halted. Meanwhile, the neonate in the pouch grows rapidly.
After approx.190 days, the baby (called a joey) is large enough
to make its full exit out of the pouch. After its first emergence,
it spends more time in the outside world and eventually, after
approx. 235 days, it leaves the pouch for the last time.
Size:
Head and body: 3.25 to 5.25 ft. (1 to 1.6 m);
Tail: 35.5 to 43.5 in (90 to 110 cm)
Weight: 200 lbs. (90 kg)
Status in the wild:
Scientific Name: Dolichotis patagonum.
Habitat: Live only in South America's Argentina.
Diet: Feed exclusively on plants.
Life span:7-10 years.
Young: 1 to 3 offspring.
Patagonian cavies are monogamous animals; male and female
duos generally stay together for their entire lives.
Females are generally reproductively capable at 5 months of age.
Size: 27 to 30 inches long, weight 18 to 35 pounds.
Status in the wild: “Near threatened“.
Paw Print
Fun Fact:
The Patagonian Mara is the third largest rodent species after the
capybara and beaver. Maras can walk, hop like a rabbit, gallop and
bounce on all fours this is referred to as “stotting” – because
their rear legs are longer than their forelegs.
Scientific Name: Macropus rufogriseus
Habitat: Bennett Wallabies are found in many
environments including open areas, brush
areas, rocky outcroppings and forests.
Location: Eastern Queensland to South
Australia, Tasmania, and islands in the Bass
Straight. Introduced to Southern New Zealand.
Diet: The wild wallabies feed on grasses and
browse on brush.
Life span: 12-15 Years.
Young: 1 - Gestation Period: 30 days, and 1
Joey is born. The Joey makes its way to the
pouch and attaches itself for several months.
Size: Height: 30-36 in.
Weight: 30-50 lb
Status in the wild:
Fun Facts: Wallabies
are very good at
hopping, covering vast
areas of land foraging
for food, however they
cannot hop backwards.
Scientific Name: Pecari tajacu
Habitat: It is a widespread animal which
ranges from the South-western United
States through Central America and into
South America.
In South and Central America the collared
peccary prefers to live in the tropical
rainforests.
Diet: Omnivore-Peccaries mainly feed on
berries, grass, roots, beans, nuts and cacti.
They will also supplement their diet with
animals such as insect's and small lizards.
Life span:10 years
Fun Facts: The collared
peccary has a large head
with a long snout and
razor-sharp tusks which
point towards the ground.
Their coats are thick and
bristly with a dark grey
colour and a ring of white
fur around their neck,
which looks a lot like a
collar.
Young: Average litter 3.
Gestation period:145 days.
Size:1.16m - 1.52m (46in - 60 in)
Weight: 9kg - 27kg (20lbs- 60lbs)
Status in the wild: Least Concern
The collared peccary also
has a very strong musk
gland located on the top
of their rump. It is so
strong that you will often
smell this animal before
you see it.
Scientific Name: Chinchilla Lanigera
Habitat: Chinchillas are rodents that are
native to the Andes Mountains of northern
Chile. They prefer dry and mountainous
regions.
Diet: Herbivore eats nuts, seeds and berries
Life span: 10 - 18 years.
Young: on average 3.
Size: Length: 25cm - 35cm (10in - 14in)
Weight: 400g - 500g (14oz - 18oz)
Status in the wild: Chinchillas are currently
listed as a critically endangered species by
the Red List of Threatened Species due to a
severe population loss approximated at a 90%
global population loss over the last 15 years.
The severe population decline has been
caused by Chinchilla hunting by humans.
Fun Fact: Chinchillas are crepuscular and
nocturnal, which means they are very active at
dawn or dusk and sleep during the day. They make
their homes by burrowing in underground tunnels
or nestling in rock crevasses. They are very social
and live in colonies that consist of hundreds of
chinchillas. This large amount is referred to as a
“herd.”
Scientific Name: Atelerix albiventris
Habitat: Hedgehogs inhabit a wide range across a
variety of climates and terrains in East Africa. They
must have dry shelters on well-drained soil and a
good supply of ground-dwelling insects and other
invertebrates.
There are seventeen species of hedgehog. Found
through parts of Europe, Asia, Africa and New
Zealand.
Diet: Insectivorous: insects, worms, centipedes,
snails, mice, frogs, and snakes. As it moves through
the hedges it emits pig-like grunts — thus, the
name hedgehog.
Life span: 2 – 5 years.
Young: Gestation period is 35–58 days they are born
in litters ranging from one to eleven. The young
remain with their mothers for only four to seven
weeks before heading out on their own.
Size: Weight: 1 to 2 lb. Length: 7 to 9 in. long
Status in the wild:
Fun Fact: They have about 5000 to 6000 spines,
each lasts about a year then drops out and a
replacement grows.
A defense that all species of hedgehogs possess is
the ability to roll into a tight ball, causing all of the
spines to point outwards. When under attack by
predators the hedgehog uses the muscles in its back
to draw its body up into that tight ball making it
difficult to attack.
Scientific Name: Centrochelys sulcata
Habitat: The African spurred tortoise is native to the Sahara Desert
and the Sahel, a transitional ecoregion of semiarid grasslands,
savannas, and thorn shrub lands found in the countries of Burkina
Faso, Chad, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Mali, Mauritania, Nigeria, Senegal,
and Sudan.
Diet: Sulcata tortoises are herbivores. diets consist of many types
of grasses and plants, high in fiber and very low in protein.
Life span: 50–150 years.
Young: Once a nest is dug, the female will begin to lay an egg every
three minutes. Clutches may contain 15-30 eggs. After the eggs are
laid, the female fills in the nest. Incubation should be 86 to 88 °F,
and will take from 90 to 120 days.
Size: It is the third-largest species of tortoise in the world
and the largest species of mainland tortoise not found on
an island. Adults are usually 24 to 36 in long (60–90 cm)
and can weigh 100-200 lb (45 – 91 kg).
Status in the wild:
Scientific Name: Trachemys scripta elegans
Habitat: native to the southern United States and
northern Mexico but is now found throughout the
world referred to as an invasive species due to
many individuals releasing them to the wild.
They seek out areas with still, warm water, such
as ponds, lakes, swamps and slow moving rivers,
places where they are able to leave the water
easily by climbing onto rocks or tree trunks so they
can warm up in the sun.
Diet: omnivores: aquatic vegetation, small fish and
decaying material such as dead fish and frogs
Life span: Can live between 20 and 30 years, some
have been known to live 40 years.
Young: Lays between 2 and 30 eggs depending on
body size. Incubation takes 59 to 112 days.
Size: Fully grown up to 12 inches long.
Status in the wild:
Fun Fact: Red-eared sliders get their name from
the small red dash around their ears. The "slider"
part of their name comes from their ability to
slide off rocks and logs and into the water
quickly.
Turtles do not hibernate in the winter they
burmate, as they become less active, and enter
into a “stopor” state, at this time they do not
eat or defecate but occasionally will rise to the
surface for food or air.
Scientific Name: Caiman crocodilus
Habitat: It lives in a range of lowland wetland
and ravine habitat types, and can tolerate salt
water as well as fresh; due to this adaptability,
it is the most common of all crocodilian
species. Found in Central and South America.
Diet: Invertebrates; insects, crustaceans, and
molluscs. Larger caimans eat fish and water
snails. Older animals are capable of taking
larger, mammalian prey (e.g. wild pigs).
Life span: Up to 60 years.
Young: Gestation Period: They lay up to 40
eggs. Incubation can last 65-104 days.
Size: Length: Up to 6 ft.
Weight: 15-88 lb.
Status in the wild:
Fun Fact: The spectacled caiman got its name
because it has a boney ridge between its eyes that
looks like glasses.
The nests are made of vegetation; as the vegetation
decays, the nests produce heat which can keep the
eggs about 5°C warmer than if they were insulated by
mud alone. Heat not only incubates the eggs, but also
determines the sex of the developing caimans. When
the temperature inside the nest is about 31°C or
lower, the caiman will become male. However, when
the temperature is about 32°C or higher, they become
female.