~ CARD 11

The blue whole is the largest mammal ever to have lived on earth.
Amazingly, it feeds on some of the smallest ocean life-plankton.
KEY FACTS
SIZES
Length: Males average 82 ft.
Females, 85 ft.
Weight: 175,000-285,000 lb.
BREEDING
Sexual maturity: Males at a
length of 74 ft. Females at 75 ft.
Mating: Most females breed only
once every three years.
Gestation: 11-1 2 months.
No. of young: Single calf.
LIFESTYLE
Call: Low-frequency moan.
Produces ultrasonic chirps and
whistles when feeding.
Habit: Social and migratory.
Diet: Plankton.
lifespan: 80 years.
RELATED SPECIES
Pygmy blue whales (B.m. bre-
vicouda) are thought to live in the
southern Indian Ocean.
Summer
feeding routes.
Winter
feeding routes.
DISTRIBUTION
Limited, scattered areas all around the world; mainly based
in Arctic and Antarctic waters.
CONSERVATION
Since 1986, commercial whaling has largely stopped, and
blue whales now show signs of breeding success. Still, it will
take a century of protection before they are out of danger of
extinction.
THE BLUE WHALE'S FEEDING SYSTEM
The blue whale has approximately 320
baleen plates, measuring 40 inches long
by 22 inches wide. Long bristles on the
end of each plate hold the minute prey.
Having forced the water out of its mouth,
the whale licks the plankton off with its
fleshy tongue.
MCMXCI IMP BV/ IMP INC WILDLIFE FACT FILETM PRINTED IN U.S.A.
Instead of teeth, the blue
whale has a row of plates
in its mouth, known as
baleen, which functions as
a food-collecting device.
The mouth and baleen
work like a strainer, holding
''';' up to 5 tons of water and
p ~ n k t o n with each
mouthful.
0160200021 PACKET 2a
Although blue whales feed in deep water,
they are still mammals, and must come to
the surface to breathe. They exhale air in a cloud of
pressurized steam that rises
straight up for about 20 feet.
Like other marine mammals,
blue whales are descended
from early land animals. Mil-
lions of years ago, the rich-
ness of life in the sea lured
them to water, and aquatic
life gradually changed their
physical characteristics.
Today, they spend most of
their time in the Arctic and
Antarctic Oceans, where
plankton is plentiful. In
winter, the whales migrate to
the warm waters of the trop-
ics. But food in the tropics is
scarce, so the whales depend
on their thick layer of blubber
for nourishment.
DID YOU KNOW?
The biggest blue whale ever
recorded was 102 feet long.
The heaviest one recorded
weighed 390,000 pounds.
Blue whales were once
BREEDING
Blue whales form close ties
with one another and are
often seen in groups of two or
four. Mating takes place in
the warm waters of the
tropics, where the young are
born. The mother gives birth
to a single calf with the aid of
other females, who help her
deliver the calf and then
nudge the newborn to the
R. Koher/Oxford Scientific Films Ltd
called sulphur-bottom whales
by sailors because their bodies
became covered with algae .
which was greenish-yellow
like sulphur.
surface for its first breath of
air.
At birth, the calf measures
about 23 feet and weighs
16,000 pounds. The baby is
suckled in the water, drinking
more than 160 gallons of milk
a day. At 7 months, it is able
to catch its own food.
Below: Mother and calf on their
way to Arctic feeding grounds.
FOOD & HUNTING
In the Antarctic, blue whales
feed on vast quantities of a
plankton called krill. In Arctic
waters, they feed on only
three species of crustacean
(shelled) plankton.
Icy water contains more
oxygen and carbon dioxide
than warm water, which
makes it rich in marine life.
Plankton is up to twenty
times more abundant in the
Arctic and Antarctic than it is
in the warm waters of the
tropics.
In spite of its bulk, the blue
whale can reach speeds of
1 0-1 5 knots. But it catches
most of its food by diving. It
can dive to depths of 1650
feet and lie submerged for up
to 2 hours. Rising from the
depths, the whale feeds by
collecting a large amount of
seawater in its mouth and
then straining out the
plankton (see back page).
Above right: Whales come to the
surface to breathe. The spout of
pressurized steam that rises into
the air is one way to recognize
their presence.

Because of its great size, the
blue whale was a prime target
for the whaling industry. Its
body was a source of oil and
the baleen was used to make
women's corsets.
Antarctic whalers slaugh-
tered 30,000 blue whales
from 1930 to 1931. The
population has since recov-
ered, but there are probably
less than 10,000 alive today;
they are now protected.

Man 6 ft .
Blue whale 100ft.
MANDRILL
ORDER
Primates
FAMILY
Cercopithecidae
GROUP 1: MAMMALS
GENUS &: SPECIES
Mandril/us sphinx
The ferocious appearance of the mandrill is misleading. By nature,
it is quite peaceable and social. The brilliant coloring of the male IS
face distinguishes it from the plainer female.
. __ KEY FACTS
I SIZES
<S7 Height: Male, 28-30 in.
Tail length: 2-3 in.
Weight: Up to 120 lb. Females are
half the size and weight of males.
BREEDING
Sexual maturity: At least 4 years.
Breeding season: Females come
into estrus every 33 days.
Gestation: 30 weeks.
No. of young: 1 .
LIFESTYLE
Call: 3 calls: for contact, alarm,
and banding together.
Habit: Sociable, diurnal.
Diet: Plants, fruits, roots, seeds,
insects, small mammals.
Lifespan:' Up to 46 years.
RELATED SPECIES
There are 7 species of baboon.
Closely related to the mandrill is
the drill, Papia leucaphaeus.
FEATURES OF THE MANDRill
Range of the mandrill.
DISTRIBUTION
Forested areas of western central Africa; southern Cameroon,
Gabon, and the Congo.
CONSERVATION
Now an endangered species. Decline caused by habitat loss,
excessive hunting for food, and sale to zoos. There is a great
need for forest reserves to be established for its protection.
The adult rna e- (rign.t) dtsplays vivid
fac{ and r&f11p in hues
of-Slue, r.e-e1; and purple The colorilHon
belps maliH:1rills & id 'ntify one anotfler
they are fgraging. also
Female, and young mandrills' (befow) are )
much less cQl0rful than the adult'male;
their fac s arellrayista tHack and lack any
bright shad . 0.1 color. females are ,i:1alf '
has long, i5Qwerful cabJne teeth",
Young mandrills of both sexes have the
same coloration as adult females. Males
attain their full coloration when they are
sexually mature.
-' the. size weight of males.
MCMXCI IMP BV/ IMP INC WILDLIFE FACT FILETM PRINTED IN U.S.A. 0160200051 PACKET 5
Active by day in the dense rainforests of
western and central Africa, the mandrill
is one of the largest of the ground-dwelling baboons.
Only the adult males have the brilliant
coloration that has made the species
so well known.
~ HABITS
Like other species of baboon,
mandrills are sociable
animals, living in groups
which may number from
fifteen to 200 members.
Each group contains at least
one adult male, five or more
adult females, and their
young. Some males live
alone, which indicates the
likelihood of rivalry between
adult males for the leader-
ship of groups.
Mandrills spend most of the
day foraging in the forest for
food. While foraging, the
animals keep in verbal contact
with one another by making
grunting and crowing sounds.
They also alert one another to
possible predators, such as
leopards or snakes.
At intervals during the day,
the group will rest. Adults
groom each other while the
young play.
~ FOOD &: FEEDING
Mandrills eat fruits, leaves,
roots, seeds, insects, eggs, and
small animals. Led by the adult
males, they begin foraging for
food after daybreak. They find
much of their food on the
ground under stones and
among vegetation.
Fruit trees are another source
of food for the mandrill. Large
groups of mandrills, together
with other species of monkey,
will converge on the trees and
feed on the fruit. Within their
home range, mandrills are alert
to the seasonal sources of food.
The mandrill is adept at
foraging for food because its
fingers work in a coordinated
fashion. The mandrill can dig,
sort, prepare food, and transfer
it to its mouth.
~ BREEDING
The dominant male has
access to all the females in his
harem, and he is most likely
to father offspring. He mates
randomly with the females
when they are in estrus. Dur-
ing estrus, the female's sex
organs become swollen, indi-
cating that she is ready to
mate.
A single young is born 7
months later. It suckles the
mother's milk and travels
everywhere with her, clinging
tightly to her chest. Gradually,
the young mandrill will begin
to explore its surroundings.
Female mandrills usually
remain in the group into
which they were born, but as
the young males reach
maturity, they must often
leave the group.
Right: Social
activities such
as grooming
help maintain
the stability of
the group.
Below:
Foraging
mandrills
communicate
through a
series of grunts
and crowing
calls.
Left: A female
mandrill
suckles her
offspring.
Within hours of
its birth, the
young mandrill
can cling
tightly to its
mother's chest.
As the young
grow older,
they play
together,
which is how
they learn the
skills they will
need to survive
in later life.
DID YOU KNOW?
The mandrill is the largest
of all monkeys.
The mandrill's reputation
for ferocity is exaggerated.
When a mandrill bares its
teeth, it is not threatening to
attack, but rather showing a
submissive behavior.
Mandrills sometimes feed
on items that other monkeys
have dropped from the trees.
Mandrills walk on their
fingers and toes, so that the
palms of their hands and the
soles of their feet do not
touch the ground.
A group of mandrills
typically roams over 5 miles a
day while foraging for food.
Their actual range may cover
as much as 20 square miles.
"" CARD 13
AMERICAN BISON
~ ~ - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - ~
~
ORDER
Artiodactyla
.. FAMILY
~ Bovidae
GENUS fir SPECIES
Bison bison
The bison once ranged freely over much of North America, and
massed in herds by the millions for its annual migrations. Today,
only SO, 000 bison remain, confined to a few scattered reserves.
KEY FACTS
SIZES
Height: 5-6 ft.
Length: Head and body, 7-11 ft.
Tail, 20-24 in.
Weight: Males, up to 2,200 lb.
Females, up to 1,320 lb.
BREEDING
Sexual maturity: Females, 2-4
years. Males, much later.
Breeding season: July-September.
Gestation: 270-300 days.
No. of young: 1.
LIFESTYLE
Habit: Sociable and migratory.
Diet: Mainly grass.
Lifespan: 20 years in wild, up to
40 years in captivity.
RELATED SPECIES
Closest relative is the European
bison, or wisent, Bison bonasus,
found chiefly in eastern Europe.
Range of the American bison.
DISTRIBUTION
Formerly inhabited the prairies of western Canada and the
United States. Today found mainly in parks and reserves
scattered throughout North America.
CONSERVATION
Today the American bison population totals around 50,000,
most of which is the plains bison B. b. bison. The wood bison
B. b. athabascae remains endangered.
FEATURES OF THE AMERICAN BISON
Coat: Thick, heavy mantle on head and
forequarters keeps the bison warm i
winter. This is shed in spring for a
cooler summer coat.
Horns: Used in
defense against
rival bulls and
predators.
Eyesight: Poor.
The bison relies
upon its sharp
senses of smell
and hearing.
MCMXCI IMP BV/IMP INC WILDLIFE FACT FILpM
Defensive wall: When danger is near,
bulls form a protective shield around
females, who in turn protect young.
PRINTED IN U.S.A. 0160200071 PACKET 7
The American bison is usually referred to
by its more common name, buffalo. It is not only
found on the open prairies; there is also a subspecies,
the wood bison, which lives in the
woods and mountains.
~ HABITS
Bison live in small herds of
approximately fifty animals.
The herd provides defense
against predators such as the
wolf and coyote. Although
the bison's senses of smell
and hearing are sharp, its
vision is poor. Since bison
often do not recognize
danger until it is too late to
flee, the females will surround
their young and the bulls will
surround the females,
shielding them from their
attackers.
Bison spend most of the
day grazing in small groups.
But where the grazing is
particularly good, and
during the two annual
migrations, hundreds of
bison may gather together
to feed. They also take
frequent mud or dust baths.
~ FOOD &: FEEDING
The bison feeds mainly on
grass and other succulent
vegetation. Methodical graz-
ers, a herd can cover up to 2
miles a day in search of grass.
Food is chewed and swal-
lowed, then regurgitated and
chewed again. This method of
digestion is known as rumina-
tion, more commonly called
chewing cud.
In addition to its daily
forages, the bison also makes
seasonal journeys in search of
fresh pastures. Before its
numbers were reduced, the
bison migrated in vast herds,
moving north in spring and
south in fall.
Today, although its range is
far more limited, bison in
Alberta, Canada still migrate
150 miles each spring and fall.
Left: The bison's sleepy gaze belies
its awesome strength.
~ BISON &:MAN
When North America was first
settled, the bison ranged over
a third of the continent. Sev-
eral hundred years later, it was
nearly extinct.
The wholesale slaughter of
the bison began at the end of
The bison is adapted to
withstand the great tempera-
ture extremes of its range,
which once extended from
Canada to Mexico. It grows a
dark, warm, shaggy coat
which is shed each spring. It is
replaced by a shorter, lighter
summer coat.
Right: A bull takes advantage of a
rough tree trunk by scratching to
remove fleas.
~ BREEDING
For most of the year, females
and young males live to-
gether in small herds. Mature
bulls either live alone or band
together in smaller groups.
During the mating season
from July to September, the
bulls fight over those females
that are ready to mate. In her
prime, a female will calve
every other year.
Rival males attempt to warn
one another off by stamping
the ground and bellowing
loudly. If neither bull backs
down, they will charge each
other, butting their heads
together in a contest of
strength. The winner will
mate with the female and
stand guard over her for
several days.
Calves weigh about 65
pounds at birth and are able
to stand within a few hours.
the eighteenth century. Unlike
the Plains Indians, who only
killed as much as they could
use, American settlers shot
bison by the thousands for
their meat and skin, for
farmland, and for sport. Entire
Above: Rival
bulls meet in
fierce combat
to compete for
a mate.
Right: The
female guards
her young calf,
ready to chase
away any
marauding
wolf or coyote.
herds were quickly wiped out.
In 1905, the American
Bison Society was formed to
preserve the relatively few re-
maining animals. Today the
species is considered safe from
extinction.
DID YOU KNOW?
It is estimated that there
were once between 40 and
60 million bison in North
America.
Some North American
Indian tribes relied almost
entirely on bison for their
food and clothing.
In the United States, the
bison is more often called the
buffalo, although it is not
closely related to the true
buffalo found in Africa.
Zoologists prefer the name
bison.
The only place in the
United States where the
bison has never been driven
out of its range is Yellow-
stone National Park.
CARD 14
NORTH AMERICAN BEAVER
, , ~ - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - ~
~
ORDER
Rodentia
FAMILY
Castoridae
GENUS &: SPECIES
Castor canadensis
The industrious beaver plays a vital role in maintaining the natural
balance of its habitat. It constructs a complex system of dams
and canals that regulates flooding, creates marshland,
and prevents the erosion of soil.
KEY FACTS
SIZES
Body length: 24-32 in.
Tail length: 10-18 in.
Shoulder height: 12-24 in.
Weight: 25-65 lb.
BREEDING
Sexual maturity: 3 years.
Mating: January-February.
Gestation: 105 days.
No. of young: Up to 8 kits.
LIFESTYLE
Habit: Social, aquatic, mainly
nocturnal. Builds dams, flooding
large areas to provide suitable
habitat for itself.
Diet: Mainly bark.
Lifespan: 15-21 years.
RELATED SPECIES
The genus, Castor, contains only
one other species, the European
beaver known as C. fiber.
THE BEAVER'S DAM &: LODGE
The dam provides a reservoir in which to
construct the lodge.
Underwater entrance tunnels lead to the
living chamber. Branches stored nearby
provide a winter food supply.
C0MCMXCI IMP BV/ IMP INC WILDLIFE FACT FILETM
Range of the North American beaver.
DISTRIBUTION
The North American beaver's range extends from Canada
into most of the United States. European beaver is found in
Scandinavia, west and east Europe, central Asia, and
northwestern China.
CONSERVATION
The North American beaver has been actively repopulated by
state and federal wildlife agencies.
Food Store Dam
PRINTED IN U.S.A. 0160200071 PACKET 7
~ BEAVER 8 MAN
Much of the early exploration
of North America was carried
out by beaver trappers, who
hunted the animals for their
valuable fur. By the beginning
of the twentieth century, the
beaver population had
declined dramatically.
Although the beaver is usually thought of as
Its numbers are now regu-
lated by careful planning that
allows beavers to be harvested
for their fur and meat. In the
1950s, before regulations
were enforced, 600,000
beavers were killed in Canada.
During the 1970s, after
hunting was controlled, only
100,000-200,000 beavers
were killed in the United
States.
a resident of North America, there is a similar
species that lives in Europe. Still, there are more beavers
in North America than anywhere else in the world.
Beavers live in family groups in dams built
across streams and lakes.
~ HABITS
Beavers are found in streams
and lakes in both remote
and settled areas. Using their
huge front teeth, they can
fell very large trees and
branches. They prefer oak,
ash, alder, elm, willow, pop-
lar, and birch trees. They
use them, together with
mud, stones, and sticks, to
construct dams across fast-
flowing streams. The dam-
ming of streams causes the
area behind the dam to flood,
producing a large marsh rich
in water plants, insects, birds,
and fish.
Within the dam, beavers
construct lodges that have
various underwater entrance
tunnels (see back cover). They
excavate mud from portions
of the marsh with their front
paws, constructing a system
of canals along which they
travel to and from their
feeding areas. They also push
floating logs and tow sticks
and branches down the
waterways to new dam sites.
Beavers use scent to mark
their territories. They deposit
anal secretions and a strong-
smelling substance called
castoreum on rocks and mud
throughout their territories.
Beavers warn each other of
danger by slapping their tails
violently on the water surface.
~ SPECIAL ADAPTATIONS
Fur: Waterproof; the silky
underfur is covered by a coat
of long, shiny guard hairs.
Teeth: Coated with a hard,
yell owish red enamel to pro-
vide a hard, sharp edge
on the front surface to pre-
vent wear.
Feet and tail: The large, scaly
tail is flattened . It can be used close behind the front teeth,
for propulsion or like a rudder. while the back of the tongue
The hind feet are large and seals the throat .
webbed. Scent glands: Paired scent
Diving adaptations: Nose glands release a musky-
and ears close when diving, smelli ng substance that is
and a membrane protects the known as castoreum, with
eyes. Beavers can gnaw which the beaver marks its
underwater because t he lips territory.
~ FOOD 8 HUNTING
Bark is the beaver's staple
food. To ensure a constant
supply of food throughout the
winter, the beaver spends a
great deal of time in the fall
felling trees. The beaver tows
the logs along the canals it
Above: Even a young oak
presents no problems to the
sharp teeth of the beaver.
DI D YOU KNOW?
A beaver family can fell as
many as 300 trees in a single
winter. A pair of beavers can
gnaw through a four- inch-
thick branch in 15 minutes.
The beaver is t he second
largest rodent in the world.
Giant beavers weighing as
much as 700 pounds existed
10,000 years ago.
has made and stores them
under water.
Beavers do not hibernate in
winter, but in the northern
parts of their range they gen-
erally only leave their lodges
to feed from stored food
Beavers live in large, stable
family groups consisting of
one adult pair, their latest-
born young, and the young
born the previous year. Most
beavers leave their family
groups at two years of age to
find territories and mates.
Beavers pair for life, and
mating occurs during the
winter. The kits are born in
late spring in a chamber in
the lodge. They have full
supplies. During this time, they
live in constant darkness and lOSE
track of time.
Aquatic plants, thistles,
meadow-sweet, leaves, twigs,
seeds, and roots make up most
of the beaver's summer diet.
Top left: A
dammed, tree-
lined river is an
ideal environ-
ment for the
beaver.
Left: An
underwater
store of
branches is
kept near the
lodge as a
winter food
supply.
coats of fur and are able to
swim within several hours of
birth.
They are nursed for 6 weeks,
after which all members of the
group share the task of bring-
ing them food. They soon
venture outside the lodge, but
it will be many months before
they can survive on their own.
Below: Two week-old kits are nursed
by their mother. They may stay at
the lodge for up to 2 years.
""CARD 15
INDIAN RHINOCEROS
~ ~ ______________________________ G_R_O_U_P_l_:_M_A_M_M __ A ~ L ~ S ~
~
ORDER
Perissodactyla
" FAMILY
~ Rhinocerotidae
.. GENUS & SPECIES
~ Rhinoceros unicornis
The Indian rhino, properly known as the great Indian one-horned
rhinoceros, is a descendant of an old species of rhino. Despite its
fearsome appearance, it is generally a peaceful animal.
KEY FACTS
SIZES
Height: 3-7 ft.
Length: 7-14 ft.
Weight: 3,300-4,400 lb.
BREEDING
Sexual maturity: Males 7-9 years.
Females, 3 years.
Mating: Females come into season
every 5-8 weeks until pregnant.
Gestation period: 462-489 days.
No. of young: 1 calf.
LIFESTYLE
Habit: Partly social, partly
solitary.
Call: Social grunts and snorts;
females whistle when in season.
Diet: Grass, twigs, bamboo
shoots; wheat, lentils, potatoes.
Lifespan: About 50 years.
RELATED SPECIES
The Javan rhino, Rhinoceros
sondaicus is its closest relative.
Range of the Indian rhinoceros.
DISTRIBUTION
Now limited to ten locations in India and two in Nepal.
CONSERVATION
Su rvives only in protected areas; however, the population is
risi ng steadily and it is not in danger of exti nction. In two
national parks, rhinos have also been successfully moved into
protected areas within their former range.
FEATURES OF THE INDIAN RHINOCEROS
The Indian rhino has a single blunt. rather stubby horn.
which is often ragged in older animals. It is made of a
mass of hair-like fibers clumped together above a bony
knob on the skull. The animal 's thick. dark gray skin falls
in distinct folds at the joints of shoulders and flanks. giving
it an armor-plated appearance.
MCMXCIIMP BV/IMP INC WILDLIFE FACT FILETM
The white rhino
has two horns.
The front horn
averages about
24 in. in length.
but it can reach
more than 60 in
PRINTED IN U.S.A.
The black rhino also has two horns: the
longer front horn averages 20 in.
0160200031 PACKET 3a
Measuring over 72 feet long and weighing up
to 2 tons, the Indian rhinoceros is bigger and
heavier than a car. It may appear to be
ponderous and slow, but it can suddenly charge at
frightening speed to drive off rivals or
enemies who stray too close.

The Indian rhinoceros lives in
dense growths of tall elephant
grass in swampy areas near
rivers. Here it wallows in the
FOOD &; FEEDING
The Indian rhinoceros is prin-
cipallya grazing animal. It
moves around constantly to
take advantage of fresh plant
growth. Adaptable in its
feeding methods, the rhino
has a widely varied diet. It
eats new plant growth as well
as bamboo shoots, water
hyacinths, and a variety of
crops which can make the
rhino a nuisance to farmers.
Right: Elephant grass is the
rhino's principal food, but it also
eats crops and bamboo shoots.
shallow water and mud to
keep cool during the day. It
may also head for higher
country in search of food.
BEHAVIOR
The Indian rhinoceros is hottest part of the day.
somewhat territorial . AI- Wallowing is important for
though rhinos share commu- rhinos because it protects'
nal bathing pools, wallows, them from biting insects and
and dung heaps, they prevents overheating.
establish their own feeding In the morning, the rhinos
and sleeping areas, which feed in open areas, slowly
average 5000 square yards. If moving toward cover as the
any other animal should sun rises higher. Throughout
wander into its private area, the day, local populations of
the rhino will charge at it to rhinos come into contact
drive it away. traveling to wallows and
Rhinos remain submerged bathing pools. New arrivals to
in their wallows during the communal areas are chal-

The female Indian rhinoceros
comes into heat (is ready to
mate) for 24 hours every 5-8
weeks. She attracts the male
by spraying urine and by
making a gentle whistling
sound.
The solitary female seeks
dense cover when she is
ready to give birth. The calf
stays with its mother until the
birth of her next offspring,
between 18 months and 2
years later.
lenged by those already
there, until they are permitted
to join the group.
At dusk, they will move
again to their feeding areas
and graze until midnight
before resting. The females
with young calves move into
the shelter of tall grass to
protect the young from tigers.
The others, too big to fear
any predators, lie down wher-
ever they are feeding .
Right: At
birth, a new-
born rhino calf
weighs about
150 lbs. It
begins to
graze at 2
months, but
will continue
to suckle for at
least a year.
Left: Rhinos
and their
young spend
the day
wallowing in
an area of
shallow water
and mud.
Communal
wallowing
holes are
shared by
groups of
rhinos with no
sign of
aggression.
DID YOU KNOW?
Indian rhinoceroses are vul-
nerable to sunburn. By wal-
lowing in mud, they protect
their skin from the sun.
The first weeks after givi ng
birth, mother rhinos produce
5-7 gallons of milk daily.
The Baluchitherium, an an-
cestor of the Indian rhino,
was the largest land mammal
that ever lived. It was 18 feet
high and 36 feet long. It lived
over 20 milli on years ago.
MAN
Conflict between man and
the Indian rhinoceros arises
from the damage rhinos do to
crops and the damage man
does to the rhino's natural
food supply-elephant grass.
In Nepal, villagers, who use
elephant grass for the walls
and roofs of their houses, are
now allowed to collect grass
in national parks at certain
times of the year. This
arrangement encourages new
growth of grass, which in turn
benefits the rhinos.
CHIMPANZEE
ORDER
Primates
FAMILY
Pongidae
Intelligent and lively, the sociable chimpanzee shows an ability to
learn as well as to act instinctively. Its behavior could provide a
clue to that of our early ancestors.
~ KEY FACTS
rn:l SIZES
~ Height: Males, 5
1
/ 2 ft. Females
4
1
/ 4 ft.
Weight: 100-175 lb.
BREEDING
Sexual maturity: 8-10 years.
Mating: Female mates when
previous offspring is about 3 years.
Gestation: 202-261 days.
No. of young: 1-2.
LIFESTYLE
Habit: Sociable, in small troops.
Diet: Mainly fruit, but also leaves,
buds, blossoms, bark, resin, honey,
termites, and ants. Occasionally
other mammals.
lifespan: 40-50 years.
RELATED SPECIES
The pygmy chimpanzee, Pan
paniscus, found in Zaire.
FACIAL EXPRESSIONS OF
THE CHIMPANZEE
Like humans, chimpanzees can use their faces to
show emotion. Researchers have discovered that they
have a wide range of expressions, conveying several
different emotions.
Passive expression, above. The
chimpanzee is calm and at ease.
MCMXCI IMP BV/ IMP INC WILDLIFE FACT FILETM
Range of the chi mpanzee.
DISTRIBUTION
In Africa, from Guinea to western Uganda and Tanzania, in
forest and savannah country.
CONSERVATION
Not endangered at present, except in a few locations.
Trapping for medical experiments once posed the greatest
threat to the chimpanzee, but this danger is now decreasing
under pressure of public opinion.
Friendly expression, right. A
chimpanzee greets another
peacefully.
PRINTED IN U.S.A.
Aggressive expression, left. The
chimp is showing anger or
warning a rival not to further
annoy him.
Pleased expression,
left. This smile, showing
only the bottom teeth,
conveys active enjoy-
ment or pleasure.
0160200021 PACKET 2a
The chimpanzee is the animal that
resembles man most closely. It shares
familiar human characteristics such as
problem-solving abilities, a high
degree of parental care,
and a variety of facial expressions.
~ HABITS
The chimpanzee lives in a
troop that numbers between
25 and 80. Each troop has a
dominant male. The troop's
home range varies in size
from 7-8 square miles in the
forest to 40-75 square miles in
the open country.
Active by day, the chimpan-
zee sleeps at night in a nest it
makes in a tree, well above
ground, safe from its preda-
tors. The same nest may be
used for several nights if the
troop is not on the move.
Chimps stay mainly in trees
during the wet season and on
the ground when it is dry.
~ FOOD & FEEDI NG
The chimp has two intensive
feeding periods each day:
early morning and late
afternoon.
Fruits of all kinds make up
the majority of the chimpan-
zee's diet. It will also eat
insects and honey. It gets
~ BREEDING
Breeding takes place year-
round. When one of the
females in the group comes
into season, or heat, she will
mate with several different
males. The males show no
sign of competition between
themselves. Females have
menstrual cycles much like
humans and come into estrus
every 36 days unless they are
pregnant. They give birth
about every three years after a
gestation period of seven to
eight months.
The young chimp is carried
everywhere for its first five
months and is dependent on
its mother for two years. By
the time the youngster is four
years old, it spends most of its
time with other chimpanzees
close to its own age. It
reaches sexual maturity at
eight to ten years.
\ SPECIAL
t
____ --1 ADAPTATION
Of the few animals that use
tools, the chimp is the most
skilled. It uses sticks as weap-
ons and to dig out t he con-
tents of insect nests. Some wi ll
wet a long stick with sal iva
so that soldier ants will stick to
it.
most of the water it needs
from fruit.
It was only recently discov-
ered that the chimpanzee eats
meat. It is now known that it
hunts, kills, and feeds on a
variety of mammals, including
other primates such as the
Top: Chimpanzees may live to 50
years, graying with age.
Above: The males will drum the
ground and scream when trying
to establish dominance.
Right: A mother carries her
youngster everywhere.
colobus monkeys, blue
monkeys, and baboons.
The killing is almost always
done by one adult male who
smashes the animal's head on
the ground. The male eats his
fill before sharing with the rest
of the troop.
DID YOU KNOW?
Chimpanzees suffer from
many human diseases,
including malaria.
Chimpanzees are the only
animals, apart from humans,
that can recognize themselves
in mirrors.
~ CHIMPANZEES & MAN
The chimpanzee's survival is
more threatened by man than
by anything else. Chimpan-
zees were driven away when
large human populations took
over their habitats. Today,
hunting and trapping chim-
panzees for zoos and experi-
mental use is a highly profit-
able business in several parts
of Africa.
Because of their biological
and behavioral similarities to
humans, chimpanzees have
been used extensively for
testing drugs. There is grow-
ing opposition to this practice,
but it is still widespread.
"" CARD 17
BOTTLENOSE DOLPHIN

ORDER
Cetacea
" SUB-ORDER
Odontoceti
GROUP 1:
.. FAMILY .. GENUS &: SPECIES
Oelphinidae T ursiops truncatus
The playful bottlenose dolphin, found in coastal waters around the
world, is one of the best-known and most loved marine mammals.
"l KEY FACTS
I SIZES
Length: 11-1 3 ft.
Weight: 330-440 lb .
BREEDING
Sexual maturity: About 8 years.
Mating: Mating can occur at any
time, but most births take place
during the summer.
No. of young: Single calf.
LIFESTYLE
Call: Extensive vocabulary of
whistles and clicks.
Habit: Sociable.
Diet: A wide range of inshore fish,
particularly capelin, anchovy,
salmon, and shrimp.
Lifespan: Up to 50 years.
RELATED SPECIES
There are about 40 species of
dolphin and their close relation, the
porpoise.
MCMXCIIMP BV/ IMP INC WILDLIFE FACT FILETM
Range of the bottlenose dolphin.
DISTRIBUTION
Coastal waters of the Atlantic, the temperate North Pacific and
the Red Sea and Indo-Pacific region are home to three species
of bottlenose dolphin--T ursiops truncatus truncatus, T. t. gilli,
and T.t. aduncus respectively.
CONSERVATION
Bottlenose dolphins are in no danger of extinction. This is not
true of other dolphin species.
HOW DOLPHINS "SEE"
PRINTED IN U.S.A.
Dolphins communicate by means of
high pitched whistles and cli cks which
create sound waves. The sound waves
travel through the water and bounce off
solid objects, causing an echo.
A dolphin's brain is adapted to
understand the echoes that travel
through the water. By using this kind of
echolocation. a dolphi n can interpret a
detailed "picture" of its environment.
from which it is able to quickly identify
the direction, si ze. and distance of prey.
0160200031 PACKET 3a
Bottlenose dolphins, with their steely gray backs, dome-
shaped heads and short beaks, are intelligent and
friendly. The whistling calls they make are actually a
form of language.
~ BREEDING
Bottlenose dolphins usually
mate in the spring and
summer. The females give
birth underwater to a single
calf 10-12 months later.
Several dolphins surround the
mother to assist with her
delivery and to protect her
and the baby from shark
attacks. Sharks are attracted
to the scene by the blood
which is released during birth.
Sometimes the dolphin
helpers will tug gently at the
baby's tail as it emerges,
whistling encouragement to
Dolphins are very sociable
animals that generally live in
groups. Their friendly, coopera-
tive behavior is vital to their
survival. When a dolphin is sick
or injured, its cries of distress
summon immediate aid from
mother and youngster. They
swim together as a group to
guide the newborn dolphin to
the surface for its first breath
of air.
The mother nurses her calf
for at least 16 months, so she
usually breeds only once every
two to three years. Each time,
she is likely to breed with a
different mate.
Below: Dolphin calves develop a
close bond with their mothers,
staying close to them for about
sixteen months.
other dolphins, who try to
support it to the surface so
that it can breathe.
Dolphins spend a large part
of the day playing. They use
whistles and clicks to contact
each other.
~ FOOD & HUNTING
Dolphins eat a wide variety of
fish, and their hunting
behavior varies according to
the availability of food . When
large schools of fish are
present, as many as several
g hundred dolphins will
Ql
:if cooperate in catching the fish
Ql
by communicating with one
~ another. They drive the fish
~ into a dense mass and force
j them to the surface of the
~
DID YOU KNOW?
Dolphins can eat at depths
of 6 feet and can stay sub-
merged for up to 15 minutes.
Sharks do not prey on
bottlenose dolphins as they will
attack the sharks.
To breathe when they are
water, making it impossible
for the fish to escape. They
also emit loud sounds to
further confuse the prey.
Dolphins usually hunt
during the day. However,
when fish begin migrating or c
are scarce, dolphins become ~
nocturnal hunters. They ~
Ql
search for squid and bottom- ~
-.:::
dwelling fish which are active ~
(5
at night. Cl
asleep, females lie on the
water's surface with their
blowholes exposed to the air;
males sleep just below the
surface and rise to breathe
periodically as a reflex action.
u.:
DOLPHIN & MAN
Man and dolphins conflict
when they compete for fish;
each year, thousands of
dolphins drown in nets. Some-
times schools of dolphins get
stranded on shore. Conserva-
tionists try to return them to
Left: Dolphins
may leap in the
air to spot the
location of
hunting
seabirds,
whose presence
shows them
where to find
schools of fish.
Below: The
familiar
"smile" of the
bottlenose
~ dolphin reveals
.i 20 to 26 pairs
~ of small, even
~ teeth in each
~ jaw.
deep water but are rarely
successful. Scientists believe
that schools become stranded
when a single dolphin's echo-
location system is upset. Its
distress calls cause others to
follow it to their deaths.
SPERM WHALE
ORDER
Cetacea
SUB-ORDER
Odonoceti
... FAMILY
Peridae
"" CARD 18 1
GROUP 1:
... GENUS & SPECIES
Physeter macrocephalus
The sperm whale is the largest of the toothed whales and can reach
a length of 6S feet. Its massive round head accounts for about
one third of its total body length.
KEY FACTS
SIZES
Length: Males, 50-65 ft.
Females, 35-55 ft.
Weight: Males average 80,000 lb.
Females, 44,000 lb.
BREEDING
Sexual maturity: About 10 years
(40 ft. long) for males, but they
usually breed after 25 years.
Mating: Males, annually. Females,
about every 4 years.
Gestation: 14-16 months.
No. of young: Single calf.
LIFESTYLE
Range of the sperm whale.
DISTRIBUTION
Habit: Sociable, living in groups.
Call: Whistles and clicks.
Diet: Bottom-dwelling fish.
Lifespan: Up to 70 years.
The sperm whale lives in the oceans of the world in two
distinct groups-one migrating north of the equator to the
Arctic and the other south of the equator to the Antarctic.
RELATED SPECIES
The pygmy sperm whale (Kogia
breviceps) and the dwarf sperm
whale (K. simus).
CONSERVATION
Despite protection from the International Whaling Commis-
sion, numbers have dropped from 170,000 males and
slightly fewer females to only 71 ,000 males and 125,000
females.
SPECIAL ADAPTATIONS OF THE SPERM WHALE
Blowhole: The sperm whale can hold its
breath for more than an hour underwater.
It returns to the surface to blow (expel)
spent air from its blowhole.
Spermaceti
wax
Blowhole
-.,<'----- Skull
Nasal passage
Spermaceti wax: The whale
controls its buoyancy when
ascending or diving by drawing
water throl:Jgh the nasal passages
to heat or cool the vast amount of
spermaceti wax.
MCMXCI IMP BV/IMP INC WILDLIFE FACT FILETM PRINTED IN U.S.A.
Sperm whales will protect an
injured member of their
group by gathering around it
in a Marguerite formation.
0160200061 PACKET 6
It is believed that the sperm whale dives deeper
than any other marine mammal and may reach
depths of more than 10,000 feet-although the deepest
recorded dive is 4,000 feet. A large bull whale can dive
deepest and for the longest period of time,
staying underwater for up to 45 minutes.
~ HABITS
The sperm whale is a
sociable animal that lives in
groups. The group structure
varies according to the age
and sex of the whale. Males
generally live apart from
females. The females form
groups together with their
young, numbering from five
to thirty animals. There are
also smaller bachelor pods of
young, non-breeding whales
as well as the much larger
harem groups consisting of
many females, young, and a
dominant, sexually mature bull.
The whales swim, dive, feed,
and sleep together within
their group. They also have a
language of sonar clicks with
which to communicate.
In summer, the whales
migrate to feed in the Arctic
and Antarctic.
DID YOU KNOW?
The sperm whale is born
without teeth, which do not
begin to grow until it reaches
sexual maturity. The largest
teeth are 11 inches long.
A small group of whales is
called a pod.
~ WHALE&:MAN
The sperm whale has been
ruthlessly hunted by man for
centuries, and continues to
be persecuted. Whalers have
taken advantage of the
whale's protective instinct,
whereby all members of a
group will surround an
injured animal in what is
known as a Marguerite
formation. They harpoon a
single sperm whale to attract
other whales who come to
its rescue and then kill them
as well.
Man hunts the sperm
whale for food, and for the
oil its blubber provides. It is
also hunted for the sperma-
ceti wax found in its head
and for a substance called
ambergris found in the
intestines.
~ BREEDING
Groups of sperm whales
begin their migration to the
equator from the Arctic and
Antarctic every fall for the
winter breeding season. The
bulls attempt to form harems
of up to thirty adult females.
Fierce fights between rival
males for females are not
uncommon. Once the harem
is established, the bull mates
with any female not already
pregnant or with young.
The sperm whale can dive
560 feet per minute; it
ascends to the surface at 460
feet per minute. When the
whale expels air after a deep
dive, the noise it makes can
be heard half a mile away.
Top Left:
An adult sperm
whale is about
150 times the
size of a man.
Left: The
sperm whale
dives deeper
than any other
marine mammal.
Right: Human
exploitation of
the sperm
whale has left
the species
engaged in a
fierce struggle
for survival.
After mating, the female
gives birth 14-16 months
later. The other females
protect her while she is giving
birth and then help the calf to
the surface to take its first
breath. The mother feeds her
calf with fat-rich milk for as
long as 2 years, by which time
it has grown to a length of 23
feet.
Right: A female sperm whale
with her day-old calf.
~ FOOD &: HUNTING
The sperm whale feeds on
bottom-dwelling organisms
such as squid. Sometimes
giant squid put up such a
struggle that scars are made
on the whale's head by the
tentacles. Scientists are not
certain how the sperm whale
catches its prey, but it is be-
lieved that the whale stuns it
with very loud sound waves.
The sperm whale will a l ~ o eat
snapper, lobster, and even
shark. It swallows its prey whole.
An adult whale will eat up to
one ton of food every day.
"" CARD 19
BACTRIAN CAMEL
~ ~ - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
~
ORDER
Artiodactyla
FAMILY
Camelidae
GENUS & SPECIES
Camelus bactrianus
The Bactrian camel is the only truly wild, two-humped camel in the
world. It lives in the Cobi Desert and, like the one-humped camel,
it can go for long periods without water.
KEY FACTS
SIZES
Height to shoulder: 6 ft.
Height to hump: Up to 7 ft.
Length: 11-12 ft., including tail
(21-25 in. long).
Weight: 1,000-1,500 lb.
BREEDING
Sexual maturity: 5 years.
Mating: February.
Gestation: About 1 3 months.
No. of young: 1 calf.
LIFESTYLE
Habit: Females live in small herds
with 1 male. Other males solitary.
Diet: Grasses and shrubs.
Call: Low grunts.
lifespan: Longest recorded, 50
years.
RELATED SPECIES
The one-humped camel, Camelus
dromedarius. Camelidae is the only
family in the suborder Tylopoda.
Range of the Bactrian camel.
DISTRIBUTION
In its wild state, it is found only in the Gobi Desert in Mongo-
lia. In a domesticated form, it is also found in Afghanistan,
Turkey, the Soviet Union, Iran, and China.
CONSERVATION
There are thought to be less than 1,000 wi ld camels living in
the Gobi Desert. It is now considered an endangered species.
SPECIAL ADAPTATIONS OF THE
BACTRIAN CAM El Nostrils: Can be closed in a sandstorm.
Humps: Two,
conical shaped.
These are food
10MCMXCI IMP BV/ IMP INC WILDLIFE FACT FILETM
Thick, wooly fleece to
combat cold in winter
and reduce perspira-
tion. Kept in summer
to act as protection
against sun. .
PRINTED IN U.S.A.
Eyelashes: Long, in double rows
to protect eyes from windblown
dust and sand.
feet: Soles have thick, elastic
pads which expand to distribute
animal 's weight. They help to
support camel in soft sand.
0160200071 PACKET 7
The Bactrian camel is named after the part of the
region it inhabits, Bactria, on the border of
Afghanistan and Uzbekistan (former Soviet Union).
The first camels appeared in North America 40-50
million years ago, descended from an animal the
size of a small dog. They migrated to Europe and
Asia two million years ago and became nearly
extinct in their original habitat.
~ HABITAT
Once found over a vast range
in Asia, Bactrian camels now
inhabit only Mongolia's remote
Gobi Desert. They are specially
adapted to cope with the
extremes of climate found in
this region. They form small
groups of six to twenty animals
that are led by a mature male.
Young males spend most of
their time wandering alone.
Within their habitat, the
camels may be found in desert,
semidesert, grassy steppes
and mountainous regions up
to 6,500 feet. In the summer,
they are most likely to be
found in dry valleys and on
nearby hills. During the
winter, they frequent dried-up
creek and stream beds and
oases.
Below: The wild landscape of
the Gobi Desert is now the last
refuge of the Bactrian camel in
its natural habitat.
~ BREEDING
In the wild, Bactrian camels
mate in February. The males
chase off young animals in
order to have access to the
females.
Mating takes place while the
camels are sitting down, but
the females give birth in a
standing position a year and a
month later. A single young is
born. Within several days, it
can walk perfectly with the
DID YOU KNOW?
A Bactrian camel can drink
quantities up to 30 percent of
its body weight at one time.
In the desert, without water,
a camel can survive up to ten
times as long as a human and
four times as long as a donkey.
Camels do not like wet con-
ditions, but they can tolerate
variations in temperature
ranging from -16
0
F to 120
0
F.
Males, females, and young
camels are known respectively
as stallions, mares, and calves.
In 1860, fifteen Bactrian
camels were imported to the
United States to haul salt
across 200 miles of desert.
ambling gait that is character-
istic of the adult camel.
The females nurse the
young for 5 years until they
reach sexual maturity. Young
males are then driven out to
form bachelor herds; young
females remain with their
mothers. Older males return
to the herd during mating
season but are often driven
out by younger, rival males.
left: Thick,
shaggy fur
insulates the
camel from
extremes of
temperature,
preventing it
from losing
warmth at
night and
slowing the
warming
process during
the day.
~ CAMEL & MAN
It is thought that the Bac-
trian camel was domesti-
cated by man as early as
2,000 B.C. It is presumed to
be a descendant of the feral
camel.
~ FOOD & FEEDING
Like domestic cows, camels are
ruminants-that is, they feed
and then regurgitate the food
and chew it again. This is also
called chewing cud. Able to
survive on extremely sparse
vegetation, they eat the tough
grass, herbs, thin branches,
and foliage of shrubs that grow
in their arid environment. They
search for food in the morning
and evening and chew their
cud in the afternoon.
At the end of the nineteenth
century, Bactrian camels were
discovered in the Lobnor
Desert in China by the Russian
explorer, Nikolai Przewalski,
and it was established that, in
left: A calf will
remain close to
its mother for
the first 5 years
of its life. The
young camel's
coat eventually
becomes the
same color as
its mother's.
The camel can tolerate great
variations in its body tempera-
ture-from 86
0
F-1 05
0
F-and
therefore loses little water
through perspiration. Al-
though camels can go for
long periods without water,
they do not actually store it in
their humps. The humps are,
in fact, reserves of fat that are
converted into water when
the camel becomes dehy-
drated.
its natural state, the Bactrian
camel is truly a wild, rather
than domesticated, animal.
The camel is also an impor-
tant source of wool, milk,
meat, and fuel in the desert.
left: Camels
can drink up to
25 gallons at
once and can
suffer huge
losses of water
without ill
effect.
RED DEER

ORDER
"lIIIIIIIII Artiodactyla "IIIIIIII
FAMILY
Cervidae
'" CARD 20

__ G_ROUP 1:
GENUS &: SPECIES
Cervus elaphus
c
o
-g
.s
ell
Q)
D

Q)
E
C1l
Q)
co
The antlered red deer is an awesome sight. The stag uses his antlers
as a weapon when fighting other males for access to females during
the mating season each fall.
KEY FACTS
SIZES
Height: Males 4-5 ft.
Females a little smaller.
Length: 5-9 ft.
Weight: 220-265 lb.
Antlers: 35-39 in. fully grown.
BREEDING
Sexual maturity: Females 2-4
years. Males breed at 5-6 years.
Mating: Early fall.
Gestation: Average 235 days.
No. of young: 1 (twins are rare).
LIFESTYLE
Habit: Sociable; males form
separate herds during non-
breeding season.
Diet: Grass, heather, twigs, leaves,
and fruits.
lifespan: 17-20 years.
RELATED SPECIES
There are 23 subspecies of deer, of
which 6 are endangered.
THE RED DEER'S ANTLERS
Range of the red deer.
DISTRIBUTION
Red deer are found in southern Scandinavia, most of western
Europe, North Africa, and Asia Minor. They have also been
introduced to Argentina, Australia, and New Zealand.
CONSERVATION
Common and increasing. Culling is carefully controlled in
many places and red deer are protected both as game and as
ornamental animals.
It takes a few days for the velvet to
disappear and for the antlers to become
clean. An adult stag can have many
branches on his antlers.
Antlers begin as knobs
covered in soft thin skin
called velvet.
Stags over 2 years old
grow branching antlers
New antlers take about 100 days
to grow and are shed in April.
called prickets.
The velvet dies in July
and the stag will rub it off
and eat it.
MCMXCI IMP BV/ IMP INC WILDLIFE FACT FILETM PRINTED IN U.S.A. 0160200061 PACKET 6
In summer, the coats of these attractive and
impressive animals are a bright chestnut brown.
In the fall, the deer grow waterproof guard hairs,
which turn the coats much darker.
Wild herds are found in forests and
parkland throughout their range.
Forests are the red deer's
natural habitat. Where the
forest has been cleared, the
deer move onto open land.
Even where forests have
been replanted, deer rarely
return because the dense re-
growth of the conifers makes
it difficult for them to feed.
Some deer live on open land
year round; others retreat to
wooded glens in the worst
winter weather.
Red deer are primarily
grazing animals. They feed
on grass by cutting it
between their sharp lower
incisor teeth and their hard
upper gums. They also have
strong teeth in their cheeks
that enable them to eat
twigs in the winter when
grass is scarce.
Right: The red deer feed on grass
in the summer.
The autumn mating season,
called the rut, is the time when
the dominant stags challenge
and fight one another for
access to the females. Several
of the successful stags corner a
group of thirty to forty females,
called hinds, and will mate with
each sexually mature member
as she comes into season.
Younger stags are excluded
from breeding by the
older, more aggressive males.
At the end of the rut, when the
stags are exhausted, the
younger stags may mate with
any hinds which are late
coming into season.
Left: Mature stag bellowing a
warning to another. If this threat
is ignored, the stags will fight (see
top picture).
The stags leave the females
when the rut is over, forming
bachelor herds for the rest of
the year. The larger animals
are still dominant, chasing
away rivals from the best
feeding places.
The calves are born after a
gestation period of 8' /2
months. They are able to
stand unsteadily at 20
minutes old, and are able to
take milk 10 minutes later.
A calf will stay with its
mother until she gives birth
again. At this time she drives
it away so that it will not
compete with the new calf.
Right: A calf suckles from its
mother. The calf's coat is
speckled until after its first molt
the following May.
DID YOU KNOW?
While most deer eat only
the velvet as it falls off their
antlers, stags in the High-
lands of Scotland eat their
shedded antlers as well. The
soil is so deficient in the
minerals the deer need to
grow new sets of antlers, that
~ RED DEER & MAN
Deer hunting is a popular,
though controversial, sport.
But the number of deer must
be controlled each year, to
prevent the herds from ex-
hausting their food supply.
Hunting, therefore, is seen as a
necessary population control.
Some species of deer are
bred I.ike cattle, but red deer
are not suitable to be raised on
ranches, since they are
dangerous during the rut.
the old antlers serve as a
valuable nutritive source.
Fighting stags sometimes lock
their antlers together and can-
not separate. When this hap-
pens, both will starve to death.
A stag with twelve points on
his antlers is called a "royal."
~ NATUREWATCH
Red deer are easiest to spot in
summer, in wooded country
during the early hours of the
morning. Deer watchers must
be stealthy since, like most
herbivores (plant eaters), deer
are very wary and alert and
will quickly detect unfamiliar
movements, sounds, or
scents. Deer can rarely be
spotted on open land.