I visited the zoo last month, on a windy afternoon. It was an absolutely fantastic day, amongst different faunae, and a supremely knowledgeable experience. The long hours spent on studying the animals has been absolutely worth it, and the four animals that I chose to write this essay on are the Lion, the Giraffe, the Crocodile, and the Ostrich.
The Lion, or the Panthera Leo, usuallya lives in groups called prides. One pride may consist of 15 to 50 lions. The pact that a pride has is to hunt for food, raise cubs, as well as fight against any encroachment into its territory, together. A pride has usually more females than males. The females raise the cubs, and the male ones protect the pride.
The male lions are mostly dispensable, and often leave the pride after 3 to 5 years, while the female ones stay loyal to a single pride all their lives. There is a single male leader, who takes care of the entire group. The females are often sent to get food, which the entire pride eats together. So, lions are mostly close-knit animals, and love to be in groups. Often, lions are called the “only social member of the cat family.”
The male lions have thick mane, while the females don't. The tail is hairy, and tufted in both the genders. Lions are hardcore carnivores, and feed on the flesh of other animals. It is a consumer in the food cycle. Lions feed on deer, jackals, hyenas, and even elephants when food is scarce.
Lions are very proactive in grooming themselves, and socializing. Even though male lions are considered lazy, they do show lots of affection towards their partners, and their cubs. The females are the ones who do most of the work, but being a part of a patriarchal group, the food and the rest of the goodies are mostly consumed by the male lions and the cubs. (AnimalsFacts.com, 5th July.2016)
Thus, my observation taught me that amongst the Feline group, lions are most definitely unique due to their filial bond, appearance and clear roles in their pride.
The Giraffe, whose scientific name is Giraffa camelopardalis, is the tallest mammal on the surface of the planet. The two legs of the giraffe are often up to 6 feet tall, and its overall height is often between 14 feet and 19 feet. The tongue of this animal is 18 inches long, and helps it to feed, groom itself, as well as protect its face from sunburn. The skin of the giraffe is a perfect cover for camouflage and this is one of the best features of a giraffe that helps it to hide from predators.
Giraffes are extremely social animals and don’t even have marked territories. They live in groups, and are welcome other new members too. They are docile animals and rarely indulge in fights. Giraffes are herbivores, and eat plants. They are both producers and consumers in the food chain. While they consume grass, they are also the food of the carnivores.
The giraffes have had relationships with the human beings since the Greek and Roman civilizations. They were also imported for high prices to be kept at zoos in the 15th century. Giraffes have been used as characters in several films, and also innumerable scientific experiments. However, these docile creatures are often targets of hunters for their food, skin, tail hair etc. IUCN statistics show that giraffes are considered as a Least Concern Category. This issue needs to be addressed as giraffes indeed are fascinating animals. (Kids.NationalGeographic.com, 5th July.2016)
After mammals, it was time for a reptile at the zoo. Thecrocodile or the Crocodylus niloticus is a rather ferocious animal with sharp senses, and can hide itself in water before jumping on a prey. They are nocturnal creatures, and have good eyesight that helps them see in little light. Crocodiles have muscular ears, and have excellent hearing faculties. Crocodiles can walk out of water, and walk short distances on land as well. Crocodiles, though aggressive creatures, are often tolerant towards each other. They live closely huddled, and often share their preys. Hierarchically, crocodiles believe in a patriarchal formation. The males get the best meals, while the females and kids get carcasses. Crocodiles chirp during mating season, and a unique feature of the gender determination in crocodiles is the temperature, rather than chromosomes. Crocodiles are carnivorous, and feed on all kinds of flesh. They are dangerous to humans, and kill hundreds of men in Africa. The crocodile skin is a good commercial bet, and often their meat is used in savory delicacies.
The last observation of mine was the Ostrich, called the Struthio camelius, is flightless, and the fastest land bird. They are huge, weighing about 145 kilograms, and around 6 to 11 feet in height. Ostriches are lonely birds, and mostly live in pairs. They often live in collaboration with zebras too. The birds feed on plants, shrubs, and some tiny insects too. Ostriches are prone to be hunted on by many predators, and thus, their senses are extremely sharp. They can run long distances at exceptional speeds. Often, ostriches bury a hole in the ground and hide their head in the mud, thinking that their body is hidden from predators too. This is a curious trait in these birds, and has been studied by many scientists. (Awf.org, 5TH July.2016)
Ostriches are reared at farms down the Southern continent. Ostriches are mostly in harmony with humans, but often show aggressiveness, and attack people with their claws. Ostrich feathers are used in clothing. Ostriches are also used for races, and are part of several festivals.
Thus, the observation at the zoo and the subsequent study of these creatures, gave me an insight into the animal kingdom, and made me learn many things I didn’t know before.
Works Cited:
Kids.NationalGeographics.com. n.p. n.d.Web. 5th July.2016
AnimalFacts Guide.com. n.p. n.d. Web. 5th July.2016
Awf.org. n.p. n.d. Web. 5th July.2016.
