Grey Wolf

In honor of my birthday, April 5th, today I will post about my favorite animal: the wolf, of course! There are lots of types of wolf, but the grey wolf came to mind first.

Grey Wolf
Diet: Moose, deer, wild boar, caribou (or reindeer), ibex, argali, saiga, wild goats, American bison, elk, muskox, marmots, hares, badgers, foxes, weasels, squirrels, mice, hamsters, voles, salmon, insects, lizards, snakes, frogs, toads, apples, berries, pears
Appearance: Grey, light brown, black, cream
Weight: 79-99 pounds
Length: 3.25-5 feet
Habitat: North America, Eurasia, North Africa
Enemies: Humans, tigers
Life Span: 8-16 years
A pack is what a group of wolves is called. Packs are like families. They work together to hunt food for their young. Littler prey, like squirrels or mice, should only take one grey wolf to kill. But if a wolf spots a moose or a buffalo, the pack has to work as a team.

Wolves communicate by howling. They howl to tell the pack things such as, "I spotted prey!" or "Danger is near!" The whole group comes when one of the wolves from their pack howl.

Wolves mark their territory by peeing on trees. This is the same thing with their cousins, such as the coyote and jackal.

How To Survive A Lion Attack

 

Picture This: You have just been on an African safari. You missed your ride, and you see a male lion sniffing for lunch. What do you do? These tips on will show you how to survive a major "cat-astrophe", with the help of National Geographic and myself.

1.  OPOSSOM AIN'T PAWSOME

If a lion lunges toward you, do not play dead. Lions tend to go after weaker prey, so if you follow the steps below (including this one), you'll be safe. Otherwise, the lion may think you're ready to become a Kid McNugget.

 

2. KITTYFIGHT!
If you end up face to face with a lion, scream, snarl, or even bare your teeth to put up a major kittyfight. This and step 3 can really protect you from a lion.

3. STICKS AND STONES
To really get aggressive, swing a stick or throw rocks. The lion will hopefully back down.


4. ESCAPE IS GREAT
See an escape route? Don't wait for a permission slip! Whatever you do, never run. Instead, slowly back away.

5. BUGGY IS BEST
The best way to look for lions is to ride in an off-road but protective vehicle, like a Jeep. This way, lions will have a tougher time trying to get you.


Lions are great creatures and don't usually attack humans, but we must learn ways to keep safe from a lion when we are in that sort of danger.
 

Cranes

Cranes
Diet: Rodents, fish, amphibians, grain, insects, berries, and plants
Appearance: White, red, black, orange, grey
Length: 35 inches to 69 inches
Weight: 25 pounds (at the most)
Habitat: Every continent except Antarctica and South America
Enemies: Bears, bobcats, owls, humans, foxes, coyotes, wild pigs
Life Span: 20 to 40 years

Zebu

Zebu
Diet: Leaves, flowers, grass
Appearance: Brown, black, white, tan, creamy grey
Length: 115 inches
Weight: 600 pounds to 1,000 pounds
Habitat: Africa, Asia, South America
Enemies: Humans
Life Span: 12-16 years
Some people think "zebu" is spelled "cebu", but instead it is one of the few animals that start with the letter "Z". They are also commonly used for their meat, and served with rice. In a few dishes, people put the meat on sticks, which I call a "Zebu Kabob".

Meller's Chameleon

Meller's Chameleon
Diet: Insects, lizards, birds, worms, caterpillars, and spiders
Appearance: Green, black, brown, or yellow
Length: 24 inches
Weight: 600 grams
Habitat: Tanzania, Mozambique, East Africa
Enemies: Snakes, birds
Life Span: 12 years
They are one of the few animals that change color for camouflage.

African Elephant

African Elephant
Diet: Grass, fruit, roots, treek bark, branches, leaves
Appearance: Grey, wrinkly skin, white tusks
Length: 16.4-24.6 feet
Weight: 14, 762-13, 330 pounds
Habitat: Eastern, Southern, or West Africa
Enemies: Lions, humans
Life Span: 40-60 years
African Elephants spray mud on themselves to keep cool.