Animal World

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Mammals

Jaguar guide: how to identify, where to see

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Jaguar guide: how to identify, where to see Jaguar Fact File: The Jaguar is the third-largest cat in the world and the largest in the Americas. Length-wise, they are 240cm in length and in shoulder height; they are 75cm. The Jaguar lives across South America and Central America. They are an endangered species and there are continuous efforts to save the 34 jaguar subpopulations. There are 64,000 jaguars in the Americas. There are 34 jaguar subpopulations, 25 of which are under threat. Eight of the 34 Jaguar subpopulations are in danger of extinction. Diet, Habitat and behaviour Jaguars diet include rodents, mammals and reptiles. Their diet includes deer, peccary, capybaras, crocodiles, tapirs, snakes, monkeys, deer, sloths, tapirs, turtles, eggs, frogs, and fish. Jaguars live in a wide range of habitats. This includes drier regions, dense swamplands, grassland, scrub, and forests. While other cats dislike swimming, the Jaguars are excellent swimmers. That is why jaguars lurk around rivers because of the abundance of prey. They can climb trees and ambush their prey. The Jaguars are a top-level carnivore. This means they keep the other species populations in check and fight with other smaller carnivores over prey. They like to live and hunt by themselves solitary animals, besides during mating season. The big cat hunts on the ground but also hunt in the trees and water. Other features of the Jaguar: Jaguars have similarities to leopards. However, you cannot get confused while in the wild as there are no other big cats in the Americas. The cougar is weaker compared to the jaguar and they are also different in appearance to the jaguars. Colour-wise, the jaguars are tan or orange and they have unique black spots called rosettes. There are jaguars that are black and at first glance, do not appear to have any spots. The spots on the black jaguars are visible on closer inspection. Unlike the leopard who has similar rosette-type spots, the jaguar’s spots have smaller spots inside them which make them distinguishable from the leopards. Jaguars have one of the most powerful bites out of all the big cats. They have powerful jaws that are potent enough to crack open a turtle’s shell or penetrate through the skull of their prey. Males defend territory ranging from 80-90sq.m. The only time they meet other jaguars, in particular the females, is if they are mating.  Breeding occurs often throughout the year and the females give birth to four cubs that become independent after two years. Conservation efforts and threats: International organisations like the Defenders, are pushing efforts to implement policies that include banning international trade of the jaguar. The organisation also is a sponsor of the 1st range states Jaguar workshop in Bolivia in 2019. In 2004, the renowned zoologist and former Panthera CEO Alan Rabinowitz proposed The Jaguar Corridor Initiative. The initiative to create a continuous north-to-south habitat corridor throughout the species’ range, enabling it to roam and breed. Defenders played a massive part in helping establish the Northern Jaguar Reserve in Sonora, Mexico, that aims at protecting the remaining Jaguar population in the north of Mexico. Other threats to the jaguar’s existence include palm oil expansion, isolation, Amazon fires, fragmentation of Jaguar habitats, and deforestation.       .                                        

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Mammals

Baboons:The Monkeys With the Scarlet Booties

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Baboons: The Monkeys With the Scarlet Booties Baboons- “Few mysterious facts areby nature,Fixed to their ways.Baboons carry their innocent eyesI find peace in thoseSometimes for long days..” Baboons are probably the most identifiable of the monkey world. They have tufts of hair on either side of their appearances and enormous, smooth bottoms that can turn red. These old-world monkeys moreover don’t have prehensile tails like some unusual monkeys, which implies they don’t utilize their tail like a hand. Size Baboons are the world’s biggest monkeys, as indicated by National Geographic. From skull to base, Baboons develop to 20 to 34 inches (60 to 86 centimeters) and their tails add an extra 16 to 23 inches (41 to 58 cm) to their length. They weigh about as much as a human kid — 33 to 82 lbs. (22 to 37 kilograms). Habitat Baboons are just found in an unmistakable territory of the world: Africa and Arabia. Four species, the chacma, olive, yellow and Guinea, live in the savannas. Others live in other semi-arid territories, however, a few Baboons can some of the time be found in tropical timberlands. The Hamadryas Baboon lives in the slopes along the Red Sea. In contrast to different monkeys, Baboons remain on the ground a great part of the time. They do rest, eat or keep watch in trees, however. Habits  Baboons are exceptionally social animals. Gatherings of monkeys are called troops, and a troop can contain handfuls to many individuals. The biggest soldiers have up to 300 individuals, as per the African Wildlife Federation. Troops husband to be, rest and ensure one another. Youthful monkeys in the troop will likewise play together. Games incorporate wrestling, swinging from vines, and pursue. A Baboons male, as a rule, runs the troop. Guys are typically positioned in strength by age and size while females are normally positioned by birth request. Diet As omnivores, Baboons eat a wide cluster of meats and plants. Common nourishments in a monkey’s eating regimen incorporate grasses, natural products, seeds, roots, bark, rodents, winged animals, and the youthful of pronghorns, sheep, and different warm-blooded creatures. They even eat different monkeys. Now and then primates make irritations of themselves by eating crops close to their homes. Characteristics All baboons have long, dog-like muzzles, substantial, ground-breaking jaws with sharp canine teeth, close-set eyes, thick hide aside from on their gags, short tails, and unpleasant spots on their projecting posterior, called ischial callosities. These calluses are nerveless, hairless pads of skin that provide for the sitting comfort of the baboon. All baboon species show articulated sexual dimorphism, ordinarily in size, yet additionally now and then in shading or canine advancement. Males of the hamadryas baboon species likewise have enormous white manes.

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Animal World

Golden Eagle-The powerful and ferocious

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Golden Eagle-The powerful and ferocious Golden Eagle-This magnificent bird is widespread in the wilder country of North America, Europe, and Asia and Alaska to central regions of Mexico. These birds are diurnal, being dynamic by day, and sleeping at night. They live for a lifespan of 30 years. The birds have a plumage of 7000, dark brown feathers and powerful claws. They have a strong, hooked bill. The Golden Eagle has golden feathers on its nape. This powerful eagle is North America’s largest bird of prey and therefore the national bird of Mexico. They’re extremely swift and may dive upon their quarry at speeds of quite 150 miles per hour. These magnificent birds range from Mexico through much of western North America as far north as Alaska; they also appear within the east but are uncommon. Golden eagles also are found in Asia, northern Africa, and Europe. Habitat, Food, and Behaviour: Golden eagles prefer tundra, grasslands, scrublands, and other open habitats. Diet-wise, these birds of prey feast on rabbits, hares, ground squirrels, marmots, pronghorn, foxes, deer, mountain goats, ibex, jackrabbits, reptiles, fish, other birds, and carrion. They construct their nests by using sticks, vegetation, grass, bark, mosses, leaves, bones, and antlers. The nests require several years of maintenance and position themselves on cliffs. Also, they have nests in trees, on the ground or in high man-made structures. The nests are deep, measuring 6ft in width and 2ft in height. Golden eagles are diurnal, meaning they are active by day and sleep during the night. The eagles hunt in pairs, and they can also hunt by themselves. One eagle chases the prey, altering the evasion path of the prey. The eagle that chases the prey alters the path of the prey towards the other eagle waiting to capture the prey. Mating habits: These beautiful birds only mate once in a lifetime, i.e., they are monogamous. They construct many nests and they travel from one nest to another. Golden eagles are monogamous, mate once in a lifetime. Golden Eagles lay their eggs between January and March and incubated during 41-45 days. The young fly at about 10 weeks old and after about 32-80 days after fledging, the chicks become independent. Other interesting facts about the Golden Eagle: As of 2019, the global population of the Golden Eagle species is stable. They are in the Least Concern (LC) category, meaning they are not facing the threat of extinction. There are about 300,000 birds or 200,000 mature individuals. The Golden Eagles are the national birds of Albania, Austria, Mexico, Germany, and Kazakhstan. Golden Eagles are avian predators and they soar around 80 mph and can nosedive at 200mph. They play a vital role in keeping the local ecosystem stable. Golden Eagles maintain stability in ecosystems by keeping prey populations in check. They even prey on other predatory birds such as white-tailed eagles and California Condor and compete with hawks and ravens over the habitat. Threats to their existence: Despite not facing extinction, there are threats to the Golden Eagle’s existence all over the world.  Destruction of their environments, persecution, animal traps, poisoning, and commercial-based tree-planting are serious threats the Golden Eagles face to their existence. All the above factors cause disruption to the Golden Eagle’s habitat, and if the aforementioned activities continue, unchecked, then the Golden Eagle could face extinction.

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Mammals

Fascinating Cat Puma

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Fascinating Cat Puma Pumas: The Unique Cats of North and South America. Pumas are a fascinating cat species. These big cats possess many hunting skills and techniques. They live in different parts of the Americas, from the Yukon of Canada to the Southern Andes of South America. Pumas are the most spread out cat species in the Western Hemisphere. Characteristics of the Puma. Pumas are from the small cat’s family and do not get classified as big cats, even though some Pumas can match the size of the leopard. In terms of heaviness, the Puma is the fourth heaviest cat after the leopard, jaguar, and the tiger. The average weight of an adult Puma ranges from 50-82kg for males and 29-64kg for females. They are slender and agile and are 2.4m in height. Adult Pumas are slender and agile. Pumas have a round head, erect ears, five claws on each forepaw and four claws on each hind pawThe Puma has a spherical head and erect ears Pumas are apex predators, but they have threats. These threats are humans, bears, jaguars, and wolf packs. Threats occur when Pumas fight for the same food as other predators. Humans are threats to Pumas as they hunt Pumas for different reasons such as clothing and protecting farm animals.   The behavior of Pumas and Preying Techniques: Pumas are territorial and like to live on their own. Females mark the areas with feces or urine. Area-wise, the community ranges from 150 to 1500 sq. km, i.e., 58-386 sq. miles. For prey, the Pumas stalk their prey before leaping onto their prey and give them a suffocating neck bite. What further assists the Pumas while preying, is their adjustable spine that helps them get through different hunting experiences. Pumas are vocal animals and use various vocal calls. These include low pitched hisses, growls, purrs, and screams. Pumas show incredible strength in dragging prey that is several times their weight. Pumas are sole hunters. They require room to hunt and wherever there is a sufficient food supply; they stay in that place.   Other features of Pumas: The Pumas are such fascinating creatures. One article cannot cover the awe associated with the Puma. Pumas can run at speeds of 40-50 MP/hr, i.e., 64-80 km/hr, and they can jump as high as 15 feet (4.6m). However, they prefer running in short sprints rather than long chases. Not only can they run at a searing speed, Pumas are athletic animals that also can swim and climb. Pumas can be pests for ranchers and farmers, but they have an important role in the environment. Pumas keep the populations of animals lower on the food chain in checks, such as rabbits and mules. If animals that are lower on the food chain have population growths and are unchecked, then the farmer’s crops may get overrun leading to numerous problems and the environment.

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Mammals

The Otter-Facts That Prove They’re The World’s Best Animal

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The Otter-Facts That Prove They’re The World’s Best Animal Facts about the Otter- Otters are playful animal animals. They belong to the Weasel family and live near freshwater and marine ecosystems. We can find otters on every continent except Antarctica and Australia. Characteristics of the Otter. The average weight of the Otter ranges from 3kg to -45kg. Otters have fur color that is brown and they have lighter underparts. The shades of brown vary from dark to cinnamon brown on the otters. Otter’s fur is fine, dense and velvety. There are two types of fur that otters have. One type of fur is long, with stout guars hairs. The other type is a more dense arrangement of short with fine under hairs. The fur of otters varies differs with the species and Sea Otters, which have the longest fur out of all the species of otters.   Otters like to keep their coats clean and they have valid reasons to do so. The Otter’s furry coat helps them remain waterproof and insulated against the cold. Otter’s coats help them keep buoyancy and provide their fur with thick insulation. The thick fur helps protect the otters from the chilly waters and cold weather. In addition, their webbed feet and large lungs assist them in floating on water. Otters do not have blubber, unlike other mammals. They can hold their breath underwater for 5-8 minutes. Otters give birth in the water and the mothers look after their young when they float on their backs. Pups depend on their mothers for 6-8 months before they become independent and within that period, they learn how to swim. Newborn pups require lots of attention and they stay close to their mum before they become confident enough to venture alone. The Pup’s fur is too dense, which means it cannot swim underwater. So, that’s why the mother leaves the pup floating, while she goes searching for food until the pup develops adult fur.   Food, diet, habitat, and predators. An Otter’s diet includes fish, crayfish, crabs, mussels, frogs, clams, octopus, and sea urchins. Otters also eat snails, fat innkeeper worms and crustaceans. Otter predation on the herbivorous urchins enables helps keep the ecosystem stable. Fish and forest systems flourish because of Otters. Habitat-wise, Otters live in coastal habitats within range of the shoreline, barrier reefs. Predators include sharks, killer whales, and crocodiles and alligators. Other features. Otters, in particular, Sea Otters are a keystone species. Keystone species are those species of animals that are so valuable to the ecosystem, that if they become extinct or go close to extinction, the ecosystem most likely collapses. That is why the otters play a key role in maintaining environmental health. Otters maintain the balance of ecosystems wherever they live. Sea urchins would devour the Kelp Forests if there were no otters to keep the Sea Urchins population in check. The kelp forests off the coast give many marine species sources of food. Wipe out the Kelp Forests, and most marine species living near Kelp forests would disappear. Hence, why the Otters are so valuable to the ecosystems.      

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Birds

Bold Facts About Bald Eagles

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Bold Facts About Bald Eagles The Bald Eagles  Bald Eagles are the national animal and bird of the United States of America. They live throughout North America and parts of Mexico. The birds are fascinating creatures and are well-known birds of prey. The Bald Eagle has 7 close relatives throughout certain parts of the world. Characteristics of the Bald Eagle: The Bald Eagle’s vision is sharp. Their see-through eyelids, a. k. a., the nictitating membrane has two purposes. One purpose is that they help the eagles protect their main eyelids even when their main eyelids remain open. The other purpose is to help moisten and cleanse their eyes. Their vision range is wide and they can also see through UV (Ultraviolet) light. Their powerful claws that comprise extra sharp talons aid the Bald Eagle in capturing prey like deer and smaller prey like mice and rabbits. Also, on average the birds weigh 10lb. In colour, they have a white head and the rest of their body is brown. Female Bald Eagles weigh about 25% more than male Bald Eagles. Both sexes have the same plumage patterns, so if one were to identify which one was a female or male, size might help in detecting which one is which. The Bald Eagles have a massive wingspan ranging from 6ft to 7 ½ ft. Its wingspan aids the Bald Eagle in taking down animals like mule deer’s that weigh much more than them. The wingspan also aids them in traveling at rapid speeds from 35 to 45 miles per hour. Bald Eagles can reach maximum speeds of 100 miles per hour in a dive. In the animal kingdom, the Bald Eagles rank high in terms of speed.   Bold Facts About Bald Eagles –Food and diet: The diet of the Bald Eagle depends on their location. However, the main source of Bald Eagle’s diet is fish. Fish makes up for over 50% of the Eagle’s diet. In certain parts of North America, fish comprise 90% of the bird’s diet. The Bald Eagle also preys on small mammals such as mice, rabbits and sometimes, a large deer. They also feast on gulls, ducks, rabbits, crabs, and amphibians. Eagles scavenge on dead animals, fish and even in dumpsters.   Bold Facts About Bald Eagles – Nests and migration: The Bald Eagles nests, on average, are 2-4 feet deep and 4-5 wide. Sometimes, the nests can measure 13ft deep, 8 ft. wide or when living in more exposed areas, they can have nests as high as 125 ft. above the ground. Weight-wise, the nests can weigh up to 1 ton. The Bald Eagles build the largest nests of any bird that constructs a nest in the tree. Bald Eagles are very particular about where they build their nests. There are many factors that come into play. These factors include food availability and type of environment. Also, the Eagles want to have their chicks in safe places where they can protect them from predators including other birds of prey.

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