Main Characteristics

African Wild Dogs have a body length between 76 and 110 cms (30 – 43 inches), a tail length between 30 and 41 cms (12 – 16 inches) and they weigh between 17 and 36 Kgs (37 – 79 lbs).

Their coats are coloured, black, tan and white and they each have unique, irregular markings. Their hair is fairly sparse and their skin is black in colour.

They have long, slender limbs and they are unique canids, in that they only have four toes. Their head is large, with big, rounded ears and a short, powerful muzzle and they communicate using chirping or squeaking sounds.

When hunting they can reach speeds up to 72 km/hr (45 mph) and and they are among the top ten fastest land animals in the world.

Habitat

African Wild Dogs are found in the savannah, plains, swamps and semi-desert areas of Africa. They once ranged widely throughout Africa but now have a patchy distribution with the most viable populations being in Southern Africa.

They are very social animals and they live in large family groups consisting of approximately 30 individuals, although in the past these packs could have consisted of 100 individuals.

The pack has a large territory that ranges from 200 – 2000 Sq Km (124-1243 Sq Miles).

Diet

African Wild Dogs are exclusively carnivorous and they mainly feed on gazelle, zebra, impala, wildebeest, hares, rodents and other small animals.

They hunt as a pack and they pursue their prey in a long open chase. Unfortunately for their prey the kill is not quick, and they mainly die from their injuries.

The pups are the first ones to feed at a kill and members of the pack will regurgitate food to feed those that stayed at the den, such as a the alpha female with pups or any old dogs that cannot keep up.

Breeding

After a gestation period of 69 – 72 days, 2 – 16 pups will be born (usually 7) in a den. When they are born they are helpless, coloured black and white, and their eyes and ears are closed.

For the first month they will feed on milk but after this the pups will eat regurgitated food. At 3 months old the pups are weaned and at 6 months old they will join the pack to hunt.

Only the alpha male and female breed but all members of the pack will look after the pups. Breeding takes place year round but mainly pups are born in the second half of the rainy season.

Predators

African Wild Dogs have no natural predators however their main threats are disease and habitat fragmentation.

Main Characteristics

Banded Mongoose are a sturdy species of mongoose. They have a body length between 30 and 45 cms (12 – 18 inches), a tail length between 15 and 30 cms (6 – 12 inches) and the weigh between 1.5 and 2.5 kgs (3.25 – 5.5 lbs).

They have a large head with small ears, a long tail and short muscular limbs. Their fur is brown in colour and they have several dark brown/black stripes on their back and down the sides of their body. 

Habitat

Banded Mongoose can be found on open savannahs, open forests and grasslands in Africa. They live in mixed sex groups of 7 – 40 individuals and they all share a den which is quite often an old termite mound.

Diet

Banded Mongoose mainly feed on invertebrates including insects, centipedes, lizards, snakes and frogs. They also eat roots, fruit, eggs and small rodents. 

Breeding

After a gestation period of 60 – 70 days, females give birth to 2 – 5 pups. All the females in the group usually give birth on the same day. During their first 4 weeks the youngsters are kept underground during which time they are watched over by 1 – 3 adults.

After 4 weeks the pups are allowed to go on foraging trips but each one is accompanied by an “escort” to help them find food and protect them from danger. At 3 months old the youngsters become nutritionally independent. 

Predators

Predators of banded mongoose include wild dogs, jackals, hyenas, snakes and birds of prey. 

Main Characteristics

Bat-Eared Foxes have a body length between 46 and 66 cms (18 – 26 inches), a tail length between 23 and 34 cms (9 – 13.5 inches) and they weigh between 2 and 4.5 kgs (4.5 – 10 lbs).

As their name suggests they have huge, wide ears that can be up to 12 cms (4.7 inches) in length. Their face is small and they have a short, pointed muzzle. Their coat is tawny to grey in colour with dark legs, ears, muzzle and mask around their eyes.

Up to 80% of their diet consists of insects and their teeth have adapted to suit this lifestyle. Their teeth are small and they have up to 8 extra molars to grind the hard casings of the insects which they eat. This brings their total number of teeth to 48, which is more than any other non marsupial mammal. 

Bat-Eared Foxes are mainly nocturnal but sometimes they are diurnal. This varies depending on their location and the season.

Habitat

Bat-Eared Foxes are found in the grasslands and savannahs of east and southern Africa. They live in pairs or small family groups and they inhabit dens that have several entrances, chambers and several metres of tunnels. 

The population in east Africa have home range of 0.25 – 1.5 sq.kms (0.09 – 0.58 sq. miles) that they mark with urine. In southern Africa home ranges extensively overlap and they are not marked. 

Diet

Bat-Eared Foxes mainly feed upon insects, such as termites and grasshoppers, but they also eat birds, eggs, rodents and lizards. 

Breeding

Bat-Eared Foxes breed between September and November and both parents take part in rearing their young. After a gestation period of 60 – 70 days, 2 – 5 young are born in a den. At 9 days old they open their eyes and when they reach 17 days old they begin to venture from the den. 

At 1 month old weaning begins but they may continue to suckle from their mother until they are 3 – 4 months old. By the time they are 5 – 6 months old the youngsters are full grown and they reach sexual maturity at 9 months old.

When they reach maturity most of the young foxes leave but some females remain with their natal group. 

Predators 

Predators of Bat-Eared Foxes include humans, jackals and birds of prey.

Main Characteristics

Black-Backed Jackals have a body length between 45 and 90 cms (18 – 35 inches), a tail length between 26 and 40 cms (10 – 16 inches) and they weigh between 6 and 12 kgs (13 – 26 lbs).

They are red/brown in colour with a saddle of black fur along their back and their tail is long and bushy. They have a slender build, their muzzle is long and pointed and they have large, pointed ears. Black-Backed Jackals that inhabit southern Africa tend to be larger than those found in east Africa. 

They communicate by scent marking and using a variety of vocalizations which include howls, yelps, woofs, wines and growls.

Habitat

Black-Backed Jackals are found in the grasslands, scrublands and open woodlands of east and southern Africa. They live in pairs or small family groups and they occupy and defend a territory of approximately 2.6 sq. kms (1 sq. mile). They are mainly active at night but occasionally venture out during the day. 

Diet

Black-Backed Jackals are omnivores and they feed on a variety of preysuch as gazelle, hares, rodents, birds, lizards, snakes, young ungulates, insects, fruit, berries, domestic livestock and carrion. Those that inhabit southern Africa will also feed on fur seal cubs. 

Breeding

Black-Backed Jackals pair up for life and they mate annually between May and August. After a gestation period of 60 – 65 days, 3 – 6 pups are born in a vacated aardvark burrow. For three weeks after the pups are born the female spends almost all of her time caring for them while the male brings her food.

When the pups reach 10 days old they open their eyes and at 2 weeks old they begin to explore their den. At 1 month old they begin to eat food that has been regurgitated by their parents and by the time they reach 3 months old they are weaned.

The youngsters follow their parents on hunting trips when they are 3 months old and at 6 months they begin to hunt on their own. When they reach 6 – 8 months old they leave to find their own territories and they reach sexual maturity at 11 months old. 

Predators 

Predators of Black-Backed Jackals include leopards and humans. 

Main Characteristics

Caracals are labeled as small cats, but they are the heaviest and fastest of all the small cats. Their body length is between 60 and 91 cms (23.5 – 36 inches), their tail length is between 23 – 31 cms (9 – 12 inches) and they weigh between 6 and 19 Kgs (13 – 42 lbs).

The colour of the Caracal’s fur may be variable – it could be tawny, reddish, grey or occasionally black and their underside is light coloured. Caracals found in arid regions tend to be paler coloured than those found in woodland. They have a long slender body with long legs but their most distinctive feature are the tufts at the tops of their ears.

Caracals are very difficult to see in the wild as they are able to hide themselves extremely well.

Habitat

Caracals are found in the dry woodland, scrub, savannah and semi-deserts of Africa and West, Central & South Asia. They are fiercely territorial animals and they are mainly solitary or sometimes they live as a mated pair.

They can climb trees well but they are mainly ground dwellers and their territory size is between 67 and 133 Kms (40 – 80 miles) – the territory of the male being larger than that of the female.

Diet

Caracals stalk their prey and they kill with a bite to the neck. They are known for their amazing ability to leap 3m (10 ft) into the air from a crouching position and kill a flying bird with a swat of their paw.

They are known to be picky eaters and they discard the internal organs of any mammals that they catch and pluck the fur from their larger catches. They can also survive with very little intake of water – their water demand is satisfied by the fluids from their prey.

Their diet mainly consists of birds, rodents, hares, small antelopes and hyraxes.

Breeding

After a gestation period of 78 – 81 days a litter of 1 – 4 kittens are born in a burrow. When the kittens are 10 weeks old they are weaned and they stay with their mother until they are a year old.

Predators 

The main predator of Caracals are humans.

Main Characteristics

The Cape ground squirrel is a rodent endemic to South Africa. It has a coarse, cinnamon coloured coat with a white stripe running down either side of its body. Its white underparts and fluffy, fan-like tail have white tipped, black based hairs. In winter, the Cape ground squirrel grows a longer coat for warmth. It weighs up to one kilogram and measures 450 mm in length.

Habitat

The Cape ground squirrel occurs on a variety of substrates from rough sands to the soft clay soils of pans and river beds. They inhabit intermittens plains of grass and shrubbery.

The Cape ground squirrel is widely distributed throughout South Africa, and can be found in the Free State, Kalahari, Northern Cape, North West and Southern Cape near the areas of Beaufort-West and Graaff-Reinet.

Diet

Being predominantly herbivorous, the Cape ground squirrel feeds on roots and bulbs dug up with its front teeth and claws, and at times eats termites in summer. It gnaws and nibbles at its food in the typical rodent manner with its sharp incisors.

Breeding

Female reach sexual maturity at the age of six months, although those older than one year are allowed to reproduce. Only one female per social group can be in her oestrus cycle at a time. After a gestation period of about 48 days, two to six young of 20 grams each are birthed naked and altricial. Living in a colony, females share the task of taking care of the young.

Dominant females accept and tolerate only one adult male as the main breeding partner. The young stay with the females for two years before dispersing to colonies in neighbouring territories. This pattern of dispersal strengthens gene flow and the development of new colonies.

Predators 

Known predators of Xerus inauris are black-backed jackals (Canis mesomelas). Belton et. al (2007) found that Cape ground squirrels took longer to come out of their burrow when black-backed jackals feces was present. Once out of the burrow, squirrels investigated the feces and searched the area for the predator with extreme caution. This confirms that Cape ground squirrels use olfactory cues to detect predators. Puff adders (Bitis arietans) and monitor lizards (Varanus exanthematicus) are also known predators of Cape ground squirrels. Their social living, cryptical coloration, and vigilance help to protect them from predation.

When a predator approaches, a male and female squirrel will “mob” attack the predator. This “mobbing” involves putting their tails between their own bodies and the predator’s body. This is only a defense, because if the predator attacks, Cape ground squirrels will flee.

Main Characteristics

Common marmosets are very small monkeys with relatively long tails. Males and females are of similar size with males being slightly larger. Males have an average height of 188 mm (7.40 in) and females have an average height of 185 mm (7.28 in). Males weigh 256 g (9.03 oz) on average and females weigh 236 g (8.32 oz) on average. The pelage of the marmoset is multicolored, being sprinkled with brown, grey, and yellow. It also has white ear tufts and the tail is banded. Their faces have black across their nose area skin and have a white blaze on the forehead. The coats of infants are brown and yellow with the ear tuft developing later.

As with other members of the genus Callithrix, the common marmosets have claw-like nails known as tegulaes on most of their fingers. Only their halluxes (big toes) have the flat nails or ungulaes that most other primates have. Marmosets have an arboreal locomotion similar to squirrels. They can hang on to trees vertically and leap between them, as well as run across branches quadrupedally. Tegulaes are an adaptation of this type of locomotion. Other Callithrix traits shared include enlarged, chisel-shaped incisors and specialized cecums for their diet.

Habitat

Common marmosets are native only to east-central Brazil. They have been introduced into other areas and live within the cities of Rio de Janeiro and Buenos Aires, Argentina. Marmosets can be found in a number of forest habitats. They live in Atlantic coastal forests as well as semi-deciduous forests farther inland. They can also inhabit savanna forests and riverine forests. Marmosets are successful in dry secondary forests and edge habitats.

Diet

The common marmoset’s claw-like nails, incisor shape, and gut specialization reflect their unique diet which is primarily made of plant exudates and insects. Common marmosets feed on gum, sap, latex, and resin. They use their nails to cling to the side of a tree and, with their long lower incisors, chew a hole in the tree. The marmoset will then lick up the exudates or swoop them with the teeth. 20-70% of the marmoset’s feeding behavior is made of eating exudates.

Exudates provide marmosets with a reliable food source in the marmoset’s seasonal habitat. They rely on these foods particularly between January and April, when fruit is not abundant. A marmoset may visit a tree hole multiple times; including those made by other animals. In addition to exudates, insects also prove an important food source for marmosets, making 24-30% of their feeding time. The small size of the marmoset allows them to subsist on insects, as well as stalking and ambush them. Marmosets will also eat fruits, seeds, flowers, fungi, nectar, snails, lizards, tree frogs, bird eggs, nestlings, and infant mammals. It is possible that marmosets compete for fruit with birds, such as parrots and toucans, and with woolly opossums.

Breeding

Common marmosets have a complex mating system. It was thought that they were monogamous, however both polygamy and polyandry have also been observed. Nevertheless, most matings are monogamous. Even in groups with two breeding females, the subordinate female often mates with males from other groups. Subordinate females usually do not give birth to fit offspring. Nevertheless, mating with extra-group males may allow the female to find potential mates in the future. Females that mate successfully but lose their young move to other groups and may gain dominant breeding positions.

The breeding individuals in a group need the other members to help raise their young. Thus the pair will behaviorally and physiologically suppress the reproduction of the other members of the group. Since these suppressed individuals are likely related to the breeding pair, they have an incentive to care for the young as they share genes with them. In addition, the presence of a related male affects female ovulation. Laboratory studies have shown that female ovulation does not occur when their fathers are around, but does occur when an unrelated male is there instead. They will also display aggressive behavior towards their mothers, possibly to displace them.

When conditions are right for them to breed, adult females breed regularly for the rest of their lives. Females flick their tongues at males to solicit mating. The gestation period lasts for five months, and females are ready to breed again around ten days after giving birth. There are five months in between each parturition and they give birth twice a year. Marmosets commonly give birth to two non-identical twins. Because of this, females are under stress during pregnancy and lactation, and need help from the other members of the family. Infant marmosets instinctively cling to their mothers back and do not voluntarily let go for the first two weeks. After that, they become very active and explore their environment. The breeding male (likely the father) will begin handling the twins, and all members of the family will care for them. In the following weeks, the young spend less time on their mother’s back and more time moving around and playing. Infants are weaned at three months. At five months they enter their juvenile stage. At this time, they have more interactions with family members other than their parents, and there is rough play for to establish their future status. Another set of infants may be born and the previous young will carry and play with them. Marmosets become sub-adults between nine and 14 months, act like adult and go through puberty. At 15 months, they reach adult size and are sexually mature but can not breed until they are dominant.

Predators 

Natural predators include a wide range of species. Due to their small size marmosets are vulnerable to predation from snakes, owls, raptors, cat species, and other carnivores. They do have specialised alarm calls for each type of predator, and will mob some predators to deter them.

Main Characteristics​​

The Cottontop tamarin is a small species of monkey found in the forests of South America. The Cottontop tamarin was named because of its elegant white fur that flows over its head and shoulders.

Cottontop tamarins are among the smallest of the primates with a body length of 17 cm and a tail length of 25 cm. The forelimbs of the cottontop tamarin are shorter than the hind limbs, and unlike other monkeys, the thumb of the cottontop tamarin is not opposable and it does not have a prehensile tail.

The cottontop tamarin is a diurnal primate which means that the cottontop tamarin is most active during the day and rests in the safety of the tree tops during the night. cottontop tamarins are very sociable animals and inhabit their territory with their rest of the cottontop tamarin troop which generally have between 2 and 14 members. Cottontop tamarin troops are led by the eldest female and have predominantly male members.

Today, the cottontop tamarin is considered to be a critically endangered species with an estimated wild cottontop tamarin population of just 6,000. The main reason for the severe decline in the cottontop tamarin population is that they have lost more than 75% of their natural habitat to deforestation.

Habitat

The cottontop tamarin is found in tropical forest edges and secondary forests from Costa Rica to north western Columbia where the cottontop tamarin spends the majority of its life in the trees.

Diet

The cottontop tamarin is an omnivorous animal meaning that the cottontop tamarin hunts both plants and other animals in order to survive. Fruits, insects and green plants make up the majority of the cottontop tamarin’s diet along with small rodents and reptiles, eggs and tree sap.

Breeding

The cottontop tamarin usually breeds between the months of April and July, when the female cottontop tamarin will give birth to twins (or a single infant) after a four to five month gestation period. The male cottontop tamarins carry and groom infants more than the females do, but females clean the infant more than the males do. Older siblings are also known to contribute to infant care, although infants prefer to be carried by their parents than by their siblings. Infant cottontop tamarins become mobile at 2 to 5 weeks, and begin eating solid food at 4 to 7 weeks. They are independent at 10 to 18 weeks and are fully weaned at 15 to 25 weeks. Sexual maturity is attained at about 2 years of age.

Predators 

Due to the relatively small size of the cottontop tamarin, it has a number of predators within its natural environment. Wild cats, dogs, snakes and birds of prey are primary predators of the cottontop tamarin, along with humans who are destroying their natural habitat.

Main Characteristics

Fennec Foxes are the smallest species of fox. They have a body length between 24 and 41 cms (9.5 – 16 inches), a tail length between 18 and 31 cms (7 – 12 inches) and they weigh between 1 and 1.5 kgs (2.25 – 3.25 lbs).

They are cream or fawn in colour and they have extremely large ears. The soles of their feet are covered in fur to prevent their pads from becoming burnt on the hot sands of their habitat. 

Habitat

Fennec Foxes can be found in the deserts of northern Africa and western Asia. 

Diet

Fennec Foxes feed on rodents, lizards, rabbits, insects, eggs, roots and fruit. 

Breeding

After a gestation period of 50 – 53 days, Fennec Foxes give birth to a litter of 2 – 5 young in a den. They are weaned at 2 – 3 months and they reach sexual maturity at 6 – 11 months old. 

Predators 

Humans are predators of Fennec Foxes. 

Main Characteristics

The Lion is the second largest feline species. They have a body length between 1.7 and 2.5 m (5.5 – 8.25 ft), a tail length between 0.9 and 1.1 m (3 – 3.5 ft) and they weigh between 120 and 250 Kgs (265 – 550 lbs). Males are much larger than females and can weigh up to 50 % more.

Their colouration can vary from nearly white to deep brown, but tawny/yellow is the most common colour. They are solidly built and have a long tail which has a black tuft on the end.

Male Lions have a very distinctive mane. The mane enables them to be distinguishable from a female Lion from a distance, it acts as protection in a fight and it is also a sign of a healthy Lion. The mane is thick and woolly and it develops on the neck and shoulders as they mature. 

Lions lack endurance and have to be close to their prey before they attack. In short bursts they can reach speeds of 80 Km/hr (50 mph). Hunting takes a lot out of them and they spend up to 20 hours per day resting. Lions are among the top ten fastest land animals in the world. 

Habitat

Lions are found in Africa and the Gir Forest in North West India. They live on the fringes of deserts, in woodlands or on open savannahs. 

Lions live in prides that consist of 3 – 30 individuals, but they usually average at 4 – 6 individuals. The pride will be made up of females that are related to each other and males that are related to each other, but not to the females.

Lionesses stay in the pride that they were born into, but males are expelled from it when they reach maturity. They usually form coalitions with other males, often to whom they are related, and they hunt together.

Male Lions defend the pride and they patrol and mark their territory with urine and faeces. The size of a Lions home territory depends on the available resources but it can be between 8 and 150 sq. miles (13 – 240 sq. Kms). Competition between the males to lead the pride is fierce and they only tend to hold ownership of it for 2 – 3 years.

Diet

The diet of a Lion mainly consists of antelopes, gazelles, warthogs, wildebeest, deer, buffalos, young giraffes, young elephants, zebras and occasionally hares and birds. They will also readily eat carrion and sometimes they take kills from hyenas and wild dogs.

Hunting usually takes place either at night or dawn and several females will hunt together in a pack to increase their chances of success. They will stalk their victim until they are within 30 m (98 ft) then they will launch a short powerful attack and prey is usually killed by strangulation. Male Lions that are attached to a pride do not usually participate in hunting unless it is for large prey such as a buffalo.

Adult females need 5 Kgs (11 lbs) of meat per day and adult males 7 Kgs (15 lbs) of meat per day. Lions can survive for long periods without water as they get all the moisture they need from plants and their prey.

Breeding

After a gestation period of 100 – 120 days, 2 – 5 cubs are born in a den. When they are born they are blind, helpless and they weigh less than 2.3 Kgs (5 lbs). They have a spots on their coat which disappear as they get older.

Within 3 weeks they have their eyes open and they can walk around, and by the time they reach 1 month old they have their first set of teeth. They are weaned when they reach 6 – 7 months old but they stay in the vicinity of their mother for the first 2 years.

The females in a pride will synchronize their reproductive cycles so they all have cubs together. The cubs are cared for by all the females in the pride so if a mother is away hunting another lactating Lioness will feed her young.

In the wild competition for food is fierce and between 14 and 73 % of cubs will die before they reach 2 years old.

A new male Lion in a pride will kill all the cubs under 2 years old, this encourages the females to come into season so the new male can mate with them and therefore all the cubs in the pride will be his.

Lionesses will become sexually mature at 2.5 – 3 years of age while a male Lion will become sexually mature at approximately 5 years of age.

Predators 

Lions do not have many natural predators, but it has been known for hyenas to kill an injured Lion, or if food is scarce they will attack a healthy one.

Main Characteristics

Average males weigh between 100 and 145 pounds with females weighing roughly 10 to 20 percent less. The heaviest on record was caught in Alaska in 1939, weighing 175 pounds. Though the Guinness book of Animal World Records mentions an unconfirmed specimen weighing 230 pounds. They measure 32 to 36 inches shoulder height and 5 to 7 feet in length, from the tip of the nose to the end of the tail. Their long, powerful legs allow them to travel as far as 70 miles a day, and through rough terrain like deep snow. They can reach speeds of up to 40 miles an hour for short periods of time. Their skull measures about 12 inches long. A combination of powerful jaw and neck muscles allows them to break bones and bring down large prey.

Habitat

Northwestern Wolf inhabit much of western Canada and Alaska including Unimak Island. In 1995-96, they were brought from Canada to restore populations in Yellowstone National Park and central Idaho. In Alaska, wolf packs are usually 6 to 12 wolves, though some packs may be as large as 20 to 30. Their territories in Alaska average about 600 square miles. In Yellowstone, pack size averages 9.2 wolves with average territory size of 348 square miles. In Idaho, pack size averages 11.1 with territories averaging 364 square miles.

Diet

The size of Northwestern wolf is partially due to their large abundance of food. They will prey on wood bison, elk, caribou, musk ox, moose, Dall sheep, Sitka black-tailed deer, mountain goat, beaver, ground squirrel, vole, snowshoe hare, lemmings, and salmon.

Breeding

Breeding season usually occurs in February. The dominant male and female of the pack breed in attempt to keep up the strength of the pack. Usually 63 days after breeding, 4 to 6 pups are born. They leave the den in 4 to 6 weeks, and by fall, they are large enough to travel and hunt with the pack. They become full-grown in 6 to 8 months, and sexually mature at about 22 months.

Predators 

Northwestern Wolf are apex predators, so other than humans, few animals will prey upon them. Other Wolves or coyotes will attack lone or young wolves.

Main Characteristics

Ring-Tailed Lemurs are the most recognizable species of lemur. They have a body length between 39 and 46 cms (15.5 – 18 inches), a tail length between 56 and 62 cms (22 – 24 inches) and they weigh between 2.5 and 3.5 kgs (5.5 – 7.75 lbs).

They are grey in colour with a white underside. Their tail is long with distinctive black and white rings. 

Habitat

Ring-Tailed Lemurs live in the forests of southern Madagascar. They are agile climbers but they spend more time on the ground than other species of lemur. They are social animals and live in groups of 5 – 25 individuals that are led by a dominant female.

Diet

Ring-Tailed Lemurs mainly eat fruit, leaves, nectar, seeds, and flowers.

Breeding

Ring-Tailed Lemurs breed between April and June and after a gestation period of 4 – 5 months, 1 – 2 young are born. By the time they reach 5 months old they are weaned and they reach sexual maturity at 2 – 3 years of age. 

Predators 

The main predators of Ring-Tailed Lemurs are the fossa, madagascar harrier hawks, madagascar buzzards, madagascar ground boas, civets, domestic cats, domestic dogs and humans.

Main Characteristics

Servals are medium sized wild cats. They have a body length between 60 and 100 cms (23.5 – 39 inches), a tail length between 24 and 45 cms (9.5 – 18 inches) and they weigh between 9 and 18 kgs (20 – 40 lbs). 

They are pale yellow in colour with solid black spots and variable black bands. Their head is small and rounded and they have large, rounded ears. They have a slender build and long legs.

Servals have a remarkable jumping ability which enables them to be very efficient hunters. They can leap up to 4 m (13 ft) horizontally and 1 m (3.3 ft) high when hunting prey on the ground and up to 3m (10 ft) into the air when catching birds. They also have good senses of hearing and vision. 

Habitat

Servals can be found on the savannahs and grasslands of Africa. They usually inhabit an area near a water source and are mainly active at dawn and dusk.

Diet

Servals feed upon birds, lizards, insects, frogs, rodents and other small mammals. 

Breeding

After a gestation period of 67 – 77 days, Servals give birth to 1 – 4 kittens. They are weaned at 5 – 6 weeks old and they reach sexual maturity at 1 – 2 years of age. 

Predators 

Predators of Servals include leopards and humans. 

Main Characteristics

Spotted Hyenas are the largest species of hyena, with females being up to 10% larger than males. They have a body length of 1.3 m (4.25 ft), a tail length of 25 cms (10 inches) and they weigh between 62 and 70 kgs (135 – 155 lbs). 

Their coat is short and it is sandy to grey/brown in colour with black spots. The hair on their neck and back slopes forward and it stands on end when the hyena becomes excited. 

Spotted Hyenas are strongly built animals and they have a large head and neck. Their ears are short and rounded and they have extremely strong jaws. Their front legs are longer than their hind which gives their back a sloping appearance. Their feet have four toes with broad toe pads and non-retractable claws.

Females are difficult to distinguish from males due to them having enlarged sexual organs. They are often displayed in meeting ceremonies to reinforce social bonds and hierarchies. 

Spotted Hyenas are strong swimmers and they can travel at speeds of 50 km/hr (30 mph) for 3 kms (1.9 miles). 

They are very vocal animals with over 11 different calls recorded and they emit sounds that are too quiet for the human ear to detect. Their calls include whoops to rally the group or locate cubs, soft squeals when greeting another member of the group, and the famous hyena “laugh” which is a raucous cackle that is emitted in fear or to show submission to a senior clan member.

Habitat

Spotted Hyenas are found on the prey rich savannahs of Africa. Their social structure is female dominated and they live in clans containing 5 – 80 members. When young males reach adulthood they usually leave their maternal clan but young females stay with the clan they were born into.

They share a communal den and latrine and they occupy a territory of 40 – 1,000 sq. kms (15 – 390 sq. miles). They defend their territory using calls, scent marking and boundary patrols. 

Diet

Spotted Hyenas feed on a variety of prey and they are powerful hunters. If they are hunting alone they will prey upon smaller animals such as birds, hares, foxes, jackals, fish, snakes and carrion. 

Usually they will split into hunting groups containing 2 – 5 individuals and together they will hunt medium to large hoofed animals such as zebra, wildebeest, thompson’s gazelle, grant’s gazelle, topi, waterbuck, eland, impala and hartebeest. 

Spotted Hyenas and lions prey upon the same animals and they occasionally end up in confrontations that can lead to the group of hyenas killing a lion. 

To supplement their diet, Spotted Hyenas will also eat fruit, eggs and invertebrates.

Spotted Hyenas consume 3 – 6 kgs (6.6 – 13.2 lbs) of meat per day and using their powerful jaws they are able to crush bone and feed on the marrow inside. Their stomach contains concentrated hydrochloric acid which enables them to digest the bones they consume. 

Breeding

After a gestation period of approximately 4 months 1 – 3 cubs (average 2) are born in a birthing den. At birth the cubs weigh between 1 and 1.6 kgs (2.2 – 3.5 lbs), they are black in colour, their eyes are open and their teeth are fully developed. 

If the cubs are of the same sex, soon after birth they begin violent fighting which often results in the death of one of them. They are one of the few mammals to commit neonatal siblicide and it is estimated to contribute to 25% of hyena cub mortality.

Spotted Hyena milk is extremely rich having a protein content of 14.9% and a fat content of 14.1%, so unlike lions and wild dogs, Spotted Hyena cubs can go for several days between feeds. 

Females have sole responsibility for rearing the cubs and when they are 2 – 6 weeks old their mother will move them to a communal den. The young hyenas are dependent entirely on milk for approximately 8 months and they are weaned when they reach 12 – 16 months old. 

Spotted Hyenas reach sexual maturity at 2 – 3 years of age. Young males leave their natal clan at around 2 years of age where as females remain. The breeding interval for adult females is between 11 and 21 months. 

Predators 

Predators of Spotted Hyenas include humans and lions. 

Main Characteristics

The common warthog is a medium-sized species, with a head-and-body length ranging from 0.9 to 1.5 m (3.0 to 4.9 ft), and shoulder height from 63.5 to 85 cm (25.0 to 33.5 in). Females, at 45 to 75 kg (99 to 165 lb), are typically a bit smaller and lighter in weight than males, at 60 to 150 kg (130 to 330 lb). A warthog is identifiable by the two pairs of tusks protruding from the mouth and curving upwards. The lower pair, which is far shorter than the upper pair, becomes razor-sharp by rubbing against the upper pair every time the mouth is opened and closed. The upper canine teeth can grow to 25.5 cm (10.0 in) long and have a wide elliptical cross section, being about 4.5 cm (1.8 in) deep and 2.5 cm (0.98 in) wide. A tusk will curve 90° or more from the root, and will not lie flat on a table, as it curves somewhat backwards as it grows. The tusks are not used for digging, but are used for combat with other hogs, and in defense against predators – the lower set can inflict severe wounds.

Common warthog ivory is taken from the constantly growing canine teeth. The tusks, particularly the upper set, work in much the same way as elephant tusks with all designs scaled down. Tusks are carved predominantly for the tourist trade in east and southern Africa.

The head of the common warthog is large, with a mane down the spine to the middle of the back. Sparse hair covers the body. Its color is usually black or brown. Tails are long and end with a tuft of hair. Common warthogs do not have subcutaneous fat and the coat is sparse, making them susceptible to extreme environmental temperatures.

Habitat

Warthogs are found in moist and arid savannas, woodlands, and grasslands. They usually find abandoned aardvark holes or natural burrows to live in where they raise their babies, sleep, and hide from looming predators. The burrows also protect them from the varying temperature extremes (from very hot to very cold).  Most of the warthog population is situated in East Africa and Southern Africa.

Diet

Warthog are omnivorous animals that feed on mainly grass, roots, tree bark, fruit, eggs, small animals such as insects and on even dead animals. It is easy for them to smell underground food options, they often kneel down and use their muscular snout to dig up their dinner. The warthog is also able to adapt their diet according to resource availability.

Breeding

Both the sows and boars reach sexual maturity at between 18 and 20 months. At this time, the sow may get pregnant however the boar is not usually ready to mate until 4 years old. During mating season, boars fight each other for the sow until the other one gives up and goes into solitary. The gestation period is usually just under 6 months. When the sow is ready to give birth, she looks for a burrow or digs one herself and then lines the burrow with leaves and grasses. The sow gives birth to between 1 and 8 piglets. The piglets stay in the burrow and only start to venture out of the burrow after 10 days. Usually around two or four piglets will survive to adulthood, and mothers who have lost their own litter have been observed nursing foster piglets, a practice known as allosuckling. Interestingly enough, after the breeding process, the boar and sow go their separate ways and look for more breeding partners.

Predators 

Fully grown warthogs are threatened by the lion, cheetah, hyena, leopard and crocodile. Warthog young fall prey to the eagle and jackal.

Main Characteristics

Wild boars range from 153 to 240 cm in total length and weigh 66 to 272 kg as adults. Females tend to be smaller than males of the same age, with the size difference becoming more apparent as the animals age. Adult wild boars have a thick, coarse coat of hair covering their bodies. Their coat ranges in color from black to brownish-red to white. Depending on their geographic location, they can have a speckled or solid pelage color. They may also have longer bristly hairs that grow down the middle of their backs. At birth, young boars generally have yellowish-brown stripes running down their backs that disappear into an even coloration within about 4 months. Wild boars can stand as tall as 0.9 m at their bulky shoulders, tapering off towards their hind quarters. Their tails measure 21 to 38 cm, and their ears are 24 to 26 cm long. Their upper canine teeth typically measure 5 to 10 cm and are generally larger than their lower canines. Their upper canines are usually visible even when their mouth is closed.

Habitat

Given their wide distribution, wild boars can be found in a variety of habitats. They may inhabit grassy savanna areas, wooded forests, agricultural areas, shrublands and marshy swamplands. They require a nearby water source and shelter (dense vegetation) to protect and conceal them from predation. They thrive in an assortment of climates, but generally avoid extreme heat or cold. In places that may experience harsh winter temperatures and increased snowfall, the population density may be limited by food sources. Deeper snows and frozen ground inhibit their ability to forage for roots and foliage.

Diet

Wild boars are omnivorous. They predominantly eat plant matter, particularly crops, fruits, nuts (mast), roots, and green plants. They have also been known to consume bird eggs, carrion, small rodents, insects, and worms. Wild boars have reportedly preyed on small calves, lambs, and other livestock when the opportunity presents itself. They adjust their diets based on what is available, which can vary with seasons, weather conditions, and locations. They tend to do most of their foraging in the late evening and into the night.

Breeding

Wild boars tend to live in large groups called sounders that are made up of 6 to 20 closely-related females, but may contain over 100 individuals. As the sows prepare to give birth, they temporarily leave the sounder and return with their young upon farrowing (giving birth to their litter). Even after reaching maturity, female piglets tend to stay in the same groups in which their mothers reside. These herds tend to have some overlap, and it is not uncommon for herds to split into subpopulations. Males stay with their mothers until they are 1 to 2 years old and then leave the herd. After departing, they generally only join a sounder during mating season. Polygynous males are attracted to groups of females that are in estrous. They become very aggressive and compete for the opportunity to breed with a sounder. Successful males chase females in estrous, nudging them to show their interest. If the female is also interested, she may respond by urinating. If the female does not urinate, the male may give up after several minutes.

Wild boars are capable of reproducing at any time during the year. Mating is usually dependent on the climate, which can directly affect food availability. If the nutritional needs of the females are not being met, breeding can be suppressed. Females become capable of reproducing around the age of 10 months, and males are sexually mature at approximately 5 to 7 months. Sows are polyestrous, and can produce up to two litters per year. Estrous cycles generally last 21 to 23 days. A sow’s gestation period lasts 108 to 120 days. Each litter consists of 5 to 6 piglets on average. Newborn piglets weigh 0.4 to 0.8 kg and are weaned at 8 to 12 weeks. They continue to grow until age 5 to 6. Interestingly, males have more testosterone in their bloodstream during the winter months and shorter days equate to higher concentrations of sex hormones in the boar’s semen plasma.

Predators 

Humans are the main predator of wild boars. Wild boars can be destructive to farmland and natural ecosystems causing humans to implement removal procedures. Young wild boars are targeted by predatory animals such as coyotes and bobcats, while juveniles and adults may fall prey to larger predators such as American black bears and cougars. Adults use their coloration to help them blend in with their surroundings. Piglets have stripes running the length of their back, enabling them to remain concealed within undergrowth and in their nest. By traveling in sounders, sows are able to collectively protect their young from predation while on the move. When traveling, sows lead and pull up the rear while the piglets are kept in the middle of the herd.