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Base Game Animal Guide

By ggeorlett1

A guide to all the animals in the base game (54 Habitat Animals + 24 Exhibit Animals = 77 Animals Altogether)
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Created by

ggeorlett1
Online

Category: Walkthroughs

Languages: English

Posted

Updated

25 Sep, 2024 @ 2:35pm

5 Oct @ 6:44pm

100	Unique Visitors
3	Current Favorites

Guide Index

Overview

Aardvark (Orycteropus afer)

African Buffalo (Syncerus caffer caffer)

African Leopard (Panthera pardus pardus)

African Savannah Elephant (Loxodonta africana)

African Wild Dog (Lycaon pictus)

Aldabra Giant Tortoise (Aldabrachelys gigantea)

Amazonian Giant Centipede (Scolopendra gigantea)

American Bison (Bison Bison Bison)

Bactrian Camel (Camelus bactrianus)

Baird's Tapir (Tapirus bairdii)

Bengal Tiger (Panthera tigris tigris)

Black Wildebeest (Connochaetes gnou)

Black-and-White Ruffed Lemur (Varecia variegata)

Boa Constrictor (Boa constrictor)

Bongo (Tragelaphus eurycerus)

Bonobo (Pan paniscus)

Bornean Orangutan (Pongo pygmaeus)

Brazilian Salmon Pink Tarantula (Lasiodora parahybana)

Brazilian Wandering Spider (Phoneutria nigriventer)

Cheetah (Acinonyx jubatus)

Chinese Pangolin (Manis pentadactyla)

Collared Peccary (Dicotyles tajacu)

Common Death Adder (Acanthophis antarcticus)

Common Ostrich (Struthio camelus)

Common Warthog (Phacochoerus africanus)

Eastern Brown Snake (Pseudonaja textilis)

Formosan Black Bear (Ursus thibetanus formosanus)

Galapagos Giant Tortoise (Chelonoidis nigra)

Gemsbok (Oryx gazella)

Gharial (Gavialis gangeticus)

Giant Burrowing Cockroach (Macropanesthia rhinoceros)

Giant Desert Hairy Scorpion (Hadrurus arizonensis)

Giant Forest Scorpion (Heterometrus swammerdami titanicus)

Giant Panda (Ailuropoda melanoleuca)

Giant Tiger Land Snail (Achatina achatina)

Gila Monster (Heloderma suspectum)

Golden Poison Frog (Phyllobates terribilis)

Goliath Beetle (Goliathus goliatus)

Goliath Birdeater (Theraphosa blondi)

Goliath Frog (Conraua goliath)

Greater Flamingo (Phoenicopterus roseus)

Green Iguana (Iguana iguana)

Grizzly Bear (Ursus arctos horribilis)

Himalayan Brown Bear (Ursus arctos isabellinus)

Hippopotamus (Hippopotamus amphibius)

Indian Elephant (Elephas maximus indicus)

Indian Peafowl (Pavo cristatus)

Indian Rhinoceros (Rhinoceros unicornis)

Japanese Macaque (Macaca fuscata)

Lehmann's Poison Frog (Oophaga lehmanni)

Lesser Antillean Iguana (Iguana delicatissima)

Malabar Rose Butterfly (Pachliopta pandiyana)

Mandrill (Mandrillus sphinx)

Mexican Red Knee Tarantula (Brachypelma hamorii)

Nile Monitor (Varanus niloticus)

Nyala (Tragelaphus angasii)

Okapi (Okapia johnstoni)

Plains Zebra (Equus quagga)

Pronghorn Antelope (Antilocapra americana)

Puff Adder (Bitis arietans)

Red Deer (Cervus elaphus)

Red Panda (Ailurus fulgens)

Red Ruffed Lemur (Varecia rubra)

Reticulated Giraffe (Giraffa camelopardalis reticulata)

Ring Tailed Lemur (Lemur catta)

Sable Antelope (Hippotragus niger)

Saltwater Crocodile (Crocodylus porosus)

Siberian Tiger (Panthera tigris altaica)

Snow Leopard (Panthera uncia)

Spotted Hyena (Crocuta crocuta)

Springbok (Antidorcas marsupialis)

Timber Wolf (Canis lupus)

Titan Beetle (Titanus giganteus)

West African Lion (Panthera leo leo)

Western Chimpanzee (Pan troglodytes verus)

Western Diamondback Rattlesnake (Crotalus atrox)

Western Lowland Gorilla (Gorilla gorilla gorilla)

Yellow Anaconda (Eunectes notaeus)

Comments

Aardvark (Orycteropus afer)

Taxonomy

Class: Mammalia
Order: Tubulidentata
Family: Orycteropodidae
Genus: Orycteropus

General

Population in the Wild: Unknown
The aardvark (or Orycteropus afer) is a medium-size insectivore that lives throughout Sub-Saharan Africa. They have pink-grey skin with sparse, coarse hair, large slender ears and an elongated head that ends in a pig-like snout. Males are slightly larger than females, but both sexes are generally between 42in and 52in long, have a tail between 24in and 28in, and weigh between 88lb and 143lb.

The aardvark is not endangered, but it is vulnerable in certain areas. They need a large foraging range in the wild to allow them to acquire enough food, so they are affected by land use change like the expansion of farmland and urban areas. Sometimes they are killed by farmers who want to prevent them from digging up their land, and they are also affected by pesticides that kill the insects they feed on. They are protected in national parks and nature reserves.

Gameplay

Interactivity: Full

Origins

Continent: Africa
Regions: Sub Saharan Africa
ICUN Status: Least Concern

Habitat

Fence Grade: 2 >1.65ft
Land Area: 3552ft
Water Area: 0ft
Climbing Area: 0ft
Temperature: 61-108°F
Biomes: Grassland, Tropical
Can Guest Enter Habitat: Yes
Can Guests Interact: No
Relations With Humans: Shy

Social

With the exception of a mother and her cub, aardvarks are solitary in nature. They only interact when mating or competing over mates.
Group Size: 1-2 ( up to 1 male, up to 1 female)
Male Bachelor: 1-2
Female Bachelor: 1-2

Reproduction

During the mating season, male aardvarks will track females in their burrows by scent and stay with them for a few days. If and when she is receptive, he will mate with her before leaving the burrow. Males may mate with several females during the mating season. The female is pregnant for 7 months before giving birth to 1 cub, which will remain with its mother for 6 months - learning how to forage and dig burrows - before leaving and digging its own. They become sexually mature at 2 years old.
Difficulty: Easy (Polygynous)
Maturity: 2 years
Sterility: Death
Gestation/Incubation: 7 months
Interbirth: 24 months
Life Expectancy: 18 Years

Food

Tier 1: Meat Gruel
Tier 2: Live Termites
Tier 3: Aardvark Cucumber

Feeding Stations

Food Bowl
Water Pipe
Water Bowl

Food Enrichment

Forage Box
Large Barrel Feeder
Slow Feeder
Artificial Termite Mound

Habitat Enrichment

Cardboard Box (Gift Box)
Herb Scent Marker
Rubber Duck
Rubbing Pad (Rubbing Pad Bark)
Small Ball (Small Ice Ball, Small Ball Colourful, Small Ball Pumpkin)
Sprinkler

Compatible Animals

Meerkat

Zoopidia Fun Facts

Aardvarks only have four toes on their front legs, possibly adapted to form 'shovel like' feet for digging. Their nostrils are lined with coarse hair and can be closed completely to keep soil out when they are digging.
Female aardvarks have a white tail tip, believed to make it easier for their cub to follow them in the darkness of their burrows and during foraging.
The tongue of the aardvark is 76.2in long, sticky and is used to track through tunnels of ant and termite hills to collect many insects at once.
Abandoned aardvark burrows are important habitats for other animals - mostly warthogs and hyenas.
Aardvarks have a symbiotic relationship with a species call the 'aardvark cucumber', a plant which grows underground and depends entirely on the aardvark for the dispersal of its seeds. The cucumber is the only non-insect food that the aardvark eats.

African Buffalo (Syncerus caffer caffer)

Taxonomy

Class: Mammalia
Order: Artiodactyla
Family: Bovidae
Genus: Syncerus

General

Population in the Wild: 830,000
Living through Sub-Saharan Africa, the African buffalo (or Syncerus caffer caffer) is the largest member of the cow family - bovids - found in the African wild. They are typically between 5.6ft and 11.2ft in length, measure 3.3ft to 5.61ft tall, and are identifiable by their distinctive horns, which are broad, curved and unite in a 'boss' in the center of their forehead. The dominant male in a herd will often have the largest horns.

Although the species is not endangered, African buffalo are still threatened by human activity. Illegal trophy hunting is a regular occurrence and their grazing lands are being transformed - either turned into farmland or built on by humans. African buffalo can also contract diseases that are spread by domestic livestock, and are as well vulnerable to drought conditions. They are protected in many areas that are assigned as National Parks and Nature Reserves, while sustainable hunting occurs in legally managed zones.

Gameplay

Interactivity: Full

Origins

Continent: Africa
Regions: Sub-Saharan Africa
ICUN Status: Hear Threatened

Habitat

Fence Grade: 3> 4.125ft
Land Area: 4521ft
Water Area: 215ft
Climbing Area: 0ft
Temperature: 61-104°F
Biomes: Grasslands, Tropical, Aquatic
Can Guest Enter Habitat: No
Can Guests Interact: No
Relations With Humans: Neutral

Social

African buffalo live in herds composed of many groups of related females, with groups of bachelor males and solitary dominant males existing on the periphery. A herd can be made up of multiple of these groups.
Group Size: 3‒15 (up to 1 male, up to 14 females)
Male Bachelor: 3‒5
Female Bachelor: 3‒15

Reproduction

African buffalo mate year-round. A male will track females for signs of oestrus and, upon finding a receptive partner, he will defend her from rival males until he is able to mate with her. The males with higher dominance are more likely to successfully guard and mate. An African buffalo mother's pregnancy lasts 11.5 months and she will give birth to a single calf, which remains close to her until it is between 1 and 2 years old. At this age, males will leave and join a bachelor herd, whereas females will remain with their mother's.
Difficulty: Very Easy (Promiscuous)
Maturity: 5 years
Sterility: 20 years
Gestation/Incubation: 11 months
Interbirth: 24 months
Life Expectancy: 22 Years

Food

Tier 1: Hay
Tier 2: Herbivore Pellets
Tier 3: Fruit and Vegetables

Feeding Stations

Food Trough
Water Trough
Water Pipe

Food Enrichment

Grazing Ball Feeder
Hanging Grazer Feeder
Hanging Barrel Feeder

Habitat Enrichment

Grab Ball
Herb Scent Marker
Large Ball (Large Snowball)
Mud Bath
Rubbing Pillar
Skittle (Snowman Skittle)
Small Tyre
Scratching Tree (Scots Pine & Tamarind)

Compatible Animals

Black Wildebeest
Blue Wildebeest
Common Ostrich
Common Warthog
Nile Lechwe
Plains Zebra
Red River Hog
Reticulated Giraffe
Sable Antelope
Scimitar-Horned Oryx
Southern White Rhinoceros
Springbok
Thomson's Gazelle

Zoopidia Fun Facts

The African buffalo is one of the most dangerous animals in Africa, killing 200 people a year.
Unlike other bovid species, the African buffalo is immune to 'sleeping sickness'; a deadly disease transmitted by the tsetse fly.
African buffalo have excellent memories and have been known to make vengeful attacks against lions and hunters that have targeted their herd in the past, especially if a calf has been injured.
Due to the aggressive nature of the buffalo, all attempts at domestication as a livestock animal have failed.
African buffalo have a symbiotic relationship with a species of bird called the 'oxpecker' that removes ticks from their skin.

African Leopard (Panthera pardus pardus)

Taxonomy

Class: Mammalia
Order: Carnivora
Family: Felidae
Genus: Panthera

General

Population in the Wild: Unknown
The African leopard (or Panthera pardus pardus) is the nominate subspecies of the leopard, native to Central and Southern Africa. It has a slender build with an elegant head. The base coat color ranges from yellow to dark golden and is covered in small, tightly spaced that turn into black spots towards the lower body, face, and tail tip. The underside and inside of the legs are white. The African leopard is sexually dimorphic, with males being larger and heavier than females. Males are 60cm to 70cm tall at the shoulder, 1.52m to 1.83m long, with an extra 66cm added by the tail, and weigh 58kg-96kg. Females stand 55cm to 65cm tall at the shoulder, are 1.39m to 1.67m long with a 60cm tail, and weigh 24kg to 37.5kg.

The African Leopard is considered Vulnerable. As one of the 'big five' in Africa, they are a highly sought after hunting trophy and are illegally shot by hunters, or poachers harvesting them for traditional medicine or their furs. In addition, the extreme economic and population growth on the African continent leads to rapid decline and fragmentation of available habitat and prey populations. While there are several protected reserves across their range, anti-poaching remains a dangerous and difficult task in conservation efforts

Gameplay

Interactivity: Full

Origins

Continent: Africa
Regions: Fragmented populations throughout most countries in Sub-Saharan Africa
ICUN Status: Vulnerable

Habitat

Fence Grade: 3/Climb Proof> 9.85ft
Land Area: 7589ft
Water Area: 0ft
Climbing Area: 484ft
Temperature: 55-108°F
Biomes: Tropical, Grasslands
Can Guest Enter Habitat: No
Can Guest Interact: No
Relations With Humans: Neutral

Social

African leopards are solitary, except for a mother raising her cubs.
Group Size: 1‒2 (up to 1 male, up to 1 female)
Male Bachelor: 1
Female Bachelor: 1-2

Reproduction

African Leopards can mate year-round. Oestrus cycles last about 46 days and the female is receptive for a week per cycle. Males track females via their vocalizations and urine markings. A pair will remain together for a few days and mate several times throughout this period before separating again.

The gestation period lasts 3 to 3.5 months, after which, a litter of 2-4 cubs is born in a den or a crevice, though in the wild only 40-50% of cubs survive their first year. They are born blind and helpless and remain in the den for the first weeks of their life. At 9 weeks old, they begin eating solid food and start following their mother on hunting trips at 3 months old. Cubs stay with their mother for up to 2 years, though are able to survive on their own from 1 year old onwards.

Upon separating with their mother, Young leopards may travel with their siblings for a little while longer, before eventually dispersing into a fully solitary lifestyle. Leopards reach sexual maturity at about 2.5 years old.
Difficulty: Easy (Promiscuous)
Maturity: 2.5 Years
Sterility: 15 Years
Gestation/Incubation: 3 Months
Interbirth: 32 Months
Life Expectancy: 15 Years

Food

Tier 1: Processed meat
Tier 2: Whole Carcass
Tier 3: Calcium Supplement

Feeding Stations

Food Tray
Water Bowl
Water Pipe
Water Trough

Food Enrichment

Frozen Blood Pumpkin
Block of Frozen Fish
Piñata Zebra (Piñata Pronghorn)
Rotation Line Feeder

Habitat Enrichment

Blood Scent Marker
Cardboard Box (Gift Box)
Prey-Scented Sack
Rubbing Pad (Rubbing Pad Bark)
Scratching Post
Scratching Tree (Scots Pine, Tamarind)
Sprinkler
Firehose Ball

Compatible Animals
None

Zoopidia Fun Facts

African leopards are quite arboreal, using trees to cache their kills in order to protect them from other, stronger predators like lions, hyenas or wild dogs.
The African leopard has likely been extirpated from Northern Africa and only the Sub-Saharan populations survive in its original range.
Leopards sometimes occur as a melanistic morph, where the base coat color is black. The rosettes can still be seen in some lighting circumstances.
The Zulu people revere the leopard as a noble, courageous and honorable create. In their language, it is called 'ingwe'.
Leopards have phenomenal eyesight that supports their nocturnal hunting behaviors. They can see about 7 times better in the dark than humans.

African Savannah Elephant (Loxodonta africana)

Taxonomy

Class: Mammalia
Order: Proboscidea
Family: Elephantidae
Genus: Loxodonta

General

Population in the Wild: 415,000
Native to the savannahs, forests and mountains of Sub Saharan Africa, the African elephant (or Loxodonta africana) is a large, thickset mammal with grey skin and a characteristic trunk used for vocalizing, drinking and grasping food. Both sexes of the species have tusks, and both are known for their intelligence and strong social bonds, especially the bond between mothers and their babies. Female herds bond for life and, even if a herd splits up, the females will remember and communicate with family members they may come across later in life.

It is a vulnerable species, threatened by poachers of the illegal ivory trade, but also due to the expansion of human life destroying their habitat. It's quite common that they are viewed negatively by locals, mostly because they can destroy farmland and it's hard to 'elephant proof' land with sufficient boundaries. Fortunately, recent conservation efforts have meant that African elephant population is on the rise. Elephants that live in National Parks are now protected from poaching and hunting, and many African countries have introduced humane ways of preventing elephants from damaging farmland. One method is to build a 'beehive fence'; elephants are extremely afraid of bees and will avoid areas containing them.

Gameplay

Interactivity: Full

Origins

Continent: Africa
Regions: Sub Saharan Africa: Kenya, Tanzania, Botswana, South Africa, Zimbabwe, Namibia, Angola
ICUN Status: Endangered

Habitat

Fence Grade: 4> 6.6ft
Land Area: 23153ft
Water Area: 1593ft
Climbing Area: 0ft
Temperature: 46-111°F
Biomes: Desert, Grasslands, Aquatic
Can Guest Enter Habitat: No
Can Guests Interact: No
Relations With Humans: Confident

Social

Elephants are social animals, the exception being mature males who usually live alone. Females live in closely bonded family herds - including their young - and will travel and forage together. Herds have a matriarch; an older female who uses her experience to guide the group, and the group will care for each other, helping to raise babies. Elephants have even been known to grieve at the death of a group member. African elephants may travel 50 miles a day searching for food, water and mates.
Group Size: 3‒15 (up to 1 male, up to 14 females)
Male Bachelor: 3‒5
Female Bachelor: 3‒15

Reproduction

Elephants are social animals, the exception being mature males who usually live alone. Females live in closely bonded family herds - including their young - and will travel and forage together. Herds have a matriarch; an older female who uses her experience to guide the group, and the group will care for each other, helping to raise babies. Elephants have even been known to grieve at the death of a group member. African elephants may travel 50 miles a day searching for food, water and mates.
Difficulty: Average (Polygynous males, monogamous females)
Maturity: 15 years
Sterility: Death
Gestation/Incubation: 22 months
Interbirth: 108 months
Life Expectancy: 65 Years

Food

Tier 1: Hay
Tier 2: Kibble
Tier 3: Fruit and Vegetables

Feeding Stations

Food Trough
Water Trough
Water Pipe

Food Enrichment

Hanging/Large Barrel Feeder
Fixed Roller Feeder
Tree Scatter Feeder

Habitat Enrichment

Gyro
Large Ball (Large Snow Ball)
Mud Bath
Rubbing Pillar
Skittle (Snowman Skittle)
Large Tyre
Sprinkler
Waterfall and Metal Frame
Water Pool

Compatible Animals

Hamadryas Baboon

Zoopidia Fun Facts

An African elephant's tusks grow throughout its life; an adult male's can grow 2.8 inches per year.
In Tanzania, there is an island that has been dubbed 'Elephant Island' by locals because elephants will swim there to eat palm leaves and coconuts.
African elephants will give themselves mud baths by spraying water and soil over their backs to protect them from the sun.
Male elephants go through a periodic state called 'musth', a time of heightened aggression and fertility due to an increase in testosterone.
African elephants are very important seed dispersers; the seeds of the plants and trees they eat are spread far and wide in their dung.

African Wild Dog (Lycaon pictus)

Taxonomy

Class: Mammalia
Order: Carnivora
Family: Canidae
Genus: Lycaon

General

Population in the Wild: 6,600
African wild dogs (or Lycaon pictus) are also known as African hunting dogs or painted wolves. They live throughout sub-Saharan Africa - the continent has several different populations and five subspecies in total. The dogs are slim and tall in comparison to other canines, with extremely large rounded ears and distinctive coloration. Generally they have yellow and black mottled fur with white patches on their legs, chest and tail, however this varies on the subspecies. Some may also have a spot-like patterning on parts of their body.

African wild dogs are endangered, mainly due to habitat fragmentation. Their ranges become smaller as human population expands and land use changes, which also means that they have contact with domestic animals, exposing them to diseases that they would be unlikely to be threatened by in the wild. African wild dogs are a very wide-ranging species, too, meaning it is difficult to monitor them in protected areas as they are likely to move around. Additionally, they are often killed by lions and hyenas.

Conservation groups such as 'Range Wide Conservation Program for Cheetah and African Wild Dogs' are protecting wild dogs by improving coexistence between dogs and humans, and assisting in land use planning that will give dogs more hunting space to allow their population size to expand.

Gameplay

Interactivity: Full

Origins

Continent: Africa
Regions: Sub-Saharan Africa
ICUN Status: Endangered

Habitat

Fence Grade: 2> 4.125ft
Land Area: 12508ft
Water Area: 0ft
Climbing Area: 0ft
Temperature: 46-104°F
Biomes: Grasslands, Desert
Can Guest Enter Habitat: No
Can Guests Interact: No
Relations With Humans: Confident

Social

African wild dogs are extremely social animals. They live in packs with an alpha male and female, who both lead the group on hunts and act as the main decision makers. The males in a pack are all related; females migrate into the group from their natal pack when they are around a year old. Adult packs are permanent once formed, with the dogs remaining together for life, even responding badly to being separated or losing a pack member.
Group Size: 2‒27 (up to 27 males, up to 9 females)
Male Bachelor: 2‒27
Female Bachelor: 2‒27

Reproduction

In a pack of African wild dogs, only the alpha male and female reproduce. The two are monogamously bonded and will have a litter of pups each year. Subordinate dogs do not have pups but help raise the pups of the alpha pair, and it is thought that this is to prevent the pack from becoming too large for each dog to eat enough food.
Difficulty: Very Easy (Monogamous)
Maturity: 2 years
Sterility: 10 years
Gestation/Incubation: 2 months
Interbirth: 14 months
Life Expectancy: 11 Years

Food

Tier 1: Processed Meat
Tier 2: Whole Carcass
Tier 3: Whole Carcass and Supplements

Feeding Stations

Food Tray
Water Bowl
Water Pipe

Food Enrichment

Rotation Line Feeder
Bamboo Feeder
Piñata Zebra (Piñata Pronghorn)
Dog Ball
Skittle Feeder

Habitat Enrichment

Blood Scent Marker
Cardboard Box (Gift Box)
Chew Toy
Prey-Scented Sack
Small Ball (Small Ice Ball, Small Ball Colorful, Small Ball Pumpkin)
Sprinkler
Rubber Duck

Compatible Animals
None

Zoopidia Fun Facts

African wild dogs hunt their prey for long distances and over extended periods of time until the prey collapses from exhaustion.
African wild dogs have a hunting success rate of between 60 and 90%; far more successful than other group predators like lions and hyenas, who often steal the dogs' kills.
African wild dogs in captivity can be trained like domestic dogs.
When African wild dog pups are born, they take priority in the pack, even over the alphas. They eat before all other dogs.
African wild dogs are observed to 'vote' by sneezing; the more dogs in a pack that sneeze concurrently, the more likely they are to go hunting. Dominant dogs are more likely to start a successful hunt vote.

Aldabra Giant Tortoise (Aldabrachelys gigantea)

Taxonomy

Class: Reptilia
Order: Testudines
Family: Testudinidae
Genus: Aldabrachelys

General

Population in the Wild: 152,000
Endemic to the Seychelle Islands, an Indian Ocean archipelago east of the African coast, the Aldabra giant tortoise (or Aldabrachelys gigantea) is a reptilian species capable of growing to extremely large sizes. Males average between 200 and 250 kg, while the smaller females still average between 121 and 159kg. Their shells are a dull, grey-brown colour made up of peaked keratinous plates and their skin is scaly and grey.

Historically, Aldabra giant tortoises have been hunted for their meat and oil. Between the 17th and 19th Centuries, sailors would capture and keep them on their ship. They were an excellent food supply as the large creatures provided plenty of meat and required very little maintenance while at sea. As a result of this hunting, the Aldabra giant tortoise is the only one of the 18 giant tortoise species that has not gone extinct due to overexploitation. In order to bring the species back from the brink of dying out, captive breeding efforts have meant more giant tortoises have been bred and released back into the wild, while those tortoise set free are protected by conservation efforts.

Gameplay

Interactivity: Full

Origins

Continent: Africa
Regions: Seychelles
ICUN Status: Vulnerable

Habitat

Fence Grade: 1> 1.65ft
Land Area: 2476ft
Water Area: 0ft
Climbing Area: 0ft
Temperature: 61-108°F
Biomes: Tropical
Can Guest Enter Habitat: Yes
Can Guests Interact: No
Relations With Humans: Neutral

Social

Aldabra giant tortoises are solitary but will tolerate other tortoises. Males may be aggressive towards other males during the mating season But females have no problem during mating.
Group Size: 1‒4 (up to 1 male, up to 3 females)
Male Bachelor: 1‒2
Female Bachelor: 1‒4

Reproduction

If a male and female encounter each other during the mating season, the male will invariably attempt to mate by climbing on her back. The female may accept this by remaining still, or reject it by walking away or raising herself high on her legs so that the male slips off. If the female acquiesces, she will carry her fertilized eggs with her for 110 to 250 days until laying a clutch of them in a shallow nest. In the wild, the clutch will number between 4 and 14 eggs, while in captivity this number increases to between 9 and 25. In both cases, however, only 30-50% of these eggs will hatch. When the hatchlings emerge, they live completely independently and will reach sexual maturity between 20 and 30 years old.
Difficulty: Very Easy (Promiscuous)
Maturity: 25 years
Sterility: Death
Gestation/Incubation: 8 months
Interbirth: 24 months
Life Expectancy: 119 Years

Food

Tier 1: Hay
Tier 2: Root Vegetables
Tier 3: Fruit

Feeding Stations

Food Trough
Water Bowl
Water Pipe

Food Enrichment

Block of Frozen Fruit
Dog Ball
Fruit Spike Tree

Habitat Enrichment

Herb Scent Marker
Small Ball (Small Ice Ball, Small Ball Colorful, Small Ball Pumpkin)
Sprinkler
Rubber Duck

Compatible Animals
None

Zoopidia Fun Facts

The Aldabra giant tortoise has one of the longest lifespans of any animal in the world. The oldest ever recorded reached the age of 255.
Aldabra tortoises have two shell types; domed and flat. Domed-shelled tortoises are adapted to eating food on the ground, so they can stretch their necks downwards, and flat-shelled tortoises are adapted to eating from branches, so they can stretch their necks upwards.
Aldabra giant tortoises are so large, they carve paths through their environments which are often used by other foraging animals. They provide an important ecosystem service by doing this!
Although Aldabra giant tortoises are rarely predated upon due to their large sizes, their eggs and juvenile tortoises are vulnerable to predation by crabs.
The sex of a tortoise hatchling is dependent on the incubation temperature of the egg. Warm temperatures produce more females and cool temperatures produce more males.

Amazonian Giant Centipede (Scolopendra gigantea)

Taxonomy

Class: Chilopoda
Order: Scolopendromorpha
Family: Scolopendridae
Genus: Scolopendra

General

Population in the Wild: Unknown
The Amazonian giant centipede (or Scolopendra gigantea) is a large, fearsome and predatory arthropod that is native to the forests of South America and the Caribbean. It is capable of catching, envenoming and killing many animals, and has learned specific techniques for catching particular prey. The centipede can reach 12in in length and can occur in a variety of colors - typically red, yellow, brown or black - with yellow legs and dark stripes between body segments.

Gameplay

Interactivity: Exhibit

Origins

Continent: South America
Regions: Throughout South America and the Caribbean
ICUN Status: Data Deficient

Exhibit

Temperature: 73-84°F
Humidity: 50-84%
Biomes: Tropical

Social

Amazonian Giant Centipedes are solitary in the wild and therefore should be kept alone in captivity.
Group Size: 1-2

Reproduction

In order to reproduce, male centipedes deposit a protein parcel containing sperm called a “spermatophore” on the ground for a female to find. When the female comes across this, she will absorb and use it to fertilize her eggs, laying between 15 and 60 in a burrow in the soil. She guards her eggs until they hatch, regularly licking them to prevent fungus from growing on them. Once hatched, the mother will continue to care for them for approximately 3 months, often carrying them on her underside and wrapping herself around them to guard them. The young centipedes will reach sexual maturity at approximately 2 years old.
Difficulty: Very Easy (Promiscuous)
Maturity: 2 years
Sterility: Death
Gestation/Incubation: 4 months
Interbirth: 2 months
Life Expectancy: 10 Years

Food
Other arthropods, small mammals, birds, reptiles, and amphibians.

Exhibit Enrichments

Hollow Log (Broken, Wide, Narrow)
Long Wide Trunk
Thin Smooth Branch
Thin Long Log
Rock Pile (Large, Medium, Small)

Zoopedia Fun Facts

Although 'centipede' means '100 legs', they only have a pair of legs per body segment (usually 21 to 23 segments).
The Amazonian giant centipede, and all centipedes, breathe through holes on the sides of their body segments.
The bite and venom of the Amazonian giant centipede has been confirmed to be responsible for one human death.
The Amazonian giant centipede will eat any animal it can catch and kill, including tarantulas and small snakes.
Amazonian giant centipedes have been known to climb onto the top of caves and hang downwards in order to prey upon bats.

American Bison (Bison Bison Bison)

Taxonomy

Class: Mammalia
Order: Artiodactyla
Family: Bovidae
Genus: Bison

General

Population in the Wild: 80,000 wild
The American plains bison (or Bison bison bison) is a large ungulate native to the USA and Canada. Bison are characterized by their large head, should hump and forequarters, all of which are covered in a shaggy coat. Their hind-quarters are comparatively less muscled with a thinner coat. Both sexes have horns are similar in size, but males are much heavier due to having more muscle.

Bison are not currently endangered but were hunter to near extinction in the 19th century, with the original, pre-colonization population of 50 million being reduced to just 1000. The species was offered widespread protection in the early 20th century, and captive breeding programs, followed by reintroduction, brought the species back from the brink of dying out. Currently, the bison population is stable but is still threatened by habitat loss, as well as the risk of reduced genetic diversity due to their near extinction and subsequent artificial selection, which occurred through the domestication of the species.

Gameplay

Interactivity: Full

Origins

Continent: North America
Regions: Canada, USA
ICUN Status: Near Threatened

Habitat

Fence Grade: 3> 4.125ft
Land Area: 4521ft
Water Area: 0ft
Climbing Area: 0ft
Temperature: 3-104°F
Biomes: Grasslands, Taiga
Can Guest Enter Habitat: No
Can Guests Interact: No
Relations With Humans: Neutral

Social

Bison live in herds with multiple social dynamics, which can range in size from 15 to 400 individuals. Females live in interrelated groups with their offspring, while young males live in bachelor herds until they reach full growth at around 6 years old, at which point they will become a solitary dominant bull.
Group Size: 3‒15 (up to 1 male, up to 14 females)
Male Bachelor: 3‒15
Female Bachelor: 3‒15

Reproduction

During the mating season, bulls will attempt to join female groups and tend the individual females, preventing other males from getting too close. A dominant bull is more likely to succeed in this task; consequently they will also have the chance to mate with more females. The mother will be pregnant for an average of 285 days, giving birth to a single calf. Female calves stay with their mother's herd for their entire lives, whereas males leave at between the ages of 2 and 3, joining a bachelor herd until they are old and strong enough to become a solitary dominant bull.
Difficulty: Very Easy (Polygynous)
Maturity: 5 years
Sterility: 25 years
Gestation/Incubation: 10 months
Interbirth: 12 months
Life Expectancy: 26 Years

Food

Tier 1: Hay
Tier 2: Herbivore Pellets
Tier 3: Fruit and Vegetables

Feeding Stations

Food Trough
Water Pipe
Water Trough

Food Enrichment

Grazing Ball Feeder
Hanging Grazer Feeder
Large Barrel Feeder

Habitat Enrichment

Grab Ball
Herb Scent Marker
Block of Ice
Large Ball (Large Snow Ball)
Mud Bath
Rubbing Pillar
Skittle (Snowman Skittle)
Scratching Tree (Scots Pine & Tamarind)

Compatible Animals

Bighorn Sheep
Black-Tailed Prairie Dog
Collared Peccary
Pronghorn Antelope

Zoopidia Fun Facts

The bison is the largest land animal in North America.
Bison can run 35mph when charging at full speed.
Bison have poor eyesight, but have excellent hearing and sense of smell.
Male calves born earlier in the breeding season are more likely to grow up to become a dominant bull.
Bison have been observed rubbing themselves against strong smelling trees such as cedar and pine, believed to be a deterrent to biting insects.

Bactrian Camel (Camelus bactrianus)

Taxonomy

Class: Mammalia
Order: Artiodactyla
Family: Camelidae
Genus: Camelus

General

Population in the Wild: 2,000,000 estimated
Domestic Bactrian camels (or Camelus bactrianus) are large ungulates native to Central Asia. They have two humps and thick sandy-colored wool coats, although they can also be dark brown or white. On average they are 6.6ft tall at the shoulder with an extra 12in of height added by their humps, and males are significantly larger than females.

There are two types of Bactrian camel - the domestic and the wild - but the division of these two can be confusing; some domestic Bactrian camels live in the wild (categorized as feral) alongside the true 'wild Bactrian camels'. It has been established that the domestic and wild variants of Bactrian camels are descended from different ancestor species.

The domesticated camels are not endangered or threatened, and the population remains stable. However, wild Bactrian camels - which are hunted during migrations and predated on by wolves - are critically endangered and near extinction. There are conservation groups working to protect them, and the Gobi Desert where they live is a National Park. However, the camels make such long migrations that it is hard to protect them across their whole range.

Gameplay

Interactivity: Full

Origins

Continent: Asia
Regions: Mongolia, China, Himalayas, Siberia
ICUN Status: Domesticated

Habitat

Fence Grade: 2> 4.125ft
Land Area: 6997ft
Water Area: 0ft
Climbing Area: 0ft
Temperature: -40-111°F
Biomes: Desert, Temperate
Can Guest Enter Habitat: No
Can Guests Interact: No
Relations With Humans: Confident

Social

Camels are social animals, living in harem groups in the wild comprised of a dominant male, several female mates, and their offspring. The dominant male leads the herd in their migrations. Bachelor males live solitarily or in 'bachelor herds' until they acquire their own harem of females.
Group Size: 2‒11 (up to 1 male, up to 10 females)
Male Bachelor: 2
Female Bachelor: 2‒11

Reproduction

The dominant male in a harem will mate with the adult females, who will give birth to one calf, occasionally twins, who will remain with their mother and the herd until they are between 3 and 5 years old. Young adults leave their family herd to establish or join an unrelated herd.
Difficulty: Very Easy (Polygynous)
Maturity: 6 years
Sterility: 35 years
Gestation/Incubation: 13 months
Interbirth: 24 months
Life Expectancy: 40 Years

Food

Tier 1: Hay
Tier 2: Herbivore Pellets
Tier 3: Fruit and Vegetables

Feeding Stations

Food Trough
Water Pipe
Water Trough

Food Enrichment

Grazing Ball Feeder
Hanging Grazer Feeder
Small Barrel Feeder

Habitat Enrichment
Grab Ball
Herb Scent Marker
Block of Ice
Rubbing Pillar
Scratching Tree (Scots Pine & Tamarind)

Compatible Animals

Przewalski's Horse

Zoopidia Fun Facts

The collective term for a group of Bactrian camels is a 'caravan'.
Camels have long eyelashes and nostrils that can fully close to protect themselves in sandstorms.
The Bactrian camel's two humps are made of fat and are built up during times of plentiful food, then shrink as they sustain the camel through times when food is sparse.
Bactrian camels are not fussy about what they eat; they can eat thorny, tough and bitter vegetation, carrion, and will also eat tents, rope, clothes, and other items when very hungry.
Bactrian camels were domesticated 4000 years ago in the steppes of Central Asia; they are farmed as pack animals and for their milk and wool.

Baird's Tapir (Tapirus bairdii)

Taxonomy

Class: Mammalia
Order: Perissodactyla
Family: Tapiridae
Genus: Tapirus

General

Population in the Wild: 5,500
Baird's tapir (or Tapirus bairdii) is an endangered mammal native to the woodlands of Central America. It's one of five species of tapir - four of which live in Central and/or South America. Males and females are similar sizes, although females are slightly larger, and both have a dark brown to black coat, as well as a pale chin and chest when fully grown. Calves, meanwhile, are tan with white spots and stripes; their colouration provides them with camouflage in the dappled light of the woodland where they live.

The main threat to this endangered species is deforestation, which is destroying their habitat. In order to try and reduce this, conservationists are heavily concentrated on protecting the woodlands and rainforests of Central America. Hunting is also a threat - despite it being illegal to hunt tapirs in Mexico, Belize, Guatemala, Costa Rica and Panama, these laws are rarely enforced.

Gameplay

Interactivity: Full

Origins

Continent: South America, Central America
Regions: Belize, Colombia, Costa Rica, Guatemala, Honduras, Mexico, Nicaragua, Panama
ICUN Status: Endangered

Habitat

Fence Grade: 2> 3.3ft
Land Area: 4628ft
Water Area: 398ft
Climbing Area: 0ft
Temperature: 61-108°F
Biomes: Tropical, Temperate, Grasslands, Aquatic
Can Guest Enter Habitat: No
Can Guests Interact: No
Relations With Humans: Neutral

Social

Baird's tapirs are often solitary but may also be found in monogamous pairs with their young offspring, or in temporary feeding groups.
Group Size: 1‒2 (up to 1 male, up to 1 female)
Male Bachelor: 1
Female Bachelor: 1

Reproduction

A male tapir will track the scent of a female's urine when she moves through his territory. When they meet, he will court her by nudging, sniffing her hindquarters and chasing her. If the female is receptive, she will allow him to mount her and mate, which they will do several times throughout the day while she is fertile. The two will then either stay together or go their separate ways.

After a pregnancy of 13 months, the mother will give birth to a single calf, which for the first week of its life remains hidden in the undergrowth. The mother will return often to feed the calf, before it can then accompany its mother to forage when it's a week old. They remain with their mother for one or two years, depending on when their mother has another calf.
Difficulty: Very Easy (Monogamous)
Maturity: 2 years
Sterility: Death
Gestation/Incubation: 13 months
Interbirth: 24 months
Life Expectancy: 24 Years

Food

Tier 1: Hay
Tier 2: Fruit
Tier 3: Root Vegetables and Salt Licks

Feeding Stations

Food Trough
Water Bowl
Water Pipe
Water Trough

Food Enrichment

Forage Box
Fruit Spike Tree
Large Barrel Feeder

Habitat Enrichment

Cardboard Box (Gift Box)
Herb Scent Marker
Plant Screen
Rubbing Pillar
Small Ball (Small Ice Ball, Small Ball Colorful, Small Ball Pumpkin)
Sprinkler
Small Tyre
Rubber Duck
Scratching Tree (Scots Pine, Tamarind)

Compatible Animals

Capybara
Colombian White-Faced Capuchin Monkey
Giant Anteater

Zoopidia Fun Facts

Baird's tapir is the largest land mammal in Central America.
The closest evolutionary relative of the tapir is the rhino.
A group of tapirs is known as a 'candle'.
Tapirs are important seed dispersers in their environment due to their varied diet and wide-ranging foraging behavior.
Tapirs are excellent swimmers and spend large parts of their day in water. When swimming, they can use their prehensile snout as a snorkel.

Bengal Tiger (Panthera tigris tigris)

Taxonomy

Class: Mammalia
Order: Carnivora
Family: Felidae
Genus: Panthera

General

Population in the Wild: 2,500
The Bengal tiger (or Panthera tigris tigris) is native to India, Bangladesh, Nepal, Bhutan and Western China. It can live in all kinds of environments, including grassland, forests and mangroves, and will hunt large prey such as cloven-hoofed animals like goats, deer and cows (collectively known as ungulates). The Bengal tiger can be identified by its bright orange coat and brown or black stripes, along with a large head, muscular limbs and large teeth.

The species is endangered, with the numbers alive in the wild continuing to fall. The main threat to Bengal tigers is poaching - they are killed for fur and body parts, the latter of which are desired for traditional medicines. Farmers are also prone to killing them in order to protect their own livestock, despite the fact that tigers preying on this type of animal is rare.

Various countries are assisting in the ongoing conservation of the Bengal tiger by protecting the areas in which they live. In India, 'Project Tiger' has created breeding reserves in areas where tiger populations are high, and when tigers become old enough, they migrate away from this area of high tiger population to find their own territory. This gives the tigers a wider distribution. For some time, this effort did result in the tiger population recovering, however it is unfortunately back in decline.

Gameplay

Interactivity: Full

Origins

Continent: Asia
Regions: India, Bangladesh, Nepal, Bhutan, China, Myanmar
ICUN Status: Endangered

Habitat

Fence Grade: 3> 9.9ft
Land Area: 7589ft
Water Area: 0ft
Climbing Area: 0ft
Temperature: 54-108°F
Biomes: Tropical, Temperate, Grasslands
Can Guest Enter Habitat: No
Can Guests Interact: No
Relations With Humans: Confident

Social

Bengal tigers spend their time alone, except for a mother with her cubs. They are solitary animals - in the wild they will only interact to mate or fight over mates. They spend their days hunting and patrolling their territory. Male Bengal tigers may have territory of 100km2, and females up to 20km2.
Group Size: 1‒2 (up to 1 male, up to 1 female)
Male Bachelor: 1
Female Bachelor: 1

Reproduction

Male tigers will track receptive females through scent marking and scratches on trees. If the female is receptive the two will mate but then go their separate ways. The female will give birth to a litter of 1 to 4 cubs in a den after a 3-month pregnancy. Tiger mothers begin to train their cubs to hunt when they are around 3 months old and mature enough to leave the den. They will stay with their mother until they are between 2 and 3 years old, at which point they will leave to establish their own territory.
Difficulty: Easy (Polygynous males, monogamous females)
Maturity: 4 years
Sterility: Unknown
Gestation/Incubation: 3 months
Interbirth: 36 months
Life Expectancy: 15 Years

Food

Tier 1: Processed Meat
Tier 2: Whole Carcass
Tier 3: Whole Fish

Feeding Stations

Food Tray
Underwater Fish Feeder
Water Pipe
Water Bowl
Water Trough

Food Enrichment

Frozen Blood Pumpkin
Piñata Zebra (Piñata Pronghorn)
Restraint Feeder
Block of Frozen Fish
Underwater Fish Feeder

Habitat Enrichment

Blood Scent Marker
Cardboard Box (Gift Box)
Firehose Ball
Prey-Scented Sack
Rubbing Pad (Rubbing Pad Bark)
Scratching Post
Sprinkler
Scratching Tree (Scots Pine, Tamarind)
Submarine Buoy

Compatible Animals
None

Zoopidia Fun Facts

Tigers have the largest teeth of any cat species, with canines up to 90mm in length.
400 Bengal tigers live in the coastal mangroves of Bangladesh and are reported to be half the weight of the main tiger population. Researchers believe this may be because the deer prey found there, are themselves small and provide less food for the tigers.
Bengal tigers enjoy swimming and are very good swimmers.
Mangrove forest workers have started wearing masks on the back of their heads to deter tigers from attacking them, as Bengal tigers only attack from behind and believe they are being watched when the masks are worn.
The urine of tigers smells like buttered popcorn due to containing the same aroma compound.

Black Wildebeest (Connochaetes gnou)

Taxonomy

Class: Mammalia
Order: Artiodactyla
Family: Bovidae
Genus: Connochaetes

General

Population in the Wild: 18,000
The black wildebeest (or Connochaetes gnou) is a large ungulate species native to Southern Africa, also known as the 'gnu' after the distinctive noise they make when alarmed. The species is recognisable by a brown-black coat and L-shaped horns, and males can be distinguished from females due to their darker colour and larger size. Both sexes have thick, bushy manes and a long horse-like tail, measuring between 1.7 and 2.2m long, 1.06 to 1.21m tall at the shoulder, and weighing 120 to 193kg.

While black wildebeest are not currently endangered, they were almost hunted to extinction in the late 1800s, targeted for their meat and leather, as well as for sport. Because they fed in the same areas as grazing livestock, to whom they could spread diseases, they were also considered pests. Thanks to reintroduction from captive populations, black wildebeest are increasing in number, expanding their range, and are no longer endangered.

Gameplay

Interactivity: Full

Origins

Continent: Africa
Regions: South Africa, Eswatini, Lesotho, Namibia
ICUN Status: Least Concern

Habitat

Fence Grade: 2> 4.125ft
Land Area: 4413ft
Water Area: 0ft
Climbing Area: 0ft
Temperature: 46-104°F
Biomes: Grasslands
Can Guest Enter Habitat: No
Can Guests Interact: No
Relations With Humans: Neutral

Social

Black wildebeest live in large herds comprised of groups of related females and their young offspring; bachelor herds of young males; and dominant bulls who establish territory in the foraging grounds, guarding females moving through his range.
Group Size: 7‒32 (up to 1 male, up to 31 females)
Male Bachelor: 7‒16
Female Bachelor: 7‒32

Reproduction

During the breeding season, dominant bulls will search for receptive females on his territory by smelling their urine, who will then allow him to approach and mate with them. A pregnancy lasts for 8.5 months before the female gives birth to a single calf, which will remain close to its mother for a year, until she gives birth to her next calf. Yearling males leave and join a bachelor herds, whereas females remain with their natal herd.
Difficulty: Very Easy (Polygynous)
Maturity: 4 years
Sterility: Death
Gestation/Incubation: 9 months
Interbirth: 12 months

Food

Tier 1: Hay
Tier 2: Herbivore Pellets
Tier 3: Fruit and Vegetables

Feeding Stations

Food Trough
Water Pipe
Water Trough
Water Bowl

Food Enrichment

Hanging Grazer Feeder
Grazing Ball Feeder
Small Barrel Feeder

Habitat Enrichment

Rubbing Pillar
Large Ball (Large Snow Ball)
Grab Ball
Herb Scent Marker
Scratching Tree (Scots Pine & Tamarind)

Compatible Animals

African Buffalo
Blue Wildebeest
Common Ostrich
Common Warthog
Plains Zebra
Reticulated Giraffe
Sable Antelope
Southern White Rhinoceros
Springbok
Thomson's Gazelle

Zoopidia Fun Facts

The horns of the black wildebeest are significantly larger and heavier than those of the common wildebeest.
Both male and female wildebeest have horns, but the males' horns are longer and thicker than the females'.
During the mating season, dominant male wildebeests do not eat or sleep as they are so intent on mating and defending their mates from rival males.
Black wildebeest can run up to 50mph when running from predators such as lions and hyenas.
Female groups of black wildebeest are strongly bonded and will be hostile to unknown females trying to join their group.

Black-and-White Ruffed Lemur (Varecia variegata)

Taxonomy

Class: Mammalia
Order: Primates
Family: Lemuridae
Genus: Varecia

General

Population in the Wild: 1,000 - 10,000
The black-and-White ruffed lemur (or Varecia variegata) is a species of primate native to the eastern rainforests of Madagascar. As the name implies, its coat is made up of distinct black and white patches: the underside, head, paws and tail are black, while limbs, back and the distinctive ruff are white. Black-and-White ruffed lemurs are 20in to 22in long, with a tail of around 24in length. Like in other lemurs, females are slightly larger than males.

The species is classed as critically endangered, with its population further decreasing due to poaching and habitat loss. They are frequently hunted by locals for their meat, while at the same time their habitat is fragmented further due to continuous deforestation for slash-and-burn agriculture.

Gameplay

Interactivity: Full

Origins

Continent: Africa
Regions: Madagascar
ICUN Status: Critically Endangered

Habitat

Fence Grade: 1 Climb Proof> 4.125ft
Land Area: 2260ft
Water Area: 0ft
Climbing Area: 215ft
Temperature: 57-108°F
Biomes: Tropical
Can Guest Enter Habitat: Yes
Can Guests Interact: Yes
Relations With Humans: Neutrak

Social

Black-and-White ruffed lemurs are social animals that form a variety of different group structures. Group size usually varies based on food availability, larger groups splitting into smaller subgroups if resources become scarce. Females are dominant in this species. In larger groups, there may be communal nests into which multiple unrelated litters are placed and protected by all members of the group.
Group Size: 2‒16 (up to 1 male, up to 15 females)
Male Bachelor: 2‒16
Female Bachelor: 2‒16

Reproduction

The mating season of black-and-White ruffed lemurs is between May and July. Females are only in estrus for a brief period of up to three days, with an even shorter window of up to twelve hours in which she will allow males to mater with her. Males will court females by approaching her with a lowered head and submissive shrieks, which she may respond to with roars, bites, and other aggressive displays, even when allowing him to mate.

Pregnancies last around 102 days, after which the female gives birth to a litter of young 2 to 3 on average. After birth, infants are left in a small nest built and guarded by the parents, or a communal nest which is taken care of by all members of the group, Babies will remain in the nest until 4 weeks old, when they will start following their mother. Weaning occurs at around 4 months old, although may last up until the infant is 8 months old.

Black-and-White ruffed lemurs reach sexual maturity at around 2 to 3 years old, though do not usually begin reproducing by this time. Males usually migrate to other groups, while females tend to stay in their natal group, though animals may also form and travel in pairs.
Difficulty: Easy (Polygynous)
Maturity: 2.5 years
Sterility: 20 years
Gestation/Incubation: 3 months
Interbirth: 12 months

Food

Tier 1: Monkey Chow
Tier 2: Leaves and Shoots
Tier 3: Fruit

Feeding Stations

Arboreal Feeding Platform
Water Bowl
Water Pipe
Water Trough

Food Enrichment

Block of Frozen Fruit
Forage Box
Fruit Spike Tree
Fixed Roller Feeder
Suspended Forager

Habitat Enrichment

Cardboard Box (Gift Box)
Block of Ice
Mirror Mobile
Musical Keyboard
Small Ball (Small Ice Ball, Small Ball Colorful, Small Ball Pumpkin)
Sprinkler
Rubber Duck

Compatible Animals

Coquerel's Sifaka
Red Ruffed Lemur
Ring Tailed Lemur

Zoopidia Fun Facts
Black-and-white ruffed lemurs have scent glads on their wrists, which they will rub on trees to mark their territories.
A group of black-and-white ruffed lemurs is called a 'conspiracy'.
Despite their comparatively small size, black-and-white ruffed lemurs have the second loudest call of all primates.
Black-and-white ruffed lemurs are generally found high up in trees, foraging in the upper canopies up to 115ft high.
Black-and-white ruffed lemurs are important to the ecosystem as pollinators: When feeding on nectar, pollen sticks to their dense ruff and face, which they will then carry to other plants.

Boa Constrictor (Boa constrictor)

Taxonomy

Class: Reptilia
Order: Squamata
Family: Boidae
Genus: Boa

General

Population in the Wild:
The boa constrictor is a large species of snake native to Central and South America. They are a ubiquitous species split into 9 subspecies, all of which are capable of living in most environments but mostly found in rainforests, coastal areas, and semi-deserts. Although there are many different colors and patterns among these snakes, the typical appearance is pale brown, dark brown and black scales in a rhomboid pattern down the length of the body. The species exhibits sexual dimorphism; the males and females look different. Males are an average length between 1.8 and 2.4m, with pelvic spurs around their cloaca that are used to facilitate mating. Females are larger, with an average length of between 2.1 and 3m, whilst they have pelvic spurs, they are smaller than the male's.

Gameplay

Interactivity: Exhibit

Origins

Continent: South America, Central America
Regions: Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, Venezuela, Trinidad and Tobago, Guyana, Suriname, French Guiana, Brazil, Bolivia, Uruguay, Argentina
ICUN Status: Least Concern

Exhibit

Temperature: 73-88°F
Humidity: 60-80%
Biomes: Tropical, Grassland

Social

Boa constrictors are solitary animals and do not interact in the wild, except when mating or fighting over mating rights.
Group Size: 1‒2

Reproduction

During the mating season, female boas will release pheromones that males will track. If more than one male encounters the same female, they will wrestle with each other, the victor then mating with the female. The female will store the male's sperm until she ovulates, using it to fertilise her eggs. She gestates for between 100 and 120 days, giving birth to between 20 and 65 live young, which are independent from birth. Boa constrictors reach sexual maturity between 3 and 4 years old.
Difficulty: Average (Polygynous)
Maturity: 3-4 years
Sterility: Death
Gestation/Incubation: 4 months
Interbirth: 24 months

Food

Small and Medium Rodents and Birds

Exhibit Enrichments

Tropical Plant
Long Wide Trunk
Thin Smooth Branch
Thin Long Log
Basking Lamp (High, Low, Mid-Height)

Zoopedia Fun Facts

Boas and pythons have a rudimentary pelvis and vestigial hind legs inside their body.
The patternation and color of boa constrictors depends on where they are from; there are a huge range of colors in the wild and even more in captivity due to selective breeding.
Boa constrictors give birth to live young.
Boa constrictors will shed their skin every 2 to 4 months as they continue to grow throughout their life.
Contrary to popular belief, boa constrictors do not kill their prey by suffocation, but by cutting off blood supply to vital organs.

Bongo (Tragelaphus eurycerus)

Taxonomy

Class: Mammalia
Order: Artiodactyla
Family: Bovidae
Genus: Tragelaphus

General

Population in the Wild: 15,000-25,000
The bongo (or Tragelaphus eurycerus) is a secretive, forest-dwelling antelope that lives in the woodlands of Central Africa. They have a tan-to-red colored coat, white vertical stripes on their torso and pale innder legs. Their main distinguishing features are their large, spiralling, vertical horns. While males and females are a similar size - between 3.6 ft and 4.3ft tall at the shoulder, and 7ft and 10.4ft long - the males are much heavier, averaging 682lb compared to a female's 418lb.

The species is near threatened, endangered by habitat loss due to deforestation and land use change for agriculture, but also often hunted as a trophy animal due to their large ornamental horns. 60% of the bongo population falls within nature reserves and thus are protected from hunting, but illegal poaching does still occur. Nature reserves also protect the bongo's environment from destruction.

Gameplay

Interactivity: Full

Origins

Continent: Africa
Regions: Cameroon, Central African Republic, Republic of Congo, Democratic Republic of Congo, Ivory Coast, Equatorial Guinea, Gabon, Ghana, Liberia, Sierra Leone, South Sudan
ICUN Status: Least Concern

Habitat

Fence Grade: 2> 4.125ft
Land Area: 2583ft
Water Area: 0ft
Climbing Area: 0ft
Temperature: 46-108°F
Biomes: Tropical
Can Guest Enter Habitat: No
Can Guests Interact: No
Relations With Humans: Shy

Social

Bongo females live in small groups with their offspring and forage through the rainforest together. Males are solitary, living alone except for during the mating season when they temporarily join a female herd.
Group Size: 1‒5 (up to 1 male, up to 4 females)
Male Bachelor: 1
Female Bachelor: 1‒5

Reproduction

During the mating season, a male will join a female herd and will court females by gently nudging and nuzzling them, then mating with them if they are receptive. After a pregnancy of 9.5 months, the female will give birth to a single calf, which remains close to their mother until they are around 2 years old. At this point, males will leave and become solitary, while females remain with their mother's herd.
Difficulty: Very Easy (Polygynous)
Maturity: 2 years
Sterility: Death
Gestation/Incubation: 9 months
Interbirth: 24 months

Food

Tier 1: Hay
Tier 2: Herbivore Pellets
Tier 3: Fruit and Salt Licks

Feeding Stations

Food Trough
Water Bowl
Water Pipe
Water Trough

Food Enrichment

Grazing Ball Feeder
Hanging Grazer Feeder
Small Barrel Feeder

Habitat Enrichment

Grab Ball
Herb Scent Marker
Large Ball (Large Snow Ball)
Plant Screen
Rubbing Pillar
Scratching Tree (Scots Pine & Tamarind)

Compatible Animals

Red River Hog

Zoopidia Fun Facts

Although the bongo's horns are used for fighting (especially by males), they are more often used for clearing branches and scrub out of the way while they are foraging in dense woodland.
Bongos are 'crepuscular' animals; they are most active at dusk and dawn.
For the first week of a newborn bongo calf's life, it remained hidden silently in the undergrowth, and its mother will return to it often to feed it.
There is a small group of Bongos that live in the mountains of Kenya. These are a subspecies of bongo called the 'mountain bongo' and have long been isolated from the forest population.
Bongos are known to eat charcoal from burned trees after lightning strikes and forest fires. It is believed they use this as a source of salt and minerals.

Bonobo (Pan paniscus)

Taxonomy

Class: Mammalia
Order: Primates
Family: Hominidae
Genus: Pan

General

Population in the Wild: 29,500-50,000
Bonobos (or Pan paniscus) live in the forests and wetlands of the Democratic Republic of Congo, and are most closely related to the common chimpanzee (or Pan troglodytes). Out of any species in nature, these two types of ape have the most DNA in common with humans.

Bonobos have pink lips and dark, forward-facing eyes, small ears, a flat nose with wide nostrils, as well as black hair. Male bonobos are larger than females - averaging 73 to 83cm tall and weighing 39kg - whereas a female stands 70 to 76cm tall and weighs 31kg.

They are very playful and peaceful creatures, are rarely aggressive towards each other, and have never been known to kill each other. They live in a matriarchal society where females dominate, and the status of males is dictated by the status of their mother

Bonobos are endangered due to habitat loss and being poached for bushmeat. Various conservation efforts are being made to preserve the animals and their habitats - the UN and WWF, among others, are monitoring and protecting bonobos, especially within areas that have been designated as National Parks. These organisations are also educating locals on the apes and providing them with jobs in national parks, encouraging long-term respect for their environment and reducing dependence on the bushmeat trade.

Gameplay

Interactivity: Full

Origins

Continent: Africa
Regions: Democratic Republic of the Congo
ICUN Status: Endangered

Habitat

Fence Grade: 3 Climb Proof> 16.40ft
Land Area: 8396ft
Water Area: 0ft
Climbing Area: 861ft
Temperature: 46-108°F
Biomes: Tropical
Can Guest Enter Habitat: No
Can Guests Interact: No
Relations With Humans: Confident

Social

Bonobos are extremely social, peaceful animals with strong bonds with each other, always living in close-knit groups. They help each other to forage, sharing food evenly among the group, and also help each other raise their young. Bonobos are very tactile creatures and will be extremely physically affectionate towards each other. As a result, they are often described as the "hippies' of the animal world and can definitely be characterised by the phrase 'make love, not war'.
Group Size: 3‒10 (up to 7 males, up to 7 females)
Male Bachelor: 3‒10
Female Bachelor: 3‒10

Reproduction

Bonobos are promiscuous animals, so much so that all mature members of the group will mate with each other regardless of their age or sex. This means it is usually unknown which males fathered which offspring. This is thought to be why bonobo males are gentle towards babies, and also how their communal style of living has evolved. A Bonobo mother will be pregnant for 8 months and give birth to 1 baby, which she will care for closely until the baby is around four years old. The males stay with their mother's group throughout adulthood, whereas bonobo females will leave in search of an unrelated group.
Difficulty: Very Easy (Promiscuous)
Maturity: 11 years
Sterility: 50 years
Gestation/Incubation: 8 months
Interbirth: 60 months

Food

Tier 1: Monkey Chow
Tier 2: Fruits and Vegetables
Tier 3: Eggs, Honey, and Small Invertebrates

Feeding Stations

Arboreal Feeding Platform
Water Bowl
Water Pipe
Water Trough

Food Enrichment

Block of Frozen Fruit
Tool Puzzle Feeder
Forage Box
Artificial Termite Mound
Fixed Roller Feeder
Suspended Forager
Tree Forager

Habitat Enrichment

Sprinkler
Grab Ball
Block of Ice
Cardboard Box (Gift Box)
Bobbin (Bobbin Drum)
Mirror Mobile
Musical Keyboard

Compatible Animals

Red River Hog

Zoopidia Fun Facts

Bonobos use tools such as stones as hammers and have been known to fashion sticks into spears using their teeth.
Bonobos have very high empathy, and will help 'stranger' bonobos even when there is no reward for themselves.
Bonobos communicate through many expressions, gestures, and vocalisations and are the most vocal of the great apes (excluding humans).
Bonobos are very uncomfortable with conflict, and competing for food or mates is likely to be solved be sharing rather than fighting.
Bonobos are very physically affectionate to their counterparts, and are the only species other than humans that 'tongue kiss'.

Bornean Orangutan (Pongo pygmaeus)

Taxonomy

Class: Mammalia
Order: Primates
Family: Hominidae
Genus: Pongo

General

Population in the Wild:
The orangutan (or Pongo pygmaeus) is native to the island of Borneo, their range also spanning areas of Bornean Indonesia and Malaysia. They are large apes identifiable by their red fur and brown skin, while mature males also have distinct, large cheek pads and throat pouches used for making loud vocalizations to attract females. They are incredibly intelligent animals and have been observed creating and using tools in the wild to acquire food. However, they cannot swim, and their range is often limited by rivers that they cannot cross in the wild.

The Bornean orangutan population has declined by 60% in the past 60 years, with their numbers expected to have halved again by 2025. The main threat to orangutans is habitat loss and fragmentation caused by deforestation, but they are also hunted for bushmeat, and climate change is causing their natural habitat to change. Conservation efforts are being made by assigning areas of forest as protected, but these protected areas are small and need to be expanded to cover more land.

Gameplay

Interactivity: Full

Origins

Continent: Asia
Regions: Borneo, Malaysia, Indonesia
ICUN Status: Critically Endangered

Habitat

Fence Grade: 3> 16.40ft
Land Area: 8396ft
Water Area: 0ft
Climbing Area: 1292ft
Temperature: 46-108°F
Biomes: Tropical
Can Guest Enter Habitat: No
Can Guests Interact: No
Relations With Humans: Confident

Social

Orangutans are solitary, meaning they have far less social interaction than other ape species. However, they are still, intelligent animals and do not like complete isolation from their counterparts. Males have large territories that they preside over, calling to attract females from large distances away. Orangutans will interact if they meet, and may be friendly, avoidant or aggressive. Occasionally, a male and female may travel together, but orangutans generally live alone, except for a mother and her young.
Group Size: 1‒6 (up to 1 male, up to 5 females)
Male Bachelor: 1
Female Bachelor: 1‒6

Reproduction

Mature male orangutans develop cheek and throat pads, which define them as an alpha male. These males, who often have large territories and roam through great distances in the forest, are far more likely to gain the attention of females than beta males, who are younger and do not have cheek pads. When a male and receptive female meet, they will mate. The female will give birth to one baby after a pregnancy of 8 and a half months, caring closely for her child for the first 8 years of its life. The child will stay with her until they are between the ages of 10 and 11, and then leave to establish its own home range.
Difficulty: Easy (Polygynous)
Maturity: 13 years
Sterility: Death
Gestation/Incubation: 8 months
Interbirth: 96 months

Food

Tier 1: Monkey Chow
Tier 2: Fruit, Leaves, and Shoots
Tier 3: Honey and Eggs

Feeding Stations

Arboreal Feeding Platform
Water Bowl
Water Pipe
Water Trough

Food Enrichment

Block of Frozen Fruit
Tool Puzzle Feeder
Forage Box
Large Fixed Roller Feeder
Suspended Forager
Tree Forager

Habitat Enrichment

Sprinkler
Large Ball (Large Snow Ball)
Small Ball (Small Ice Ball, Small Ball Colorful ,Small Ball Pumpkin)
Grab Ball
Block of Ice
Cardboard Box (Gift Box)
Bobbin (Bobbin Drum)
Mirror Mobile
Musical Keyboard
Small Tyre
Rubber Duck

Compatible Animals

Asian Small-Clawed Otter
Bornean Elephant
Lar Gibbon
Malayan Tapir
Siamang

Zoopidia Fun Facts

Orangutans are the only great ape species that does not live in Africa.
The name “orangutan” means 'person of the forest' in Malay and Indonesian, where the Bornean orangutan resides, and they are 7 times stronger than humans.
Orangutans are the largest tree-dwelling animal in the world.
Orangutans are the only ape species that live solitarily.
Orangutans use tools with their mouths, unlike how gorillas and chimps use their hands.

Brazilian Salmon Pink Tarantula (Lasiodora parahybana)

Taxonomy

Class: Arachnida
Order: Aranae
Family: Theraphosidae
Genus: Lasiodora

General

Population in the Wild: Unknown
The Brazilian salmon pink tarantula (or Lasiodora parahybana) is a large species of spider exclusively endemic to the Atlantic Forest area of East Brazil. They are black in color, with pink or red hairs on their legs and abdomen. When looked at as a whole, the males are slightly larger than females with a leg span that can reach 11.2 in, but females are heavier with a larger abdomen. Males also often have brighter coloration than females.

Gameplay

Interactivity: Exhibit

Origins

Continent: South America
Regions: Brazil
ICUN Status: Data Deficient

Exhibit

Temperature: 73-84°F
Humidity: 50-84%
Biomes: Tropical

Social

Brazilian salmon pink tarantulas are solitary animals and are likely to be aggressive towards each other if kept too close together in a terrarium. Exhibits are large enough to support a small population.
Group Size: 1-6

Reproduction

The male spider spins a web on the ground, onto which he deposits sperm before he absorbs it onto his palps (mouth appendages). He then goes in search of females by roaming the forest floor, both sexes using chemical signals to establish whether other spiders they encounter are the same species, as well as to determine if the female is receptive.

If she is, the male will approach and she will raise her front legs in a defensive posture. Using his front legs to prevent her from attacking him, he deposits the sperm from his palps in a furrow on her abdomen so she can store it for around 3 months, until she is ready to lay between 500 and 2000 eggs in an egg sac. She will guard this for several weeks until the spiderlings hatch. Salmon pink tarantulas will go through around 10 molts a year until they are fully grown at around 2 to 3 years old.
Difficulty: Very Easy (Polyandrous)
Maturity: Males 2 years, Females 3 years
Sterility: Death
Gestation/Incubation: 1 month
Interbirth: 11 months

Food

Large insects, amphibians, small reptiles

Exhibit Enrichments

Tropical Plant
Leaf Litter
Hallow Log (Broken, Wide, Narrow)

Zoopedia Fun Facts

Brazilian salmon pink tarantulas are also known as 'bird eating spiders' although there is very little evidence that they routinely eat birds.
The fangs of the salmon pink tarantulas are 1in long and can give a very painful bite.
Males have 'tibial hooks' on their front legs that are used to 'hook back' the female's jaws so she cannot attack him while mating with her.
The venom of this tarantula dissolves the flesh of its prey, making it easier for the spider to eat.
Salmon pink tarantulas only bite as a last resort, but they may flick barbed hairs from their abdomen as a defense mechanism. These hairs are incredibly irritating and can cause blindness.

Brazilian Wandering Spider (Phoneutria nigriventer)

Taxonomy

Class: Arachnida
Order: Aranae
Family: Ctenidae
Genus: Phoneutria

General

Population in the Wild: Unknown
The Brazilian wandering spider (or Phoneutria nigriventer) is a species of arachnid native to South America - predominantly in the rainforests, although it does often live in urban areas alongside humans. The spiders are large, venomous and pale brown in colour, with a hairy body and black striations on their legs. Males are slightly smaller than females with a much smaller abdomen, and also have swollen bulbs on the end of their palps, which are the segmented appendages near the mouth are often used to distinguish the sexes. They have an average leg span of between 130 and 150mm, and an average body size of 17x48mm. A classic behaviour of the Brazilian wandering spider is its defensive posture, whereby it raises its front two sets of legs and leans from side to side.

Gameplay

Interactivity: Exhibit

Origins

Continent: South America
Regions: Brazil, Colombia, Venezuela, Ecuador, Peru, Bolivia, Paraguay, Argentina
ICUN Status: Data Deficient

Exhibit

Temperature: 73-84°F
Humidity: 50-84%
Biomes: Tropical

Social

The Brazilian wandering spider is a solitary animal. They do not spend time together except during the mating season, when males search for females and may challenge other males for mating rights. Exhibits are large enough to support a small population.
Group Size: 1-6

Reproduction

During the mating season, the males spend a lot of their time roaming in an attempt to find females. When one is encountered - and if she allows it - he will attempt to mate with her, before moving away quickly afterwards so that she does not kill and eat him. The female lays up to 3000 eggs in several egg sacs, which she will check on and guard until they hatch. When they do, the hatchlings are independent and will move off to live on their own, going through 5 to 10 molts before they are fully grown.
Difficulty: Average (Polyandrous)
Maturity: 1 year
Sterility: Death
Gestation/Incubation: 1 months
Interbirth: 11 months

Food

Small Rodents, Insects, Amphibians and Lizards

Exhibit Enrichments

Hollow Log (Broken, Wide, Narrow)
Long Wide Trunk
Thin Smooth Branch
Thin Long Log
Basking Lamp

Zoopedia Fun Facts

The Brazilian wandering spider is so named because it wanders the forest floor at night searching for prey rather than building a web or lair. During the day, it hides in termite mounds, under logs or rocks.
The genus name for the Brazilian wandering spider is 'Phoneutria' which means 'murderess' in Greek.
Female Brazilian wandering spiders are more venomous than males.
The venom of the Brazilian wandering spider can cause paralysis and asphyxiation, and is one of the most deadly spider venoms to humans. However, wandering spiders are unlikely to bite unless surprised, and they often do not inject venom with their bites.
The Brazilian wandering spider is also known as the banana spider because it is often found hiding in banana plants, and has occasionally been shipped to foreign countries in banana crates.

Cheetah (Acinonyx jubatus)

Taxonomy

Class: Mammalia
Order: Carnivora
Family: Felidae
Genus: Acinonyx

General

Population in the Wild:
The Cheetah (or Acinonyx jubatus) lives in the savannas and dry woodlands of Central and Southern Africa. They can be recognized by their slim body, deep chest, thin legs and tail, as well as dark 'tear marks' on their face. Not to mention their most distinctive feature - their spots. 'Cheetahs are famous for being the fastest land animal, reaching up to 70 mph when pursuing their prey. This is generally medium-sized mammals such as the Gazelle and Impala.

The cheetah population is in decline due to habitat loss; their territory having been overtaken by farmland and urban buildings. It is probable that their conservation status will go from 'vulnerable' to 'endangered' in the near future. Conservation efforts by the 'International Union for Conservation of Nature', Zoological Society of London' and 'Range Wide Conservation Program for Cheetah and African Wild Dogs' include promoting ecotourism and creating reserves around land where cheetahs are prevalent in order to maintain their territory and prevention from poaching.

Gameplay

Interactivity: Full

Origins

Continent: Africa
Regions: Niger, Sudan, Ethiopia, Kenya, Tanzania, Namibia, Botswana
ICUN Status: Vulnerable

Habitat

Fence Grade: 2> 6.56ft
Land Area: 7589ft
Water Area: 0ft
Climbing Area: 0ft
Temperature: 46-104°F
Biomes: Grassland, Desert
Can Guest Enter Habitat: No
Can Guests Interact: No
Relations With Human: Shy

Social

Female cheetahs are solitary animals; they generally live and hunt alone, except when they are with there cubs, which will stay with there mother until they are old enough to cope on their own. Male cheetahs are often found in pairs or trios that live together and assist each other when hunting. These male cheetah groups often become very close and will pine for each other when separated.
Group Size: 1‒3 (Up to 2 males, up to 1 female)
Male Bachelor: 1‒3
Female Bachelor: 1

Reproduction

Males will track fertile females by the scent of her urine, staying together for several days once they meet and mating multiple times before separating. A female will be pregnant for approximately 3 months and then give birth to a litter of between 2 and 5 cubs, although larger litters of 8 do occur. Cheetah mothers will start teaching their cubs to hunt at 5 months old, and they will become fully independent at about a year old.
Difficulty: Easy (Promiscuous)
Maturity: 2 years
Sterility: 12 years (Estimated.)
Gestation/Incubation: 3 months
Interbirth: 19 months

Food

Tier 1: Processed Meat
Tier 2: Whole Carcass
Tier 3: Feather Spikes

Feeding Stations

Food Tray
Water Bowl
Water Pipe
Water Trough

Food Enrichment

Frozen Blood Pumpkin
Rotation Line Feeder
Piñata Zebra (Piñata Pronghorn)

Habitat Enrichment

Scratching Post
Sprinkler
Rubbing Pad (Rubbing Pad Bark)
Prey-Scented Sack
Cardboard Box (Gift Box)
Firehose Ball
Blood Scent Marker
Scratching Tree (Scots Pine, Tamarind)

Compatible Animals
None

Zoopidia Fun Facts

The cheetah can accelerate from 0 to 60 mph in under 3 seconds.
Cheetahs can climb trees, but they have difficulty getting down so they only do it when needed.
Unlike most cat species, the cheetah cannot retract its claws; an adaptation to give it better traction on the ground when running at speed.
Cheetahs have evolved light bones and large lungs to enable them to run faster.
The cheetah has a long, muscular tail that it uses to steer and balance itself when running very fast.

Chinese Pangolin (Manis pentadactyla)

Taxonomy

Class: Mammalia
Order: Pholidota
Family: Manidae
Genus: Manis

General

Population in the Wild: 50,000-100,000
The Chinese Pangolin (or Manis pentadactyla) is a critically endangered insectivorous species native to India, Nepal, Bhutan, Bangladesh, Myanmar, Taiwan and Southern China. They are small, secretive and slow-moving animals, their most distinguishing feature being their layered armour-like keratinous scales. Chinese Pangolins are between 40 and 58 cm long with a tail measuring 25 to 38 cm. They spend their days sleeping in their burrows, and their nights foraging for ants, termites and other insects.

The main threat to pangolin faces is illegal hunting and trafficking; it is a highly for its scales, despite there being no evidence that these scales have many medical properties. Police often seize huge numbers of pangolin bodies and/or scales from smugglers and traffickers. There are many efforts to reduce pangolin poaching; including preventive laws, education programmes, rescue and rehabilitation centers for pangolins and ranger training. However, until the demand for traditional remedies decreases, the problem is likely to remain and the number of Chinese pangolins will continue to decrease.

Gameplay

Interactivity: Full

Origins

Continent: Asia
Regions: India, Nepal, Bhutan, Bangladesh, Myanmar, Southern China, Hainan, Taiwan
ICUN Status: Critically Endangered

Habitat

Fence Grade: 2 Climb Proof> 6.58ft
Land Area: 1959ft
Water Area: 0ft
Climbing Area: 0ft
Temperature: 54-108°F
Biomes: Tropical, Temprete
Can Guest Enter Habitat: Yes
Can Guests Interact: No
Relations With Humans: Shy

Social

Pangolins are solitary animals and spend their time alone, except during the mating season and when a mother is with her infant.
Group Size: 1‒3 (up to 3 males, up to 3 females)
Male Bachelor: 1‒3
Female Bachelor: 1‒3

Reproduction

During the mating season, male pangolins track a female by scent into her burrow and, if she is receptive, the two will mate before parting ways. The female will be pregnant for approximately 7 to 8 months, although exact time are unknown due to the secretive nature of this species. Once born, the infant remains in the burrow for the first month of its life, before starting to accompany its mother on foraging trips. It will be fully weaned at 3 months old and remain with its mother until she has another infant; usually a year later. Chinese pangolins are fully grown at 2 years old.
Difficulty: Difficult (Promiscuous)
Maturity: 1 year
Sterility: Death
Gestation/Incubation: 8 months
Interbirth: 12 months

Food

Tier 1: Rice and Larvae
Tier 2: Mealworms
Tier 3: Live Ants

Feeding Stations

Food Bowl
Water Bowl
Water Pipe
Water Trough

Food Enrichment

Slow Feeder
Forage Box
Artificial Termite Mound

Habitat Enrichment

Sprinkler
Small Ball (Small Ice Ball, Small Ball Colorful, Small Ball Pumpkin)
Rubbing Pad (Rubbing Pad Bark)
Cardboard Box (Gift Box)
Herb Scent Marker
Rubber Duck

Compatible Animals
None

Zoopidia Fun Facts

Pangolins are the only mammal with scales; they are also the most trafficked animal in the world.
Newborn Chinese pangolins have soft scales. They harden when the infant is 3 days old.
The pangolin's tongue can be 16in in length; they use it to hunt and eat ants and termites.
Pangolins do not have teeth. Instead, they swallow small stones that remain in their stomach and help grind up their food after ingestion.
When threatened, pangolins will curl up into a tight ball, relying on their tough scales to protect themselves.

Collared Peccary (Dicotyles tajacu)

Taxonomy

Class:
Order:
Family:
Genus:

General

Population in the Wild: Unknown
The collared peccary (or Pecari tajacu) is a pig-like mammal adapted to living in a diverse array of environments. It’s native range spans across the rainforests, woodlands, semi-deserts, and grasslands of North, Central, and South America. Collared peccaries have coarse, grey hair that is slightly longer around the neck and spine. They are named after the ring of paler hair around their neck. They have a pig-like, round snout, short and straight tusks, and small, rounded ears. There is no sexual dimorphism in collared peccaries, meaning males and females look alike and are the same size. They measure 30cm to 50cm tall at the shoulder, are 84cm to 106cm long, and weigh between 15kg and 42kg.

Collared peccaries are considered a species of Least Concern due to their wide distribution and adaptability. Their population levels are stable, however the continuous destruction of their habitat in some regions could cause issues over time and requires monitoring.

Gameplay

Interactivity: Full

Origins

Continent: North, Central and South America
Regions: USA, Mexico, Guatemala, Belize, Honduras, Nicaragua, Costa Rica, Panama, Colombia, Venezuela, Ecuador, Peru, Bolivia, Brazil, Paraguay, Argentina
ICUN Status: Least Concern

Habitat

Fence Grade: 2> 4.06ft
Land Area: 3229ft
Water Area: 0ft
Climbing Area: 0ft
Temperature: 25-109°F
Biomes: Desert, Tropical, Grassland, Temprate
Can Guest Enter Habitat: No
Can Guests Interact: No
Relations With Humans: Neutral

Social

Collared peccaries live in mixed groups of interrelated females and unrelated males, usually made up of 5 to 15 individuals, although groups of up to 50 peccaries have been recorded. The dominant male is usually the largest group member, while the dominant female is usually the oldest.
Group Size: 5‒15 (Up to 14 males, up to 14 females)
Male Bachelor: 5‒15
Female Bachelor: 5‒15

Reproduction

There is no defined breeding season in collared peccaries, instead males will mate whenever given the chance, and females will mate if they aren’t already pregnant or currently nursing a litter. In a herd of peccaries, the largest male with the longest tusks is usually the dominant male who holds the right to mate with all females, but may be challenged by other, similar-sized males in the group.

Pregnancies last between 140 to 150 days. During the last days of pregnancy, a female collared peccary will find a place to give birth in, such as a den, hollow tree, or shallow dip in the ground. Litter size is between 1 to 4 piglets, 2 on average. The piglets will grow rapidly. Weaning begins by 10 days old and is complete when they are 6 weeks old. The young piglets remain closely associated with their mother until they are 9 months old.

Collared peccaries reach sexual maturity at 11 months old. At this age, males leave the herd to join an unrelated group, while females remain with their natal group.
Difficulty: Easy (Polygynous)
Maturity: 1 year
Sterility: Death
Gestation/Incubation: 1-3 months
Interbirth: 7 months

Food

Tier 1: Root Vegetables and Salad
Tier 2: Herbivore Pellets
Tier 3: Fruit

Feeding Stations

Food Trough
Water Trough
Water Bowl
Water Pipe

Food Enrichment

Forage Box
Small Barrel Feeder
Fruit Spike Tree
Melon Feeder
Veggie Jelly Cake

Habitat Enrichment

Cardboard Box (Gift Box)
Herb Scent Marker
Mud Bath
Rubbing Pillar
Sprinkler
Wind Chimes
Scratching Tree (Scots Pine, Tamarind)

Compatible Animals

American Bison
Capybara
Colombian White-Faced Capuchin Monkey
Giant Anteater
Llama

Zoopidia Fun Facts

Collared peccaries can open their jaws up to 90 degrees, making their straight tusks efficient weapons.
Collared peccaries have a scent gland on their back, which emits a strong smell that is used to mark their territory, identify each other, or ward off predators.
The collared peccary creates wallows which are important environments for aquatic life, especially frogs.
Collared peccaries walk on the middle two toes of their feet, while their other toes are smaller claws, which may be higher up the leg or may be missing entirely.
Peccaries are closely related to pigs but differ in that they don’t have a ruminating stomach, and have straight rather than curved tusks.

Common Death Adder (Acanthophis antarcticus)

Taxonomy

Class: Reptilia
Order: Squamata
Family: Elapidae
Genus: Acanthophis

General

Population in the Wild: Unknown
The common death adder (or Acanthophis antarcticus) is a venomous snake that lives in the grasslands, forests, and bushlands of Eastern and Southern Australia. It has a flat, triangular head, a squat body, and a rapidly tapering tail, as well as a banded pattern of light brown, dark brown, and grey in order for it be well disguised in leaf litter and other debris. On average, the common death adder is between 28in and 40in long.

Although this species is not endangered, it is threatened by the presence of cane toads - an invasive species in Australia. Cane toads often eat young snakes, and when adult snakes prey upon cane toads they are poisoned by the toxins in the toad's skin, dying as a result.

Gameplay

Interactivity: Exhibit

Origins

Continent: Oceania
Regions: Australia
ICUN Status: Least Concern

Exhibit

Temperature: 73-88°F
Humidity: 60-80%
Biomes: Grassland, Temperate

Social

Common death adders are solitary animals and do not interact in the wild. It is rare that they will encounter each other except when males search for females to mate with.
Group Size: 1‒5

Reproduction

Males search for females by tracking pheromonal signals. When two adders of the opposite sex encounter one another, the female will coil up slightly to signify that she's interested, allowing the male to climb on top of her. He will put his whole body on top of her, wrapping his tail underneath her, and the two will mate. Between 6 and 9 months later, the mother will give birth to a litter of 5 to 20 offspring, which are independent from birth. The males will reach sexual maturity at 2 years old, whereas females will mature slightly later, at 3 and a half years old.
Difficulty: Average (Polygynous)
Maturity: Males 2 years, Females 3.5 years
Sterility: Death
Gestation/Incubation: 6 months
Interbirth: 18 months

Food
Small mammals, lizards, and birds

Exhibit Enrichments

Large Rock
Camouflage Ground
Basking Lamp (High, Mid-height, Low)

Zoopedia Fun Facts

The common death adder has the longest fangs of any Australian venomous snake.
The common death adder hides under leaf litter for long periods of time, twitching its grub-like tail to lure prey, and strikes when any unsuspecting animals move across it hiding place.
The common death adder has the fastest strike of all venomous snakes in Australia.
Although highly venomous, the common death adder is not aggressive and is rarely a danger to humans.
It is thought that the name 'death adder' was originally 'deaf adder' because common death adders, like all snakes, cannot hear airborne sounds and instead feel vibrations on the ground.

Common Ostrich (Struthio camelus)

Taxonomy

Class: Aves
Order: Struthioniformes
Family: Struthionidae
Genus: Struthio

General

Population in the Wild: Unknown
The common ostrich (or Struthio camelus) is the largest known bird species in the world. Males have black body feathers and white feathers on their wing-tips and tails, while females have grey-brown body feathers. On both sexes, the head, neck and legs are pink to white in color, and there is some variation in appearance depending on the bird's original location in Africa. The males have an average height of 7ft to 9.2ft, whereas females are smaller, measuring between 5.6ft and 6.6ft.

As well as being widespread across the African continent (although not the deserts or rainforests there), the common ostrich has become common worldwide, often farmed for its meat, eggs and feathers. Although not currently endangered, the species' range is becoming restricted, with subspecies of ostrich declining in number due to human population growth and land use change.

Gameplay

Interactivity: Full

Origins

Continent: Africa
Regions: All of Africa except deserts and rainforests
ICUN Status: Least Concern

Habitat

Fence Grade: 2> 4.125ft
Land Area: 7266ft
Water Area: 0ft
Climbing Area: 0ft
Temperature: 46-104°F
Biomes: Grassland, Desert
Can Guest Enter Habitat: No
Can Guests Interact: No
Relations With Humans: Neutral

Social

In the wild, ostriches are primarily social animals. During the breeding season, a small group of females will inhabit the territory of a dominant male, who temporarily joins their herd. During other times of year, ostriches live in large nomadic herds that move through the Savannah, often alongside other species of grazing animals.
Group Size: 1‒8 (up to 1 male, up to 7 females)
Male Bachelor: 1‒2
Female Bachelor: 1‒2

Reproduction

During the breeding season, a top hen and her group of females will search for a dominant male with good territory. The group will remain with this chosen male for the entire breeding season. In order to mate, the male will court the top hen with a 'dance' in which he alternates the beating of his wings and ritualistic pecking at the ground, 'wooing' the female into crouching down and allowing him to mate with her. Then, he will dig a nest; a shallow dip in the ground in which the top hen will lay 7-10 eggs.

Subsequently, the male will mate with all females in the group. These females will each lay their eggs around the top hen's, who in turn will then remove some of the eggs that are not hers. Once approximately 20 eggs are in the nest (up to a total of 60 may have been laid) the top hen will incubate them during the day, while the alpha male will incubate them during the night. After 35 to 45 days, the eggs will hatch and the male will take care of them until they are about 10 months old and capable to fend for themselves. After 18 months the ostriches will be full size, and between 2.5 and 4.5 years old they will be able to reproduce themselves.
Difficulty: Very Easy (Polygynous)
Maturity: 3 years
Sterility: Death
Gestation/Incubation: 1 month
Interbirth: 12 months

Food

Tier 1: Bird Pellets
Tier 2: Seeds
Tier 3: Locusts and Crickets

Feeding Stations

Food Bowl
Water Dish
Water Trough
Water Pipe

Food Enrichment

Forage Box
Slow Feeder

Habitat Enrichment

Herb Scent Marker
Mirror Mobile
Sprinkler
Small Ball (Small Ice Ball, Small Ball Colorful, Small Ball Pumpkin)
Rubber Duck

Compatible Animals

Addax
African Buffalo
Black Wildebeest
Blue Wildebeest
Common Warthog
Nile Lechwe
Plains Zebra
Reticulated Giraffe
Sable Antelope
Scimitar-Horned Oryx
Somali Wild Ass
Southern White Rhinoceros
Springbok
Thomson's Gazelle

Zoopidia Fun Facts

The ostrich is the largest living species of bird, they are also the fastest on the ground; they can run for long distances at 34mph and sprint at 43mph.
Ostriches have the largest eggs in the world, but the smallest eggs of any bird relative to body size.
When incubating a nest, the Alpha female sits on the nest during the day, her grey-brown feathers blending with the dusty ground, and the Alpha male sits on the nest at night, with his black feathers difficult to see in the dark.
Ostriches males raise the ostrich chicks when they hatch.
Contrary to popular belief, ostriches do not bury their heads in the sand. To hide from predators, they lie flat against the ground and their body blends with the horizon and the dust.

Common Warthog (Phacochoerus africanus)

Taxonomy

Class: Mammalia
Order: Artiodactyla
Family: Suidae
Genus: Phacochoerus

General

Population in the Wild: 250,000
The common warthog (or Phacochoerus africanus) lives throughout Sub-Saharan Africa in a wide variety of environments. Although not currently endangered, the species is vulnerable to drought and hunting, as they're often viewed by humans as pests. The reason for this is twofold. Firstly, they can spread disease to livestock. Secondly, they can destroy crops on farmland when rooting with their tusks. This has resulted in some pockets of the population being wiped out.

The common warthog has a large head with a coarse mane of hair and distinctive tusks. The upper tusks are large, thick and blunt, while the lower tusks are short and sharp. Warthogs also have large cartilaginous protrusions on their cheeks. The males average between 1.3 and 1.5m in length and between 60 and 150kg in weight, whereas females average shorter and lighter, averaging between 0.9 to 1.3m long and 45 to 75kg in weight.

Gameplay

Interactivity: Full

Origins

Continent: Africa
Regions: Sub-Saharan Africa
ICUN Status: Least Concern

Habitat

Fence Grade: 2> 4.125ft
Land Area: 3122ft
Water Area: 0ft
Climbing Area: 0ft
Temperature: 46-108°F
Biomes: Grassland, Tropical
Can Guest Enter Habitat: No
Can Guests Interact: No
Relations With Humans: Confident

Social

Warthogs have a complex social structure. Mature females tend to live in interrelated groups with their offspring. However, year-old piglets may leave their mother's group and live in sibling groups, before splitting up as they get older. The young females usually return to their mother's group, whereas young males will form bachelor herds until they are old and strong enough to become solitary.
Group Size: 1‒7 (up to 1 male, up to 6 females)
Male Bachelor: 1‒4
Female Bachelor: 1‒7

Reproduction

Male warthogs have two strategies for mating. These are called 'tending' and 'roaming'. A tending male will join a sounder of females during the mating season and block other males from coming close; as well as try to stop females going to other males. Roaming males search for multiple sounders and attempt to mate with females from these groups, often competing with the tending male. The female common warthogs are pregnant for 5-6 months before giving birth to 3 to 7 piglets in their burrow. These young piglets reach maturity for the first time until they are 4 to 5 years old.
Difficulty: Very Easy (Promiscuous)
Maturity: 2 years
Sterility: Death
Gestation/Incubation: 6 months
Interbirth: 24 months

Food

Tier 1: Hay
Tier 2: Root Vegetables
Tier 3: High Fiber Biscuits

Feeding Stations

Food Trough
Water Trough
Water Bowl
Water Pipe

Food Enrichment

Forage Box
Small Barrel Feeder
Fruit Spike Tree

Habitat Enrichment

Cardboard Box (Gift Box)
Herb Scent Marker
Mud Bath
Rubbing Pillar
Sprinkler
Wind Chimes
Scratching Tree (Scots Pine, Tamarind)

Compatible Animals

African Buffalo
Black Wildebeest
Blue Wildebeest
Common Ostrich
Plains Zebra
Reticulated Giraffe
Sable Antelope
Springbok
Thomson's Gazelle

Zoopidia Fun Facts

The name for a group of common warthogs is a 'sounder' or 'sounding'.
The upper tusks of the common warthog can grow up to 25cm long.
Common warthogs sleep in the abandoned burrows of other animals, usually aardvarks.
The tusks of the warthog shear against each other, making the bottom tusks razor sharp. Warthogs use these for attacking predators.
Common warthogs back into their burrows so that they are facing outwards and can charge at predators if they are at risk.

Eastern Brown Snake (Pseudonaja textilis)

Taxonomy

Class: Reptilia
Order: Squamata
Family: Elapidae
Genus: Pseudonaja

General

Population in the Wild: Unknown
The Eastern Brown Snake (or Pseudonaja textilis) is a venomous species of reptile that lives in Australia and New Guinea. It prefers to live in dry areas so can be found in the grassland, scrubland and sparse forests. The snakes are pale to dark brown in color, often with a paler underside, and they may have slightly darker brown mottling on their scales as camouflage. Eastern brown snakes usually measure between 1.5 and 2m in length, and the species is known for its defensive displays, whereby it will lift much of its head and body off the ground and coil it into an S-shape with its mouth open. These displays are often mistaken for aggression.

Gameplay

Interactivity: Exhibit

Origins

Continent: Oceania
Regions: Australia, New Guinea
ICUN Status: Least Concern

Exhibit

Temperature: 73-84°F
Humidity: 60-85%
Biomes: Desert, Grasslands, Temperate

Social

Adult male Eastern brown snakes are solitary, whereas females may interact with each other after laying their eggs; they will often do this in the same burrow as one another, guarding them together.
Group Size: 1‒5

Reproduction

After emerging from their underground burrows after winter hibernation, males then search for females by tracking chemical signals, mating together if he finds a receptive partner. The female lays her eggs in an underground burrow - often the abandoned burrow of a small mammal - and will guard them for about 5 weeks before leaving them for good. The eggs will hatch after 11 weeks and the hatchlings are completely independent from when they emerge.
Difficulty: Average (Promiscuous)
Maturity: 31 months
Sterility: Death
Gestation/Incubation: 2 months
Interbirth: 9 months

Food

Rodents, lizards, amphibians

Exhibit Enrichments

Camouflage Ground
Fallen Tree
Large Rock

Zoopedia Fun Facts

Eastern brown snakes are the second-most venomous snake in the world.
The genus of brown snakes are the most common cause of snake bite deaths in Australia.
Eastern brown snakes hibernate in underground burrows during the winter.
Male brown snakes will fight over females, twisting themselves together tightly and attempting to force the other's head to the ground.
The Latin name for the Eastern brown snake is 'Pseudonaja' which translates to 'false cobra'.

Formosan Black Bear (Ursus thibetanus formosanus)

Taxonomy

Class: Mammalia
Order: Carnivora
Family: Ursidae
Genus: Ursus

General

Population in the Wild: Unknown
The Formosan black bear (or Ursus thibetanus formosanus) is a subspecies of the Asiatic black bear that's endemic to Taiwan. They have a stocky build with black fur, rounded ears and a long straight snout; plus their most characteristic and distinct visual feature, which is a V-shaped white patch on their chest. The Formosan black bears are sexually dimorphic; in this case the males are much larger than females. The former weight and measure an average of 135kg and 1.7m, and the latter average 70kg and 1.35m.

The species is endangered and their numbers are in decline - primarily due to the degradation of their habitat that's brought on by commercial logging and the encroachment of human development into their home forests. They are also victims of commercial poaching, which is an effect compounded by the logging because it gives poachers easy access to areas in which the bears live.

Taiwan takes a lot of pride in its ursine population and the nation is working to protect them. Many have been tagged with radio collars in order to track them and get an idea of the threats they are facing. This also assists in determining the population size, locating areas that poacher's traps have been set, and mapping the home ranges of the bears to locate and protect dens of mothers with new cubs. Although the number of Formosan black bears in the wild is not yet known, Taiwanese groups continue to carry out this research and to improve the protective measures in place.

Gameplay

Interactivity: Full

Origins

Continent: Asia
Regions: Taiwan
ICUN Status: Vulnerable

Habitat

Fence Grade: 4 Climb Proof> 6.56ft
Land Area: 10226ft
Water Area: 0ft
Climbing Area: 431ft
Temperature: 19-108°F
Biomes: Tropical, Temperate, Taiga
Can Guests Enter Habitat: No
Can Guests Interact: No
Relations With Humans: Shy

Social

With the exception of a mother and her cubs, Formosan black bears are solitary and only interact to mate.
Group Size: 1‒2 (up to 1 male, up to 1 female)
Male Bachelor: 1
Female Bachelor: 1

Reproduction

During the mating season, males will track the females who move through their large territory by the scent of their urine. When the two meet, they will have a brief courtship before mating and going their separate ways. The female will be pregnant for 6 to 7 months and will, during the late weeks of her pregnancy, locate a den in a rock crevice or hollow tree. This is where she'll give birth to between 1 and 3 cubs, who will stay with their mother for 2 years. After this point she is likely to mate again, while her initial cubs will leave and attempt to establish their own territories.
Difficulty: Easy (Promiscuous)
Maturity: 5 years
Sterility: Death
Gestation/Incubation: 7 months
Interbirth: 24 months

Food

Tier 1: Leaves, Nuts and Meat
Tier 2: Fruit and Vegetables
Tier 3: Fish

Feeding Stations

Food Tray
Water Bowl
Water Pipe
Water Trough
Underwater Fish Feeder

Food Enrichment

Bamboo Feeder
Block of Frozen Fruit
Large Fixed Roller Feeder
Tree Forager
Tree Scatter Feeder
Underwater Fish Feeder

Habitat Enrichment

Bobbin (Bobbin Drum)
Cardboard Box (Gift Box)
Firehose Ball
Herb Scent Marker
Prey-Scented Sack
Wind Chimes
Scratching Tree (Scots Pine, Tamarind)
Submarine Buoy

Compatible Animals
None

Zoopidia Fun Facts

Formosan black bears are also known as 'moon bears' due to the crescent-shaped white patch on their chests.
Unlike most other black bear subspecies, Formosan black bears do not hibernate in the winter.
The movement of black bears can appear clumsy and slow, but they can run at 25mph when they want to. They are also good swimmers and can catch fish.
Formosan black bears are good climbers and may spent up to half their time on trees. Pregnant females often make their dens in hollow trees.
The Formosan black bear appears in Taiwanese folklore. The story goes that the bear and the Formosan leopard (which is now extinct) were once white, and the two animals decided to paint each other's coats. The bear took great care in painting the leopard's spots, but the leopard was lazy and painted the bear all black, except for the moon-shaped white patch on his chest. The bear was angry when he saw what the leopard had done and chased him. The leopard begged the bear to let him live, and that if he did, the leopard would share his kills with the bear. The bear agreed, and to this day native hunters believe that leopards do not eat all the meat from their kills to honor this deal and leave some food behind for the scavenging black bear.

Galapagos Giant Tortoise (Chelonoidis nigra)

Taxonomy

Class: Reptilia
Order: Testudines
Family: Testudinidae
Genus: Chelonoidis

General

Population in the Wild:
The Giant Galápagos tortoise (or Chelonoidis nigra) is a species of reptile endemic to the Galápagos Islands and does not appear anywhere else in the world. They come in two types - saddleback shelled and dome shelled - and both variants have a dull grey-brown shell and scaly, grey colored skin. Saddleback shell tortoises have long necks and live in dry lowland areas, while dome shell tortoises have short necks and live in humid highland areas. Both can grow to extremely large sizes, with the average male weighing between 272 and 317 kg, and the average female weighing between 136 and 181 kg.

In the past, overexploitation caused the number of Giant Galápagos to suffer a very sharp decline; they were hunted for their meat and oil, while their habitats were destroyed to create farmland. Seafarers would also often stock their boats with giant tortoises as food supply due to their large size providing plenty of meat, as well as the fact that they require very low maintenance.

However, captive breeding and releasing back into the wild has brought the species back from the brink of extinction - despite still being vulnerable, they are now also protected by conservation efforts. A current problem they face is their habitat being destroyed by non-native feral goats, but efforts are being made to remove these goats from the islands.

Gameplay

Interactivity: Full

Origins

Continent: South America
Regions: Galapagos Islands
ICUN Status: Vulnerable

Habitat

Fence Grade: 1> 1.65ft
Land Area: 2476ft
Water Area: 0ft
Climbing Area: 0ft
Temperature: 57-108°F
Biomes: Tropical
Can Guests Enter Habitat: Yes
Can Guests Interact No
Relations With Humans: Neutral

Social

Giant Galápagos tortoises are solitary but do tolerate each other. Saddleback males are particularly aggressive towards each other during the mating season.
Group Size: 1‒4 (up to 1 male, up to 3 females)
Male Bachelor: 1‒2
Female Bachelor: 1‒4

Reproduction

During the mating season, males and females will gather in the humid highlands of the islands; the former tracking the latter by their scent, warding off any rival males by biting, or with mating displays in which they extend their neck and stand as tall as they can. When a male does encounter a female, he will ram her with his shell, chase her and bite her legs - in return, she will either run away or allow him to mate with her, which she does by laying low on the ground and withdrawing her legs. The male may continue to ram her with his shell to get into the right position, and will then mount her.

Thereafter, the female will begin a repetitive nest building behavior that involves digging a 30cm deep hole with her back legs; she does this until she is happy and lays a clutch of 4 to 16 eggs inside. A female will lay between 1 and 4 clutches per breeding season, covering the nests over with a muddy plug made of soil and urine, before leaving the eggs to incubate in the sun. After 4 to 8 months, the eggs will hatch, and the hatchlings will spend several days or weeks digging their way out before living completely independently. Galápagos giant tortoises reach sexual maturity between 20 and 25 years old.
Difficulty: Very Easy (Polygynous)
Maturity: 22 years
Sterility: Death
Gestation/Incubation: 8 months
Interbirth: 24 months

Food

Tier 1: Hay
Tier 2: Root Vegetables
Tier 3: Fruit

Feeding Stations

Food Trough
Water Bowl
Water Pipe
Water Trough

Food Enrichment

Block of Frozen Fruit
Dog Ball
Fruit Spike Tree

Habitat Enrichment

Herb Scent Marker
Small Ball (Small Ice Ball, Small Ball Colorful, Small Ball Pumpkin
Sprinkler
Rubber Duck

Compatible Animals

Capybara

Zoopidia Fun Facts

Giant Galápagos tortoises are found on many different islands in the Galápagos chain. It is believed they travelled to various islands by passively floating there; their shells are buoyant, and their long necks allow tortoises to breathe air as they float.
The tortoise's shell is made up of conjoined protective keratin plates that are fused with the ribs.
There are multiple subspecies of Giant Galápagos tortoises across the islands. The size and appearance of the tortoises is often different depending on which island they are from.
Galápagos tortoises have a mutualistic relationship with finches and mockingbirds on the islands, allowing these birds to remove parasites from where their legs meet their shell.
The Galápagos Islands were named after the saddle-like appearance of tortoises by the Spanish sailors who discovered the islands in 1535, or so the story goes. Whilst 'Galápagos' is an old Spanish word for 'saddle' it has an even older meaning which is literally 'tortoise'!

Gemsbok (Oryx gazella)

Taxonomy

Class: Mammalia
Order: Artiodactyla
Family: Hippotraginae
Genus: Oryx

General

Population in the Wild: 373,000
The gemsbok (or Oryx gazella) is a species of antelope that lives in the Kalahari and Namib deserts of Southern Africa. They are characterized by several visual features: long, slim and spiral horns; a black face with white markings over the eyes and muzzle; a grey-brown coat with black markings on the upper legs and back; as well as white 'socks'. On average, Gemsbok stand between 3.6ft and 4.3ft tall at the shoulder, measure 6.3ft to 7.9ft long and have an average horn length of 34in. The males are also slightly larger and significantly heavier than the females.

Despite not being an endangered species - in fact, their numbers are believed to be increasing - Gemsbok are negatively impacted by the expansion of the human population in South Africa. This manifests in a couple of ways, including the destruction of their habitat to make space for farmland, as well as an excess of hunting for their horns, which are popular among trophy hunters. The animals are protected in areas where their habitat falls into national parks and nature reserves, but there is little specific legislation to protect the species as they are not currently endangered.

Gameplay

Interactivity: Full

Origins

Continent: Africa
Regions: Namibia, Botswana, South Africa
ICUN Status: Least Concern

Habitat

Fence Grade: 2> 4.125ft
Land Area: 2906ft
Water Area: 0ft
Climbing Area: 0ft
Temperature: 46-109°F
Biomes: Desert
Can Guests Enter Habitat: No
Can Guests Interact: No
Relations With Humans: Shy

Social

A herd of Gemsbok numbers between 10 and 30. The females group together in interrelated herds with their young offspring, usually consisting of one dominant territorial male who joins the females for mating purposes. Young males form together into single gender bachelor herds until they are old enough to maintain their own territory and acquire a herd of females.
Group Size: 5‒10 (up to 1 male, up to 9 females)
Male Bachelor: 5‒10
Female Bachelor: 5‒10

Reproduction

Mature male gemsbok are categorized as 5-years-old or more and maintain a large territory, wherein they will gather 'harems' from the female groups that forage through it. He will join these groups, defending them from rival males and mating with receptive females. A gemsbok pregnancy lasts 8.5 months, after which a mother will give birth to one calf in solitude, away from the herd, the newborn will remain hidden in the bushland for the first 6 weeks. The calf will then rejoin the herd and begin to eat solid food, before weaning at 3.5-months-old and becoming independent around a month later. The calves reach sexual maturity at 2-years-old; the males leaving their natal herd to join an all-male bachelor group until they are old enough to maintain their own territory, while the females remain with their mother.
Difficulty: Very Easy (Polygynous)
Maturity: 2 years
Sterility: Death
Gestation/Incubation: 8 months
Interbirth: 9 months

Food

Tier 1: Hay
Tier 2: Herbivore Pellets
Tier 3: Melons and Cucumbers

Feeding Stations

Food Trough
Water Trough
Water Pipe
Water Bowl

Food Enrichment

Grazing Ball Feeder
Hanging Grazer Feeder
Small Barrel Feeder

Habitat Enrichment

Grab Ball
Herb Scent Marker
Rubbing Pillar
Scratching Tree (Scots Pine, Tamarind)

Compatible Animals
None

Zoopidia Fun Facts

Gemsbok can increase their body temperature to up to 45°C to cope with high environmental temperatures, and prevent water loss through sweating and panting.
Gemsbok have a low metabolic rate so they do not have to drink often. They can go through most of the year without drinking and by retaining water from their diet.
Female gemsbok have longer horns than male gemsbok.
There is often only a very short amount of time - a matter of weeks - between a female gemsbok giving birth and getting pregnant again.
Gemsbok horns were sold as unicorn horns in medieval England.

Gharial (Gavialis gangeticus)

Taxonomy

Class: Reptilia
Order: Crocodilia
Family: Gavialidae
Genus: Gavialis

General

Population in the Wild: 600
Gharials (or Gavialis gangeticus) are a critically endangered species of crocodile native to the rivers of the Indian subcontinent. With recent estimations stating there are just 650-1,000 left in the wild, the dwindling population is now restricted to just four stretches of river in Nepal and North India. Their collapse in numbers has been caused by the increase in river pollution reducing the amount of fish in the water, as well as by sand-mining destroying sandbanks that are essential for egg-laying.

Gharials have long, thin jaws adapted for eating fish, and are almost entirely aquatic. Unlike other crocodiles, they have weak legs and are poor movers on land, but they are extremely agile in deep water due to their long, flattened, muscular tail. Males have a distinctive bulbous swelling on the end of the nose, which is used to make sounds that attract females and intimidate males during the mating season.

Captive breeding programs have released many young gharials into the wild in an attempt to increase the population and prevent the species from extinction.

Gameplay

Interactivity: Full

Origins

Continent: Asia
Regions: Bangladesh, Nepal, India
ICUN Status: Critically Endangered

Habitat

Fence Grade: 2> 3.28ft
Land Area: 2260ft
Water Area: 3229ft
Climbing Area: 0ft
Temperature: 57-108°F
Biomes: Aquatic, Tropical, Temperate
Can Guests Enter Habitat: No
Can Guests Interact: No
Relations With Humans: Confident

Social

While gharials may live in close contact with each other - as well as compete for sandy riverbanks to use as basking sites - they are not social animals. Despite this, they are unlikely to fight, although competing males may 'buzz' at each other in intimidation using their snout bulbs. During the breeding season, many females may be living in close proximity as they guard the eggs they have laid in the sandy banks.
Group Size: 1‒7 (up to 7 males, up to 7 females)
Male Bachelor: 1‒7
Female Bachelor: 1‒7

Reproduction

During the breeding season, both male and female gharials will pursue each other until they decide on a mate they are happy with. The males will mate with many females, but females will select only one male. Once a partnership has been decided, the male will fertilize the female's eggs before she will then lay and bury 30 to 50 of them in a sandy river bank. The mother and her eggs will be guarded from rival males by the father. After three months the eggs will hatch and the mother will take over, protecting her young gharials for a few days until they are able to fend for themselves.
Difficulty: Very Easy (Polygynous)
Maturity: 14 years
Sterility: 50 years (postulated)
Gestation/Incubation: 3 months
Interbirth: 24 months

Food

Tier 1: Fish
Tier 2: Crustaceans
Tier 3: Amphibians

Feeding Stations

Food Tray
Water Trough
Water Pipe
Water Bowl
Underwater Fish Feeder

Food Enrichment

Frozen Blood Pumpkin
Underwater Fish Feeder
Block of Frozen Fish

Habitat Enrichment

Blood Scent Marker
Mud Bath
Prey-Scented Sack
Rubbing Pad (Rubbing Pad Bark)
Small Ball (Small Ice Ball, Small Ball Colorful, Small Ball Pumpkin)
Sprinkler
Water Jet (Water Jet Rock)
Rubber Duck

Compatible Animals
None

Zoopidia Fun Facts

Gharials are named after the growth that males have on their snout with resembles an Indian pot called a 'ghara'.
Gharials are the only crocodile species that show 'sexual dimorphism'; the males look different from the females due to their distinctive nose bulb.
Gharials lay the largest eggs of any crocodile species.
Gharials are not aggressive; their long, thin jaws are ill-suited for attacking large animals.
Gharials' snouts contain sensory cells that detect vibrations in the water, making them excellent fish hunters.

Giant Burrowing Cockroach (Macropanesthia rhinoceros)

Taxonomy

Class: Insecta
Order: Blattodea
Family: Blaberidae
Genus: Macropanesthia

General

Population in the Wild: Unknown
The Giant burrowing cockroach (or Macropanesthia rhinoceros) is a large insect native to the scrublands and dry forests of Northern Australia. They measure approximately 8cm long, weigh 30g, and are dark reddish-brown in color. They are so named for their habit of digging burrows in the sandy earth, often delving up to 1m into the ground. They are popular pet because of the ease of care and their positive response to being handled.

Gameplay

Interactivity: Exhibit

Origins

Continent: Oceania
Regions: Australia
ICUN Status: Data Deficient

Exhibit

Temperature: 77-86°F
Humidity: 60-80%
Biomes: Temperate

Social

In the Wild, the giant burrowing cockroach may either be solitary, or a breeding male and female may live together in a burrow caring for their offspring.
Group Size: 1‒6

Reproduction

When a male and female encounter each other, they will move into the female's burrow and mate. After 3 months, the female will give birth to between 3 and 30 young, who will remain in the burrow for 4 to 6 months, being taken care of by their parents, who each bring them small pieces of leaf litter from the surface to eat. Giant burrowing cockroaches are fully grown at approximately 3 years old, after they have been through 12 molts.
Difficulty: Very Easy (Monogamous)
Maturity: 3 years
Sterility: Death
Gestation/Incubation: 9 months
Interbirth: 3 months

Food

Dead, dry crushed gum leaves

Exhibit Enrichments

Hollow Log (Broken, Narrow, Wide)
Tropical Plant
Leaf Litter

Zoopedia Fun Facts

The giant burrowing cockroach is the heaviest species of cockroach and can weigh up to 1.225oz.
The giant burrowing cockroach gives birth to live young.
Giant burrowing cockroach males have a 'scoop' like shield on top of their head, which they use for digging and for fighting with rival males.
Giant burrowing cockroaches 'hiss' by pushing air out of their body segments. They do this when disturbed or when fighting.
Unlike other cockroach species, the giant burrowing cockroach does not have any wings and also can't climb.

Giant Desert Hairy Scorpion (Hadrurus arizonensis)

Taxonomy

Class: Arachnida
Order: Scorpiones
Family: Caraboctonidae
Genus: Hadrurus

General

Population in the Wild: Unknown
A large species of arachnid native to the deserts of the Southern USA and Mexico, the giant desert hairy scorpion (or Hadrurus arizonensis) is a predator specializing in ambush. Typically yellow, tan or pale green and with darker areas of color on its back, the scorpion spends its time buried beneath the sand or under rocks, attacking insects and small vertebrates with its stinger. This immobilizes its prey before the scorpion can then grab it with its jaws. Once fully grown, the scorpion can be between 10 and 18 cm in length and, despite the pain caused, the sting is not usually dangerous to humans.

Gameplay

Interactivity: Exhibit

Origins

Continent: North America
Regions: Southern USA, Mexico
ICUN Status: Data Deficient

Exhibit

Temperature: 77-99°F
Humidity: 20-35%
Biomes: Desert

Social

Giant desert hairy scorpions are solitary animals and are likely to kill rival scorpions if encountered.
Group Size: 1‒6

Reproduction

When a male and female scorpion come across one another, the first test is whether they are both receptive. If so, the male will grab the female from the side and administer up to 10 'sexual stings' to subdue her. Then, he uses his pedipalps (mouth parts) to grab hers and pulls her back and forth across the ground, trying to find an area of substrate that is suitable to complete the mating procedure. Once one is located, he will deposit the sperm from his abdomen on the ground, pulling the acquiescent female onto the sperm.

At this point, she will take the sperm up via a pore on her abdomen to fertilize the eggs. The young will be incubated for 6 to 12 months, at which point the mother will give birth to between 25 and 35 live young. These climb onto her back and will be carried around until they are 3-weeks-old. At this point, they have molted and are tough enough to be independent. It will be at 4-years-old that these young scorpions reach sexual maturity themselves.
Difficulty: Difficult (Polygynous)
Maturity: 4 years
Sterility: Death
Gestation/Incubation: 9 months
Interbirth: 3 months

Food

Large insects, spiders, small vertebrates

Exhibit Enrichments

Large Rock
Fallen Tree
Hiding Place

Zoopedia Fun Facts

The giant desert hairy scorpion is the largest species of scorpion in North America.
The hairs covering its body help detect prey moving on the sand while buried.
If the male scorpion does not get away quickly after mating, the female scorpion will catch and eat him.
The giant desert hairy scorpion gives birth to live young.
Because of its large size, this species of scorpion is able to, and often will, eat smaller scorpions.

Giant Forest Scorpion (Heterometrus swammerdami titanicus)

Taxonomy

Class: Arachnida
Order: Scorpiones
Family: Scorpionidae
Genus: Heterometrus

General

Population in the Wild: Unknown
The giant forest scorpion (or Heterometrus swammerdami titanicus) is a large species of arachnid that lives in the tropical rainforests of India and Sri Lanka. It's a stout, black colored animal with thick chitinous body plates and very large pincers. It may also have a blue or green sheen to its cuticle. The giant forest scorpion's pincers are strong and capable of catching and crushing prey, whereas its venom is relatively weak; most likely because it relies more on the strength of its pincers than the potency of its sting.

Gameplay

Interactivity: Exhibit

Origins

Continent: Asia
Regions: Sri Lanka, India
ICUN Status: Data Deficient

Exhibit

Temperature: 70-86°F
Humidity: 65-85%
Biomes: Tropical

Social

Giant forest scorpions are solitary animals, only interacting for mating purposes.
Group Size: 1‒6

Reproduction

When a receptive male and female come across each other, the male will grab her pedipalps (mouth parts) with his and pull her back and forth across the ground. This occurs until he finds an area of substrate that is suitable to complete the mating procedure. Once he has located somewhere suitable, he will deposit sperm on the ground from his abdomen end and, if she acquiesces, he will move her onto the sperm so she can take it up via a pore on her abdomen. The female will fertilize her eggs and incubate them for 5 to 8 months, after which she will give birth to live young that will climb onto her back. She carries them until they are 3-weeks-old, have moulted, and are tough enough to be independent. These young scorpions will reach sexual maturity between the ages of 1 and 3-years-old.
Difficulty: Average (Polygynous)
Maturity: 1-3 years
Sterility: Death
Gestation/Incubation: 9 months
Interbirth: 3 months

Food

Insects and Other Invertebrates

Exhibit Enrichments

Long Wide Trunk
Thin Smooth Branch
Thin Long Log
Hollow Log (Broken, Wide, Narrow)
Leaf Litter

Zoopedia Fun Facts

The giant forest scorpion is the largest species of scorpion in the world, reaching up to 23cm in length.
The giant forest scorpion, like all scorpions, glows under ultraviolet light.
The giant forest scorpion is more likely to use its pincers to attack than to use its sting.
Giant forest scorpions can survive a whole year without eating.
Giant forest scorpions can remain underwater for 48-hours and survive.

Giant Panda (Ailuropoda melanoleuca)

Taxonomy

Class: Mammalia
Order: Carnivora
Family: Ursidae
Genus: Ailuropoda

General

Population in the Wild: 2,000
The giant panda (or Ailuropoda melanoleuca) is a species of bear native to the mountains of Central China. They have black and white fur in a distinctive pattern, with black legs, ears and circles around their eyes. Pandas feed almost exclusively on bamboo and, as a result, are extremely dependent on rich bamboo forests to survive. This is a low energy food, so pandas must eat a lot of it to live and spend most of their waking hours foraging and eating. Their low energy intake also means they produce very tiny and vulnerable cubs.

The species is threatened by habitat loss and fragmentation due to deforestation and urbanisation; they are also poached for their fur. China has put a lot of effort into conserving the panda population, but it proves to be difficult due to the low fertility of pandas, their reluctance to mate, and the vulnerability of their young.

Gameplay

Interactivity: Full

Origins

Continent: Asia
Regions: Central China
ICUN Status: Vulnerable

Habitat

Fence Grade: 4 Climb Proof> 6.56ft
Land Area: 9688ft
Water Area: 0ft
Climbing Area: 0ft
Temperature: 36-84°F
Biomes: Temperate, Taiga
Can Guests Enter Habitat: No
Can Guests Interact: No
Relations With Humans: Neutral

Social

Pandas are solitary creatures but will interact if they come across each other. However, females are more territorial than males and may chase away rivals who invade their territory. They need plenty of space and the ability to isolate themselves if they want to.
Group Size: 1‒10 (up to 10 males, up to 10 females)
Male Bachelor: 1‒10
Female Bachelor: 1‒10

Reproduction

Panda females are only fertile for 2 to 3 days a year - with such a small window for pregnancy, it's unlikely that they will meet a male at the right time. If they do manage to mate with a male, the mother will be pregnant for between 95 and 160 days before giving birth to 1 or 2 very small cubs; if she has twins, she will not care for both because she will not have enough milk. Cubs will stay with their mothers until they are between 1.5 to 2 years old before leaving to establish their own territories.
Difficulty: Very Difficult (Promiscuous)
Maturity: 6 years
Sterility: 20 years
Gestation/Incubation: 5 months
Interbirth: 24 months

Food

Tier 1: Bamboo
Tier 2: Small Fruits
Tier 3: Fruits and Vegetables

Feeding Stations

Arboreal Feeding Platform
Water Bowl
Water Pipe
Water Trough

Food Enrichment

Tree Scatter Feeder
Small Fixed Roller Feeder

Habitat Enrichment

Block of Ice
Wind Chimes
Cardboard Box (Gift Box)
Bobbin (Bobbin Drum)
Firehose Ball
Rubbing Pillar
Herb Scent Marker
Small Tyre
Scratching Tree (Scots Pine & Tamarind)

Compatible Animals
None

Zoopidia Fun Facts

Pandas have the smallest babies relative to adult body size of any placental mammal; cubs are 800x smaller than their mothers.
Pandas have evolved a 6th finger that helps them strip leaves from bamboo.
The giant panda is the only bear species that is entirely herbivorous. Unlike many other animals, pandas are not used in Chinese traditional medicine.
There is a sub-population of giant pandas called 'Qinling pandas' that are chocolate brown and white
Pandas are a symbol of peace in China; warring groups would hold up flags with panda images on them to call a truce.

Giant Tiger Land Snail (Achatina achatina)

Taxonomy

Class: Gastropoda
Order: Stylommatophora
Family: Achatinidae
Genus: Achatina

General

Population in the Wild: Unknown
The giant tiger land snail (or Achatina achatina) is a large species of gastropod that lives in the woodland areas of West Africa; specifically Sierra Leone, Liberia, Ivory Coast, Ghana and Nigeria, among others. They have a grey body and a conical shell that's yellow, orange or tan with black stripes - the distinctive pattern being the inspiration for their name. The species is hermaphroditic, possessing both male and female reproductive parts, so there are no distinct 'males' and 'females'. However, small or sub-adult individuals have often not yet developed the reproductive parts and so may be considered 'males'.

Gameplay

Interactivity: Exhibit

Origins

Continent: Africa
Regions: Sierra Leone, Liberia, Ivory Coast, Togo, Benin, Ghana, Nigeria
ICUN Status: Data Deficient

Exhibit

Temperature: 73-97°F
Humidity: 40-60%
Biomes: Tropical, Grassland

Social

Giant tiger land snails do not actively live in groups, but are passive enough to tolerate others without aggression.
Group Size: 1‒6

Reproduction

When interested in mating, a snail will approach another and see if they reciprocate interest by touching them with their antennae. As snails are hermaphroditic, the larger individual takes on the role of the female, with the two entwining while mating for fertilization to take place. The female will then dig a shallow nest in the forest floor in which to lay her eggs.

After 10 to 31 days, these hatch - usually just as the rainy season begins - and the young snails must feed to become larger and strengthen their shells before the dry season hits. Giant tiger land snails reach sexual maturity as males at 2 years old, and at this point they are able to fertilize a female. However, it may take up to 3 years for them to be mature enough to act as the female. A fully mature snail will be able to take on the role of either the male or female in copulation.
Difficulty: Easy (Promiscuous, self fertilization)
Maturity: 2 years
Sterility: Death
Gestation/Incubation: 1 month
Interbirth: 36 months

Food

Fruit, vegetables and flowers

Exhibit Enrichments

Rock Pile (Large, Medium, Small)
Long Wide Trunk
Thin Smooth Branch
Thin Long Log
Mister

Zoopedia Fun Facts

The giant tiger land snail is the largest species of land snail in the world, with the largest individuals reaching a length and diameter of 12in x 6in.
Giant tiger land snails are threatened by habitat loss and over-hunting by humans.
In Ghana, giant tiger land snails are considered a delicacy and are often hunted for food.
The giant tiger land snail has been accidentally introduced to the USA and the Caribbean, where it is considered a pest.
Giant tiger land snails have mouthparts called 'radulae' that are covered in many tiny 'teeth' used to feed by rasping them against vegetation.

Gila Monster (Heloderma suspectum)

Taxonomy

Class: Reptilia
Order: Squamata
Family: Helodermatidae
Genus: Heloderma

General

Population in the Wild: Unknown
The Gila monster (or Heloderma suspectum) is a large species of venomous lizard native to the arid regions of the Southern United States and Northern Mexico. It has orange and black scales arranged in a banded and reticulated pattern, measures 20in to24in long, and weighs between 12.25oz and 24.5oz. The Gila monster has a very keen sense of smell that it uses for hunting, and can often be seen scenting the air by flicking its tongue in and out of its mouth. The species is near threatened, often killed by humans out of fear, despite the fact it is too slow moving for it to be a serious threat to people.

Gameplay

Interactivity: Exhibit

Origins

Continent: North America
Regions: Southern USA, Northern Mexico
ICUN Status: Near Threatened

Exhibit

Temperature: 95-108°F
Humidity: 15-25%
Biomes: Desert

Social

Gila monsters are solitary animals and only interact to mate and compete over mates.
Group Size: 1‒4

Reproduction

During the mating season, male Gila monsters will track down females by scent. If he encounters one, he will attempt to climb on top of her; if she allows it, the two will mate, however she may reject this by biting him. Approximately 2 months later, the female will dig a shallow nest in the sand and lay a clutch of 2 to 12 eggs, covering them over and leaving them to hatch 9 months later. The young become fully grown Gila monsters after a period of between 3 and 5 years.
Difficulty: Easy (Polygynous)
Maturity: 3-5 years
Sterility: Death
Gestation/Incubation: 9 months
Interbirth: 3 months

Food

Eggs, birds, mammals, insects, lizards, amphibians and carrion

Exhibit Enrichments

Hiding Place
Basking Lamp (High, Mid-Height, Low)
Fallen Tree

Zoopedia Fun Facts

The Gila monster cannot inject venom like a snake. Instead, it administers venom by bitting hard and chewing, aiming to put venom-laced saliva in the wound.
In the wild, Gila monster only eats 5 to 10 times a year, and it spends the winter hibernating.
The Gila monster's venom is not deadly, but its bite is said to be one of the most painful.
A derivative of the Gila monster's venom is used in treating Type-2 diabetes.
Gila monster venom is being researched for potential uses in treating Alzheimer's disease.

Golden Poison Frog (Phyllobates terribilis)

Taxonomy

Class: Amphibia
Order: Anura
Family: Dendrobatidae
Genus: Phyllobates

General

Population in the Wild: Unknown
The golden poison frog (or Phyllobates terribilis) is a species of poison dart frog endemic to the rainforests of the Pacific Coast of Colombia. Although being called 'golden' frogs, they are actually found in mint green, yellow and orange color morphs. All variants measure an average of 2in to 2.2in and have extremely poisonous skin that's used as a defense mechanism against predators, while their bright coloration acts as a warning signal to potential threats. They live on the forest floor and, unlike other frog species, do not require to live in or near water, though they do need water source in which to deposit their eggs.

Gameplay

Interactivity: Exhibit

Origins

Continent: South America
Regions: Colombia
ICUN Status: Endangered

Exhibit

Temperature: 79-88°F
Humidity: 80-90%
Biomes: Tropical

Social

Golden poison frogs are social animals, living in unrelated groups of between 4 and 7 individuals in the wild.
Group Size: 4‒7

Reproduction

When females are ready to lay their eggs, males will attempt to attract them with a series of high pitched squeaks. They will mate in large groups; males moving from female to female to fertilize her eggs as she lays them, then taking the clutch of eggs and carrying them on his back to a suitable water source do deposit them. Eggs hatch 11 to 12 days after laying, but the tadpoles remain in the water until they become froglets between 55 and 60 days later. The young frogs will reach sexual maturity after 12 to 18 months.
Difficulty: Very Easy (Promiscuous)
Maturity: 12-18 months
Sterility: Death
Gestation/Incubation: 0 months
Interbirth: 6 months

Food

Invertebrates

Exhibit Enrichments

Tropical Plant
Mister
Leaf Litter

Zoopedia Fun Facts

The golden poison frog is the largest species of poison dart frog.
A single golden poison frog has enough poison on its skin to kill between 10 and 20 people.
Captive frogs do not produce toxins because they cannot eat the same invertebrates as they do in the wild, which are the source of the poison.
Indigenous tribes that live in the rainforest use the frog's poison on poison darts for hunting, hence their name.
Most species of tree frog are extremely secretive and will hide often, but this species is quite fearless, likely due to its toxicity making it invulnerable to attack.

Goliath Beetle (Goliathus goliatus)

Taxonomy

Class: Insecta
Order: Cleoptera
Family: Scarabaeidae
Genus: Goliathus

General

Population in the Wild: Unknown
The Goliath beetle (or Goliathus goliatus) is a large species of insect that lives in the savannah and rainforests of Central Africa. The males and females are different in appearance and size; the males being larger - between 2.4in and 4in - with a dark brown abdomen, a brown thorax with white stripes, black legs, as well as a white head with a Y-shaped horn. The females have shorter, thinner stripes on the thorax, are smaller in size - between 2in and 3.2in - and do not have a horn. Little is known about the life cycle of this species in the wild, but it is threatened by habitat loss due to destruction of the rainforests that it lives.

Gameplay

Interactivity: Exhibit

Origins

Continent: Africa
Regions: Cameroon, Central African Republic, The Congo, Gabon, Kenya, Nigeria, Tanzania, Uganda
ICUN Status: Data Deficient

Exhibit

Temperature: 73-97°F
Humidity: 40-60%
Biomes: Tropical, Grassland

Social

Goliath beetles are solitary animals - other than to mate or compete over mates, they do not interact in the wild.
Group Size: 1‒8

Reproduction

Male Goliath beetles establish a territory, fighting off rival males using the Y-shaped horn on their head and detecting any females that move through this territory via pheromonal signals. Once they have mated, the female will dig a shallow hole in sandy soil and lay her eggs inside, where they will hatch into larvae between 12 to 14 days later. The larvae will forage on decaying plant and animal matter on the forest floor until they reach approximately 3.5oz in weight; at this point they will bury themselves in the ground and pupate, remaining there for 5 months, hatching after the rainy season has made the ground moist. It takes approximately 1 year for an egg to become an adult, and these fully-grown beetles emerge to begin to search for mates.
Difficulty: Difficult (Polygynous)
Maturity: 1 year
Sterility: Death
Gestation/Incubation: 0 months
Interbirth: 120 months

Food

Fruit and tree sap

Exhibit Enrichments

Hollow Log (Broken, Narrow, Wide)
Tropical Plant
Leaf Litter

Zoopedia Fun Facts

Goliath beetles are part of the scarab beetle family.
The Goliath beetle can reach lengths of 4.4in, and is the largest and heaviest insect in the world.
The Goliath beetle uses its tarsi (feet claws) to scratch at the bark of trees and extract sap.
The larvae of the Goliath beetle require a high protein diet to achieve their large size as adults, so it is very important where a female chooses to lay her eggs.
Goliath beetles have a short lifespan as adults; when they emerge from their pupa, they begin searching for a mate and will die soon after mating.

Goliath Birdeater (Theraphosa blondi)

Taxonomy

Class: Arachnida
Order: Araneae
Family: Theraphosidae
Genus: Theraphosa

General

Population in the Wild: Unknown
The Goliath birdeater (or Theraphosa blondi) is an extremely large species of tarantula native to the tropical rainforests, swamps and marshes of Suriname, Guyana, French Guiana, Brazil and Venezuela. It is tan brown in color, covered in red-brown hair, has a large abdomen with a large, round thorax, thick segmented legs, and elongated pedipalps (mouth parts). The female is larger than the male, and both sexes have pronounced appendages on the end of their abdomen known as 'spinnerets' that aid in web deposition. The web of the Goliath birdeater is used for making egg sacs and for sperm transfer, but they do not spin webs for hunting.

Gameplay

Interactivity: Exhibit

Origins

Continent: South America
Regions: Suriname, Guyana, French Guiana, Brazil, Venezuela
ICUN Status: Data Deficient

Exhibit

Temperature: 73-84°F
Humidity: 50-84%
Biomes: Tropical

Social

Goliath birdeaters are solitary animals and do not interact except to mate.
Group Size: 1‒3

Reproduction

The male spins a web on the ground in which he deposits sperm, before absorbing it onto his palps and going in search of a female's burrow in an attempt to coax her out. If he is successful, he will approach her using his front legs to hook back her fangs, depositing the sperm in a furrow on her abdomen. The female will store this until she is ready to lay her eggs, laying around 50 to 200 of them in an egg sac. She will guard the sac in her burrow, carrying it with her when she leaves to hunt, until the spiderlings hatch in 6 to 8 weeks. Once hatched, the young spider remain in the burrow, guarded by their mother until their first moult, after which will venture out and become independent.
Difficulty: Average (Polyandrous)
Maturity: 3-6 years
Sterility: Death
Gestation/Incubation: 2 months
Interbirth: 10 months

Food

Arthropods, Worms, Amphibians

Exhibit Enrichments

Tropical Plant
Leaf Litter
Hollow Log (Broken, Wide, Narrow)

Zoopedia Fun Facts

The Goliath birdeater is the largest species of spider in the world; the body can be 12cm long and the leg span can be 28cm.
In this species of spider, the female does not kill and eat the male during or after mating.
When threatened, goliath birdeaters release hairs from their abdomen that cause severe skin irritation.
The venom of the Goliath birdeater is not strong to humans and is comparable to wasp sting venom.
The Goliath birdeater is a delicacy in the local cuisine of Northeastern South America.

Goliath Frog (Conraua goliath)

Taxonomy

Class: Amphibia
Order: Anura
Family: Conrauidae
Genus: Conraua

General

Population in the Wild: Unknown
The Goliath frog (or Conraua goliath) is an extremely large species that lives in the African rainforests of Cameroon and Equatorial Guinea, specifically in the fast-flowing rivers and streams. It can be green to dark brown in color, with a paler underbelly, large yellow eyes, and may also have small, ridged bumps on its skin. Males are larger than females, weighing between 0.6 and 3kg and measuring between 17 and 30cm long. The species is endangered due to being over-hunted for food, as trophies and by the pet trade.

Gameplay

Interactivity: Exhibit

Origins

Continent: Africa
Regions: Cameroon, Equatorial Guinea
ICUN Status: Endangered

Exhibit

Temperature: 79-90°F
Humidity: 74-86%
Biomes: Tropical, Aquatic

Social

Goliath frogs are solitary and do not interact except to mate or compete over mates.
Group Size: 1‒2

Reproduction

When females are ready to lay eggs, males will begin to build nests on river beds near fast-flowing water, pushing stones into semicircular formations in the sand. They will also wrestle with any rival males that happen to be building nests nearby. It is then up to females to decide on a high-quality nest in which to lay her eggs, the male fertilising them as she does so. Both the mother and father will abandon their eggs after laying, leaving them to hatch into tadpoles that will then grow into froglets approximately 3 months later. The young Goliath frogs will reach sexual maturity at 10 to 12 months old.
Difficulty: Difficult (Polygynous)
Maturity: 10-12 months
Sterility: Death
Gestation/Incubation: 3 months
Interbirth: 9 months

Food

Small Invertebrates and Amphibians

Exhibit Enrichments

Hollow Log (Broken, Narrow, Wide)
Tropical Plant
Mister

Zoopedia Fun Facts

The Goliath frog is the largest living species of frog; it can reach 32cm long and weigh up to 3.25kg.
Goliath frogs have no vocal sac and so cannot croak.
Goliath frogs can leap a distance of up to 3m.
The tadpoles of the goliath frog eat one single species of plant that is only found in rapid flowing water and at the base of waterfalls.
Goliath frogs have been around for 250 million years; they precede dinosaurs.

Greater Flamingo (Phoenicopterus roseus)

Taxonomy

Class: Aves
Order: Phoenicopteriformes
Family: Phoenicopteridae
Genus: Phoenicopterus

General

Population in the Wild: 790,000 (estimated)
The greater flamingo (or Phoenicopterus roseus) is a large species of migratory bird that is widespread across Europe, the Middle East, Asia and Africa. It lives on the mudflats and coastal lagoons of temperate and warm environments, and is a filter feeder which uses its beak to stir up mud and filter out algae, invertebrates and seeds.

Male and female flamingos look the same with pale-pink to orange-pink feathers, pink legs, a pink beak with a black tip, and often brighter pink patches on their wings. They also have black flight feathers, measure between 44in and 60in tall, and weigh between 4.4lb and 8lb.

The species is not endangered but is still affected by humanity's impact, including a high sensitivity to the water pollution that's caused by agricultural or manufacturing run-off. This damages their breeding environments and kills many of the invertebrates on which they feed - they are also affected by habitat encroachment from humans. As a result, the European Union has implemented protections on many salt flats and coastal lagoons, ensuring that flamingo populations can return to the same areas to feed and reproduce.

Gameplay

Interactivity: Full

Origins

Continent: Africa, Asia, Europe
Regions: Bangladesh, Pakistan, India, Sri Lanka, Turkey, Israel, Lebanon, United Arab Emirates, Kuwait, Bahrain, Spain, Albania, Macedonia, Greece, Cyprus, Portugal, Italy
ICUN Status: Least Concern

Habitat

Fence Grade: 1> 3.3ft
Land Area: 3229ft
Water Area: 1345ft
Climbing Area: 0ft
Temperature: 46-104°F
Biomes: Aquatic, Tropical, Temperate, Grassland
Can Guests Enter Habitat: Yes
Can Guests Interact: No
Relations With Humans: Neutral

Social

Greater flamingos are social animals and prefer to live in a large flock. Although mating may be monogamous, group members will often help each other protect and feed chicks.
Group Size: 10‒500 (up to 500 males, up to 500 females)
Male Bachelor: 10‒500
Female Bachelor: 10‒500

Reproduction

In order to attract a mate, both sexes of flamingo perform synchronized 'dances' which involve neck stretching, preening and wing movements - all done at the same time as part of a large group. Once a female has been suitably impressed by a male's appearance and dance, she will move away from the group and he will follow. She will then put her neck down and spread her wings, inviting the male to mate with her.

Flamingos are monogamous - some for a season, some for life. Together, the two partners will build a mound of mud with a single egg. It's incubated there for 27 to 31 days by both the mother and father, and is fed by regurgitated 'crop milk' for the first 3 to 4 weeks of its life. After this, it will begin filter feeding and, at 10 weeks old, the chicks fledge, but they will live in a crèche that's looked over by a non-breeding adult for another month thereafter.

The birds are fully grown at 2-years old and sexually mature at 3, although they are unlikely to mate until they are between 5 and 10.
Difficulty: Very Easy (Monogamous and Polygynous)
Maturity: 3 years
Sterility: Death
Gestation/Incubation: 1 month
Interbirth: 12 months

Food

Tier 1: Bird Pellets
Tier 2: Shrimp
Tier 3: Mollusks and Blue Green Algae

Feeding Stations

Food Bowl
Water Bowl
Water Pipe
Water Trough

Food Enrichment

Forage Pool

Habitat Enrichment

Herb Scent Marker
Mirror Mobile
Sprinkler
Waterfall and Metal Frame

Compatible Animals
None

Zoopidia Fun Facts

Flamingos develop their pink coloration from the food they eat; they accumulate carotenoid pigments in their feathers from the algae and invertebrates they feed upon.
Parent flamingos can identify their chick's cry from within a crowd of thousands of other flamingos.
Flamingos are born with straight beaks; the beak starts to curve when they are 1 month old and allows them to filter feed.
Flamingos often stand on one leg and also do this when sleeping. This is believed to be to prevent heat loss; only one leg is exposed to cold air or water
The earliest forms of flamingos are seen 40 million years ago in the fossil record.

Green Iguana (Iguana iguana)

Taxonomy

Class: Reptilia
Order: Squamata
Family: Iguanidae
Genus: Iguana

General

Population in the Wild: Unknown
The green iguana (or Iguana iguana) is a large species of lizard that lives throughout Central America, Northern South America and the Caribbean. It has a long tail with a serrated crest that goes from its head to the base of its spine, as well as muscular legs with long toes and claws. They may also have striations on their tail and body.

Although named 'green' iguanas, they occur in many colors - commonly green, blue, brown and orange - and these different color morphs often depend on their location of origin. Whatever the color, the green iguana can reach 2m in length including the tail, and males are larger than females, weighing an average of 4kg compared to 2kg.

Gameplay

Interactivity: Exhibit

Origins

Continent: South America, Central America
Regions: Mexico, Brazil, Ecuador, Caribbean, Southern USA
ICUN Status: Least Concern

Exhibit

Temperature: 79-88°F
Humidity: 50-60%
Biomes: Tropical, Grassland

Social

Green iguanas are solitary animals and only interact to mate. However, hatchlings may remain together in sibling groups for a short period of time after emerging from the nest.
Group Size: 1‒2

Reproduction

During the mating season, males will establish a territory that's usually in an area with branches and close to water. He will defend it from rival males, and attempt to attract females who move through it; if one is interested, she will approach him and he will mount her to mate. Usually, females lay eggs around 65 days after mating, laying their clutch in a nest dug in the ground. After 90 to 120 days, the young will hatch and be independent from hatching, reaching sexual maturity between 3 and 5 years old.
Difficulty: Very Easy (Promiscuous)
Maturity: Males 3-4 years, females 3-5 years
Sterility: Death
Gestation/Incubation: 4 months
Interbirth: 8 months

Food

Fruit and greens

Exhibit Enrichments

Long Wide Trunk
Thin Smooth Branch
Thin Long Log
Mossy Rock (Long, Wide, Smooth)
Basking Lamp (High, Low, Mid-Height)

Zoopedia Fun Facts

Green iguanas are agile climbers and can fall up to 18m without sustaining an injury.
Green iguanas are excellent swimmers and use their strong tails to propel themselves through the water.
Green iguanas have a flap of skin hanging from their chin called a 'dewlap'. Movement of the dewlap is a method of communication between iguanas.
Green iguana hatchlings have a special tooth called a 'caruncle' that is used for breaking through the shell of their egg. It falls off shortly after hatching.
Green iguanas have a rudimentary third eye on the top of their head known as a 'pineal eye', which is sensitive to changes in light levels and movement.

Grizzly Bear (Ursus arctos horribilis)

Taxonomy

Class: Mammalia
Order: Carnivora
Family: Ursidae
Genus: Ursus

General

Population in the Wild: 55,000
Native to northern USA and Canada, the grizzly bear is in fact a subspecies of brown bear (or Ursus arctos) and is often called the North American brown bear to prevent confusion. A Grizzly can be identified by its thick, brown fur, a large shoulder hump, a straight snout and rounded ears. They have strong front legs with long claws used for digging and hunting. Grizzlies can grow extremely large, but often exhibit a lot of variation in size between different populations - the average male weighs around 528 lbs (239 kg) and measures 7.25 feet (2.2 meters) long, while an average female weighs 352 lbs (160 kg) and measures 6 ft (1.8 meters).

Although the population as a whole is not listed as endangered, there are sub-populations that are vulnerable; mostly those in areas of expanding human development. Additionally, bears are often attracted to areas where humans live due to plentiful scavenging opportunities, and this often leads to them being killed when perceived as a nuisance or a threat.

Bears are also killed for sport and trophy hunting, and this is often done unsustainably. Grizzly bears are registered as threatened in the USA and Canada, and The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is working to restore and protect bear populations in Montana, Wyoming, Idaho and Washington. Additionally, Canada closely monitors its bear population in various areas by logging DNA samples and taking censuses, noting when the population is increasing and decreasing, as well as by helping conservationists to target vulnerable populations.

Gameplay

Interactivity: Full

Origins

Continent: North America
Regions: Canada, Northern USA (mostly Alaska)
ICUN Status: Least Concern

Habitat

Fence Grade: 4 Climb Proof> 6.6ft
Land Area: 8073ft
Water Area: 0ft
Climbing Area: 0ft
Temperature: 14-82°F
Biomes: Taiga, Temperate, Tundra
Can Guests Enter Habitat: No
Can Guests Interact: No
Relations With Humans: Neutral

Social

Grizzly bears are solitary, the only exception being a mother with her cubs. They only interact with each other to mate or fight over mates. They may be seen in close quarters when there is a desirable food source, such as gathering at a river's edge during the salmon spawning season. However, bears will usually ignore each other if they come across one another.
Group Size: 1‒2 (up to 1 male, up to 1 female)
Male Bachelor: 1
Female Bachelor: 1-2

Reproduction

Male grizzly bears track females using the scent of their urine. When a male and female meet, they will play together; wrestling and pawing each other before mating. The female will be pregnant for 4 to 6 months, and she will give birth to 1 to 4 cubs during hibernation, without waking. The cubs will search out milk and suckle from their mother until the end of hibernation, when they will leave the den and have their first solid food. The bear cubs stay with their mother until they are 2 to 3 years old, at which point they will leave to establish their own territory.
Difficulty: Very Easy (Promiscuous)
Maturity: 8 years
Sterility: 25 years (estimate)
Gestation/Incubation: 8 months
Interbirth: 60 months

Food

Tier 1: Leaves, Nuts and Meat
Tier 2: Fruit and Vegetables
Tier 3: Fish

Feeding Stations

Food Tray
Water Pipe
Underwater Fish Feeder
Water Bowl
Water Trough

Food Enrichment

Large Fixed Roller Feeder
Tree Scatter Feeder
Block of Frozen Fruit
Tree Forager
Bamboo Feeder
Block of Frozen Fish
Underwater Fish Feeder

Habitat Enrichment

Bobbin (Bobbin Drum)
Cardboard Box (Gift Box)
Firehose Ball
Herb Scent Marker
Block of Ice
Large Ball (Large Snow Ball)
Prey-Scented Sack
Rubbing Pillar
Wind Chimes
Small Tyre
Scratching Tree (Scots Pine, Tamarind)
Submarine Buoy

Compatible Animals
None

Zoopidia Fun Facts

Grizzly bears hibernate for 5-7 months a year; they will eat huge amounts before hibernating to gain enough weight to survive this time without eating.
The ‘hump’ visible on a grizzly bear’s back is a large amount of muscle that bears use when digging dens or hunting prey.
Grizzly bears can gain 180kg of weight when preparing for hibernation.
In the wild each cub in a grizzly bear litter may have a different father.
Grizzly bears love to eat moths, and will make the extra effort to find moths by climbing to high altitudes and overturning rocks.

Himalayan Brown Bear (Ursus arctos isabellinus)

Taxonomy

Class: Mammalia
Order: Carnivora
Family: Ursidae
Genus: Ursus

General

Population in the Wild: Unknown, 150-200 in Pakistan
The Himalayan brown bear (or Ursus arctos isabellinus) is a subspecies of brown bear that lives in the mountains of Afghanistan, Pakistan, Northern India, West China, Nepal, Kazahstan and Tibet. They are very rare and extremely endangered - the size of the population left in the wild is unknown, but they are threatened by numerous factors including habitat fragmentation through human development, as well as poaching for their fur and other body parts.

They have thick reddish-brown fur and males are larger than females, with an average length of 1.9m and weight of 135kg, in comparison to the female averages of 1.6m and 70kg. They live at high altitudes - often above the tree line - and spend the summer months foraging, hunting and mating. The winter months are spent hibernating.

As well as the aforementioned threats, Himalayan brown bears are often killed by humans for a number of reasons. Their mothers are often killed so their cubs can be taken for circus shows, while farmers also kill them to prevent them from eating their livestock. Despite protection in some small areas of their habitat, this protection is not widespread. They are also protected in India, but due to frequently being listed as the un-endangered species 'brown bear' rather than the correct, endangered species 'Himalayan brown bear' they do not receive recognition in conservation efforts.

Gameplay

Interactivity: Full

Origins

Continent: Asia
Regions: Northern Afghanistan, Northern Pakistan, Northern India, Western China, Nepal, Kazakhstan
ICUN Status: Critically Endangered

Habitat

Fence Grade: 4 Climb Proof> 6.6ft
Land Area: 5920ft
Water Area: 0ft
Climbing Area: 0ft
Temperature: 14-72°F
Biomes: Taiga, Tundra
Can Guests Enter Habitat: No
Can Guests Interact: No
Relations With Humans: Neutral

Social

Himalayan brown bears are solitary and only interact with each other to mate or fight over mates. The only exception to this is a mother and her cubs.
Group Size: 1‒2 (up to 1 male, up to 1 female)
Male Bachelor: 1
Female Bachelor: 1-2

Reproduction

Male bears will track a female through their territory and will mate once they meet. The female will be pregnant for 4 to 6 months and will give birth - during hibernation and without waking - to between 1 and 4 cubs. The young will search out milk and suckle from their mother until the end of hibernation, at which point they will leave the den and eat their first solid food. They will stay with their mother until they are between 3 and 4 years old, when they will leave to establish their own territory.
Difficulty: Very Easy (Promiscuous)
Maturity: 4-5 years
Sterility: 25 years (estimate)
Gestation/Incubation: 8 months
Interbirth: 48 months

Food

Tier 1: Leaves, Nuts and Meat
Tier 2: Fruit and Vegetables
Tier 3: Fish

Feeding Stations

Food Tray
Water Pipe
Water Bowl
Water Trough

Food Enrichment

Bamboo Feeder
Block of Frozen Fruit
Large Fixed Roller Feeder
Tree Forager
Tree Scatter Feeder
Block of Frozen Fish

Habitat Enrichment

Block of Ice
Wind Chimes
Bobbin (Gift Box)
Cardboard Box (Bobbin Drum)
Firehose Ball
Herb Scent Marker
Prey-Scented Sack
Rubbing Pillar
Small Tyre
Scratching Tree (Scots Pine & Tamarind)

Compatible Animals
None

Zoopidia Fun Facts

Himalayan brown bears are the same species as the Grizzly bear, but a different subspecies.
Himalayan brown bears give birth to very small cubs during hibernation and without waking.
Himalayan brown bears come down to lower elevations in autumn to eat fruit and wheat before they go into hibernation.
During hibernation, the bear's breathing and heart rate slow down, but they will wake if disturbed.
Himalayan brown bears are thought to be the origin of the Yeti legend, as they have been seen walking through the snow on their hind legs.

Hippopotamus (Hippopotamus amphibius)

Taxonomy

Class: Mammalia
Order: Artiodactyla
Family: Hippopotamidae
Genus: Hippopotamus

General

Population in the Wild: 125,000-150,000
The common hippopotamus (or Hippopotamus amphibius) is a large mammal native to the rivers of Sub-Saharan Africa. They are large, water dwelling animals with long protruding teeth, nostrils on the top of their snout, small ears and thick grey-brown skin. Males are 4 to 5m long and weigh between 1500 and 4500 kg, whereas females measure between 3.3 and 4.2m, and weight 1000 to 1500 kg.

Hippopotamus face many threats. Chiefly, they are endangered by loss of habitat, conflict with humans over land, plus the threat of hunting; the species is poached for its meat and the ivory found in their teeth. Many areas populated by hippos are officially protected, but enforcing these protections can be difficult - some areas are not protected at all. In order to ensure the ongoing survival of the hippo, further conservation and action is needed.

Gameplay

Interactivity: Full

Origins

Continent: Africa
Regions: Sub Saharan Africa, all countries
ICUN Status: Vulnurable

Habitat

Fence Grade: 4> 6.6ft
Land Area: 10807ft
Water Area: 10807ft
Climbing Area: 0ft
Temperature: 50-100°F
Biomes: Aquatic, Grasslands
Can Guests Enter Habitat: No
Can Guests Interact: No
Relations With Humans: Confident

Social

Hippos interact with each other, but do not form close groups or bonds. Mature males are semi-solitary and territorial, presiding over a stretch of river and allowing groups of females (and non-challenging males) to live there. Females will choose where to live based on the quality of the habitat, and thus there will be larger groups in better parts of the river. Hippos are known to be friendly to each other when in water, but can be aggressive towards each other when on land, especially when feeding.
Group Size: 3‒30 (up to 1 male, up to 29 females)
Male Bachelor: 3
Female Bachelor: 3‒30

Reproduction

Male hippos with better territory are more likely to be successful in finding a mate, due to the increase in probability that females will select their stretch of river to live in. Males detect receptive females through smell, before following and vocalizing at her until she allows him to mate with her. The two mate underwater, with the female's nostrils often being the only visible part of her above the surface. 8 months after intercourse, the female hippopotamus will give birth, underwater, to a single baby, who will swim to the surface to take its first breath. The calves stay with their mother until they are between 5 and 7 years old, at which point they will leave to find their own area to live away from related individuals.
Difficulty: Easy (Polygynous)
Maturity: 6 years
Sterility: 40 years (estimate)
Gestation/Incubation: 8 months
Interbirth: 24 months

Food

Tier 1: Hay
Tier 2: Herbivore Pellets
Tier 3: Aquatic Plants and Melons

Feeding Stations

Food Trough
Water Trough
Water Pipe
Water Bowl

Food Enrichment

Hanging/Large Barrel Feeder
Hanging Grazer Feeder
Melon Feeder
Veggie Jelly Cake

Habitat Enrichment

Gyro
Herb Scent Marker
Mud Bath
Plant Screen
Rubbing Pillar
Skittle (Snowman Skittle)
Sprinkler
Waterfall and Metal Frame
Large Tyre

Compatible Animals

Red River Hog

Zoopidia Fun Facts

The hippopotamus's closest living relatives are whales and dolphins.
The skin of the hippopotamus is 6cm thick and secretes a red substance that acts as sunscreen.
Hippos can open their mouths to 150°, this is called a 'hippo yawn' and is usually an aggression display.
Hippos are highly aggressive and are the most dangerous large animals in Africa, killing 3000 people a year.
Hippos spend daylight hours in the water keeping cool and come out of the water at night to graze. They may travel up to 5km, and defecate on leaving so they can smell their way back to the water.

Indian Elephant (Elephas maximus indicus)

Taxonomy

Class: Mammalia
Order: Proboscidea
Family: Elephantidae
Genus: Elephas

General

Population in the Wild: 41,000-52,000
Native to both Central and Southeast Asia, the Indian or Asian elephant (or Elephas maximus indicus) is a species distinguishable by a distinctive tusk, small ears, and grey skin with pink mottling around the face. They are smaller than their African counterparts, with males reaching an average height of 2.75m and weighing 4000kg, compared to the female average of 2.49m and 2400kg. They are large herbivores and live in a variety of different environments, including forests, grasslands and mountains, wherein they feed on tree leaves, bark and grasses.

The species is endangered, threatened primarily by the loss, degradation and fragmentation of their habitat. All of these are a result of humanity's expansion into their lands, and furthermore this sharing of space causes additionally conflict between the two; the animals trample crops and destroy farmland, and thus are often killed by humans. Poaching is also a threat, but to a lesser extent than African elephants because their tusks are much smaller and only present in mature males.

In order to conserve the Indian elephant, efforts are being made to protect their habitats and provide connections between populations that have become separated by the change in land use. Indian conservation groups are also conducting research on the conflict between farmers and elephants, in order to propose adaptive management schemes as problems arise.

Gameplay

Interactivity: Full

Origins

Continent: Asia
Regions: India, Nepal, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Myanmar, Thailand, Malaysia, Laos, China, Cambodia, Vietnam
ICUN Status: Endangered

Habitat

Fence Grade: 4> 6.6ft
Land Area: 9494ft
Water Area: 721ft
Climbing Area: 0ft
Temperature: 46-104°F
Biomes: Tropical, Grassland, Temperate, Aquatic
Can Guests Enter Habitat: No
Can Guests Interact: No
Relations With Humans: Confident

Social

Elephants are mostly social animals, with females living, traveling and foraging in tight-knit herds with their calves. They will also care for each other and help each other raise young. These herds are matrilineal - normally, the oldest female will lead the group and, when she dies, the next oldest female will take her place. Young adult male elephants live loosely bonded in bachelor herds and travel together to locate food and mates. The exception is mature males, who will often live alone.
Group Size: 3‒30 (up to 1 male, up to 29 females)
Male Bachelor: 3‒5
Female Bachelor: 3‒30

Reproduction

To mate, male elephants will track female herds. Their success is dependent on their maturity, as well as the receptiveness of the female, and he is also more likely to receive a female's attraction if he's going through 'musth' - a time of heightened aggression and virility due to an increase in his testosterone levels. The two will then court by chasing after and vocalizing to one another. An elephant pregnancy lasts between 18 and 22 months before the birth of a single calf, who will stay with its mother until the age of 8. At this point, females stay with their mother's herd, whereas males leave and join a bachelor herd of other young males.
Difficulty: Average (Polygynous)
Maturity: 13 years
Sterility: Death
Gestation/Incubation: 22 months
Interbirth: 96 months

Food

Tier 1: Hay
Tier 2: Kibble
Tier 3: Fruit and Vegetables

Feeding Stations

Food Trough
Water Trough
Water Pipe
Water Bowl

Food Enrichment

Hanging/Large Barrel Feeder
Large Fixed Roller Feeder
Tree Scatter Feeder

Habitat Enrichment

Gyro
Large Ball (Large Snow Ball)
Mud Bath
Rubbing Pillar
Skittle (Snowman Skittle)
Sprinkler
Waterfall and Metal Frame
Large Tyre
Water Pool

Compatible Animals

Blackbuck
Malayan Tapir
Nilgai
Proboscis Monkey

Zoopidia Fun Facts

Elephants migrate at the beginning of the dry season to areas with more food and water.
Despite popular opinion, elephants do not use their trunk to drink; they use it to funnel water into their mouth.
Elephants have been known to use tree branches to swat flies, dislodge parasites and scratch themselves.
In the wild, elephants have mutualistic relationships with birds that remove parasites from their skin.
Indian elephants are more closely related to mammoths than African elephants.

Indian Peafowl (Pavo cristatus)

Taxonomy

Class: Aves
Order: Galliformes
Family: Phasianidae
Genus: Pavo

General

Population in the Wild: 100,000 (estimate)
Colloquially known as the Peacock, the Indian Peafowl (or Pavo cristatus) is a large bird native to Southern Asia but which humans have introduced worldwide. The males - peacocks - are famous for their bright blue shiny feathers and extremely large ornamental tail, which they fan out to show off the size and distinctive appearance of their eye-spotted feathers. This is designed both to impress females and intimidate other males. Female peafowl - peahens - look very different to their male counterparts, sporting brown feathers, a flash of blue on the back of their necks, and no tail fan. However, both sexes have a feathered crest on their head.

The species is not endangered, partially due to its attractive appearance, meaning humans breed them artificially to use as an ornamental species. However, the birds are still affected by human behavior, mostly because of a complicated relationship with farming. They are often considered pests because they damage crops when they graze, but similarly sometimes considered a benefit to farmers as they eat crop pest insects such as grasshoppers. However, this leads to problems where peafowl can be poisoned by eating crops sprayed with pesticides. Others are illegally poached for their meat and feathers, leading to a decline in the population in some areas.

Gameplay

Interactivity: Full

Origins

Continent: Asia
Regions: Indian subcontinent
ICUN Status: Least Concern

Habitat

Fence Grade: 1> 4.125ft
Land Area: 3358ft
Water Area: 0ft
Climbing Area: 0ft
Temperature: 37-108°F
Biomes: Temperate, Tropical, Grassland
Can Guests Enter Habitat: Yes
Can Guests Interact: Yes
Relations With Humans: Confident

Social

Peafowl live in groups called 'musters'. These musters consist of one adult male and several females who live and forage on his territory.
Group Size: 4‒20 (up to 4 males, up to 16 females)
Male Bachelor: 4
Female Bachelor: 4‒16

Reproduction

During breeding season, male peafowl gather at 'lek' sites - an area where they display for females - in order to show off their tails. Females will visit to choose males to mate with based on their appearance, and both sexes may mate with multiple partners. After mating, the female will build a nest out of twigs and leaves and will lay an egg every 1 to 2 days for up to 12 days until she has typically between 4 and 8 eggs in her clutch. After approximately 28 days of incubation, the chicks will hatch and remain with their mother for 7 to 10 weeks before becoming fully independent. Peafowl reach sexual maturity between 2 and 3 years old, although males may not have developed their full tail fan until they are 4 years old.
Difficulty: Very Easy (Polygynous)
Maturity: 3 years
Sterility: Death
Gestation/Incubation: 1 month
Interbirth: 12 months

Food

Tier 1: Grains and Seeds
Tier 2: Chopped Fruit
Tier 3: Insects

Feeding Stations

Food Bowl
Water Bowl
Water Pipe
Water Trough

Food Enrichment

Forage Box
Slow Feeder

Habitat Enrichment

Herb Scent Marker
Mirror Mobile
Sprinkler

Compatible Animals
None

Zoopidia Fun Facts

The Indian peafowl is the national bird of India and represents wisdom in the religion of Buddhism.
There is a direct correlation between how many eye-spots a peacock has on his tail-fan and how successful he is finding mates.
Peahens are often more aggressive than peacocks. They will fight other females to gain access to a particularly attractive male and prevent others from getting close to him.
Peacocks will molt and lose all their tail feathers in a 2-week period during late summer. They spend the winter re-growing them ready for the following mating season.
Peafowl often kill and eat baby cobras. This behavior has led to them being respected and revered in Indian folklore.

Indian Rhinoceros (Rhinoceros unicornis)

Taxonomy

Class: Mammalia
Order: Perissodactyla
Family: Rhinocerotidae
Genus: Rhinoceros

General

Population in the Wild: 2,575
Also known as the 'Greater One-Horned Rhinoceros', the Indian Rhinoceros (or Rhinoceros unicornis) is a large grazing ungulate native to the river basins of Northern India, Nepal and Bhutan. The species can be distinguished by its short, thick horn and brown-grey bumpy skin, which is often likened to plate armor. Male rhinos are bigger than females - the former averaging 4620lb and 12.1ft long, compared to the latter's average of 3520lb and 10.56ft. As well as their difference in size, males look different thanks to their large neck folds.

Throughout the early 1900's, the Indian rhino was almost driven to extinction through a combination of sport hunting and their habitat being converted to farmland. These acts reduced the numbers of wild Indian rhinos drastically. While the threats have decreased in modern day, poachers are still a constant danger to them, seeking to sell their valuable horns as a sought-after ingredient in traditional medicine.

There are newer threats to the rhino, too, including invasive plants overtaking their grazing plains and their competition with livestock for food and space. Because of this, rhino populations exist almost exclusively in National Parks where they are well protected - so much so that the largely successful conservation efforts have led to an ongoing increase in their numbers.

Gameplay

Interactivity: Full

Origins

Continent: Asia
Regions: Nepal, India, Bhutan
ICUN Status: Vulnerable

Habitat

Fence Grade: 4> 6.6ft
Land Area: 10764ft
Water Area: 398ft
Climbing Area: 0ft
Temperature: 55-104°F
Biomes: Grassland, Temperate, Aquatic
Can Guest Enter Habitat: No
Can Guests Interact: No
Relations With Humans: Confident

Social

Male Indian rhinos are solitary, only interacting to reproduce with females or to challenge other males over territory and mates. Females may be solitary or may live in a temporary, loosely bonded group of several females and their offspring.
Group Size: 1‒2 (up to 1 male, up to 1 female)
Male Bachelor: 1‒2
Female Bachelor: 1‒2

Reproduction

Dominant males establish their territory over a stretch of river; an area that females will visit to feed and wallow. If a female is receptive, she will signal to the male; in return he will track her scent and chase her until she allows him to mate. Females are pregnant for 15 to 16 months before giving birth to a single calf which, after weaning, will begin to distance itself from its mother. At around 5 years old, the calf will leave to establish his or her own home range in the wild, but it won't be until the age of 10 that bulls are likely to acquire their own river territory.
Difficulty: Easy (Polygynous)
Maturity: 6 years
Sterility: Death
Gestation/Incubation: 16 months
Interbirth: 60 months

Food

Tier 1: Hay
Tier 2: Root Vegetables
Tier 3: High Fiber Biscuits and Salt Licks

Feeding Stations

Food Trough
Water Trough
Water Pipe
Water Bowl

Food Enrichment

Hanging/Large Barrel Feeder
Hanging Grazer Feeder
Melon Feeder
Veggie Jelly Cake

Habitat Enrichment

Gyro
Herb Scent Marker
Mud Bath
Plant Screen
Rubbing Pillar
Skittle (Snowman Skittle)
Sprinkler
Large Tyre

Compatible Animals

Asian Small-Clawed Otter
Blackbuck
Nilgai
Wild Water Buffalo

Zoopidia Fun Facts

The horn of the Indian rhino is made of keratin; the same material that our fingernails and hair are made of.
Rhinos are closely related to horses and zebras.
Rhinos like to cover themselves in mud to protect their skin from the sun and insect bites.
Indian rhinos can run at 30mph for short distances.
Female Indian rhinos make whistling noises to attract males.

Japanese Macaque (Macaca fuscata)

Taxonomy

Class: Mammalia
Order: Primates
Family: Cercopithecidae
Genus: Macaca

General

Population in the Wild: 120,000
The Japanese macaque (or Macaca fuscata) is a species of monkey endemic to the islands of Japan. It lives in a variety of environments, including the sub-arctic forests of Japan's northern regions, and is therefore also known as the snow monkey. It has a thick beige fur coat, white belly and pink face, with males measuring an average of 57cm long and weighing 11kg. Females are slightly smaller, averaging 52cm long and weighing 8kg. Both sexes live in groups of between 10 to 100 individuals, comprising related females with strong bonds, as well as unrelated males that have immigrated in from other groups. The species is not endangered and is surviving well in the wild - so much so that, when numbers get too high, macaques may be culled to prevent damage to crops and trees.

Gameplay

Interactivity: Full

Origins

Continent: Asia
Regions: Japan
ICUN Status: Least Concern

Habitat

Fence Grade: 1 Climb Proof> 6.6ft
Land Area: 3229ft
Water Area: 0ft
Climbing Area: 215ft
Temperature: 5-84°F
Biomes: Taiga, Temperate
Can Guests Enter Habitat: Yes
Can Guests Interact: Yes
Relations With Humans: Confident

Social

Japanese macaques are extremely social animals, living in groups that can include up to 100 individuals. These are primarily made up of related females and their offspring, but also include a smaller number of unrelated males that females have accepted into their group. One of these males will be an alpha and several will be beta males. The species is matrilineal, so the females in the group are dominant and have very close bonds with each other.
Group Size: 8‒50 (up to 17 males, up to 33 females)
Male Bachelor: 8‒50
Female Bachelor: 8‒50

Reproduction

During the mating season, a male and female macaque enter several couple-like relationships called a 'consortship'. Each lasts for a few days, during which they will eat, sleep and travel together. Ultimately, this process will result in the female deciding whether she will allow the male to mate with her or not. Females are also more likely to stay with dominant male for longer than a beta male, as they are better at guarding their mates. A macaque pregnancy lasts 4.5 months, and the mother will give birth to a single baby, which will remain close by until it is between the ages of 3 and 4. After this point, they will begin to distance themselves; females will still remain with their mother's group, whereas males will leave to join an unrelated group.
Difficulty: Easy (Promiscuous)
Maturity: 4 years
Sterility: 20 years
Gestation/Incubation: 5 months
Interbirth: 24 months

Food

Tier 1: Monkey Chow
Tier 2: Fruit and Seeds
Tier 3: Fish and Nuts

Feeding Stations

Arboreal Feeding Platform
Water Bowl
Water Pipe
Water Trough

Food Enrichment

Block of Frozen Fruit
Forage Box
Suspended Forager
Small Fixed Roller Feeder
Fruit Spike Tree

Habitat Enrichment

Sprinkler
Small Ball (Small Ice Ball, Small Ball Colorful, Small Ball Pumpkin)
Cardboard Box (Gift Box
Block of Ice
Mirror Mobile
Musical Keyboard
Rubber Duck

Compatible Animals

Red-Crowned Crane

Zoopidia Fun Facts

Japanese macaques are well adapted to the cold, capable of withstanding temperatures of -20°C.
Female Japanese macaques become good friends by grooming each other.
Japanese macaques have been seen washing sand and dirt off sweet potatoes prior to eating them.
Japanese macaques enjoy warming up in hot springs in cold winters; something they learned from watching humans.
Some groups of Japanese macaques play with stones; with primates, this is often a precursor to learning to use tools.

Lehmann's Poison Frog (Oophaga lehmanni)

Taxonomy

Class: Amphibia
Order: Anura
Family: Dendrobatidae
Genus: Oophaga

General

Population in the Wild: Unknown
Lehmann's poison frog (or Oophaga lehmanni) is a species of amphibian endemic to the Colombian rainforests of the Anchicaya valley, and cannot be found anywhere else in the world. Preferring to live on the forest floor, the frog can occasionally be found residing on low branches and bushes, distinguished by the thick dark brown to black banding on its back, head and legs. In between these are bright lines of coloration that can occur in red, yellow, and orange color morphs. The frogs are an average of 1.24in-1.44in in length when fully grown.

Gameplay

Interactivity: Exhibit

Origins

Continent: South America
Regions: Colombia
ICUN Status: Critically Endangered

Exhibit

Temperature: 79-88°F
Humidity: 80-90%
Biomes: Tropical

Social

Lehmann's poison frogs are solitary animals, only interacting with other frogs in order to mate.
Group Size: 1‒6

Reproduction

After the rainy season, the males search the damp forest floor and low-hanging branches for a suitable area for eggs to be laid. Once a good spot has been identified, the male frog starts making high pitched calls to attract a female who - if impressed with the area he has selected - will lay several large eggs there. The male then fertilizes and protects the batch of eggs for the next 4 weeks, turning them over to ensure they remain damp on the forest floor. Just as the young are about to hatch, the male will take them to separate pools of water, feeding them with unfertilized eggs after they're born. After 2 to 3 months, the tadpoles mature into froglets and become independent, becoming sexually mature after approximately one year.
Difficulty: Difficult (Polygynous)
Maturity: 1 year
Sterility: Death
Gestation/Incubation: 1 month
Interbirth: 11 months

Food

Invertebrates

Exhibit Enrichments

Tropical Plant
Mister
Leaf Litter

Zoopedia Fun Facts

The frog's coloration acts as a warning to potential predators that it's toxic. The toxins on the frog's skin causes intense pain and swelling.
The frog's natural range is very small (roughly 4m2), so it's vulnerable to habitat loss through deforestation.
Overexploitation has been a threat to the frog - the pet trade capitalise on its unique colouration and patterning.
Lehmann's poison frog tadpoles often grow into froglets in small pockets of water in hollow trees or bamboo branches.
The tadpoles are also cannibalistic, so the father will separate the eggs before they hatch.

Lesser Antillean Iguana (Iguana delicatissima)

Taxonomy

Class: Reptilia
Order: Squamata
Family: Iguanidae
Genus: Iguana

General

Population in the Wild: 15,000 (fragmented)
The Lesser Antillean Iguana (or Iguana delicatissima) is a large species of lizard endemic to the Lesser Antilles Islands of the Caribbean - specifically Anguilla, Guadeloupe, Martinique and Dominica. It is a critically endangered species, threatened by habitat loss, hunting by feral animals, and hybridization with the invasive green iguana. The Lesser Antillean Iguana is gray with a green belly and has a short, blunted face with white scales around the jaw; males have pink jowls and blue scales around the eyes, whereas females lack this coloration and are about two thirds of the size of their male counterparts.

Gameplay

Interactivity: Exhibit

Origins

Continent: South America, Central America
Regions: Lesser Antilles
ICUN Status: Critically Endangered

Exhibit

Temperature: 79-88°F
Humidity: 50-60%
Biomes: Tropical

Social

Lesser Antillean iguanas are solitary animals and only interact to mate and compete over mates.
Group Size: 1‒2

Reproduction

Lesser Antillean iguana males have hierarchy where dominance is signaled by their coloration; the darker grey the scales, the more dominant the individual and the more likely it is for a female to be receptive to them. During the mating season, they will establish a territory and display to females by strutting and engaging in 'head pushing' behavior with rival males. If interested, a female will approach so he can mount and mate. The mother will then search for a sandy area to dig a tunnel where she will lay her clutch of eggs, which hatch after 3 months and are immediately independent. The young will reach sexual maturity at between 3 and 5 years-old.
Difficulty: Difficult (Promiscuous)
Maturity: Males 5 years, Females 3 years
Sterility: Death
Gestation/Incubation: 3 months
Interbirth: 9 months

Food

Flowers, fruit and greens

Exhibit Enrichments

Long Wide Trunk
Thin Smooth Branch
Thin Long Log
Mossy Rock (Long, Wide, Smooth)
Basking Lamp (High, Low, Mid-Height)

Zoopedia Fun Facts

Lesser Antillean iguanas can be distinguished from green iguanas by the absence of the large rounded scale on the cheek.
The eggs of the Lesser Antillean iguana are often eaten by snakes, birds, opossums and lizards.
The Lesser Antillean iguana does not urinate, instead excreting salt and other uric waste products through salt glands.
Lesser Antillean iguanas can see in ultraviolet.
Iguanas can shed their tails as a decoy or to escape from predators.

Malabar Rose Butterfly (Pachliopta pandiyana)

Taxonomy

Class: Insecta
Order: Lepidoptera
Family: Papilionidae
Genus: Pachliopta

General

Population in the Wild: Unknown
The Malabar rose (or Pachliopta jophon), also known as the Ceylon rose, or Sri Lankan rose, is a swallowtail butterfly native to the rainforests of Southwestern Sri Lanka. It has white wings with black rims and veins, with red accents on the edge of the hindwing cells. Like many swallowtail butterflies, it has 'tails' extending from the hindwings. The body of the Malabar rose is black, with red stripes around the abdomen. Males and females look similar, though the female's forewings are slightly larger with more visible patterns. The wingspan of the Malabar rose is 3.5in to 5.1in. Caterpillars of this species are black, with red antennae, except for one white segment in the middle of the body.

As an Endangered species, the Malabar rose suffers from habitat loss in its already restricted habitat. The dense, tropical forests of Sri Lanka are being cut to make space for agricultural land. Additionally, it is sough after by insect collectors and may bd targeted by illegal animal trading.

Gameplay

Interactivity: Exhibit

Origins

Continent: Asia
Regions: Sri Lanka
ICUN Status: Endangered

Exhibit

Temperature: 70-95°F
Biomes: Tropical

Social

The Malabar rose is usually more solitary than other butterflies but may be found in pairs. Given abundant resources, larger groups can cohabit.
Group Size: 1-90

Reproduction

Malabar rose butterflies mate year-round but may be more prolific during the rainy season from may to September. Males locate females on forest edges or clearings. Readiness to mate is communicated via pheromones and wing fluttering. When a female accepts a male, the pair will land on nearby branches and mates for 30 to 60 minutes.

Soon after, the female will seek out suitable host plants, and lays her eggs on the underside of young leaves or stems. Malabar roses lay very few eggs, only 1 or 2 eggs per leaf, and around 50 to 100 eggs total. This is thought to minimize competition between caterpillars. Eggs will hatch after 3 to 5 days, and caterpillars feed on the host plants, which builds up the toxins protecting the animal from predators. This stage lasts for up to 3 weeks, in which the caterpillar will moult 5 times, and then spin a chrysalis.

After pupating in the chrysalis for about two weeks, the adult Malabar rose emerges, usually in the morning. The warming sun aids the initially soft wings to dry and harden and allow them to take flight. They reach sexual maturity a few days after emerging, and live for about a month after.
Difficulty: Promiscuous
Maturity: 3 days
Sterility: Death
Gestation/Incubation: 0 months
Interbirth: Only one mating event per lifetime

Food

Nectar

Exhibit Enrichments

Nectar Feeder
Ripe Fruits
Sugar Water Dish
Milkweed
Buddleja
Potted Trees
Mister
Tropical Fern

Zoopedia Fun Facts

The Malabar rose was considered a subspecies of the 'crimson rose', a related and more widespread butterfly of the same genus.
The genus name 'Pachliopta' is made up from the Greek roots for 'thick' and 'appearance'.
The striking, bright coloration of the Malabar rose are a form of 'aposematism', a way of communicating to predators that the individual is toxic or inedible.
As caterpillars, the Malabar rose feeds on toxic plants, such as from the Aristolochia genus, which makes it unpalatable to predators. This toxin is retained even in the adult after emergence.
The species was first described in 1853 by British zoologist John Edward Gray.

Mandrill (Mandrillus sphinx)

Taxonomy

Class: Mammalia
Order: Primates
Family: Cercopithecidae
Genus: Mandrillus

General

Population in the Wild: Unknown
The mandrill (or Mandrillus sphinx) is a species of large monkey that lives in the rainforests and plateaus of Cameroon, Gabon, Equatorial Guinea and Congo. They have olive to dark grey fur, a white stomach, and distinctive coloration on the face; a long pink strip runs down the middle of their muzzle to their nostrils, with blue pads on either side. They also have a yellow beard.

Mandrill males are much larger than - and look very different from - females, with extremely bright colors on their faces and hindquarters. Males measure between 75 and 95cm, weighing 19 to 40kg, whereas females average between 55 and 66cm and weigh 15 to 30kg.

Mandrills are classified as a vulnerable species, and while it is not known how many of them are left in the wild, their numbers are thought to be declining significantly. One threat is habitat loss due to deforestation of the rainforests in which they live. However, their greatest threat is hunting; in areas such as Gabon, humans consider the Mandrill as a prime meat. Reserves have been established to protect some of these rainforests, but little is known about the mandrill populations and as a result they are often overlooked. Much more research and further wildlife surveys are needed.

Gameplay

Interactivity: Full

Origins

Continent: Africa
Regions: Cameroon, Gabon, Equatorial Guinea, Congo
ICUN Status: Vulnerable

Habitat

Fence Grade: 2 Climb Proof> 9.9ft
Land Area: 4306ft
Water Area: 0ft
Climbing Area: 431ft
Temperature: 46-108°F
Biomes: Tropical
Can Guests Enter Habitat: No
Can Guests Interact: No
Relations With Humans: Confident

Social

Mandrills are social animals and live in large groups in the wild. This large group is often divided into smaller sub-groups made up of related females, their offspring and one alpha male. Beta males live on the edges of groups until they become mature enough to be chosen as the alpha by a group of females. Both sexes have a dominance hierarchy - dominant males can be identified by the bright colors on their faces and hindquarters, whereas dominant females have had the most infants.
Group Size: 5‒10 (up to 1 male, up to 9 females)
Male Bachelor: 5
Female Bachelor: 5‒10

Reproduction

Mandrill females will mate with their group's alpha male as well as the solitary beta males, but the alpha male will almost always be the one to father their young. He will also aggressively fend off rival males when females are in oestrus. A female mandrill will be pregnant for 4.5 months before giving birth to a single infant, which is closely cared for by their mother until they are 1 year old, at which point they start to gain some independence. Juveniles stay close to their mothers until they are 6 years old, then males will leave their group to become solitary beta males, while females remain with their mother.
Difficulty: Very Easy (Polygynous)
Maturity: 7 years
Sterility: 30 years (estimate)
Gestation/Incubation: 6 months
Interbirth: 24 months

Food

Tier 1: Monkey Chow
Tier 2: Fruit and Insects
Tier 3: Small Vertebrates

Feeding Stations

Arboreal Feeding Platform
Water Bowl
Water Pipe
Water Trough

Food Enrichment

Block of Frozen Fruit
Forage Box
Suspended Forager
Small Fixed Roller Feeder
Fruit Spike Tree

Habitat Enrichment

Sprinkler
Grab Ball
Block of Ice
Bobbin (Bobbin Drum)
Cardboard Box (Gift Box)
Mirror Mobile
Musical Keyboard

Compatible Animals

Red River Hog

Zoopidia Fun Facts

The mandrill is the largest monkey species in the world.
A group of mandrills is called a 'horde'; a horde can include up to 1300 individuals. Female mandrills live in family groups and all help each other with raising infants.
Mandrills have large cheek pouches that they store food in, often hiding food from their group mates to eat it in peace later.
The bright colors of a male mandrill's face and hindquarters are caused by testosterone and indicate the male's dominance level.
In 'The Descent of Man', Charles Darwin wrote that 'no other member in the whole class of mammals is colored in so extraordinary a manner as the adult male mandrill'.

Mexican Red Knee Tarantula (Brachypelma hamorii)

Taxonomy

Class: Arachnida
Order: Araneae
Family: Theraphosidae
Genus: Brachypelma

General

Population in the Wild: Unknown
The Mexican Red Knee Tarantula (or Brachypelma hamorii) is a species of spider that lives in the scrublands, deserts and forests of Mexico. It has a black body and legs, orange-red coloration on the joints and, like all tarantula species, a body that's covered in sensitive hairs. They measure around 10cm long with a leg span of 15cm and are nocturnal, living in burrows during the day and spending their nights hunting for prey. They feed on insects, small amphibians and small mammals.

Gameplay

Interactivity: Exhibit

Origins

Continent: Central America
Regions: Mexico
ICUN Status: Vulnerable

Exhibit

Temperature: 73-84°F
Humidity: 50-84%
Biomes: Tropical, Desert, Temperate

Social

Mexican red knee tarantulas are solitary animals and are likely to be aggressive towards each other if kept together in a terrarium.
Group Size: 1‒5

Reproduction

The male spins a web on the ground onto which he deposits sperm, then absorbing it onto his palps (mouth appendages). After going in search of a female's burrow, he will attempt to coax her out, approaching her and using his front legs to hook back her fangs. He will deposit the sperm from his palps into a furrow on her abdomen, which she will store until she is ready to lay between 200 and 400 eggs in an egg sac. She guards this in her burrow for 1 to 3 months, carrying it with her when she leaves, until the spiderlings hatch. They are protected by their mother in the burrow until their first molt, after which they will venture out and become independent.
Difficulty: Very Easy (Promiscuous)
Maturity: Males 4 years, Females 6-7 years
Sterility: Death
Gestation/Incubation: 3 months
Interbirth: 9 months

Food

Arthropods, small amphibians and mammals

Exhibit Enrichments

Tropical Plant
Leaf Litter
Hollow Log (Broken, Wide, Narrow)

Zoopedia Fun Facts

Mexican red knee tarantulas do not need to eat often. After a large meal, they may not hunt again for another month.
The Mexican red knee tarantula has two small 'claws' on the end of each of its legs that allow it to climb smooth surfaces.
The Mexican red knee tarantula uses its legs to pick up tiny vibrations in the ground when hunting and ambushing prey.
The end of the Mexican red knee tarantula's legs are able to sense smell and taste as well as touch.
The venom of the Mexican red knee tarantula is not strong to humans, and the bite is said to be equivalent to a bee sting.

Nile Monitor (Varanus niloticus)

Taxonomy

Class: Reptilia
Order: Squamata
Family: Varanidae
Genus: Varanus

General

Population in the Wild: Unknown
The Nile monitor (or Varanus niloticus) is a large species of reptile that lives in the non-desert area of Sub-Saharan Africa. They have also been introduced to the USA - specifically California and Florida - where they are regarded as an invasive species.

Nile monitors much prefer environments close to water, tending to live near rivers. Both sexes look the same and are between 120 and 220cm long, with more than half of this length being their tail. Adults tend to be brown to green, with dark stripes on their body and yellow spots on their legs and head. Meanwhile, juveniles are black with bright yellow spots.

The species is not endangered but they are exploited in certain areas of Africa where they are hunted for their skin and meat. Their body fat is also believed to have healing properties in traditional medicine, although there is no scientific evidence for this.

Gameplay

Interactivity: Full

Origins

Continent: Africa
Regions: Sub-Saharan Africa
ICUN Status: Least Concern

Habitat

Fence Grade: 2> 1.65ft
Land Area: 3229ft
Water Area: 807ft
Climbing Area: 0ft
Temperature: 54-108°F
Biomes: Tropical, Grassland, Aquatic
Can Guests Enter Habitat: No
Can Guests Interact: No
Relations With Humans: Confident

Social

Nile monitors are solitary animals and prefer to be alone.
Group Size: 1‒3 (up to 1 male, up to 2 females)
Male Bachelor: 1‒2
Female Bachelor: 1‒3

Reproduction

After tracking a female by scent, a male will follow her until one of two scenarios: either she allows him to mate with her, or he gives up. If two or more males meet when tracking females then they will fight, and a smaller monitor will yield to the larger one. Having mated, a female will carry her eggs with her until the rainy season. After a rainfall, she will dig a nest in the soft ground before covering the eggs over, and these will incubate for 3 to 10 months depending on the environmental conditions. The newly hatched young must dig their way out of the nest and may need to wait for it to rain to be able to get out, although some mothers do return to their nests to help. After hatchlings emerge, they live independently and reach sexual maturity at 3 to 4 years old.
Difficulty: Difficult (Promiscuous)
Maturity: 4 years
Sterility: Death
Gestation/Incubation: 10 months
Interbirth: 24 months

Food

Tier 1: Rodents
Tier 2: Mealworms
Tier 3: Amphibians

Feeding Stations

Food Tray
Water Bowl
Water Pipe
Water Trough

Food Enrichment

Bamboo Feeder
Dog Ball
Frozen Blood Pumpkin
Restraint Feeder

Habitat Enrichment

Blood Scent Marker
Prey-Scented Sack
Rubbing Pad (Rubbing Pad Bark)
Small Ball (Small Ice Ball, Small Ball Colorful, Small Ball Pumpkin)
Sprinkler
Water Jet (Water Jet Rock)
Rubber Duck

Compatible Animals
None

Zoopidia Fun Facts

Many female Nile monitors break into termite nests and lay their eggs inside them because the termites repair the damage afterwards and thus shelter the eggs.
When in danger or antagonised, the Nile monitor will attack with a powerful whip from its long tail.
Nile monitors are preyed upon by martial eagles, which can pick up and carry a lizard weighing up to 4kg.
Nile monitors are causing the crocodile and alligator population in Florida to decrease because they are so effective at robbing their nests of eggs and hatchlings.
Nile monitors never stop growing; they continue to get larger throughout their lives.

Nyala (Tragelaphus angasii)

Taxonomy

Class: Mammalia
Order: Artiodactyla
Family: Bovidae
Genus: Tragelaphus

General

Population in the Wild: 32,000
The nyala (or Tragelaphus angasii) is a secretive antelope that, lives in the thick undergrowth of the South-Eastern African savanna. They are sexually dimorphic, with males much larger than females; the former has a dark grey shaggy coat, yellow legs and twisted, yellow tipped horns, whereas the latter are tan in colour. Both sexes also have vertical white stripes on their back.

Males measure between 0.9 and 1.1m tall, 1.35 to 1.95m long, and weigh 98 to 125 kg. Females are between 0.75 and 0.9m tall, 1.35m to 1.95m long, and weigh between 50 and 68kg.

Gameplay

Interactivity: Full

Origins

Continent: Africa
Regions: Malawi, Mozambique, South Africa, Eswatini, Zimbabwe, Botswana, Namibia
ICUN Status: Least Concern

Habitat

Fence Grade: 2> 4.125ft
Land Area: 3229ft
Water Area: 0ft
Climbing Area: 0ft
Temperature: 46-108°F
Biomes: Grassland, Tropical
Can Guest Enter Habitat: No
Can Guests Interact: No
Relations With Humans: Shy

Social

Female nyala live in small groups with their offspring and forage through the undergrowth together. Adult males are solitary, living alone except for during the mating season, when they temporarily join a female herd.
Group Size: 1‒5 (up to 1 male, up to 4 females)
Male Bachelor: 1
Female Bachelor: 1‒5

Reproduction

During the mating season, a male will join a female herd, courting the females by approaching them with his head and horns bowed down in a non-threatening posture. It's possible that multiple males may often try to join the same female herd, and if so this will result in a performative display; males circling each other and making their hair stand on end while holding their tails and horns up high, in order to make themselves look as big as possible.

If this results in a stalemate, the males will fight and the victor will remain with the female herd, mating with the individuals if they are receptive. The mother will give birth to a single calf after a 7 month pregnancy and the calves will remain close by until they are around 18 months old, at which point the males will leave and become solitary. Females remain with their mother's herd.
Difficulty: Very Easy (Polygynous)
Maturity: 1.5 years
Sterility: Death
Gestation/Incubation: 7 months
Interbirth: 12 months

Food

Tier 1: Hay
Tier 2: Herbivore Pellets
Tier 3: Fruit and Vegetables

Feeding Stations

Food Trough
Water Trough
Water Pipe
Water Bowl

Food Enrichment

Grazing Ball Feeder
Hanging Grazer Feeder
Small Barrel Feeder

Habitat Enrichment

Grab Ball
Herb Scent Marker
Plant Screen
Rubbing Pillar
Scratching Tree (Scots Pine & Tamarind)

Compatible Animals

Southern White Rhinoceros

Zoopidia Fun Facts

Unlike many antelope species, nyala are extremely reliant on water and need to drink daily. They always live near a water source.
Nyala produce a dog-like bark to alert other group members of danger.
Nyala males are called 'bulls' and nyala females are called 'ewes'. This is because the large size difference between sexes in this species. The terms 'bull' and 'doe' are used for large antelope species, and 'ram' and 'ewe' for small antelope species. Male and female nyala fit into different categories.
Nyala are crepuscular animals; they forage during dusk and dawn, and rest and sleep during the heat of the day.
Nyala have excellent hearing and will listen for the warning calls of baboons and impala to remain aware of threats.

Okapi (Okapia johnstoni)

Taxonomy

Class: Mammalia
Order: Artiodactyla
Family: Giraffidae
Genus: Okapia

General

Population in the Wild: 10,000-35,000
The okapi (or Okapia johnstoni) is a secretive species native to the dense forests of the Democratic Republic of Congo. They have a distinctive appearance with a grey-white face, dark brown coat across their torso, as well as bright white stripes across their legs and hindquarters. The sexes differ slightly as the males also have small horns, whereas females have whorls of hair in the equivalent area. Both average 1.4 to 1.6m tall and 2.4 to 2.6m long.

The species is endangered for a number of reasons. Firstly, deforestation and the expansion of human infrastructure have caused the destruction of their habit, but they are also killed for the bushmeat trade and have been victims of the conflict in the Democratic Republic of Congo. The war there means the use of firearms and also the enforcement of boundaries, which may impact on their territory and foraging routes. The okapi is the flagship species for the Congo rainforest ecosystem, and as such has nature reserves and multiple captive breeding programs dedicated to protecting it.

Gameplay

Interactivity: Full

Origins

Continent: Africa
Regions: Democratic Republic of Congo
ICUN Status: Endangered

Habitat

Fence Grade: 2> 4.125ft
Land Area: 11636ft
Water Area: 0ft
Climbing Area: 0ft
Temperature: 46-108°F
Biomes: Tropical
Can Guests Enter Habitat: Yes
Can Guests Interact: No
Relations With Humans: Shy

Social

Okapis are solitary, interacting only to mate - the only exception being a mother with her calf.
Group Size: 1‒2 (up to 1 male, up to 1 female)
Male Bachelor: 1
Female Bachelor: 1‒2

Reproduction

Okapis live alone in dense woodland, marking their territory with scent released from glands in their feet. These are then tracked by other okapis in order to mate; when two meet, they will court each other by circling, sniffing and licking each other, before mating and going their separate ways. After a pregnancy of 14 to 16 months, the mother will give birth to one calf, which spends the first two months of its life hiding in the undergrowth while its mother forages. The young okapi mature into adults at 2 years old, leaving to establish their own home range.
Difficulty: Very Easy (Promiscuous)
Maturity: 2 years
Sterility: Death
Gestation/Incubation: 16 months
Interbirth: 24 months

Food

Tier 1: Hay
Tier 2: Herbivore Pellets
Tier 3: Ferns and Salt Licks

Feeding Stations

Food Trough
Water Pipe
Water Bowl
Water Trough

Food Enrichment

Hanging Barrel Feeder

Habitat Enrichment

Plant Screen
Rubbing Pillar
Sprinkler
Scratching Tree (Scots Pine & Tamarind)

Compatible Animals

Red River Hog

Zoopidia Fun Facts

The okapi and the giraffe are the only members of the giraffe family.
Newborn okapis do not defecate for the first month of their life to prevent predators from locating them.
Okapis have a 30 cm long prehensile tongue.
Okapis can retract their eyeballs into their skull to protect their eyes when travelling through thick undergrowth.
The okapi had the nickname 'African unicorn' before it was officially discovered. People would tell stories of seeing a 'donkey-like' creature with small horns in the forest, but its existence wasn't confirmed until 1901.

Plains Zebra (Equus quagga)

Taxonomy

Class: Mammalia
Order: Perissodactyla
Family: Equidae
Genus: Equus

General

Population in the Wild: 150,000-250,000
The plains zebra (or Equus quagga) is native to Eastern and Southern Africa, preferring to live in easy reach of water sources on the savanna. The species is divided into six subspecies, separated due to different features, usually varying strip patterns, and lack of interbreeding between groups. Plains zebra have the black and white stripes famous of all zebra, but are smaller than Grévy's zebra and larger than the mountain zebra. Males and females can both be 3.6ft to 4.8ft in height, and between 7.2ft and 8.2ft in length, although males are generally 10% larger than females.

The species' population is stable, but near threatened status. Excessive hunting has pushed one subspecies of plains zebra (the quagga) to extinction. This remains a problem for others, all of which are desirable to hunters for their skins. The zebra also rely on migration paths, which have been known to become blocked by man made fences and walls, preventing them from reaching areas with food and water during the dry season. Many zebra live within National Parks where they are protected, but they are a far-ranging species and may move out of protected areas during migrations. When in National Parks, there are concerted efforts to prevent poaching.

Gameplay

Interactivity: Full

Origins

Continent: Africa
Regions: Eastern and Southern Africa
ICUN Status: Near Threatened

Habitat

Fence Grade: 2> 4.125ft
Land Area: 5490ft
Water Area: 0ft
Climbing Area: 0ft
Temperature: 46-104°F
Biomes: Grassland
Can Guests Enter Habitat: No
Can Guests Interact: No
Relations With Humans: Confident

Social

Plains zebra live in cohesive herds in the wild, which can be composed of several harems that consist of one stallion, several females and their young offspring. Young males that have no yet gained their own harem live in 'bachelor herds'. Females within a harem have a hierarchy depending on how long they have been with the stallion; the female that joined the stallion first is the alpha female.
Group Size: 3‒6 (up to 1 male, up to 5 females)
Male Bachelor: 3‒6
Female Bachelor: 3‒6

Reproduction

Male zebra 'acquire' a young female by approaching her while in her family herd when she first reaches sexual maturity. He must challenge, fight and subdue her father to 'win' the female, who will then join him. Other males may also attempt to steal her. The stallion that first mates with the female is the one she will remain with. Female zebra are pregnant for 12 to 14 months and give birth to one foal. Female foals remain with their natal herd until they join an unrelated male, whereas male foals leave their mother when she has another foal to join a bachelor herd of other young males.
Difficulty: Very Easy (Polygynous)
Maturity: 4 years
Sterility: Death
Gestation/Incubation: 13 months
Interbirth: 12 months

Food

Tier 1: Hay
Tier 2: Herbivore Pellets
Tier 3: Fruit and Vegetables

Feeding Stations

Food Trough
Water Trough
Water Pipe
Water Bowl

Food Enrichment

Grazing Ball Feeder
Hanging Grazer Feeder
Small Barrel Feeder

Habitat Enrichment

Grab Ball
Herb Scent Marker
Plant Screen
Rubbing Pillar
Scratching Tree (Scots Pine & Tamarind)

Compatible Animals

African Buffalo
Black Wildebeest
Blue Wildebeest
Common Ostrich
Common Warthog
Reticulated Giraffe
Sable Antelope
Scimitar-Horned Oryx
Southern White Rhinoceros
Springbok
Thomson's Gazelle

Zoopidia Fun Facts

Zebra recognize each other by their different stripe patterns.
Zebra sleep standing up and take 'watches' during sleep to look out for predators.
The reason for a zebra's stripes is still debated; it may be for camouflage in grass and shade (especially for foals), for motion camouflage to confuse predators when the herd runs, as a deterrent to parasites, or for social recognition.
Zebra females in a harem are aggressive towards new females, who must be protected by the stallion until tension subsides.
Zebra herds move to follow the rain and may migrate up to 1000 miles to remain close to food and water.

Pronghorn Antelope (Antilocapra americana)

Taxonomy

Class: Mammalia
Order: Artiodactyla
Family: Antilocapridae
Genus: Antilocapra

General

Population in the Wild: 700,000
The pronghorn antelope (or Antilocapra americana) is, in fact, not a true antelope. While this North American mammal occupies a similar environmental niche to antelopes - hence the same name being used - for this reason it is often simply referred to as the 'pronghorn'. It has a tan colored coat on its back and sides, a white underbelly, and white chevron-shaped markings on its neck. The species stands an average of 81 to 104cm tall at the shoulder, measuring between 1.3 and 1.5m in length. The males are also 10% larger than the females, have a distinct dark streak down their muzzle, and boast longer, thicker horns.

They are a stable and not endangered species, meaning few conservation efforts are in place to protect them. As migratory animals, however, they may be affected if human development has degraded or destroyed their habitat, disrupting their migration pathways in the process. This is a specific issue that the Wildlife Conservation Society of North America is monitoring.

Gameplay

Interactivity: Full

Origins

Continent: North America
Regions: USA, Canada, Mexico
ICUN Status: Least Concern

Habitat

Fence Grade: 2> 4.125ft
Land Area: 3983ft
Water Area: 0ft
Climbing Area: 0ft
Temperature: 36-109°F
Biomes: Grassland, Temperate, Taiga, Desert
Can Guests Enter Habitat: Yes
Can Guests Interact: No
Relations With Humans: Shy

Social

Pronghorn antelope have complex and interchangeable social groups. During the winter, large mixed herds composed of multiple smaller groups will form. Then, during the spring, this larger group will split off into three different sub-groups: small interrelated female groups and their offspring; bachelor herds of young males; and the mature, solitary territorial males.
Group Size: 1‒11 (up to 1 male, up to 10 females)
Male Bachelor: 1‒5
Female Bachelor: 1‒11

Reproduction

After establishing a territory, male pronghorns will attempt to get females that move through the area to join their harem. The females have several mating strategies. They may join a harem for several days and then move to a new harem, repeating this several times. Then, when they are in oestrus, they will select the male with the best territory to mate with. Alternatively, they may attempt to incite fights between males and mate with the victor, while others may find an isolated male and remain with him for the entire mating season.

After a pregnancy of 7 to 8 months, females will give birth to 1 or 2 calves. These calves remain hidden from the group for the first month of their life, later joining the group to forage alongside them. Calves are weaned at 4 to 5 months old, and are fully grown at between 14 and 16 months old. It's at this age that males will leave their natal herd to join a bachelor group, later becoming solitary and establishing their own territory at the age of 3. Females, on the other hand, remain with their family herd.
Difficulty: Very Easy (Promiscuous)
Maturity: 1.5 years
Sterility: Death
Gestation/Incubation: 8 months
Interbirth: 12 months

Food

Tier 1: Hay
Tier 2: Herbivore Pellets
Tier 3: Cacti

Feeding Stations

Food Trough
Water Bowl
Water Pipe
Water Trough

Food Enrichment

Grazing Ball Feeder
Hanging Grazer Feeder
Small Barrel Feeder

Habitat Enrichment
Grab Ball
Herb Scent Marker
Rubbing Pillar
Scratching Tree (Scots Pine & Tamarind)

Compatible Animals

American Bison
Bighorn Sheep

Zoopidia Fun Facts

Although colloquially called an 'antelope', the pronghorn is actually more closely related to giraffes and okapis.
Pronghorn antelope are the second fastest land animal after the cheetah and can run at 61mph. However, they can run at high speeds for much longer than the cheetah.
Pronghorn antelope have a lot of adaptations for speed and agility, including a large heart and lungs, light bones and shock-absorbent hooves.
Pronghorn antelope have white glossy hairs on their rump which stand up and catch the light when the pronghorn is alarmed, acting as a warning to other herd members.
Although this species can jump up to 6m in one bound, they prefer to crawl underneath obstacles rather than jump over them.

Puff Adder (Bitis arietans)

Taxonomy

Class: Reptilia
Order: Squamata
Family: Viperidae
Genus: Bitis

General

Population in the Wild: Unknown
The Puff adder (or Bitis arietans) is a species of venomous snake that is widespread throughout sub-Saharan Africa and the Southern Middle East. It is distinguishable by its squat body, broad head and and dull scales; these are beige, brown and black, and formed in a reticulated pattern to provide it with excellent camouflage on the savannas and grasslands where it prefers to live. It's a slow moving snake, but can reach great speeds when disturbed. Their average length is 1m - although some specimens can reach almost 2m - and males tend to be larger than females, with a wider girth and longer tail.

Gameplay

Interactivity: Exhibit

Origins

Continent: Africa, Asia
Regions: Sub-Saharan Africa and Southern Middle East
ICUN Status: Least Concern

Exhibit

Temperature: 73-88°F
Humidity: 60-80%
Biomes: Grassland

Social

Puff adders are solitary animals. It is rare that they will ever encounter each other in the wild except when males search for females to mate with, and even so they do not interact.
Group Size: 1‒5

Reproduction

Males search for females by tracking pheromonal signals, and many will often meet each other when seeking the same female. If this happens, they compete for mating rights by performing combative 'dances' and wrestling with their rivals by entwining their necks together. A victor will eventually emerge, mating with the female who, after 5 to 6 months. It will give birth to between 30 and 80 live young. These hatchlings are independent from birth and will reach sexual maturity at 2 years old.
Difficulty: Easy (Promiscuous)
Maturity: 2 years
Sterility: Death
Gestation/Incubation: 6 months
Interbirth: 6 months

Food

Small mammals, amphibians, lizards and birds

Exhibit Enrichments

Large Rock
Camouflage Ground
Basking Lamp (High, Mid-Height, Low)

Zoopedia Fun Facts

Puff adders are responsible for most snakebite deaths in Africa.
The Puff adder is extremely greedy and has been known to eat itself to death in captivity if offered unlimited food.
The venom of the puff adder can cause extreme pain, low blood pressure and necrosis of tissue.
The puff adder is an aggressive and bad-tempered snake, often remaining ready to attack and never settling when in captivity.
The puff adder can give birth to a great number of live young, with one female recorded as giving birth to 156 young.

Red Deer (Cervus elaphus)

Taxonomy

Class: Mammalia
Order: Artiodactyla
Family: Cervidae
Genus: Cervus

General

Population in the Wild: Unknown
The red deer (or Cervus elaphus) is a widespread species of ungulate living throughout the temperate grasslands, woodlands and scrublands of Europe, Asia and parts of Northern Africa. Red deer have red-brown fur with a paler underside. They have large, pointed ears, large eyes and a long snout. The species is sexually dimorphic; males are larger than females and grow wide antlers with multiple branches. There are several subspecies of red deer, and size varies depending on the region and environmental conditions. Male red deer are called stags, and can grow between 1.7m and 2.5m (5.6ft and 8.3ft) long, with a height of 1.07m to 1.37m (3.5ft to 4.5ft) at the shoulder. Female red deer, called hinds, can achieve a body length of 1.6m to 2.1m (5.3ft to 6.9ft) and grow 0.95m to 1.22m (3.1ft to 4ft) tall at the shoulder. Stags are much heavier than hinds, weighing 90kg to 240kg (198lb to 528lb) and 60kg to 170kg (132lb to 374lb) comparatively.

Red deer are not endangered and are a species of least concern. There are even invasive populations that have been intentionally released as game animals in New Zealand, Australia and South America. The red deer is both hunted and commercially farmed for its meat, fur and antlers.

Gameplay

Interactivity: Full

Origins

Continent: Europe, Asia, Africa
Regions: United Kingdom, Norway, Sweden, Denmark, Finland, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Russia, Netherlands, Belgium, France, Germany, Poland, Belarus, Czechia, Slovakia, Ukraine, Switzerland, Austria, Hungary, Romania, Moldova, Portugal, Spain, Italy, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Serbia, Bulgaria, Greece, Turkey, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Georgia, Iran, Morocco, Algeria, Tunisia
ICUN Status: Least Concern

Habitat

Fence Grade: 2> 4.95ft
Land Area: 3875ft
Water Area: 0ft
Climbing Area: 0ft
Temperature: 14-100°F
Biomes: Grassland, Temperate, Taiga
Can Guests Enter Habitat: No
Can Guests Interact: No
Relations With Humans: Neutral

Social

Red deer live in different group compositions, out of which loose herds of up to 400 animals can form, depending on food availability and time of year. Interrelated females and their offspring form bonded groups, while young males live in bachelor groups. Older males tend to be solitary and acquire a harem during breeding season.
Group Size: 3‒9 (up to 1 male, up to 8 females)
Male Bachelor: 3‒10
Female Bachelor: 3‒15

Reproduction

The mating system of red deer can vary depending on environmental conditions and population density. The most common mating strategy is that of territorial stags defending harems of females. Here, a male will defend territories and vocalise to attract females and fend off challenging males. He will aggressively defend female family groups moving through his territory, which may go as far as fighting and clashing antlers with rival stags. The stag will mate with all mature and receptive females in his harem. Typically, a dominant male is able to defend around six receptive females. After the mating season, he leaves the harem while the female group remains together.

A hind will be pregnant for 240 to 262 days before giving birth to one fawn, though occasionally twins occur. She will temporarily leave the group to give birth alone, hiding her offspring in the undergrowth and only returning to feed it. After a period of 16 days, both will rejoin the herd. Fawns begin eating grasses from this point on and weaning is complete at 2 months of age.

Fawns are independent at 1 year old and reach sexual maturity at 16 months. Young hinds remain with their mother’s groups and are likely to mate for the first time when they are 2 years old, while stags are unlikely to be strong enough to secure access to a harem until their antlers are fully developed at 4 or 5 years old. They form bachelor herds of 4 to 10 stags, learning dominance displays and how to fight and leave the groups to live solitarily when they are old enough.
Difficulty: Easy (Polygynous)
Maturity: 4 years
Sterility: Death
Gestation/Incubation: 8 months
Interbirth: 12 months

Food

Tier 1: Hay
Tier 2: Herbivore Pellets
Tier 3: Fruit and Vegetables

Feeding Stations

Food Trough
Water Bowl
Water Pipe
Water Trough

Food Enrichment

Grazing Ball Feeder
Hanging Grazer Feeder
Large Barrel Feeder
Scarecrow Feeder

Habitat Enrichment

Grab Ball
Herb Scent Marker
Large Ball (Large Snow Ball)
Rubber Duck
Rubbing Pillar
Scratching Tree (Scots Pine & Tamarind)
Skittle (Snowman Skittle)

Compatible Animals

European Fallow Deer
Highland Cattle
Mute Swan
Tamworth Pig
Wild Boar
Wisent

Zoopidia Fun Facts

The heaviest red deer ever recorded weighed 497kg.
Male red deer make a loud roar known as a ‘bugle’ to aid in the cohesion of their harem and to signal to rival males.
The red deer's hooves are soft at birth, so fawns rarely walk for the first 16 days of their lives until they harden.
Red deer fawns are born with spots for camouflage, but lose their spots by the time they are 5 months old.
Red deer shed and regrow their antlers every year; while they are growing, they are covered in velvet which provides blood and nutrients to the growing bones.

Red Panda (Ailurus fulgens)

Taxonomy

Class: Mammalia
Order: Carnivora
Family: Ailuridae
Genus: Ailurus

General

Population in the Wild: 10,000
The red panda (or Ailurus fulgens) is a small mammal that lives in the woodlands of the Himalayas and multiple areas of China. Despite its name, it is not closely related to the giant panda, however it does share some characteristics such as a diet mainly consisting of bamboo. With red fur, black legs, a ringed tail, and white ears and snout, the red panda averages between 50 and 64cm from head to body, with a tail 28 to 59cm long. They are excellent climbers and good swimmers that enjoy living in a varied environment.

The species is endangered, primarily due to deforestation that is causing habitat loss. However, they are also poached for their fur and are vulnerable to inbreeding; inbreeding depression is caused when the number of animals in a population vastly decreases, meaning the genetic pool is limited and animals are more likely to mate with their relatives resulting in weak, offspring. To conserve populations in the wild, many protected areas have been established around their territories, and, in some areas, locals have launched ecotourism start-ups to encourage people to visit and see the red pandas, raising awareness and money for conservation efforts.

Gameplay

Interactivity: Full

Origins

Continent: Asia
Regions: Eastern Himalayas, Southwestern China
ICUN Status: Endangered

Habitat

Fence Grade: 2 Climb Proof> 6.6ft
Land Area: 2368ft
Water Area: 0ft
Climbing Area: 431ft
Temperature: 32-84°F
Biomes: Taiga, Temperate
Can Guests Enter Habitat: No
Can Guests Interact: No
Relations With Humans: Shy

Social

Red pandas are solitary and territorial animals, with males having larger territories than females. In nature, the two only interact during the mating season. Both are also hunted by snow leopards and martens in the wild, and as a result like to have places to isolate themselves and hide.
Group Size: 1‒2 (up to 1 males, up to 1 females)
Male Bachelor: 1‒2
Female Bachelor: 1‒2

Reproduction

After a male and female track one another down using scent marking, the female will roll on the ground to invite the male to mate with her. The pregnant female will give birth to a litter of 1 to 3 cubs around 4 to 5 months later, and they will stay with their mother until the next breeding season begins a year later. They will then leave her to establish their own territories.
Difficulty: Very Easy (Promiscuous)
Maturity: 1.5 years
Sterility: 15 years
Gestation/Incubation: 5 months
Interbirth: 12 months

Food

Tier 1: Bamboo
Tier 2: Maple Leaves and Bark
Tier 3: Fruit and Vegetables

Feeding Stations

Arboreal Feeding Platform
Water Bowl
Water Pipe
Water Trough

Food Enrichment

Forage Box
Dog Ball
Tree Forager

Habitat Enrichment

Small Ball (Small Ice Ball, Small Ball Colorful, Small Ball Pumpkin)
Rubbing Pad (Rubbing Pad Bark)
Cardboard Box (Gift Box)
Wind Chimes
Herb Scent Marker
Rubber Duck

Compatible Animals
None

Zoopidia Fun Facts

The red panda is also known as the 'firefox'.
Red pandas have fur on the soles of their paws that helps with scent marking and provides protection from the cold.
Red Pandas have a modified wrist bone that forms a 'sixth finger'; they use it for stripping bamboo.
Pregnant red pandas will build nests in rock crevices and hollow trees before they give birth to their cubs.
In 2005, a red panda called 'Babu' escaped from Birmingham Nature Centre, UK into the city center. He became a local celebrity and was named 'Brummie of the Year' - the only non-human to ever win the award.

Red Ruffed Lemur (Varecia rubra)

Taxonomy

Class: Mammalia
Order: Primates
Family: Lemuridae
Genus: Varecia

General

Population in the Wild: 29,000-52,000
The red-ruffed lemur (or Varecia rubra) is a critically endangered species of primate native to the Northern Masoala rainforests of Madagascar. With yellow eyes and a black pointed face surrounded by the distinctive red ruff, the lemur's body is covered in thick red fur, and it has a black tail, hands and feet. It also has a white patch on the top of its head.

The species is threatened by habitat loss and hunting, they are particularly vulnerable to this because they require well established forests with tall trees to survive and forage for fruit, nectar and flowers. Therefore, it cannot live in young or newly planted forests. They are also frequently hunted for bushmeat. To combat these problems, the Masoala rainforest is a protected national park, but illegal logging and hunting still takes place.

Gameplay

Interactivity: Full

Origins

Continent: Africa
Regions: Madagascar
ICUN Status: Critically Endangered

Habitat

Fence Grade: 1 Climb Proof> 4.125ft
Land Area: 2260ft
Water Area: 0ft
Climbing Area: 215ft
Temperature: 50-108°F
Biomes: Tropical
Can Guest Enter Habitat: Yes
Can Guests Interact: Yes
Relations With Humans: Neutral

Social

Lemurs are very social animals that live in close-knit groups of up to 30 individuals, grooming each other and helping raise one another's young. Together, they move through their environment during the day, foraging for flowers and fruit, and will sleep in a tree together at night. Females are dominant in lemur society.
Group Size: 3‒30 (up to 1 male, up to 29 females)
Male Bachelor: 3‒30
Female Bachelor: 3‒30

Reproduction

A male lemur will approach a female in a submissive manner, chattering and squealing at her, and the two will mate if she is receptive. The mother will be pregnant for 3 months and give birth to between 1 and 4 babies in a tree nest. They will stay there until they are 2 to 3 months old, at which point the babies will be old enough to come out of the nest and begin interacting with the lemur troop. The females are fully grown at 2 years old and will remain with their mother, whereas the males reach adulthood at between 3 and 4 years old, leaving their family troop to find an unrelated group.
Difficulty: Very Easy (Polygynous)
Maturity: 2.5 years
Sterility: 20 years
Gestation/Incubation: 3 months
Interbirth: 12 months

Food

Tier 1: Monkey Chow
Tier 2: Leaves and Shoots
Tier 3: Fruit

Feeding Stations

Arboreal Feeding Platform
Water Bowl
Water Pipe
Water Trough

Food Enrichment

Block of Frozen Fruit
Forage Box
Fruit Spike Tree
Small Fixed Roller Feeder
Suspended Forager

Habitat Enrichment

Cardboard Box (Gift Box)
Block of Ice
Mirror Mobile
Musical Keyboard
Small Ball (Small Ice Ball, Small Ball Colorful, Small Ball Pumpkin)
Sprinkler
Rubber Duck

Compatible Animals

Black-and-White Ruffed Lemur
Coquerel's Sifaka
Ring Tailed Lemur

Zoopidia Fun Facts

The word 'lemur' is derived from the Latin word 'Lemures', meaning 'spirits' or 'ghosts'.
Red ruffed lemurs are very vocal and will make alarm calls to alert their group to predators.
Red ruffed lemurs have evolved a long, pointed snout and a long tongue for eating nectar from flowers, meaning they play an important role in pollination.
Ruffed lemurs are the only primates that give birth to litters of young, and can birth up to 4 infants in one pregnancy. They build nests in the trees where they hide their babies until they are old enough to walk and climb.
Red ruffed lemurs groom their thick coat using a long claw on the second toe of their back leg.

Reticulated Giraffe (Giraffa camelopardalis reticulata)

Taxonomy

Class: Mammalia
Order: Artiodactyla
Family: Giraffidae
Genus: Giraffa

General

Population in the Wild: 8,500
Also known as the Somali giraffe, the reticulated giraffe (or Giraffa camelopardalis reticulata) is a subspecies that lives in the savannahs and open forests of Kenya, Somalia and Ethiopia. The reticulated giraffe is distinguishable from other subspecies thanks to its large, polygonal spots, tan to red in color, that are divided by white interconnecting lines on the animal's fur. While both sexes are extremely tall, the males are significantly taller than females and have well-developed bony horns on their head; the horns of the female are smaller and thinner. Giraffes are famous for their long neck, which is used for accessing leaves that are out of reach to other animals.

Reticulated giraffes are threatened by deforestation and the increase in agricultural land conversion, both of which are destroying their habitats. Furthermore, giraffes often live in areas of civil unrest and are likely to be killed as an indirect of the groups such as the 'Reticulated Giraffe Conservation with Pastoralists Initiative' have been established and are dedicated to protecting giraffes. Groups like this install cameras on giraffe trails to track the animals, locate snares and prevent poaching, while this activity also benefits other species that may live in the area. The group also educates locals on giraffes and the local wildlife.

Extra Information: Species disputes and evolution

The phylogeny of giraffes is a debated subject - current research is in conflict about whether varieties of giraffes are separate species, subspecies, or a combination of the two. Most of the different varieties of giraffe have been separated for extremely long periods of time, so there has been no mixing of DNA between them. This means that speciation is happening or may have already happened. Some research indicates that all giraffes are one species with multiple subspecies, while some indicates that there are four species; more still claim that there are 8 species and subspecies within those.

Gameplay

Interactivity: Full

Origins

Continent: Africa
Regions: Somalia, Ethiopia, Kenya
ICUN Status: Endangered Species

Habitat

Fence Grade: 3> 6.6ft
Land Area: 14058ft
Water Area: 0ft
Climbing Area: 0ft
Temperature: 46-104°F
Biomes: Tropical, Grassland
Can Guests Enter Habitat: No
Can Guests Interact: No
Relations With Humans: Confident

Social

Giraffes live in loosely-bonded groups. Females live in herds that forage and travel together, but may leave and join several groups in their lifetime. Males live in bachelor herds or are solitary and follow the female herds with the hope of mating. The older the male is, the longer he spends tracking females.
Group Size: 2‒12 (up to 4 males, up to 8 females)
Male Bachelor: 2‒12
Female Bachelor: 2‒12

Reproduction

Males track female herds, waiting for signs of receptivity. If a female is in oestrus, males will attempt to mate with her and defend her against rival males, often resulting in aggressive fights. If the female allows it, the male will mate with her. After a pregnancy of 14 months, she will give birth to one calf. Male calves stay with their mother until they are around 3 years old, at which point they will leave to join a bachelor herd. Female calves stay with their mother's group longer, but are likely to leave at some point to find an unrelated female group.
Difficulty: Very Easy (Polygynous)
Maturity: 4 years
Sterility: 25 years (estimate)
Gestation/Incubation: 15 months
Interbirth: 36 months

Food

Tier 1: Leaves and Branches
Tier 2: Fruit
Tier 3: Acacia Branches

Feeding Stations

Food Cage
Water Trough
Water Pipe
Water Bowl

Food Enrichment

Suspended High Grazer Feeder

Habitat Enrichment

Rubbing Pillar
Sprinkler

Compatible Animals

African Buffalo
Black Wildebeest
Blue Wildebeest
Common Ostrich
Common Warthog
Dromedary Camel
Nile Lechwe
Plains Zebra
Sable Antelope
Scimitar-Horned Oryx
Southern White Rhinoceros
Springbok
Thomson's Gazelle

Zoopidia Fun Facts

The giraffe is the tallest animal in the world.
The tongue of the giraffe is 45cm long and prehensile.
Male giraffes fight viciously by swinging their necks and horned heads into each to win the right to mate with females.
The skin of the giraffe secretes chemicals that repels parasites and gives giraffes a distinctive smell.
The ancient Greeks and Romans believed that giraffes were a cross between camels and leopards, thus the Latin name for 'giraffe' is 'camelopardalis'.

Ring Tailed Lemur (Lemur catta)

Taxonomy

Class: Mammalia
Order: Primates
Family: Lemuridae
Genus: Lemur

General

Population in the Wild: 2,000
Like all species of lemur, the ring-tailed lemur (or Lemur catta) is native to Madagascar and is not naturally found anywhere else in the world. Ring-tailed lemurs have a pointed muzzle, cat-like ears, and a long tail that has 12 or 13 white rings, 13 or 14 black rings, and a tip that is always black. They are usually between 39 and 46cm in size with a tail of 56 to 63cm and live in groups called 'troops' that will travel and forage together. Ring-tailed lemurs are omnivorous and will eat fruit, leaves, insects and most other food they can find.

The ring-tailed lemur is endangered, primarily due to deforestation, mining and the creation of farmland destroying their habitat. They are also hunted for bushmeat and captured for the illegal pet trade. Madagascar can also have harsh weather conditions and extended periods of drought that can kill large numbers of the population. A special reserve called 'Beza Mahafaly' has been created to protect the lemur population and educate the local community on conservation. The reserve also promotes ecotourism and takes part in drought intervention by introducing water sources during periods of harsh weather.

Gameplay

Interactivity: Full

Origins

Continent: Africa
Regions: Madagascar
ICUN Status: Endangered

Habitat

Fence Grade: 1 Climb Proof> 4.125ft
Land Area: 2260ft
Water Area: 0ft
Climbing Area: 215ft
Temperature: 50-108°F
Biomes: Tropical
Can Guest Enter Habitat: Yes
Can Guests Interact: Yes
Relations With Humans: Neutral

Social

Ring tailed lemurs live in family groups of up to 30 individuals. The females are interrelated, and the males migrate from their family group when they reach adulthood. Lemur troops spend daylight hours foraging for leaves and fruit, moving several kilometers a day. They are playful and friendly towards members of their own group, but may be aggressive to other lemur troops.
Group Size: 3‒30 (up to 1 male, up to 29 females)
Male Bachelor: 3‒30
Female Bachelor: 3‒30

Reproduction

Ring tailed lemurs are promiscuous; both males and females will mate with multiple partners. Who mates with whom depends on the dominance structure within the troop, with low ranking males unlikely to mate at all. Female lemurs will be pregnant for 4.5 months, before giving birth to 1 or 2 babies. Infants will be carried by their mother until they are 6 months old, when they will move around completely independently. Females remain with their mother's group for life, whereas young males leave their mother's group at 3 to 5 years of age in search of an unrelated group. They will move groups several times throughout their life.
Difficulty: Easy (Promiscuous)
Maturity: 3 years
Sterility: 16 years
Gestation/Incubation: 4 months
Interbirth: 12 months

Food

Tier 1: Monkey Chow
Tier 2: Fruit and Herbs
Tier 3: Insects

Feeding Stations

Arboreal Feeding Platform
Water Bowl
Water Pipe
Water Trough

Food Enrichment

Block of Frozen Fruit
Forage Box
Fruit Spike Tree
Small Fixed Roller Feeder
Suspended Forager

Habitat Enrichment

Cardboard Box (Gift Box)
Block of Ice
Mirror Mobile
Musical Keyboard
Small Ball (Small Ice Ball, Small Ball Colorful, Small Ball Pumpkin)
Sprinkler
Rubber Duck

Compatible Animals

Black-and-White Ruffed Lemur
Coquerel's Sifaka
Red Ruffed Lemur

Zoopidia Fun Facts

The ring-tailed lemur's Latin name is 'Lemur catta'; it is named for its cat-like looks.
The ring-tailed lemur's tail is longer than its body.
Lemurs have specialized lower teeth that form a 'dental comb' used in grooming.
Ring-tailed lemurs have specialised eyes with an adapted reflective layer in the retina that gives them excellent night vision.
Male ring-tailed lemurs engage in 'stink fighting' when in competition for females; they drag their tails through strong-scent secreting glands located on their wrists and shoulders, and then waft their tails at each other.

Sable Antelope (Hippotragus niger)

Taxonomy

Class: Mammalia
Order: Artiodactyla
Family: Bovidae
Genus: Hippotragus

General

Population in the Wild: 48,000
The sable antelope (or Hippotragus niger) is a species of ungulate that lives in South-Eastern Africa. They have long, notched horns that curve backwards from their face, a tan-to-black coat with a white underbelly, chin and throat, as well as white tear-marks on their face. Males are larger, darker and have longer horns than females. Both sexes graze and browse on the savannah, preferring lightly wooded areas to completely open ones.

The species is not endangered and is seen in large numbers throughout its range. However, the amount of space available to them has declined - their natural habitat having been reduced by mankind's urban expansion, which has destroyed grazing lands and turned large areas of savannah into farmland. The giant sable antelope subspecies is classed as critically endangered. Additionally, sable antelope are hunted for their distinctive horns, not to mention vulnerable to diseases spread by the tsetse fly.

Gameplay

Interactivity: Full

Origins

Continent: Africa
Regions: Mozambique, Zimbabwe, Eswatini, Lesotho, Malawi, South Africa, Botswana
ICUN Status: Least Concern

Habitat

Fence Grade: 2> 4.125ft
Land Area: 4844ft
Water Area: 0ft
Climbing Area: 0ft
Temperature: 46-104°F
Biomes: Grassland
Can Guests Enter Habitat: No
Can Guests Interact: No
Relations With Humans: Neutral

Social

The sable antelope is a social herd species and in the wild live in two types of groups: in breeding groups of related females, their young, and one unrelated dominant male; or in bachelor herds of young males who have not yet acquired a harem of females.
Group Size: 1‒11 (up to 1 male, up to 10 females)
Male Bachelor: 1‒6
Female Bachelor: 1‒11

Reproduction

Dominant males acquire and defend a territory, which females and their offspring will come to forage. As they do, he will join their group. 8 to 9 months after mating with a receptive female, she will leave her herd to give birth in isolation, with the newborn calf remaining hidden for the first 4 weeks of its life. After this period, it will rejoin the group to forage and graze, weaning at 8 months and maturing sexually at 18 months. However, the sexually mature sable antelopes are unlikely to reproduce until much older.

Females remain with their mother's group and likely have their first calf at 2.5 years old, whereas males will be ousted from their family at approximately 3, at which point they will join a bachelor herd of other young males. After a few more years, a male can become dominant in his bachelor herd. This usually occurs at around 5 or 6 years of age, at which point the male will leave to establish his own territory and acquire his own female herd.
Difficulty: Very Easy (Polygynous)
Maturity: 1.5 years
Sterility: Death
Gestation/Incubation: 9 months
Interbirth: 12 months

Food

Tier 1: Hay
Tier 2: Herbivore Pellets
Tier 3: Fruit and Vegetables

Feeding Stations

Food Trough
Water Trough
Water Pipe
Water Bowl

Food Enrichment

Grazing Ball Feeder
Hanging Grazer Feeder
Small Barrel Feeder

Habitat Enrichment

Grab Ball
Herb Scent Marker
Rubbing Pillar
Scratching Tree (Scots Pine & Tamarind)

Compatible Animals

African Buffalo
Black Wildebeest
Blue Wildebeest
Common Ostrich
Common Warthog
Plains Zebra
Reticulated Giraffe
Southern White Rhinoceros
Springbok
Thomson's Gazelle

Zoopidia Fun Facts

The females have strong hierarchies within their herd, with the alpha female being the strongest, healthiest individual. They are also hostile towards new female group members.
In the wild, sable antelope chew bones to gain minerals from them.
Sable antelope get darker as they get older. The darkness of the coat often indicates seniority of group members, with alpha females and males being dark brown to black in color.
Young males will often play fight as practice and older males will challenge each other by butting heads and pushing each other with their horns, but fights rarely become violent.
Sable antelopes do not flee from predators but stand their ground, often attacking with their horns. They have been known to kill lions.

Saltwater Crocodile (Crocodylus porosus)

Taxonomy

Class: Reptilia
Order: Crocodilia
Family: Crocodylidae
Genus: Crocodylus

General

Population in the Wild: 200,000-300,000
The saltwater crocodile (or Crocodylus porosus) is an extremely large species of reptile native to the coastal areas of South-east Asia, North Australia and East India. It is an effective and dangerous apex predator, with the males capable of growing between 3.5 to 7m long, and weighing between 200 and 1500kg. Females are significantly smaller, averaging 2.7 to 3.4m and 120-200kg. Both sexes have a broader snout and body compared to other crocodile species, and are tan to greenish grey in colour; there is variation in colour among different populations.

The species is not endangered, partially due to its ability to swim long distances around the coast when searching for territory. However, its natural range has decreased and is no longer found in much of South-east Asia and China, where it was once widespread.

Gameplay

Interactivity: Full

Origins

Continent: Asia, Oceania
Regions: South East Asia, East India, North Australia
ICUN Status: Least Concern

Habitat

Fence Grade: 2> 3.3ft
Land Area: 2260ft
Water Area: 2260ft
Climbing Area: 0ft
Temperature: 54-108°F
Biomes: Aquatic, Tropical
Can Guests Enter Habitat: No
Can Guests Interact: No
Relations With Humans: Confident

Social

Saltwater crocodiles are solitary, territorial and extremely aggressive. Males will tolerate females living on their territory, and females will look after their hatchlings for the first 8 months of their life, but otherwise they spend their lives alone.
Group Size: 1‒2 (up to 1 male, up to 1 female)
Male Bachelor: 1
Female Bachelor: 1

Reproduction

During the breeding season, a male saltwater crocodile will approach a female on his territory - if she lets him get near, the two will court by rubbing their heads together before mating underwater. The pregnant female will carry her eggs with her for 1 to 2 months before building a nest on the edge of a tidal river or lagoon, laying the clutch inside. She will guard them fiercely for 80 to 98 days, at which point the young crocodiles will hatch and be cared for for the first 8 months of their lives. It's at this point they become large enough to become independent, fending for themselves now they are no longer vulnerable. At the age of 2 and a half, they will start showing territorial behaviour, with females reaching sexual maturity at 12 to 14 years old, and males at 16. Both sexes grow slowly throughout their whole lives.
Difficulty: Easy (Polygynous)
Maturity: 14 years
Sterility: Death
Gestation/Incubation: 3 months
Interbirth: 24 months

Food

Tier 1: Processed Meat
Tier 2: Whole Carcass
Tier 3: Calcium Supplement

Feeding Stations

Food Tray
Water Pipe
Underwater Fish Feeder
Water Trough
Water Bowl

Food Enrichment

Frozen Blood Pumpkin
Restraint Feeder
Underwater Fish Feeder
Block of Frozen Fish

Habitat Enrichment

Prey-Scented Sack
Large Ball (Large Snow Ball)
Sprinkler
Rubbing Pad (Rubbing Pad Bark)
Mud Bath
Water Jet (Water Jet Rock)
Blood Scent Marker

Compatible Animals
None

Zoopidia Fun Facts

The saltwater crocodile is statistically the joint most dangerous crocodile to humans, alongside the Nile crocodile. Saltwater crocodiles have the strongest recorded bite force of any animal.
Saltwater crocodiles exhibit the greatest sexual dismorphism of any crocodilian; males are 4 to 5 times larger than the females.
Saltwater crocodiles do not require fresh drinking water. Like other crocodiles, they have salt glands on their heads that can secrete excess salt, allowing them to drink salty water.
Saltwater crocodiles have been seen to knock primates out of trees into water with their tails to make catching their prey easier.
Unlike other crocodiles, saltwater crocodiles are immune to cane toad toxins, allowing them to eat cane toads to sustain themselves if necessary.

Siberian Tiger (Panthera tigris altaica)

Taxonomy

Class: Mammalia
Order: Carnivora
Family: Felidae
Genus: Panthera

General

Population in the Wild: 562
The Siberian tiger (or Panthera tigris altaica) - also known as the Amur tiger - is the largest of the cat species. It is characterised by orange-yellow fur with thin, black stripes and a paler undercoat on its belly. Its head is also very large, with strong jaws containing large canines.

The species was once common and widespread in the Far East of Russia and the North-Eastern borders of China and North Korea, but by the 1940s it had been hunted to near extinction for its fur, with only 40 Siberian tigers remaining in the wild. The population has slowly recovered thanks to conservation efforts in Russia, and there are now 560 individuals in the wild.

Gameplay

Interactivity: Full

Origins

Continent: Asia
Regions: Eastern China, Eastern Russia, North Korea, Mongolia
ICUN Status: Endangered

Habitat

Fence Grade: 3 Climb Proof> 9.9ft
Land Area: 7589ft
Water Area: 0ft
Climbing Area: 0ft
Temperature: 5-82°F
Biomes: Taiga, Temperate
Can Guests Enter Habitat: No
Can Guests Interact: No
Relations With Humans: Confident

Social

Siberian tigers are solitary animals, only interacting with each other to mate or fight over mates, with the exception to this being a mother with her cubs. The tigers have extremely large ranges and live in extremely varied environments, and are happiest with plenty of their own space.
Group Size: 1‒2 (up to 1 male, up to 1 female)
Male Bachelor: 1
Female Bachelor: 1

Reproduction

Siberian tigers track each other across great distances by scent marking and leaving scratches on trees. When a male finally finds a female, they will circle each other, growling, until the female allows him to mate. The mother will be pregnant for 3 months before giving birth to between 3 and 4 cubs in a secluded den - they will stay in the den until they are 2 to 3 months old, at which point they will accompany their mother so she can begin to teach them how to hunt. They remain by her side until they are 2 years old, when they will leave and establish their own territory.
Difficulty: Easy (Polygynous)
Maturity: 4 years
Sterility: Unknown
Gestation/Incubation: 3 months
Interbirth: 24 months

Food

Tier 1: Processed Meat
Tier 2: Whole Carcass
Tier 3: Whole Fish

Feeding Stations

Food Tray
Water Pipe
Underwater Fish Feeder
Water Bowl
Water Trough

Food Enrichment

Frozen Blood Pumpkin
Piñata Zebra (Piñata Pronghorn)
Restraint Feeder
Block of Frozen Fish
Underwater Fish Feeder

Habitat Enrichment

Blood Scent Marker
Cardboard Box (Gift Box)
Firehose Ball
Prey-Scented Sack
Rubbing Pad (Rubbing Pad Bark)
Scratching Post
Sprinkler
Scratching Tree (Scots Pine & Tamarind)
Submarine Buoy

Compatible Animals
None

Zoopidia Fun Facts

Siberian tigers have the largest hunting range of any tiger species, and males will travel up to 1000km in search of food and mates.
The Siberian tiger is the only tiger species that lives in snowy conditions.
Siberian tigers can reach speeds of 60kmh (40mph), even across snow.
An adult Siberian tiger can run while holding prey weighing 100kg
Like the human fingerprint, tiger stripe patterns are unique to each tiger.
Some think of the Siberian tiger as 'white'; white Siberian tigers have been bred in zoos, but they would not survive in the wild due to poor camouflage in the trees, making it difficult to hunt.

Snow Leopard (Panthera uncia)

Taxonomy

Class: Mammalia
Order: Carnivora
Family: Felidae
Genus: Panthera

General

Population in the Wild: 4,000-9,000
Identifiable by its white to grey fur, black rosettes across its body, and black spots on its face, the snow leopard (or Panthera uncia) lives in the mountains of Nepal, Tibet, Northern India, Southern Siberia, Pakistan, Bhutan and Mongolia. The animal's fur is extremely thick and well insulated, which helps it comfortably withstand sub-zero temperatures as low as -25°C. They mostly feed on mountain goats and sheep, but also hunt birds and rodents

The species is endangered for a variety of reasons. Farmers kill them to prevent the leopards killing their livestock, and they are also hunted for their fur and body parts, the latter of which are valued in Chinese medicine. Lastly, habitat degradation has reduced their prey options. Conservation efforts have been made by establishing protected areas and assisting farmers in 'leopard proofing' the land where they keep their livestock, while locals are being educated on the snow leopard. In many areas concerted efforts are also being made to remove poachers' traps.

Gameplay

Interactivity: Full

Origins

Continent: Asia
Regions: China, Southern Siberia, Himalayas, Mongolia
ICUN Status: Vulnerable

Habitat

Fence Grade: 2 Climb Proof> 9.9ft
Land Area: 7589ft
Water Area: 0ft
Climbing Area: 0ft
Temperature: -40-72°F
Biomes: Taiga
Can Guests Enter Habitat: No
Can Guests Interact: No
Relations With Humans: Shy

Social

Snow leopards are solitary animals and live alone, unless it is a mother with her cubs. They have home ranges, but are not aggressively territorial over them and will tolerate other leopards moving through their space.
Group Size: 1‒2 (up to 1 male, up to 1 female)
Male Bachelor: 1
Female Bachelor: 1

Reproduction

Snow leopards scent-mark and call in order to signal to mates. When a male and female snow leopard meet, they will mate multiple times over several days. They only mate with one partner each breeding season. Snow leopards will be pregnant for 3 months and then give birth to 2 to 3 cubs in a den in a rock crevice. Cubs will stay with their mother until they are almost 2 years old, at which point they will travel great distances to establish their own home range.
Difficulty: Easy (Monogamy Seasonal)
Maturity: 3 years
Sterility: 15-20 years estimated
Gestation/Incubation: 3 months
Interbirth: 24 months

Food

Tier 1: Processed Meat
Tier 2: Whole Carcass
Tier 3: Feather Spikes

Feeding Stations

Food Tray
Water Bowl
Water Pipe
Water Trough

Food Enrichment

Frozen Blood Pumpkin
Piñata Zebra (Piñata Pronghorn)
Rotation Line Feeder

Habitat Enrichment

Blood Scent Marker
Cardboard Box (Gift Box)
Firehose Ball
Block of Ice
Prey-Scented Sack
Rubbing Pad (Rubbing Pad Bark)
Scratching Post
Scratching Tree (Scots Pine & Tamarind)

Compatible Animals
None

Zoopidia Fun Facts

Snow leopards have very large paws in proportion to their body size that allow them to move quickly and stealthily along the snow.
The snow leopard can jump higher and further than any other cat species; reaching heights of 6m when jumping and distances of 15m when pouncing.
Snow leopards can live at altitudes of 5400m.
Snow leopards are 'crepuscular' animals; they are active at dawn and dusk.
Snow leopards will often hold their own tail in their mouth to use it as a muffler against the wind and snow.

Spotted Hyena (Crocuta crocuta)

Taxonomy

Class: Mammalia
Order: Carnivora
Family: Hyaenidae
Genus: Crocuta

General

Population in the Wild: 27,000-47,000
The spotted hyena, also known as the laughing hyena (Crocuta crocuta), is native to Sub-Saharan Africa. They are generalist predators that can live in most environments - although they are not found in rainforests or deserts - and their strong forelimbs, well-muscled neck, and comparatively weaker hind limbs give them a distinctive appearance. Their head is broad with a wide snout, and they have sandy fur with black spots, as well as a mane down their neck to their mid back.

It is not an endangered species, although they are affected by habitat loss through human encroachment and also persecution by farmers attempting to protect their livestock. They are not vulnerable to trophy hunting as they are largely regarded as an unattractive animal, but they are poached for their body parts which are used in traditional medicine. They are protected when their range falls into the boundaries of a National Park, and some African countries have legislation marking the spotted hyena as a protected species, but in other areas they are regarded as vermin.

Gameplay

Interactivity: Full

Origins

Continent: Africa
Regions: Sub Saharan Africa
ICUN Status: Least Concern

Habitat

Fence Grade: 2> 4.125ft
Land Area: 12508ft
Water Area: 0ft
Climbing Area: 0ft
Temperature: 46-104°F
Biomes: Grassland
Can Guest Enter Habitat: No
Can Guests Interact: No
Relations With Humans: Confident

Social

Hyenas are social animals that live in 'clans' of related females, immigrant males and their cubs. They have a communal den which as many as 90 spotted hyenas share for sleeping, mating and giving birth. When individuals leave the den to hunt and roam, they spend this time alone or in small groups of 2 to 4.
Group Size: 2‒4 (up to 2 males, up to 2 females)
Male Bachelor: 2‒4
Female Bachelor: 2‒4

Reproduction

In a clan of spotted hyenas, the females are interrelated, while unrelated males migrate into the group. Males gain favour with females by being submissive and friendly, and once trust has been established, females may allow males to mate with them. A female will give birth to 1 or 2 cubs, over which she is very protective; male cubs remain with their mother's clan until they are around 2.5 years old, at which point they will leave and attempt to join an unrelated clan. Females remain with their mother's group for their entire lives.
Difficulty: Very Easy (Promiscuous)
Maturity: 3 years
Sterility: 12 years
Gestation/Incubation: 4 months
Interbirth: 15 months

Food

Tier 1: Processed Meat
Tier 2: Whole Carcass
Tier 3: Whole Carcass and Bones

Feeding Stations

Food Tray
Water Bowl
Water Pipe
Water Trough

Food Enrichment

Piñata Zebra (Piñata Pronghorn)
Dog Ball
Bamboo Feeder
Rotation Line Feeder

Habitat Enrichment

Cardboard Box (Gift Box)
Blood Scent Marker
Chew Toy
Large Ball (Large Snow Ball)
Prey-Scented Sack
Sprinkler

Compatible Animals
None

Zoopidia Fun Facts

The spotted hyena's 'laugh' is a distress call that it gives when being chased or attacked.
Despite popular perception, spotted hyenas are formidable predators, and not just scavengers, and will only do so when necessary.
Hyenas are the only members of the order 'Carnivora' that give birth to young with open eyes and fully developed teeth.
Females are larger than males and dominate in spotted hyena society, they are hypermasculinised; their external reproductive parts look male.
Spotted hyenas are extremely intelligent; their group cooperation and skill learning abilities are on par with chimpanzees.
Spotted hyenas have an extremely strong bite that allows them to crush bone, being stronger than a lion's.

Springbok (Antidorcas marsupialis)

Taxonomy

Class: Mammalia
Order: Artiodactyla
Family: Bovidae
Genus: Antidorcas

General

Population in the Wild: 2,000,000-2,500,000
The springbok (or Antidorcas marsupialis) is a small species of antelope native to the savannahs of Southern Africa. They have lyre-shaped black horns, a tan coat with dark brown markings, a white belly and face, with dark brown tear marks from their eyes to their muzzle. Males and females are a similar size and both have horns, although the males are more robust.

Springboks are not endangered so there are no specific conservation efforts for this species. They are easy to breed in captivity, often as game animals and for meat, and are protected in areas where their range falls into nature reserves.

Gameplay

Interactivity: Full

Origins

Continent: Africa
Regions: Namibia, Botswana, South Africa
ICUN Status: Least Concern

Habitat

Fence Grade: 2> 4.125ft
Land Area: 4575ft
Water Area: 0ft
Climbing Area: 0ft
Temperature: 46- 109°F
Biomes: Grassland, Desert
Can Guest Enter Habitat: Yes
Can Guests Interact: No
Relations With Humans: Shy

Social

Springboks have a complex and changeable social structure. Like most ungulates, they live in herds that can be composed of multiple group types. These include mixed groups of non-dominant males, females and juveniles; bachelor groups of juvenile and young adult males; solitary dominant males who are territorial and defend their range from other males; and breeding harems comprised of a dominant male and multiple receptive females. The composition of these groups, as well as the numbers within them, change depending on the time of year and the availability of food. For example, during the rainy season, there will be more breeding harem groups than at other times of year.
Group Size: 3‒35 (up to 1 male, up to 34 females)
Male Bachelor: 3‒35
Female Bachelor: 3‒35

Reproduction

To mate, territorial dominant males will herd females passing through and foraging on their territory, together creating a harem. He will display to them by jumping high off the ground and defending their range from rival males, courting a female in his harem by approaching her and tapping his foot on the ground multiple times. If she's receptive, she will allow him to mate with her.

After a pregnancy of 5 to 6 months, the mother will give birth to a single calf, which is weaned by the time it is 4 months old. Females will stay with their mother's herd and reach sexual maturity at 7 months old, whereas males will leave their mother's herd at approximately 6-months-old and join a bachelor herd, reaching sexual maturity at the age of 2. They may then establish territory and become a dominant male, however many males never become dominant and will never acquire a harem, mating instead with receptive females within a mixed group.
Difficulty: Very Easy (Polygynous)
Maturity: 1 year
Sterility: Death
Gestation/Incubation: 6 months
Interbirth: 12 months

Food

Tier 1: Hay
Tier 2: Herbivore Pellets
Tier 3: Fruit and Vegetables

Feeding Stations

Food Trough
Water Trough
Water Pipe
Water Bowl

Food Enrichment

Grazing Ball Feeder
Hanging Grazer Feeder
Small Barrel Feeder

Habitat Enrichment

Grab Ball
Herb Scent Marker
Rubbing Pillar
Scratching Tree (Scots Pine & Tamarind)

Compatible Animals

African Buffalo
Black Wildebeest
Blue Wildebeest
Common Ostrich
Common Warthog
Plains Zebra
Reticulated Giraffe
Sable Antelope
Southern White Rhinoceros
Thomson's Gazelle

Zoopidia Fun Facts

Springboks are so named because they will often jump up to 3.5 meters into the air, especially during the mating season. This jumping behavior is known as ‘pronking’.
Springboks are incredibly fast; they can run up to 60mph.
Springboks do not need to drink water, they can get all the water they need from their food.
Springboks can breed all year round but are more likely to breed during the rainy season.
Black springboks and white springboks occur naturally but rarely and are sought after by trophy hunters.

Timber Wolf (Canis lupus)

Taxonomy

Class: Mammalia
Order: Carnivora
Family: Canidae
Genus: Canis

General

Population in the Wild: 300,000
Timber wolves (or Canis lupus) are a large canid species that live across most of the Northern hemisphere. Also known as grey wolves, they are large generalist predators that will eat most prey they can catch, and which are capable of living in a wide variety of different environments.

The appearance of timber wolves can vary widely and is mostly dependent on which population is being observed. There are 38 subspecies, each with adaptations to their specific environments, thus causing their varied appearance. In general, they have a mottled grey-brown fur coat, pointed ears and a long straight snout. In terms of size, the wolves have a slim build with a deep rib cage and long legs.

The species is not endangered. However, the timber wolf's range has been decreased by 30% due to humanity's expansion into the environment and the subsequent change in land use. Wolves continue to be challenged by human action; they are a wide-ranging species who require large areas for hunting and roaming, which often causes conflict with people as they may kill livestock or scavenge in urban areas. There is no official global wolf protection, although some countries have conservation practices in place to protect their regional wolves.

Gameplay

Interactivity: Full

Origins

Continent: Asia, Europe, North America
Regions: Much of the Northern Hemisphere
ICUN Status: Least Concern

Habitat

Fence Grade: 2> 4.125ft
Land Area: 12508ft
Water Area: 0ft
Climbing Area: 0ft
Temperature: 18-84°F
Biomes: Taiga, Temperate, Tundra
Can Guests Enter Habitat: No
Can Guests Interact: No
Relations With Humans: Confident

Social

Wolves are very social animals that live in family packs. An average pack contains one alpha male, one alpha female, their young adult offspring, and a litter of pups that are less than a year old. Wolf packs are closely bonded, and wolves get distressed if their pack is separated or if a pack member dies.
Group Size: 2‒12 (up to 12 males, up to 12 females)
Male Bachelor: 2‒12
Female Bachelor: 2‒12

Reproduction

In a wolf pack, the alpha male and alpha female are monogamously bonded and mate for life, and only they have young within the pack. Their pups stay with them until they are sexually mature or until food competition becomes too high, at which point they will leave the pack and become a lone wolf. Lone wolves look to meet another lone wolf of the opposite sex and establish a territory. If they find a partner, they mate during the breeding season and reproduce a litter of pups once a year and will stay together for life.
Difficulty: Very Easy (Monogamous)
Maturity: 4 years
Sterility: Death
Gestation/Incubation: 2 months
Interbirth: 12 months

Food

Tier 1: Processed Meat
Tier 2: Whole Carcass
Tier 3: Whole Carcass and Supplements

Feeding Stations

Food Tray
Water Bowl
Water Pipe
Water Trough

Food Enrichment

Rotation Line Feeder
Piñata Zebra (Piñata Pronghorn)
Dog Ball
Bamboo Feeder

Habitat Enrichment

Cardboard Box (Gift Box)
Chew Toy
Prey-Scented Sack
Sprinkler
Block of Ice
Blood Scent Marker
Small Ball (Small Ice Ball, Small Ball Colorful, Small Ball Pumpkin)
Bobbin (Bobbin Drum)
Rubber Duck

Compatible Animals
None

Zoopidia Fun Facts

Wolves, with the exception of some breeds of domestic dog, are the largest canid species.
Wolves howl as an alarm call, to assemble the pack, to locate each other if they get separated, or to communicate across long distances.
In North America, wolves have hybridized with domestic dogs, which has introduced black coloration into the wolf population.
Wolves in cold countries can withstand temperate of -40°C. When it is this cold, wolves lie close to the ground and use their tail as a muffler over their face.
Wolves are apex predators; they are only threatened by humans, bears, and tigers.

Titan Beetle (Titanus giganteus)

Taxonomy

Class: Insecta
Order: Coleoptera
Family: Cerambycidae
Genus: Titanus

General

Population in the Wild: Unknown
The titan beetle (or Titanus giganteus) is an extremely large species that lives in the tropical rainforests of South America. It has a large reddish-brown and black abdomen, black coloration on its legs, antennae and thorax, and pale wings with brown vein structures. The beetle's robust mandibles are strong enough to snap through twigs and, while both sexes have wings, only the males are capable of flight. Like many species, it is threatened by the ongoing destruction of the rainforest habitat that it calls home.

Gameplay

Interactivity: Exhibit

Origins

Continent: South America
Regions: Venezuela, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, the Guianas, Brazil
ICUN Status: Data Deficient

Exhibit

Temperature: 73-97°F
Humidity: 40-60%
Biomes: Tropical

Social

The adult titan beetle is mostly solitary. However, its determination to find a mate to reproduce may result in a lot of activity.
Group Size: 1‒7

Reproduction

After emerging from his pupa underground, the male titan beetle will use all his stored larval energy to fly around looking for a female to reproduce with. He tracks them using chemical signals, searching for their scent on the forest floor, where females lay in wait for a mate. Upon finding her, the male will attempt to mate before dying shortly afterwards. The female will lay her fertilized eggs in the ground, but it's not known how long these will take to hatch or for the larvae to pupate as titan beetle larvae has so far evaded discovery by humans.
Difficulty: Difficult (Unknown)
Maturity: Unknown
Sterility: Death
Gestation/Incubation: 1 month
Interbirth: 120 months

Food

Leaf litter and other detritus

Exhibit Enrichments

Hollow Log (Broken, Narrow, Wide)
Tropical Plant
Leaf Litter

Zoopedia Fun Facts

The titan beetle is the world's largest beetle, with the biggest ever recorded at 6.7in long.
Male titan beetles are attracted to light sources, whereas female titan beetles are not.
Adult male titan beetles do not eat, but spend all their energy on finding a mate and reproducing.
The larvae of this species have never been found, but it is estimated from boreholes in trees that they could be 30cm long and 5cm wide.
After emerging from its pupa, the adult titan beetle's lifespan is relatively short, usually dying shortly after mating.

West African Lion (Panthera leo leo)

Taxonomy

Class: Mammalia
Order: Carnivora
Family: Felidae
Genus: Panthera

General

Population in the Wild: 250
Although there are an estimated 20,000 lions in the African wilderness today, the West African lion (or Panthera leo leo) numbers far, far fewer. Only 250 still remain across the entire continent, making the subspecies one of the most threatened of its kind in the world. It currently falls under the 'critically endangered' conservation status.

The reason for the lions' dwindling numbers is twofold. Firstly, they have succumbed to the devastating effects of poaching. Secondly, the ongoing conversion of their habitat has disrupted their way of life, which has finally resulted in dwindling numbers of prey available for them to hunt. Their decline has spurred on a conservation effort to protect the remaining population, including the establishment of major National Parks around the lion's hunting ranges. The key aim being to monitor their continued reproduction and survival.

To an untrained eye, West African lions look familiar to other subspecies of lion - a rich and sandy colored fur, deeply darkened tail tuft, and the unmistakable manes boasted by the impressive males. However, the group is a genetically distinct subpopulation of the species, meaning they will never mate with any other types of lion they may encounter in life on the sub-Saharan plains.

Gameplay

Interactivity: Full

Origins

Continent: Africa
Regions: Senegal, Mali, Niger
ICUN Status: Critically Endangered

Habitat

Fence Grade: 3 Climb Proof> 9.9ft
Land Area: 7589ft
Water Area: 0ft
Climbing Area: 0ft
Temperature: 46-104°F
Biomes: Grassland
Can Guests Enter Habitat: No
Can Guests Interact: No
Relations With Humans: Confident

Social

West African lions are truly social creatures - a wild pride has a defined hierarchy that is comprised of the alpha male, one or two beta males, several related females and, lastly, their young cubs. The group is playful with one another and rarely ever turns aggressive unless the alpha male is provoked by a rival male. There are also young males who do not manage to find a pride with the traditional hierarchy - these 'bachelor' lions often form small groups to hunt and travel with.
Group Size: 2‒30 (up to 1 male, up to 29 females)
Male Bachelor: 2‒4
Female Bachelor: 2‒30

Reproduction

In a lion pride, the alpha male of the group mates with the mature females, who will be pregnant for 3.5 months and usually have a litter of 2 to 3 cubs. The young lions themselves mature differently depending on their sex - the males will leave to acquire their own pride as they grow older, while the young females will remain with the mother. If the alpha male is ousted or killed by his challenger, the newly dominant lion will kill the cubs that are not his. This is because the pride's females will only mate while they do not have cubs to look after.
Difficulty: Easy (Promiscuous)
Maturity: 3 years
Sterility: 15 years
Gestation/Incubation: 3 months
Interbirth: 36 months

Food

Tier 1: Processed Meat
Tier 2: Whole Carcass
Tier 3: Bones

Feeding Stations

Food Tray
Water Pipe
Water Trough
Water Bowl

Food Enrichment

Frozen Blood Pumpkin
Piñata Zebra (Piñata Pronghorn)
Restraint Feeder

Habitat Enrichment

Blood Scent Marker
Cardboard Box (Gift Box)
Firehose Ball
Large Ball (Large Snow Ball)
Prey-Scented Sack
Rubbing Pad (Rubbing Pad Bark)
Scratching Post
Sprinkler
Scratching Tree (Scots Pine & Tamarind)

Compatible Animals
None

Zoopidia Fun Facts

The roar of an adult male can be heard from 8km away.
Lions are the most social of the big cats.
Lions can reach speeds of up to 50 mph when running.
Female lions do 90% of the hunting.
Male lions spend their time defending their territory and females from rival males.

Western Chimpanzee (Pan troglodytes verus)

Taxonomy

Class: Mammalia
Order: Primates
Family: Hominidae
Genus: Pan

General

Population in the Wild: 18,000-60,000
The Western chimpanzee (or Pan troglodytes verus) is a subspecies of the common chimpanzee native to the forests of Guinea, Liberia, Senegal, Sierra Leone and the Ivory Coast. Along with bonobos, they are the closest living relatives of human beings, sharing more than 98% of our DNA.

They are critically endangered, heavily threatened by the loss of their habitat - something accelerated by deforestation and the expansion of human agriculture. They are also targeted by poachers for bushmeat, traditional medicines and also capture for the illegal pet trade. As a result, all chimpanzees are protected by national and international laws, but enforcement of those laws is weak and remains an ongoing problem. While 30% of chimps live within national parks where they receive ample protection, those living in the wild are very vulnerable to outside threat.

Western chimpanzees are extremely intelligent and socially capable animals. They have black hair, brown skin and eyes, long arms, hands and feet, with opposable thumbs that allow for more complex motor functions. While the subspecies is not that visually distinct from the Central and Eastern chimpanzees, the population of Western chimpanzees has been isolated for half a million years and is now genetically distinct.

Gameplay

Interactivity: Full

Origins

Continent: Africa
Regions: Guinea, Senegal, Liberia, Sierra Leone, Ivory Coast
ICUN Status: Critically Endangered

Habitat

Fence Grade: 3 Climb Proof> 16.5ft
Land Area: 8396ft
Water Area: 0ft
Climbing Area: 861ft
Temperature: 46-108°F
Biomes: Tropical
Can Guests Enter Habitat: No
Can Guests Interact: No
Relations With Humans: Confident

Social

Chimpanzees are very social animals, living in large groups in the wild. Males are dominant in chimpanzee society, with their age being a primary determining factor in their hierarchy. The males in individual groups are interrelated, while unrelated females migrate in from other groups, and they will all further their social bonding by hunting together and grooming each other. They will even learn skills from one another, such as how to use sticks and rocks as tools.
Group Size: 5‒15 (up to 10 males, up to 10 females)
Male Bachelor: 5‒10
Female Bachelor: 5‒15

Reproduction

Chimpanzees are promiscuous animals, with both males and females mating with multiple partners throughout their lifetime. The alpha male gets first pick of a female partner, while some males may keep their chosen females away from other males because of their promiscuity. The pregnancy of a female chimp lasts 8 months before giving birth to a single infant, which the mother will take care of until it reaches around 4 years old. At this point, the offspring will begin to distance from its mother. It's at this age that young males will begin to form close bonds with other males within the group, while females will begin to explore away from the family group. Then, at 10 years old, the females will leave in search of an unrelated group, while the males remain with their original family.
Difficulty: Easy (Promiscuous)
Maturity: 14 years
Sterility: 50 years
Gestation/Incubation: 8 months
Interbirth: 60 months

Food

Tier 1: Monkey Chow
Tier 2: Fruit and vegetables
Tier 3: Processed meat and Live Ants

Feeding Stations

Arboreal Feeding Platform
Water Bowl
Water Pipe
Water Trough

Food Enrichment

Block of Frozen Fruit
Forage Box
Small Fixed Roller Feeder
Suspended Forager
Artificial Termite Mound
Tool Puzzle Feeder
Tree Forager

Habitat Enrichment

Bobbin (Bobbin Drum)
Cardboard Box (Gift Box)
Curio Ball
Grab Ball
Mirror Mobile
Musical Keyboard
Sprinkler
Block of Ice

Compatible Animals

Red River Hog

Zoopidia Fun Facts

Western chimpanzees are the only subspecies of chimp that make spears to hunt other primates. Chimps can be very aggressive and in the wild, they will plan attacks and ambushes on rival groups.
Chimpanzees have been successfully taught sign language. Washoe, a wild-born chimp who was captured by the US Air Force and subsequently lived with two researchers from the University of Nevada, learned 350 signs and taught some of them to her son.
Chimpanzees have been observed collecting fermented alcoholic sap from palm trees in leaves and drinking it. They seem to enjoy alcohol and when an alcohol source is discovered, they will return to it.
Chimps have been observed keeping hyraxes as pets for a time in the wild.
Chimps use medicine; when they are sick they eat certain types of leaves to settle their upset stomach and kill parasitic worms.

Western Diamondback Rattlesnake (Crotalus atrox)

Taxonomy

Class: Reptilia
Order: Squamata
Family: Viperidae
Genus: Crotalus

General

Population in the Wild: Unknown
The Western diamondback rattlesnake (or Crotalus atrox) is a species of venomous snake native to the deserts, grassland and scrubland of the USA and Mexico; so named for the pattern of grey and brown scales on its back. It reaches an average length of 4ft - although a specimen of 7ft in length has been reported - and males are larger than females. It is a dangerous species that will strike if it perceives threat.

Gameplay

Interactivity: Exhibit

Origins

Continent: North and Central America
Regions: USA, Mexico
ICUN Status: Least Concern

Exhibit

Temperature: 75-86°F
Humidity: 40-60%
Biomes: Desert, Grassland, Temperate

Social

Western diamondback rattlesnakes are solitary animals. It's rare they will encounter each other except when males search for mating partners, and they do not interact in the wild otherwise.
Group Size: 1‒2

Reproduction

Males search for females by tracking pheromonal signals; the female will signal her receptivity by becoming passive and allowing the male to climb on top of her. He will put his whole body on top and wrap his tail underneath hers, and then they will mate. Between 6 to 7 months later, the mother will give birth to a litter of 8 to 25 offspring, which are independent from birth. They will reach sexual maturity by 3 years old.
Difficulty: Easy (Promiscuous)
Maturity: 3 years
Sterility: Death
Gestation/Incubation: 7 months
Interbirth: 5 months

Food

Small mammals

Exhibit Enrichments

Hiding Place
Basking Lamp (High, Mid-Height, Low)
Fallen Tree

Zoopedia Fun Facts

The Western diamondback rattlesnake is responsible for the most snakebite fatalities in Mexico and the USA.
The rattle at the end of the Western diamondback rattlesnake's tail is used to create warning signals when it is threatened.
The Western diamondback rattlesnake has a heat-sensing pit behind each nostril that allows it to perceive very slight differences in temperature in the environment; this makes it a formidable hunter.
Western diamondback rattlesnakes eat only every 2 to 3 weeks in the Wild.
The presence of the Western diamondback rattlesnake is beneficial to humans because they keep rodent levels low.

Western Lowland Gorilla (Gorilla gorilla gorilla)

Taxonomy

Class: Mammalia
Order: Primates
Family: Hominidae
Genus: Gorilla

General

Population in the Wild: 150,000-250,000
The Western Lowland Gorilla (or Gorilla gorilla gorilla) is native to Cameroon, Equatorial Guinea, Gabon, Republic of the Congo and Southern Niger, living and foraging in the rainforests, swamp forests, and abandoned farmland there. They have black skin dark forward-facing eyes, a prominent brow ridge, large nostrils and coarse hair which covers most of their body except the face, ears, hands, and feet. Males are much larger than females, and when they mature, the hair on their backs becomes grey and they are identified as 'silverbacks'.

The species is critically endangered due to deforestation, poaching and the spread of disease-young gorillas leave their home group for a new group when they reach adulthood, and this means that disease can spread very quickly among groups. The Republic of Congo is investing in conservation of their rainforests to prevent deforestation and species loss.

Gameplay

Interactivity: Full

Origins

Continent: Africa
Regions: Angola, Cameroon, Central African Republic, Equatorial Guinea, Gabon and the Democratic Republic of Congo
ICUN Status: Critically Endangered

Habitat

Fence Grade: 3 Climb Proof> 16.5ft
Land Area: 8396ft
Water Area: 0ft
Climbing Area: 431ft
Temperature: 46-108°F
Biomes: Tropical
Can Guests Enter Habitat: No
Can Guests Interact: No
Relations With Humans: Neutral

Social

Gorillas are social animals, living in small groups with an approximately even split of male and females. There will usually be one dominant male, known as the silverback - although there can occasionally be two; a father and son - who leads the group when foraging or travelling. Despite individuals within groups being unrelated, the females will have very strong bonds with each other and their silverback, not leaving him in favour of another male once their group has been established.
Group Size: 3‒6 (up to 1 male, up to 5 females)
Male Bachelor: 3
Female Bachelor: 3‒6

Reproduction

When a female gorilla is fertile, she will slowly approach the silverback and attempt to get his attention by maintaining eye contact and puckering her lips. If he does not respond, she will pound the ground near him; if the bid is successful, the male will mate with her. The mother is pregnant for 8.5 months before giving birth to one baby, which she will care for closely until the infants are around 4-years-old, when their offspring begin to gain significant independence. At between 9 and 10 years old, young gorillas both male and female will leave their family group; females will search for a group to join, whereas males will be solitary for some time until they are mature enough to become silverbacks and form their own group.
Difficulty: Average (Polygynous)
Maturity: 10 years
Sterility: Unknown
Gestation/Incubation: 9 months
Interbirth: 60 months

Food

Tier 1: Monkey Chow
Tier 2: Fruit, Leaves and Vegetables
Tier 3: Herbaceous Stems

Feeding Stations

Arboreal Feeding Platform
Water Bowl
Water Pipe
Water Trough

Food Enrichment

Suspended Forager
Large Fixed Roller Feeder
Block of Frozen Fruit
Tool Puzzle Feeder
Forage Box
Tree Forager

Habitat Enrichment

Large Ball (Large Snow Ball)
Sprinkler
Grab Ball
Cardboard Box (Gift Box)
Block of Ice
Mirror Mobile
Musical Keyboard
Bobbin (Bobbin Drum)
Small Ball (Small Ice Ball, Small Ball Colorful, Small Ball Pumpkin)
Small Tyre
Rubber Duck

Compatible Animals

Red River Hog

Zoopidia Fun Facts

Gorillas are the largest primate species.
Gorillas are incredibly important to the forests in which they live because their feeding and roaming habits disperse fruit seeds.
Gorillas build nests daily that they sleep in at night; these nests are usually in trees.
Gorillas create and use tools, using branches they have modified to get food that is out of reach, or to measure the depth of water.
Gorillas have been taught sign language successfully - Koko the gorilla, born in San Francisco Zoo, learned over 1100 signs.

Yellow Anaconda (Eunectes notaeus)

Taxonomy

Class: Reptilia
Order: Squamata
Family: Boidae
Genus: Eunectes

General

Population in the Wild: Unknown
The yellow anaconda (or Eunectes notaeus) is a large, yellow-scaled species of constrictor snake with brown-black saddles across its back. It can primarily be found in the tributaries, swamps and marshes of the Paraguay river basin, but can also be located in Bolivia, Argentina and Brazil. As generalist predators, the yellow anaconda will feed on most small to medium sized animals that they are able to catch. The species is known for reaching large sizes - adults can reach an average length of 3.3 to 4.4m, as well as an average weight of 25 to 35kg. The largest specimen ever recorded was 4.6m long and weighed 55kg.

Gameplay

Interactivity: Exhibit

Origins

Continent: South America
Regions: Paraguay, Bolivia, Argentina, Brazil
ICUN Status: Least Concern

Exhibit

Temperature: 77-86°F
Humidity: 80-90%
Biomes: Tropical, Aquatic

Social

Yellow anacondas are solitary animals and do not interact in the wild. It is rare that they will encounter each other except when males search for females to mate with.
Group Size: 1‒2

Reproduction

To mate, a female yellow anaconda will release pheromones attracting tracking males to her chemical signals. Throughout this process, it's possible that multiple males can find the same female - in this situation, anacondas may form a 'mating ball' in which many male snakes become entwined around one female. These balls can remain untangled for weeks. Usually, it is the largest male that wings access to the female in order to mate, which normally takes place in water. After 6 months, the female will give birth to between 4 and 82 live young, which are independent from birth and reach sexual maturity at 3 to 4 years old.
Difficulty: Easy (Promiscuous)
Maturity: 3-4 years
Sterility: Death
Gestation/Incubation: 6 months
Interbirth: 6 months

Food

Birds, mammals, amphibians, fish and eggs

Exhibit Enrichments

Tropical Plant
Long Wide Trunk
Thin Smooth Branch
Thin Long Log
Basking Lamp (High, Low, Mid-Height)

Zoopedia Fun Facts

The yellow anaconda is one of the largest species of snake in the world, second only to the green anaconda.
Yellows anacondas do not stop growing throughout their lives.
Yellow anacondas feed mostly on wading birds that they ambush from underwater.
After a big meal, a yellow anaconda will not need to eat for several months.
Yellow anacondas release a chemical that deters ticks from biting them.