""CARD 101 1

AFRICAN WILD DOG

" GROUP 1: MAMMALS
, , ~ - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
~ ORDER ~ FAMILY ~ GENUS & SPECIES
"11IIIIIIII Carnivora "'11IIIIIIII Canidae "11IIIIIIII Lycaon pidus
The African wild dog, once known as the Cape hunting dog, is
unique among the dog family for its social behavior. Young, old,
and injured dogs are all fed by the pack after a successful hunt.
KEY FACTS
SIZES
length: 30-45 in. Tail, 15 in.
Weight: 37-80 lb.
BREEDING
Sexual maturity: 1 year.
Mating: Year-round in East Africa;
spring and early summer in
Zambia, South Africa, and
Serengeti.
Gestation: 72 days.
No. of young: Usually 6-8.
LIFESTYLE
Habit: lives in packs of 6-20.
Nomadic most of the year.
Diet: Gazelles, zebra foals,
warthogs, elands, young wilde-
beests, and domestic animals.
lifespan: Average 4 years in the
wild, 10 years in captivity.
RELATED SPECIES
Related to all species of Canis,
including the wolf and the
domestic dog.
Range of the African wild dog.
DISTRIBUTION
Throughout Africa from Sudan to the Cape of Good Hope,
on grassy steppes and in savannah country, but not in dense
forests.
CONSERVATION j
In areas where hunting is permitted the wild dog is becom-
ing increasingly rare. Still, in protected areas its role in
regulating the antelope population is considered beneficial.
CALLS OF THE AFRICAN WILD DOG
In addition to barks and howls, the wild dog has developed
special calls for particular occasions. For example, when
an adult dog is separated from the pack, it repeats a bell-
like call for approximately a minute. It then listens, sitting
perfectly still . The rest of the pack recognizes the sou and
quickly comes to find the lost dog.
Pup
MCMXCI IMP BV/ IMP INC WILDLIFE FACT FILETM
Adult
A pup (with
characteristi-
cally large
ears) makes a
soft, high-
pitched moo-
ing sound.
The African wild dog is a slender animal
about the size of a collie. It has a powerful skull
equipped with strong jaws and sharp teeth.
Its brightly colored coat is a mixture of black,
yellow, and white, and no two wild dogs
have the same coat pattern.

A pack of African wild dogs
has between 6 to 20 mem-
bers. The pack has no single
leader. Instead, there is a clear
division of labor, with some
dogs guarding the pups while
the rest are hunting. The dogs
may also take turns leading
the hunt.
Wild dogs spend most of the
day in their dens or resting
together in the shade. In the
early morning and evening,
pack members engage in
mock fighting before going
hunting.
Wild dogs are nomadic for
nine months of the year.
They remain in one place
only long enough to breed
and raise the pups. During
this time the entire pack de-'
fends its territory and feeds
the young. At three months
the pups are old enough to
hunt with the pack.
DID YOU KNOW?
The wild dogs' brightly
colored coats help them
identify each other during a
hunt.
During a hunt an adult wild
dog runs at 35 miles an hour
for several miles.
Wild dogs rarely dig their
own dens. Instead, they use
holes abandoned by warthogs
or other large burrowing
animals.
A pack of 20 wild dogs kills
and eats nearly 90 pounds of
prey every day.
Wild dogs rarely drink water;
they usually get enough liquid
from the blood and body
fluids of their prey.
It was reported that the
males of a pack with nine pups
reared the pups after the only
female in the pack died.
& HUNTING
Once they spot prey, wild dogs
charge directly into the herd
and attack an animal. They kill
their prey quickly once they
have pulled it to the ground.
A hunt usually lasts less than
five minutes but may cover
two miles.
In East Africa the dogs'

Wild dogs breed year-round
in East Africa, but in other
parts of their range they
usually breed in the first half
of the year. A female in heat
marks an area with her urine.
The male that has selected
her for a mate urinates in the
same places.
A few days after the pups
are born, the female carries
them around to the other
adults in the pack which take
turns licking them.
Newborn pups are black
and have scattered white
spots. They develop their
unique adult coloring when
they are six to seven weeks
old. At two to three weeks of
age, the pups begin to eat
small amounts of regurgi-
tated meat. They are fully
weaned at 12 weeks of age.
primary prey is Thomson's
gazelle, but they also hunt
Grant's gazelle. When hunt-
ing wildebeest and zebra the
dogs cause a herd to panic so
that they can isolate one or
more of the young. But the
dogs do not attack adult
zebras, which can kill a dog
with one kick. In South Africa
the wild dogs also eat domes- ,
tic cattle, warthogs, and large
antelope.
The dogs feed together at
the kill site before returning to
the rest of the pack, where
they regurgitate meat for the
other dogs.
Left: A pack of
hungry wild dogs
attacks prey from
behind, pulling it
to the ground
and killing it
instantly.
Females suckle
any hungry
pup that
approaches
them.
Left: After the
hunt, adult
dogs regurgi-
tate meat for
the young.
LEAST WEASEL
ORDER
Carnivora
... FAMILY
Mustelidae
CARD 102
The least weasel is one of the smallest carnivores. Despite its small
size, it fiercely attacks and kills animals much larger than itself.
KEY FACTS
SIZES
Length: 8-11 in.
Height: 2-3 in. to shoulder.
Weight: Male, up to 4 oz. Female,
up to 2 oz.
BREEDING
Sexual maturity: Just under 1
year.
Mating: Spring, usually April.
Gestation: 34-37 days.
Litter size: 3-8, usually 4-6.
LIFESTYLE
Habit: Ferocious. Hunts mainly at
night. Generally solitary.
Diet: Mainly mice, but also rats,
moles, small birds, birds' eggs,
rabbits, and occasionally poultry.
Lifespan: 1-2 years in the wild. Up
to 10 years in captivity.
RELATED SPECIES
Closely related to the skunk and
the otter.
DISTRIBUTION
Found widely in Europe. Also seen in much of Asia, in North
Africa, and in much of North America. Introduced to New
Zealand.
CONSERVATION
Although least weasels are not protected, they are under no
threat as a species.
I FEATURES OF THE LEAST WEASEL
Although the least weasel resembles its
relative, the stoat, it is smaller, lacks the
stoat's black tail tip, and has a wavy flank
line separating its white underbody from
its reddish brown upper body. Occasion-
ally it has brown patches on its throat.
Unlike the stoat, the weasel does not turn
white in winter except in the most
northern part of its range.
The male weasel (right) is considerably
larger than the female, measuring
approximately 8 in. (excluding tail) and
weighing 4 oz.
The head and body length of the average
female weasel (below) is 7 in. She weighs
, 2 oz.

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The weasel is small enough
to follow its favorite prey-mice-
into their underground burrows.
It kills them with a sharp bite to the back
of the neck and uses their burrows
for temporary shelter.
~ HABITS
Least weasels can be found
wherever mice and other
rodents are plentiful. They live
in a variety of habitats includ-
ing cultivated land, woodland,
and mountains.
Weasels live and hunt within
a defined territory. The size of
the territory depends on the
type of habitat and the food
supply. A male's territory may
cover up to 10 acres. A female
has a much smaller territory
that may overlap with those
of other females. Individual
territories are marked with
the same strong-smelling
secretions from the anal
scent glands that are released
during the breeding season.
The female remains in her
territory throughout the year,
but during the spring mating
season, males may travel
long distances outside their
normal range to mate.
~ FOOD &: HUNTING
The least weasel's preferred
food is mice. Where mice thrive,
there is likely to be a large pop-
ulation of weasels. Weasels do
not breed when the fluctuating
mice populations are low.
Squirrels, rats, and rabbits are
also common prey. A weasel
often kills many more small
animals than it can eat at one
time.
Weasels are good swimmers
and hunt water mice. They also
climb trees and search through
bushes to find birds' nests from
which they eat the eggs and the
young. They hunt mainly at
night and locate prey with their
sense of smell. They hunt pri-
marily among bushes, stone
walls, and open fields.
DID YOU KNOW?
Female least weasels are so
much smaller than males that
they were once thought to
be a different species.
A weasel's burrow can be
recognized by the remains of
its prey-usually feet and
tails-found at the entrance.
~ NATUREWATCH
Although weasels are not par-
ticularly frightened by humans,
you will have a better chance
of spotting one if you wear
dark clothing that blends in
with the surroundings. Keep as
quiet and still as possible, and
position yourself downwind of
the weasel so that it will not
smell you.
Weasels can be seen among
weasel raids
the nest of a
harvest mouse.
Right: The
weasel attacks
and eats
animals much
larger than
itself, such as
rabbits.
Weasels vary in color from
light tan to a deep rust color.
But most have brown spots
or blotches on their white
underbody.
The fluid secreted by a
weasel's anal scent glands is
similar to that of a skunk.
hedges and in long grass, es-
pecially in places where
there are many mice and
other rodents. You may also
see weasels standing on their
hind legs to investigate the
surroundings.
If a weasel drops its prey
and runs after it spots you,
wait a few minutes until it
returns to retrieve its food.
~ BREEDING
The only time males and
females come together is in
the spring to mate: The litter,
born five weeks later, ranges
in number from three to
eight young.
The young are weaned at
four to five weeks, but the
mother continues to hunt
and provide for them until
they are two months old.
The family group breaks
up one to three weeks later.
Below: A young weasel is fully
independent by the time it
reaches 12 weeks.
PERE DAVID'S DEER
ORDER
Artiodactyla
FAMILY
Cervidae
GROUP 1: MAMMALS
GENUS & SPECIES
Elaphurus davidianus
Pere deer is named after a Frenchman, Pere Armand David.
He shipped several of these deer from China to Europe in the late
nineteenth century and saved the species from extinction.
___ KEY_F_A_C_T_S ____________________________
SIZES
Height to shoulder: Male, almost
4 ft. Female smaller.
Weight: Male, up to 540 Ibs. Fe-
male about 300 Ibs.
Antlers: Up to ft. long, on
male only.
BREEDING
Sexual maturity: Female, 1-2
years. Male, 3-4 years.
Mating: June to August.
Gestation: About 36 weeks.
No. of young: 1-2.
LIFESTYLE
Habit: Sociable; lives in herds.
Nondominant stags gather in
groups during mating season.
Diet: Primarily grass; also leaves
and water plants.
Lifespan: About 20 years.
RELATED SPECIES
Related to many other species of
deer, including the red deer and
the fallow deer.
Original range of Pere David's deer.
DISTRIBUTION
Formerly found in the swampy plains of eastern China, Pere
David's deer is now found only in captivity in wildlife parks
and zoos throughout the world.
CONSERVATION
There are now more than 600 individual deer in captivity
throughout the world, and the species is no longer in dan-
ger of extinction.
FEATURES OF PERE DAVID'S DEER
Body: Large, with a rump shaped like
a donkey's and a long, black-tipped
tail. Coat is brownish red in summer
and grayish tan in winter.
Female: Does
not have antlers,
li ke the females
of most other
species of deer.
Her neck is more
slender than the
male's.
Fawn: Able to
stand and walk
soon after birth.
Coat is either
beige or a yel-
lowish brown
with ligqtell
spots.
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Antlers: Mature male
may have two sets. A
, large summer pair is
shed in November and
replaced by a smaller
pair, shed in late
January (right inset) .
tures, except for
the antlers. Its
tail is unusually
long ana tassled.
Its head is long
and has small ,
pl )inted ears.
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Pere David's deer is one of the largest species
of deer. The male's antlers, which may be shed
twice a year, are unusual. Their points
sweep backward, while the antlers of other species
either sweep forward or point straight up.
Today this rare animal can be seen
only in zoos and wildlife parks.
ORIGINS
The last wild specimens of
this deer died out centuries
ago, but small herds were
kept by the Chinese emper-
ors in hunting parks. In 1865
the French missionary Pere
Armand David discovered the
only surviving herd in the
walled imperial hunting park
just outside Beijing.
With the help of foreign
diplomats, Pere David ar-
ranged for live specimens to
be sent to several European
zoos before he left China in
1874. By the 1920s these
animals were the only sur-
viving members of the
species. But they did not
breed successfully until the
duke of Bedford collected the
18 survivors together in one
herd at Woburn Abbey, a
wildlife park in England. The
conditions there suited the
deer, and by 1939 the herd
had grown to over 250.
During World War II some
of the herd were transferred
to England's Whipsnade Zoo
to reduce the risk of extinc-
tion by bombing or disease.
Calves have since been sent
to zoos around the world.
The present population is
about 600 worldwide.
BREEDING
The mating season, from June
to August, is called the rut.
Mature females gat her in a
group called a harem, which
is dominated by a mature
male, or stag.
Ownership of a harem is
often disputed among several
stags and is settled by con-
tests, both mock and real.
When fighting in earnest,
adult males use their antlers
left: The hooves of Pitre David's
deer make an odd cracking sound
as it walks.
and teeth as weapons and
may stand on their hind legs
to box with their hooves.
Possession of the harem may
change several times during
the mating season.
After a gestation period of
about 36 weeks, the female
gives birth to one or two
fawns, which are able to
stand up and walk almost
from birth. They are nursed
by their mother for six or
seven weeks and remain with
her for one to two years.
Above right: A
family group
stays together
all year except
during the
mating season.
left: Six-week-
old fawns still
have the thick
fleece of the
newborn.
DID YOU KNOW?
In 1957 four calves from
the London Zoo traveled
with their keeper to the
Beijing Zoo to begin a herd
in the deer's native land.
Pere David's deer may
have become extinct in the
wild as early as the second
century B.C., when its natu-

Male, female, and young Pere
David's deer live together in
herds, but the males avoid
the females for two months
before and after the rut.
Unlike many other species of
deer, Pere David's deer likes
water. It is believed that it
originally lived in the swamp-
lands of eastern China, where
FOOD & FEEDING
Pere David's deer is mai nly a
grazing animal, preferring
lush grassland. It will also eat
left: Pere David's deer may wade
into a stream to bathe.
ral swampy habitat became
a rice-growing area.
The Chinese called Pere
David's deer ssu-pu-hsiang
("the four unlikes") because
they thought it had a stag's
antlers, a camel's neck, a
cow's hooves, and a don-
key's tail.
it became used to watery
conditions. It is a strong
swimmer and spends long
periods standing shoulder-
deep in water during warm
weather. The male deer likes
to wallow in wet mud at the
edges of lakes and ponds,
using its hooves to flick mud
and grass onto its back.
young, tender shoots and
leaves, depending on the
plants that are available. In
the summer it will eat green
plants.
"" CARD 1 04 I
COMMON ECHIDNA
" GROUP 1: MAMMALS
, , ~ - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
~ ORDER
~ Monotremata
~ FAMILY
~ T achyglossidae
~ GENUS & SPECIES
~ T achyglossus aculeatus
The echidna is a small, spiny, barrel-shaped animal
that resembles a pale brown porcupine. It is one of only
two types of mammal that reproduce by laying eggs.
KEY FACTS
SIZES
Length: Head and body, 14-20 in.
Tail, 3 in.
Length of spines: 2 in.
Weight: 5-1 3 lb. Male is 25
percent larger than female.
BREEDING
Sexual maturity: 1 year.
Mating: June to August.
Gestation: 14 days to egg laying;
egg hatches after 10 days. Young
leaves pouch after 6-8 weeks.
No. of young: 1.
LIFESTYLE
Habit: Solitary except in breeding
season. Mainly active at dawn and
dusk.
Diet: Ants, termites, and other
small insects.
Lifespan: Can be over 50 years.
RELATED SPECIES
Long-nosed or long-beaked
echidna, Zaglossus bruijni, found in
New Guinea.
Range of the common echidna.
~ ~ - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
DISTRIBUTION
Found widely throughout the less barren parts of Australia.
CONSERVATION
Because echidnas have no economic value and are not con-
sidered to be pests, they are not hunted extensively by man.
Because they have few natural enemies, they are common
and widespread.
FEATURES OF THE COMMON ECHIDNA
All four feet
have powerful
claws for
digging.
The echidna digs in the earth, pulling
food into its mouth with its sticky
tongue.
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The second toe of
each hind foot has
a special long,
curved claw used
for scratching
between the
spines.
Spines grow through dense fur
coat, covering back and sides.
0160200181 PACKET 18
The common echidna is also known
as the "spiny anteater. II It is found mainly
in sheltered grassy and woodland areas that
have soft enough soil for the animal to dig
for prey or burrow into the ground.

The solitary echidna occupies
a territory that varies in size,
depending on the abundance
of food in the area. In moist
forest regions, where food is
plentiful, an echidna may
wander over an area as large
as 125 acres.
The echidna does not use
anyone shelter regularly.
Instead, it rests in hollow logs,
under thick vegetation, or
among piles of rocks. During
cool weather conditions, the
echidna is active at dawn and
dusk. During hot summer
weather it emerges only at
night; in cold weather, it
spends the entire day out-
side. Although the echidna
does not hibernate, it re-
mains inactive when the
&: HUNTING
The echidna is a carnivore, or
meat eater. But it has no jaw
muscles, so it cannot open its
jaws. Instead, it draws food
into the tiny circular opening
at the end of its snout with

can extend as much as seven
inches from the tip of the
snout. Since the echidna has
no teeth, it grinds prey be-
tween the ridges at the base
of its tongue and palate.
The echidna locates its prey
chiefly by smell. It turns over
the soil with its paws to search
for ants, termites, and any
other insects small enough to
be eaten. The echidna is so
strong that it can turn over
weather is very wet.
The echidna's only enemies
are man and the dingo (Austra-
lian wild dog). If either dis-
turbs the echidna, it burrows
vertically into the ground. It
pushes the soil away from
underneath itself with all four
feet at once. The echidna stops
digging only when more than
half of its body is buried.
left: An
echidna
burrows to
escape
predators. The
echidna's
spines make it
difficult for a
predator to pry
the echidna
loose without
injuring itself.
stones more than twice its
own weight.
In August and September
the echidna digs for female
meat ants. These female ants
are especially fat at this time
of year (spring in the south-
ern hemisphere), and the
echidna is willing to risk the
meat ants' painful sting.
When the echidna is in an
inactive state (called torpor),
it is able to go without food
for as long as a month.
Right: Using the claws on all four
feet, an echidna burrows into a
termite mound to feed on the
insects.
DID YOU KNOW?
The echidna and the
duckbilled platypus are the
only mammals that repro-
duce by laying eggs.
The echidna was named in
error: its name should have
been echinos-Greek for
"hedgehog." The Greek
word echidna actually
means poisonous snake.
In Tasmania' s cool climate
the echidna's fur grows so
long for warmth that it
covers the animal's spines.
The echidna is one of the
few mammals that has a life
expectancy of 50 years or
more. Man is another such
mammal.
The male echidna has a
non-functional venom gland
and claw on the heel of each
hind foot.
The female echidna leaves a
scent trail on the ground
when she is ready to mate.
While foraging for food, the
male detects and follows her
scent. Sometimes a single
female is followed by four or
five males at once.
Two weeks after mating the
female lies on her back and
lays a single egg. She
stretches her body so that the
egg drops into the pouch on
her abdomen. After 7 to 10
days the tiny young breaks
out of the leathery shell, using
the specialized egg tooth on
the tip of its snout.
The hatchling is only half an
inch long. It stays in its
mother's pouch, feeding on
her milk for eight weeks.
left: At eight
weeks of age
the young
echidna is four
inches long,
and its spines
have begun to
develop. The
mother digs it
a separate
burrow that
she visits daily
for six months
to suckle the
young.
"" CARD 1 05 I
WOLVERINE
~ ~ - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - ~
~
ORDER
Carnivora
FAMILY
Mustelidae
GENUS &: SPECIES
Gulogulo
The wolverine is a rare animal that lives in the remote Arctic
and sub-Arctic regions of the world, where it preys on small
mammals or scavenges on the kills of others.
KEY FACTS
SIZES
Length: Males, 3 ft. Females,
smaller.
Weight: Males average 30 lb.
Females, 20 lb.
BREEDING
Sexual maturity: 1-2 years.
Mating season: April to August.
Gestation: About 9 months,
including period of delayed
implantation.
No. of young: Up to 4 kittens.
LIFESTYLE
Habit: Solitary.
Diet: Any mammal. Scavenges
food. Also eats some berries.
Lifespan: Up to 13 years.
RELATED SPECIES
There are two subspecies: the
European and North American
wolverines.
Range of the wolverine.
DISTRIBUTION
The Arctic, sub-Arctic and taiga (forests of cone-bearing
trees) regions of Eurasia and North America.
CONSERVATION
Although it is not yet an endangered species, the wolverine's
numbers are declining, especially near human populations.
Hunters shoot it for sport, for its fur, and because it breaks
into buildings to steal food.
SPECIAL ADAPTATIONS OF THE
Coat: Dense, thick, enabling the
wolverine to live in harsh cli-
mates.
<0MCMXCI IMP BV/ IMP INC WILDLIFE FACT FILETM PRINTED IN U.S.A.
The wolverine chases other animals'
away from potential food.
0160200211 PACKET 21
The wolverine's name suggests that it is a
species of wolf, but its appearance
indicates that it could be a member of the bear
family. 'In fact, the wolverine is actually the largest
member of the weasel family. Its scientific name
means 'glutton' because of its habit of
attacking any prey it happens to meet.
~ HABITS
The wolverine is the fiercest
member of the weasel family.
Its thick, dense coat of brown
fur protects it from the hostile
climate.
A solitary animal, the wol-
verine will defend its territory
against any other wolverine
that dares to encroach on its
space. The wolverine warns
others of its presence by
discharging a strong-smelling
fluid, called musk, from an
anal gland under its tail.
The wolverine has a highly
developed sense of smell,
which makes it a good
scavenger. It is also a good
climber and often rests in
trees. Because its range is so
large, the wolverine does not
have a single nest site, but
several, scattered through-
out its range.
DID YOU KNOW?
The wolverine is said to
be strong enough to drag
an animal more than three
times its own weight.
The wolverine's fur is
prized by Eskimo because
it does not absorb mois-
ture, or freeze.
The wolverine is called
"the glutton" because
people once believed it
could eat an entire large
mammal.
A male wolverine ranges
l
over 250 to 400 square
miles. The female's range is
much smaller, at 20 to 150
square miles. I
Left: The wolverine pounces on
prey from ttees and rocks.
~ BREEDING
The wolverine declares a tem-
porary truce with other wol-
verines during the summer
mating season. Courtship by
the male includes dragging
the female around by the
scruff of her neck.
The pair may mate several
times, for several hours at a
time. To help the male keep
an erection, a bone, called the
baculum, stiffens his penis.
The vigorous mating induces
the female to produce eggs.
In many mammals the fer-
tilized eggs implant in the
uterus soon after mating, and
then start to develop. The fe-
male wolverine delays implan-
tation; the egg cells float in
the uterus for some time be-
fore attaching to the uterus
wall. Delayed implantation
means that the young can be
born at the right time, from
January to April, regardless of
when mating takes place.
~ FOOD &: HUNTING
The wolverine, a short-
legged, slow and lumbering
animal, does not chase or
stalk its prey. Instead, it hides
in trees or behind rocks, wait-
ing to pounce.
In summer it eats mice, rats,
and other small mammals, as
well as birds and their eggs. In
winter, when snow covers the
ground, it eats larger prey,
such as reindeer. The wolver-
ine captures this animal by
jumping on its back and grip-
ping it with powerful claws
(see back cover) until the prey
is forced to the ground. Then
it tears the animal apart using
long, sharp teeth that can cut
through bone.
Often, the wolverine lets
another animal, such as a
bear, do its hunting. After the
The female produces one
litter every two or three years.
She digs out a den in a
snowdrift, in a tree hollow, or
under a rock, where she has
her young, called kittens. Two
or three kittens are born each
year. They are born blind and
covered with yellowish fur.
The kittens feed only from
their mother for two or three
weeks. During this time she
rarely leaves them, feeding on
food she has stored.
Later the mother brings
food to the den, but the
kittens are eight to ten weeks
old before they are weaned.
Male kittens leave their moth-
er at the start of the next
breeding season; but the
females often stay longer
and mature sexually at two
years of age.
Right: The wolverine uses a
number of dens spread over its
range.
animal makes a kill, the wol-
verine approaches with its
hackles (neck and back hairs)
raised and its teeth bared. The
wolverine growls fiercely at
the other predator, which usu-
ally departs, leaving its meal
to the wolverine.
Not only does the wolverine
Above: Mainly nocturnal, during
the long polar nights it feeds in
daylight.
steal from other animals, but it
also breaks into campsites to
steal supplies. The animal bur-
ies and stores anything it can-
not eat at one time.
"" CARD 1 06 I
AFRICAN PORCUPINE
, , ~ - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - ~
~
ORDER
Rodentia
FAMILY
Hystricidae
GENUS & SPECIES
Hystrix cristata
One of nature's largest rodents, the African porcupine
is covered with long, barbed spines that can inflict fatal
injuries to its enemies if they should try to attack.
KEY FACTS
SIZES
Length: 2-3 ft. head to tail.
Weight: 30-60 lb.
BREEDING
Sexual maturity: About 2 years.
No. of young: Usually 2 or 3 per
litter.
No. of litters: 2-3 a year.
Gestation: 112 days.
LIFESTYLE
Habit: Usually solitary; sometimes
lives in pairs.
Habitat: Prefers rocky terrain
with plenty of ground cover.
Call: Loud grunts when
threatened.
Diet: Roots, bulbs, and fruit.
Lifespan: 12-15 years in the wild,
longer in captivity.
RELATED SPECIES
The 4 other species of crested
porcupine in the genus Hystrix are
the Cape, Himalayan, Indian, and
Malayan porcupines.
Range of the African porcupine.
DISTRIBUTION
North and northwest Africa. Also found in southern Italy and
Sicily where it was probably introduced many years ago.
Recently introduced to Albania and Yugoslavia.
CONSERVATION
The African porcupine is in no danger although it is hunted
by man for food. Young porcupines are also vulnerable;
they are hunted by big cats and hunting dogs.
FEATURES OF THE AFRICAN PORCUPINE
Crest: Raised quills form a long,
spiked crest over the porcupine's
head. I / ~
l
r ,. /11
ra!
." ....
MCMXCIIMP BV/ IMP INC WILDLIFE FACT FILETM
Backward charge: When the porcu-
pine is threatened or annoyed it
charges backward rapidly, presenting
its armored rear to the potential foe.
PRINTED IN U.S.A.
Quills: The barbed spine
detaches easily on contact with
an animal's flesh and sinks
deeper and deeper into the skin
as the victim moves.
Rattle: The sharp rattling quills
on the tail produce a characteris-
tic clattering sound.
016020029, PACKET 29
The African porcupine is the largest
of several species of crested porcupine. Like
all rodents/ the porcupine/s teeth grow continuously
throughout its life and it must gnaw at branches
and bones in order to keep them
from growing too long.
~ DEFENSE
Few animals dare to fight with
the porcupine, except large
cats such as the lion and the
leopard. Even then these pre-
dators have to be very hungry
to attack.
The back of the porcupine's
dark brown body is covered
with an assortment of sharp
quills. These thick, cylindrical
quills can grow up to a foot
long. Below these banded
black-and-white spines are the
short white spines of the tail.
When attacked or annoyed,
the porcupine raises its spines
and rattles them vigorously to
scare off the predator. If this
does not work, it charges
backward at its enemy. The
porcupine's quills detach
easily, and once the barbed
tips dig into the flesh of
the attacker they are almost
impossible to remove. The
wounds can become in-
fected and eventually kill
the attacker.
~ FOOD &: FEEDING
The African porcupine hunts
for food at night. Emerging
from its underground burrow,
the porcupine moves grace-
fully along the ground on its
short legs with its bristles and
quills standing in an arc over
its back.
The porcupine's eyesight is
poor, so it relies on its sense of
smell to sniff out roots, bulbs,
and fallen fruits and berries.
Hearing is even more impor-
tant. The porcupine can hear
fruit dropping from trees
several yards away.
The porcupine holds its food
in its front paws. Although it
gnaws on bones, the porcu-
pine rarely eats meat.
Left: A nocturnal animal, the
porcupine uses its acute sense of
smell and hearing to find its food.
Right: The porcupine grips fruit
between its paws to eat it.
~ BREEDING
The African porcupine is a soli-
tary animal, but it occasionally
lives in pairs. It lives in crevices
under rocks or in burrows
that it builds itself. Although
the female produces only
two to three litters every
year, she comes into season
about every 35 days. Dur-
ing courtship the male and
female lick each other. When
she is ready to mate, the
female flattens her body and
quills close to the ground
so that she does not harm
her mate.
After 112 days the female
gives birth in her grass-lined
burrow. The baby porcupines
-usually two or three-are
covered with bristles and soft
quills, which harden a few
hours after birth. The mother
feeds them from teats on the
sides of her body, away from
her quills.
After two weeks the babies
can eat solid foods, but the
mother continues to nurse
them for several more weeks.
Left: The young do not leave the
burrow until their quills harden
fully. Even then their mother
accompanies them.
DID YOU KNOW?
Contrary to belief, porcu-
pines do not shoot their
quills at an enemy.
Porcupine quills were
once used as arrow tips or
darts by African tribesmen.
Porcupines are excellent
swimmers.
The African porcupine
is not related to the tree-
climbing species of the
western hemisphere.
Porcupines can drink
large amounts of water
without making a sound.
Most porcupines keep an
assortment of bones and
twigs in their burrows to
gnaw on.
BRAZILIAN TAPIR
'\
~
ORDER
Perissodactyla
FAMILY
Tapiridae
'" CARD 1 07 1
GROUP 1: M A M M A L S ~ ~ )
GENUS &: SPECIES ~ ~
T apirus terrestris
The Brazilian tapir is a mammal that has remained
unchanged for over 3S million years. This shy forest inhabitant
is a relative of the horse and the rhinoceros.
KEY FACTS
SIZES
Length: About 6 ft. Tail 2 in.
Height to shoulder: 2 ' /2 ft.
Weight: 500 lb.
BREEDING
Sexual Maturity: 2-3 years.
Mating season: Year-round.
Gestation: 390-400 days.
No. of young: 1.
LIFESTYLE
Habit: Solitary; occasionally
found in pairs.
Diet: Aquatic vegetation, twigs,
leaves, fruit, and grass.
Lifespan: Up to 30 years.
RELATED SPECIES
Baird's tapir, found from Mexico
to Ecuador, west of the Andes.
Mountain tapir, from Colombia
and Ecuador to Peru. Malayan
tapir, from Burma and Thailand
to Malaysia and Sumatra.
Range of the Brazilian tapir.
DISTRIBUTION
Found from northern South America to southern Brazil,
Paraguay, and northern Argentina. Widespread, but uneven
numbers within these regions.
CONSERVATION
Habitat destruction is greatly reducing tapir populations,
although the Brazilian tapir is not as threatened with extinc-
tion as some other species are.
FEATURES OF THE BRAZILIAN TAPIR
Coat: Short, sparse
hairs, uniformly
brownish black.
Some white
coloration around
throat , neck, and
chest.
DMCMXCI IMP BV/IMP INC WILDLIFE FACT FILETM PRINTED IN U.S.A.
sense of smell.
Nostrils sniff
out vegetation.
The tapir originated in Europe. It moved
to North America 35 million years ago and then
spread to South America and Asia. Fossil forms
have been found that indicate the existence of
many prehistoric species. Today there are only
four members of the family: three in both North
and South America, and one in Asia.
~ H A B I T S
The Brazilian tapir is active
mainly at night in its forested
or wooded environment. The
tapir scents, or marks with
urine, its well-worn trails. It
spends most of its time near
water or swampy ground,
splashing about or wallowing
in the mud, which helps keep
it cool. The Brazilian tapir is at
home in the water and is a
~ TAPIR AND MAN
Natives of the Brazilian jungle
have long hunted the tapir as
a source of meat and for its
hide. Tapir flesh is considered
a delicacy, and the hide pro-
duces excellent leather. It is
also hunted because it occa-
fast swimmer, able to dive
and stay underwater for
long periods of time.
The Brazilian tapir is sur-
prisingly agile for its size
and bulk; it is able to scram-
ble quickly up steep hill-
sides and riverbanks.
The tapir is not as fast on
land, but its bulk and tough
hide enable it to push its
sionally raids crops and plan-
tations. But the tapir is ex-
tremely shy and raids crops
only in desperation.
The future for the Brazil-
ian tapir, which has survived
for millions of years, is now
way quickly through thick
undergrowth. When danger
threatens, however, it will es-
cape to water. If cornered
and separated from water,
the tapir will put up a serious
fight, using its teeth as it
charges its attacker.
In the heat of the day, ta-
pirs usually rest in the shade
of dense undergrowth.
Above: The
tapir uses
water to cool
off and to get
rid of any
parasites.
Left: When
pursued by
predators, the
tapir heads for
water, where it
can stay sub-
merged for
several
minutes.
uncertain because of the de-
struction of its habitat. As the
. tropical forests are cleared for
agricultural development, the
tapir is forced to retreat into less
suitable habitats, where it has
less chance for survival.
~ FOOD &: FEEDING
The tapir is a browser, feeding
on aquatic plants, twigs, foli-
age, fruit, and a variety of oth-
er vegetation. Its favorite food
is young green shoots, but it
will also graze on grass and
cultivated crops, making it un-
popular with farmers. The
variety in the tapir's diet helps
it avoid accumulating danger-
ous levels of poisons that are
~ BREEDING
Mating between tapirs occurs
at any time of year, since the
females come into season
about every two months.
The mating ritual is elabo-
rate: the male chases the
female before starting a mock
fight featuring high-pitched
squeals.
About 13 months after mat-
ing the female gives birth to a
single young in a hiding place
in the forest. Baby tapirs have
yellow stripes or rows of spots
on a dark brown background.
This coloration camouflages
them as they lie in the forest
undergrowth. The markings
fade when the young tapir is
a few months old; within a
year it has its adult coat. Baby
tapirs become independent
after about eight months.
present in rainforest plants.
The tapir is a selective
eater. It walks along with
its snout close to the soil,
turning its snout from side to
side, stretching and with-
drawing it to examine the
ground. When it locates food,
the tapir uses its trunk to
pluck leaves and twigs and
draw them into its mouth.
Above: A
tapir's stripes
pravide
camouflage.
Right: A tapir
uses its trunk
much as an
elephant does.
DID YOU KNOW?
The name tapir comes
from a Brazilian Indian
word meaning "thick,"
referring to the animal's
tough hide.
Brazilian natives claim
that stones from the ta-
pir's stomach have me-
dicinal powers and that a
powder ground from their
hooves cures epilepsy.
An ancient Malay leg-
end says that the tapir was
made by God from odds
and ends left over after all
the other creatures had
been created.
Because its trunk is so
flexible, a tapir can ex-
plore a circle of ground
one foot in diameter with-
out moving its head.
" CARD 108 ]
VERVET MONKEY

". ORDER
Primates
FAMILY
Cercopithecidae
GENUS & SPECIES
Cercopithecus aethiops
The vervet monkey prefers grassland to dense forest. It usually
lives close to water, where it sleeps at night among the branches
of waterside trees or bushes such as the acacia.
KEY FACTS
SIZES
Height: 11/2-2 ft .
Weight: Males, 10 lb. Females, 7 lb.
BREEDING
Sexual maturity: 5 years in the
wild, 2 in captivity.
Breeding season: Variable.
Gestation: 5-6 months.
No. of young: 1.
LIFESTYLE
Call : Grunts and chatters. Alarm
or threat bark.
Habit: Social; lives in groups that
include more than one male.
Diet: Fruit, leaves, flowers,
insects, eggs, nestlings, rodents.
RELATED SPECIES
Related are the diana monkey,
Cercopithecus diana, from Sierra
Leone and Ghana, and the patas
monkey, rythrocebus POtOS, from
eastern Africa.
Other predators
include the
leopard and
other smaller
cats. The croco-
dile also preys
on the vervet.
MCMXCI IMP BVI IMP INC WILDLIFE FACT FILETM
Range of the vervet monkey.
DISTRIBUTION
j
q.

/V\ " .,
L--J ,.

The vervet is found across Africa from Senegal to Somalia
and in southern Africa. It inhabits areas of savannah and
woodland that border water.
CONSERVATION
Much of the vervet's habitat has been converted to farm-
land, causing the monkey to raid crops in what was its
former range.
Baboon: Mainly
plant eating, but
eats almost
anything, even its
own young.
Martial eagle:
Large, powerful
bird of prey that
also hunts small
antelope.
African python:
Swallows the
PRINTED IN U.S.A. 0160200321 PACKET 32
The vervet monkey lives in Africa's dry,
dusty savannah lands. These include the region
of western Ethiopia that gives the monkey its
other name-Ethiopian grivet. The vervet has
a very long tail, which it holds erect when
it runs along the ground.
The male vervet is usually lar-
ger than the female. Unlike
many monkey species, a troop
of vervet monkeys usually in-
cludes several mature males.
These males will compete for
leadership, but this position
changes regularly from one
individual to another as mem-
bers leave or join the troop, or
when juveniles mature.
A vervet scent-marks its ter-
ritory with facial gland secre-
tions. It runs its cheek or chin
on a spot that other monkeys
will sniff. The boundaries of its
Above: The vervet is a daytime
feeder. It is rarely seen drinking
because it gets most of the water
it needs from fruit.
territory vary in size accord-
ing to the amount of food
available in the area.
The vervet has compara-
t ively long arms and legs that
allow it to move quickly on
the ground.
The vervet's coloring varies
over its range, and even
within members of the same
troop. The monkey's back
hair and long tail are usually
golden, its limbs are gray, its
underparts are white, and its
face is black. Its distinctive
genitals are red and blue.
Right: Although born with its eyes
open, the baby is very dependent
and clings tightly to its mother for
the first three weeks of its life.

The vervet monkey matures
slowly. It reproduces in the wild
at about five years of age, de-
pending upon the availability of
food. In captivity the female
vervet conceives (becomes
pregnant) at two years old.
At about the same age a male
becomes fertile, but he is un-
likely to breed unti l several
years later when he reaches a
favorable position in the troop
hierarchy (level of rank) .
Five to six months after mat-
ing, the female gives birth to a
single furry infant. It immedi-
ately starts clinging onto its
mother's belly.
For the first few weeks the
mother spends much of her
time licking, grooming, and
watching over her baby. She
nurses it and holds it until
the next infant is born about
a year later.
As soon as the youngster
begins to eat a variety of
food it suckles less fre-
quently. Finally, just before
the birth of the next baby,
the mother weans it by re-
moving her nipple from the
infant's mouth and pushing
its head away.
After the first few months
she allows the older infant to
carry the baby. This teaches it
how to handle young in pre-
paration for its own offspring.
A female often stays with
her mother as long as the
mother lives. Later she forms
her own small family group
as part of the larger troop.
The male usually leaves the
group when he reaches
adolescence at about five
years of age.
FOOD & FEEDING
The vervet's favorite food is
fruit in season, but it will eat
buds, flowers, and leaves, and
any available farm crops. Its
diet also includes insects, eggs,
and young birds and rodents.
Like many monkeys, the
vervet eats with its hands. The
mother teaches the young
vervet monkey what to pick
and what to discard, and how
to prepare food for eating.
DID YOU KNOW?
A young monkey sucks
its mother's nipple not
only for nourishment but
for comfort and security.
Monkeys increase the
abundance of plants. Tree
seeds are expelled undi-
gested in the monkeys'
feces. Often it is dropped
in ideal places for germina-
tion, increasing the food
supply of other species.
Below: The vervet monkey loves
juicy fruit and will even raid crops
to obtain a supply.
A bird of prey such as the mar-
tial eagle may swoop down to
grab a vervet. Some snakes
wait at the bottom of trees for
an unsuspecting member of a
troop to climb down. If one
of the vervet troop sights a
tree snake it immediately gives
an alarm call announcing the
snake's location to the others.
Baboons also occasionally
catch and eat a vervet.
","CARD 109 I
CHINESE WATER DEER
'\
"' ORDER ... FAMILY
"1IIIIIIII Cervidae
GROUP 1: MAMMALS ~ ~
... GENUS & SPECIES ~ ! I
"1IIIIIIII Hydropotes inermis "1IIIIIIII Artiodactyla
The Chinese water deer is a tiny, shy creature, little bigger
than a large rabbit. It gets its name from its habitat of
damp marshes and reed beds in China and Korea.
KEY FACTS
SIZES
Height to shoulder: Male, under 2
ft. Female, smaller at l' /2 ft.
Weight: Male up to 30 lb. Female
up to 24 lb.
BREEDING
Sexual maturity: Male, 2 years or
more. Female, 1 year.
Mating season: Autumn and
early winter.
Gestation: 176 days.
Litter size: Up to 7.
LIFESTYLE
Habit: Lives in small groups.
Active during the day.
Diet: Mainly grass; also leaves
and shoots.
Lifespan: Up to 11 years in
captivity, much less in the wild.
RELATED SPECIES
Related to the muntjac deer and
the tufted deer, both of which
have tusks and small antlers.
Original range of the Chinese water deer.
01 STRI BUTION
Swamps, marshy reed beds, and open grassland in China
and Korea; some populations live in hilly areas.
CONSERVATION
The Chinese water deer appears to be holding its own
throughout its range since it is too small and shy to be
hunted commercially for its meat or skin. It has been bred in
captivity since the late nineteenth century.
FEATURES OF THE CHINESE WATER DEER
Head: Long and
slender with
large eyes and
ears.
Tusks: Only
on males.
Form from
upper canine
teeth and
protrude
downward.
Body: Small
and lithe with
red-brown
coat that
turns darker
in winter.
Scent glands: Situated on either side
of the groin. Smell is an important
way of gaining information about
other water deer.
MCMXCI IMP BV/ IMP INC WILDLIFE FACT FILETM PRINTED IN U.SA
Foal: The fawn
has distinctive
white markings
on its back
0160200231 PACKET 23
The Chinese water deer has a pale reddish
brown coat that darkens to deep brown during
the winter. Unlike other deer, the male does not
have antlers. Instead, its canine teeth grow
into long tusks that can inflict a slashing
wound when used against a rival male.

The Chinese water deer lives
in a small, close-knit group
most of the year, except dur-
ing the mating season. Each
group is composed of males,
females, and fawns of all ages.
Shy and difficult to spot in
the wild, it prefers to live close
to rivers and streams among
long, protective reeds and
grasses. The deer has well-
developed senses of sight,
smell, and hearing, which
give it early warning of dan-
ger. When alarmed it runs
immediately for cover, or runs
a short distance and then
flattens itself against the ,
ground.
Above right: The Chinese water
deer is solitary, except during the
breeding season.
DID YOU KNOW?
The Chinese water deer is
the only deer that has no
antlers. Another deer, the
muntjac, has tusks as well
as a pair of short antlers.
The female Chinese water
deer has four teats and has
to feed her fawns in rota-

The breeding season lasts
from autumn to early winter.
The male deer competes for
the attention of the mature
females, fighting fiercely for
the chance to mate. The
fights are long and bloody,
since the males slash at each
other with their tusks. These
tusks can inflict serious
wounds that are often deep,
though rarely fatal.
' The female gives birth to
four or five fawns-and as
many as seven-in Mayor
early June. Other species of
tion. Most other deer
species have two teats.
In China, the water deer
is thought to have magical
powers because it disap-
pears easily into cover. In
Korea, the deer's bite is
believed to be fatal.
deer have only one or two.
The fawns are able to stand
and walk after birth, yet they
stay hidden in long grass or
reeds for the first few weeks,
emerging only when the fe-
male returns to suckle them.
They remain with the group
for several years.
left: A male Chinese water deer
displays its tusks, which develop
from its canine teeth.
Right: In winter the deer grows a
thick, curly coat.
FOOD & FEEDING
The Chinese water deer speods
much of the day grazing on
grass, which forms most of its
diet. The deer also eats, young
leaves and, shoots of a variety
of plants. All the members of
the group feed in the same
area, sharing the job of keep-
ing watch for predators.
CHINESE WATER DEER &: MAN
The Chinese water deer has
been bred in captivity since
1873. Today it is an attraction
at zoos and wildlife parks all
over the world, because of its
tiny size and unusual tusks.
In England, several small
groups of Chinese water deer
escaped from private parks and
became established in the wild.
Their ability to keep out of
sight has made it difficult to
estimate their numbers and
how they have spread.
There are seasonal changes
in the deer's diet, especially
during winter when supplies
of grass are scarce and it eats
all kinds of green vegetation
as well as seeds and berries.
left: After giving birth to a fawn,
the female eats the afterbirth.
This deer is highly re-
spected in China and Korea
since it is believed to possess
magical qualities.
Below: Bred in captivity, these
unusual deer can now be seen in
parks and zoos all over the world.
GREATER KUDU
"""'-_____________ GROU"i>"T:MAMMALS
... ORDER
~ Artiodactyla
FAMILY
Bovidae
... GENUS &: SPECIES
~ Tragelaphus strepsiceros
The greater kudu is one of the more uncommon species
of antelope. It is wary by nature, and its acute hearing helps
it to detect prf!dators when it is browsing for food.
'SJ_ K_EY_ FACTS_
~ . SIZES
~ Height to shoulder: 4-5 ft.
Length: 6-8 ft .
Weight: 450-650 lb.
Length of horns: 3 ft.
BREEDING
Sexual maturity: 1-2 years.
Mating season: Varies according
to region and climate.
Gestation: 7 months.
No. of young: 1 (rarely 2) .
LIFESTYLE
Habit: Roams in small herds;
males mainly solitary.
Range of the greater kudu.
DISTRIBUTION Diet: Leaves, grass, and some-
times fruit, roots, tubers.
Lifespan: 15 years in captivity.
Found throughout most of southern and eastern Africa as far
north as Ethiopia.
RELATED SPECIES
CONSERVATION
The genus Tragelaphus contains 5
other species, including the lesser
kudu, T. imberbis, the mountain
nyala, T. angasi, and the bush-
buck, T. scriptus.
Widespread but uncommon over much of its range, the
I greater kudu population has been depleted because of
hunting and habitat destruction.
FEATURES OF THE GREATER KUDU
Coat: Short, smooth, with colors
varying from dull brown-gray to red-
brown and blue-gray. There are 4-12
white stripes encirCling the length of
its body.
Head: Usuall y Horns: The
most distinc-
tive feature of
a adult male
is its horns.
They are
twisted and
~ . ______ _ darker than the
(tJMCMXCI IMP BV/ IMP INC WILDLIFE FACT FILpM
rest of tile body.
White mark be-
tween eyes.
Bushy fringe of
hair runs from the
chin to the neck.
PRINTED IN U.S.A.
Development
of first horns
begins at
about six
months to a
year in the
male.
spiralled horn
forms after
The full set
(two and a half
turns) appears
at six years of
age.
'" 0160200221 PACKET 22
The greater kudu is one of the largest
African antelopes, with majestic
curving horns that spiral around two and
a half times in older males. Its coat color
varies from tawny to dark gray and
is marked with fine white lines.
~ BEHAVIOR
Large herds are rare among
greater kudu, partly because
their selective feeding habits
make it difficult for many
animals to forage together in
one place. The females usually
group in bands of 6-20 ani-
mals, accompanied by their
young and a few immature
males. Occasionally their
numbers reach higher than
40. The mature males either
are solitary outside the breed-
ing season or travel in small
bands containing animals of
different ages.
Mature males use their im-
pressive horns in ritual fights:
the two opponents lock
horns and wrestle with one
another until the weaker ani-
mal is defeated. Sometimes
the horns become interlocked
so tightly that neither animal
can pull free. Usually, the an-
telopes both die. Females also
engage in fights, often to
ward off interested males, by
biting and butting their op-
ponent's flanks with their
/
DID YOU KNOW?
The kudu can leap over
bushes and can clear eight-
foot fences.
Young kudus like to play
with a variety of objects. Fe-
males often throw twigs with
their mouths, and males pick
up, toss, and catch broken
hornless heads.
The main predators of the
greater kudu are lions, leop-
ards, and packs of hunting
dogs. Cheetahs are incapable
of tackling a full-grown male,
but females and young are
vulnerable. If threatened, the
adults make a loud call, alert-
ing the herd before bolting
for cover in the bush.
Above: The kudu makes up for its
lack of speed with agility, often
leaping over high bushes to hide
from predators.
branches with their horns.
Although the greater kudu
is a timid animal that readily
bolts for cover, it has a habit
of stopping after a quick es-
cape and looking back. When
t he enemy pursuing the
antelope is a hunter with a
BREEDING"
In much of its range the
greater kudu is a seasonal
breeder, timing the birth of
young to coincide with the
rainy season. The male begins
the courtship ritual by step-
ping sideways in front of the
female and standing with his
head held high. A ritual neck
wrestle may occur, followed
by the male walking behind
the female while uttering a
low, whining call . Then he ap-
proaches her, head held low,
and brushes her forequarters
with his neck. Eventually, the
female allows him to mate
with her.
The female gives birth to a
single calf about seven
~ FOOD &: FEEDING
The greater kudu lives in rug-
ged, often mountainous
country with dense thickets
and woodland that provide
both cover and a varied diet.
It feeds mostly on foliage and
eats some fruit, tubers, and
grass. In some regions, the
kudu ranges on bush-covered
plains, avoiding open areas.
The greater kudu is inactive
during the hot daylight hours,
preferring to rest, often in the
shade of a ravine. It feeds in
the early morning and late
rifle, this habit can be fatal.
Greater kudus have bene-
fited from humans in some
areas. Wells and irrigation
systems in southwestern
Africa have allowed the ani-
mals to spread into areas
that were once too dry.
months later. Initially the calf
waits to suckle. Later, when it
wants to be fed, it may de-
mand milk aggressively by butt-
ing and jumping at its mother
if she does not respond.
afternoon when it is cooler. It
drinks from water holes or
digs for juicy roots and bulbs
to obtain their juices. During
Above &: below: Young are
generally born when food is
abundant. They are suckled by
their mother for six months.
drought it wanders in search
of food and water.
Below: The kudu likes to feed on
newly grown leaves.