Ten Interesting Facts About Panthers

Panthers are those animals that belong to the family of leopards, cats and loins. This is why panthers are also called the big cats. They are known for their lean body and fast speed. Panthers are also called jaguars. Panthers also do have different colors and classifications. Their colors and classifications are according to the areas where they are found. Most famous types of panthers are white and black panthers and both are very rare now days.

1. Types of panthers

The two main types of panthers are black and white panthers. Apart from these two types, there are other types of panthers as well. These are classified as the colors of panthers so other panthers are tawny or spotted panthers.

2. Name

Usually panthers are also called leopards or big cats. The name panther has been eliminated today but still the pure black leopards are called panthers.

3. Black panther

Black panthers are really beautiful but rare. They are usually found in the thick forests of united states, UK and Australia.

4. Ghost of forests

Panther is also called the 'ghost of forest' because of its quickness and stealthy walk. These are its features that help him catching target easily.

5. White panthers

White panthers are even rarer than the Black Panther. The total number of white panther in the whole world is just few hundreds. This is a sad fact that this species is disappearing very fast. White panthers are found in the region named 'chitraal' of Pakistan and some other northern areas of the same country.

6. Yellow panther

There is another type of panthers named as yellow panthers and it is really interesting fact that yellow mother panther can have both yellow and black cubs.

7. Life span

Life span of panthers is very short. The average life of a panther is twelve years but in captivity they can live up to 19 or 20 years.

8. Tree climbers

Panthers are the most capable and fast tree climbers in their whole group of animals. It is noticed that they have some really different and interesting tricks for tree climbing.

9. Strength

Panthers are so strong animals that they can lift heavy animals they killed with them on trees. They can also kill big animals like giraffe.

10. Territory

Panthers live in their own territory and do not allow any other panther to enter in their territory. By the age of 2, they are fully grown and able to hold their separate space.

The Common Knowledge About Siberian Tigers

Siberian tigers are the world's largest cats. They live primarily in eastern Russia's birch forests, though some exist in China and North Korea. There are an estimated 400 to 500 Siberian tigers living in the wild, and recent studies suggest that these numbers are stable. Though their northern climate is far harsher than those of other tigers, these animals have some advantages. Northern forests offer the lowest human density of any tiger habitat, and the most complete ecosystem. The vast woodlands also allow tigers far more room to roam, as Russia's timber industry is currently less extensive than that of many other countries.

Tigers are the largest of all wild cats and are renowned for their power and strength. There were once eight tiger subspecies, but three became extinct during the 20th century. Over the last hundred years, hunting and forest destruction have reduced overall tiger populations from hundreds of thousands to perhaps 3,000 to 5,000.

Tigers are hunted as trophies and also for body parts that are used in traditional Chinese medicine. All five remaining tiger subspecies are endangered, and many protection programs are in place. Poaching is a reduced—but still very significant—threat to Siberian tigers.

Tigers live alone and aggressively scent-mark large territories to keep their rivals away. They are powerful hunters that travel many miles to find prey, such as elk and wild boar, on nocturnal hunts. Tigers use their distinctive coats as camouflage and hunt by stealth. They lie in wait and creep close enough to attack their victims with a quick spring and a fatal pounce. A hungry tiger can eat as much as 60 pounds in one night, though they usually eat less.

Despite their fearsome reputation, most tigers avoid humans; however, a few do become dangerous maneaters. These animals are often sick and unable to hunt normally, or live in areas where their traditional prey has vanished.

Females give birth to litters of two to six cubs, which they raise with little or no help from the male. Cubs cannot hunt until they are 18 months old, and remain with their mothers for two to three years, when they disperse to find their own territory.

Here Are Some Interesting Facts About African Elephants

African elephants are one of the largest land mammals. Three species of this animal are recognized. Some species of African elephants are extinct and no more exists on the face of earth. Animals are great source of attraction in zoos, and kids love to see them. They are considered as sacred in some religions. Here we are mentioning some interesting facts about African elephants.

1: Food

African elephant is giant animal and it needs lots of food to support their large body. They  can eat approximately 350 pounds of food during the day. They feed on fruits, grasses, leaves and bark.

2: Social life

African elephants are social animals and live in herds. The large herds of these animals can change the landscape very quickly, as they eat too much. An old female leads the herd and all African elephants take care of each other.

3: Reproduction

African elephants are mammals and reproduce sexually. Pregnancy period is 22 months long and calves are usually born in rainy season, as plenty of food is available in that season. Only one young elephant is born at a time, as they need attention and care. Interestingly, elephants do not breed in captivity.

4: Head and Ear

Head of an elephant is so large and weighs hundreds of pounds. To support this huge weight, their neck has extra muscles. Ear of elephant not only provide excellent sense of hearing but also work as air conditioners and keep body temperature moderate.

5: Threats

Pouching is the biggest threat for elephants. People hunt them for their tusks. Habitat destruction is another big threat for them. Lions also hunt young elephants for food.

The Facts And Information About Mountain Gorillas

There are roughly 700 mountain gorillas remaining on Earth, and nearly half live in the forests of the Virunga mountains in central Africa. These gorillas live on the green, volcanic slopes of Rwanda, Uganda, and the Democratic Republic of Congo—areas that have seen much human violence from which the gorillas have not escaped unscathed.

Many conservation initiatives are meant to aid mountain gorillas, and it is believed that their numbers may be steady or slowly increasing. Still they continue to face major threats from habitat loss and poaching.

Mountain gorillas have longer hair and shorter arms than their lowland cousins. They also tend to be a bit larger than other gorillas.

Gorillas can climb trees, but are usually found on the ground in communities of up to 30 individuals. These troops are organized according to fascinating social structures. Troops are led by one dominant, older adult male, often called a silverback because of the swath of silver hair that adorns his otherwise dark fur. Troops also include several other young males, some females, and their offspring.

The leader organizes troop activities like eating, nesting in leaves, and moving about the group's 0.75-to-16-square-mile home range.

Those who challenge this alpha male are apt to be cowed by impressive shows of physical power. He may stand upright, throw things, make aggressive charges, and pound his huge chest while barking out powerful hoots or unleashing a frightening roar. Despite these displays and the animals' obvious physical power, gorillas are generally calm and nonaggressive unless they are disturbed.

In the thick forests of central and west Africa, troops find plentiful food for their vegetarian diet. They eat roots, shoots, fruit, wild celery, and tree bark and pulp.

Female gorillas give birth to one infant after a pregnancy of nearly nine months. Unlike their powerful parents, newborns are tiny — weighing four pounds — and able only to cling to their mothers' fur. These infants ride on their mothers' backs from the age of four months through the first two or three years of their lives.

Young gorillas, from three to six years old, remind human observers of children. Much of their day is spent in play, climbing trees, chasing one another, and swinging from branches. In captivity, gorillas have displayed significant intelligence and have even learned simple human sign language.

These Facts About Rare Black Rhinoceros

Today, many animals are on the verge of extinction, thanks to years of relentless poaching but rhinoceros, even today are probably one of the most majestic animals to walk the earth. The fact that these animals have been around since the Miocene era, million of years ago, only adds to their aura. But, these animals are today almost extinct with almost ninety percent of the population being killed and poached since the 1970s. There are five species of rhinos existent in the world today and the black rhinoceros is one of them. In this article, we will give you some facts that will help you understand more about this animal that once ruled sub-Saharan African jungles.

Facts about Black Rhinoceros

There is a lot to learn about this mammal. But before we take a closer look at how its appearance is, where it lives, what its diet is and other such details, let us get an overview of some basic features of the black rhinoceros.

Appearance

While they are categorized as black rhinoceros, it is important to understand that even the species of white rhinoceros is actually gray in color. The difference between the two actually lies in the shape of their lip, with the black rhinoceros having a pointed upper lip. This shape of the lip is an adaptability to allow the animal to feed on twigs, leaves, herbs and shoots. This species of rhinos have two horns, with the one in front being more prominent than the other. Rhino horns grow about three inches every year. The horn of the rhino is made of thick hair that is matted. It grows from the skull with absolutely no support from the skeletal system. While male rhinos use horns to battle predators, females use it to protect their children. Rhinos have eyelashes and have hair on their ears and at the tip of their tail. If you study the different facts about rhinoceros, you will learn that like every other species of the rhino, even the black rhinoceros is odd toed and has three toes on each foot. Many are surprised by the fact that a black rhino is actually very fast and can run at a speed of almost 50 kilometers per hour.

Behavior

Rhinos are known to be solitary creatures which prefer to roam around alone than in a herd. They tend to interact with each other only when they mate and when the mother is raising its calf. They are territorial animals that defend their areas fiercely. They have a very sharp sense of smell and also have a keen hearing power. Despite being a large animal with a lot of power, the fact remains that it is not a natural predator which is what makes it an easy prey for humans. But, these animals tend to be aggressive and attack not out of an actual threat but normally out of fear and confusion. They often have been known to attack tree trunks and termite mounds and this is generally a result of their poor eyesight.

Habitat and Diet

The black rhino normally stays in areas that have a dense and woody vegetation. These mammals feed at night and often lie around in a water hole with wet mud, so as to coat their skin with the mud which acts as a bug repellent and a sun block. The vegetation that a black rhino feeds on includes buds, shoots, leaves, bushes and trees.

As mentioned before, these animals are often solitary and do not mingle in herds but they have a close relationship with their calves that lasts for two to four years. Black rhinos are extremely intriguing animals that tend to awe you by their sheer presence, but their numbers are fast depleting due to a high demand for their horn. If something is not done and their depreciating numbers are not reversed, the black rhino may soon join the ranks of extinct animals.

Baisc Facts About American Crocodiles You Need To Know

American crocodiles are well-armored with tough, scaly skin. They are gray-green or olive-green with long, slender snouts, which distinguish them from their cousin, the alligator. Also unlike the alligator, the fourth tooth on the bottom jaw of the American crocodile is visible when its mouth is closed. South Florida is the only place where you can find both crocodiles and alligators.

Diet

An American crocodile's diet consists mainly of small fish, invertebrates, reptiles, birds and mammals.

Population

There are more than 1,000 American crocodiles, not including hatchlings, in Florida. American crocodiles are found in southern Florida, the Caribbean, southern Mexico and along the Central American coast south to Venezuela.

Behavior

American crocodiles inhabit brackish and saltwater habitats and are typically found in coastal mangrove wetlands, ponds, coves, creeks and canals. Decidedly less aggressive than the infamous Nile and Australian crocodiles, American crocodiles are shy, reclusive and rarely seen by people.

Threats

Once hunted intensively for their hides, today, loss of habitat to human development, illegal killing and roadkill are the greatest threats faced by American crocodiles. As sea level rises due to climate change, a significant portion of crocodiles’ coastal wetland habitat may face saltwater incursion or inundation.