The Zebra

Zebras live in areas of Africa. They are social animals and live in herds. The plains zebras especially live in tight family groups.

Zebras are herbivores and eat mainly grass, but bark, leaves, and twigs make up their diet too.

Zebras can fall prey to lions, hyenas, and other African predators. Some Zebra species are endangered and protected, however, so humans aren't as much of a threat to them.

Zebra foals are born after a gestation period of a little more than a year. Usually, only one baby is born, but sometimes twins are, too. Foals can stand about 10 minutes after being born. They are weaned at 11 months

Every zebra has a unique stripe pattern. Just like fingerprints or snowflakes, no two zebras have the same stripes.




sources: http://www.buzzle.com/articles/what-do-zebras-eat.html
http://animals.nationalgeographic.com/mammals/zebra/
http://www.wildlife-pictures-online.com/zebra-information.html

The Elephant

Elephants are the largest land mammals, living in areas of Africa and Asia.

Elephants eat vegetation like grass, roots, bamboo, leaves, and bark. Adults can eat 300-400 pounds of food a day.

1 calf is born after a gestation period of 22 months. Twins are rare. Elephant family bonds are strong, and a group of females lives in a group called a herd.

The herd is led my the oldest female, who is called a matriarch. Herds can have 8-100 elephants at once. Calves are protected by the whole herd, and male calves leave the family at 12-15 years of age.

Elephants have a good memory. it is this memory that allows matriarchs to guide the herd to water holes and feeding grounds.

Elephants have no bones in their trunks, just muscle that lets them pick up things with great dexterity.



sources: http://en.allexperts.com/q/Wild-Animals-705/elephant-herds.htm
http://www.defenders.org/wildlife_and_habitat/wildlife/elephant.php

The Hippopotamus

My sister went to Zambia this summer on a missions trip. Below is a fabulous picture of a hippopotamus that one of the teammates, Emily, took.

There are two types of hippos, both found in Africa. The Large Hippo is very aggressive, and numerous fights break out among hippos. The large hippo is found in East Africa, and the much smaller Pygmy Hippo lives in the west.

Hippos are herbivores, and they emerge from the water to graze for long hours on grass.

A single baby hippo is born after a gestation period of 8 months. Female hippos baby-sit each others young, as well as caring for their own.



sources: http://www.outtoafrica.nl/animals/enghippo.html?zenden=2&subsoort_id=2&bestemming_id=1
http://www.seaworld.org/animal-info/animal-bytes/animalia/eumetazoa/coelomates/deuterostomes/chordata/craniata/mammalia/artiodactyla/hippopotamus.htm