Animals

Originally Native to:  Mediterranean islands of Sicily and Sardinia
Food:  grass, grain, hay
Height: 3 ft.
Weight: 250-400
Gestation Period: 12 months
Offspring: 1 foal
Lifespan: 30-35 years

Donkeys are highly resistant to disease and remain healthy even into old age.Donkeys are used as pack animals and to pull wagons.  The donkey is often used to guard sheep from predators.  If a herd of donkeys is attacked they will form a circle and fight the predator with their hooves.  The Sicilian breed is noted for their cross-shaped marking at the base of the neck.

Habitat- desert
Predators- man
Food- leaves, thorns, bushes
Originally Native to: Arabia
Height: over 7 ft.
Weight: 1000-1500lbs.
Gestation Period: 12-13 months
Offspring: 1 calf
Lifespan: 40 to 50 years

Camels are known for their ability to go long periods of time without water as well as little or no food.  The camels hump does not store water but is used as a reservoir to store fatty tissue. A camel can eat a large amount of food in a short period of time.  This is due to the fact that the camel swallows its food without chewing it and then later regurgitates the undigested food and chews it in cud form.  A camel can reach a maximum speed of 12 mph.

Originally Native To: Africa
Height: 4 ft. at shoulders
Weight: Male: 300 lbs.
Female: 300 lbs.
Gestation Period: 8 mos.
Offspring1 calf
Lifespan: 20 yrs.
Status - Endangered
Habitat - Semi-desert, woodland zones
Predators - Man, lion, leopard, hyena, hunting dogs
Food - Grasses, acacia pods, shrubs, succulent bulbs, wild melons, cucumbers, tubers, fruits & leaves

In the early 1970s the scimitar-horned oryx, together with the addax, were considered the most endangered of the African antelope.  While they have done well in captivity, they have not been so fortunate in the wild. The scimitar-horned oryx is named for its long curving horns, which may reach over 3 feet. The scimitar is the only oryx with curved horns. They use their horns mainly for ritualized sparring competitions between rival males and sometimes during courtship. Its coat is white, with a chestnut brown neck and chest, and a brown stripe over its eyes. They are perfectly camouflaged for desert dwelling. The scimitar is a highly selective feeder and utilizes plants with high water and protein content. Because of their ability to locate and select these plants and physiologically conserve water, this oryx is capable of going for months without a free water source. One calf is born after a gestation period and nurse until about 5 months of age.

Originally Native To: Mediterranean countries, Europe and Middle East
Height: 3 ft. at shoulder
Weight: Male: 140 lbs.
Female: 140 lbs.
Gestation Period: 8 mos.
Offspring: 1 fawn or twins common
Lifespan: 20 yrs.
Habitat:  Forest
Predators:  Bear, lynx, wolves
Food:  Shoots of young trees, buds, leaves, bark, field crops, such as carrots, beets, parsnips

Coloration is highly variable, up to 14 color variations occur from white through shades of red brown to dark brown, with some adults retaining their original spotted markings. Whatever color they are born will be the color they retain for life. The rump of the fallow deer is white, when alarmed the hairs on the rump stand erect and the tail is held high, revealing a flash, which warns other deer of the threat. Their main defenses are running away and hiding, although hooves, antlers and teeth are used as a last resort. Bucks do not eat during the rutting season from September to mid-October. They mark off and defend a small area known as a "stand" from which other rutting males are excluded. After the rut, males generally cease defending their territories and form bachelor herds, while females and young remain segregated from males and in their own groups. The bucks shed their antlers and grow a new rack in time for the next rut. The number of points on their antlers increases with age. Fawns weigh approximately 10 lbs. at birth. Fallow deer do much of their feeding in open, grassy areas but require tree cover and undergrowth for shelter and winter-feed. Food availability appears to determine whether fallow deer in an area are predominantly grazers or browsers.

Originally Native To: Eastern Asia
Height: 2.5 ft. tall at shoulders
Weight: Male: 110 - 300 lbs.
Female: 88 - 130 lbs.
Gestation Period: 7.5 - 8 mos.
Offspring: 1 calf
Lifespan: 15 - 18 years
Status:  Endangered
Habitat:  Woodland type areas
Predators:  Tigers, wolves, and man
Food:  leaves, roots, wood, bark or stems, grains, nuts, fruit

These are generally solitary animals. The male actively fights with male red deer and fallow deer, particularly during breeding season. He also exhibits standard vocalizations and mating behavior to attract the lone female. The female will fight red deer three times her size in competition for food.  In the wild a single herd may eat over 100 species of plants, including poison ivy with no ill effects.

Originally Native To: Africa
Height: 4 ft. at shoulders
Weight: Male: 430 lbs.
Female: 430 lbs.
Gestation Period: 8 - 8.5 mos.
Offspring: 1 calf
Lifespan: 20 yrs.
Habitat:  Grasslands
Predators:  Lions, wild dogs, hyenas, cheetahs, crocodiles, jackals
Food:  Grasses

Large numbers of wildebeest migrate together across the plains of Africa during the dry season seeking water, shade and grazing sites. During the rainy season, the herds head back to their home ranges again making a yearly trip of about 1,800 miles. Ostriches, zebras and gazelles migrate with the wildebeest for varying distances making an impressive scene. However, these herds are followed by many African predators including lions, wild dogs, hyenas, and cheetah. One of the techniques used by the vulnerable wildebeest to survive as a species is to have all the calves born together within a three-week birthing period. This takes place during the rainy season when the conditions are optimal. One tan calf is born to each female and is almost immediately up and running with his mother. After giving birth, the female rejoins the calving herd with hundreds of other females and calves. Although females will only nurse their own calf, the sheer numbers of calves and females help the survivability of the young. However, predators still take large numbers of young wildebeest each year. After about two years male wildebeest are expelled from the herd, joining bachelor herds.

Originally Native to:  South America
Habitat:   Mountainous regions
Predators: Mountain lions, cougars, snow leopards, man
Food:  Grasses, low-protein grain
Originally Native To North America
Height:  4 ft. at the shoulder
Weight:  100-250 lbs. 
Gestation period:  11 to 11.5 months
Offspring: 1
Lifespan:  20-30 years

The llama is known for its surefooted travels in high mountain areas.  When upset a llama may spit a foul smelling liquid.  They are used as pack animals and can carry loads up to 130 pounds for up to 10-20 miles a day pver rugged slopes in high altitudes, but they are not ridden.  When tired or overloaded a llama will lie down and refuse to move. The llama is often referred to as the "South American Camel".

Originally Native To:  Asia
Height:  8 to 9 feet
Lifespan:  25 years
Weight:  1500 to 2650 lbs.
Gestation:  9 to 11 months
Mating:  April to July
# of young:  1 calf
Diet:  grass and tree leaves
Maturity:  males 3 years; females 3 years

Originally Native To: Africa
Height: 4 ft. at shoulder
Weight Male: 550 lbs.
Female: 480 lbs.
Gestation Period: 12 mos.
Offspring: 1 foal
Birth Season: During rainy season, peak Dec. - Jan.
Lifespan Wild: 28 yrs.
Captivity: 30 yrs.
Habitat:   Savanna
Predators:   Lions, hyenas, cheetahs
Food:  Grasses, esp. stems & sheaths

Zebras have an acute sense of sight, smell and hearing which benefits the other animals that associate with them. Their night vision is thought to be about as good as that of cats or owls. They have long jaws, so that when they are grazing their eyes are still high enough to watch for predators. With eyes located on the side of their head, they have a wide field of vision.When a mare is about to give birth the stallion moves the rest of the herd away. If the stallion communicates danger to the mare she can delay the birth up to 18 hours. She gives birth lying down and guards her newborn from other members of her herd, giving the baby time to learn her stripe pattern. Foals weigh about 65 pounds at birth and have a longer, softer coat with brown stripes. They are up and walking within 30 minutes of birth and can run usually after an hour. The mortality rate of foals is high in the first year due to predation.  During travel, the herd is led by the dominant female and her foal, followed by other females in their order of dominance. The stallion usually brings up the rear or walks to the side. Zebra herds will join enormous herds of wildebeest during the migration for increased mutual protection from predators. But even then they maintain their close family bond and stay together. When a predator approaches a herd that has a young colt, the mother hides it behind her family members. By staying close together instead of bolting and leaving behind a weak or sick animal, the whole herd cooperates to protect any threatened member. However, it is the stallion that actively defends his herd and does not hesitate to attack hyenas. This defense is so effective that only hyenas hunting in large packs have much luck with zebras. The stallion will go looking for missing members of his herd. Zebras can run up to 40 mph but when attacked the herd bunches up and flees at about half that speed so the group can keep tightly together. Whether the zebra's stripes help to disguise them from predators, regulate body temperature or identify individuals within a group, no two animals look exactly alike.

Originally Native To: Africa
Height: 6 - 8 ft. tall
Weight Male: 340 lbs.
Female: 340 lbs.
Gestation Period: 42 - 48 days
Offspring: 6 - 8 chicks
Captivity: 20 - 70 years
Social Behavior: Flocks of 5 - 50 birds
Habitat:   Open semi arid plains & woodlands
Predators:   Chicks - Egyptian vulture, hyena & jackal
Food:   Roots, leaves, flowers, fruit, seeds, locusts, insects, lizards, & small tortoises

The ostrich is the world's largest living bird.  They are flightless and use their wings mainly for communication, elaborate courtship displays and to help them turn or brake when running. An ostrich can maintain a speed of 30mph for 30 minutes and can reach a top speed of 45mph. Their strides can reach 11 feet in length.  An Ostrich can deliver a kick powerful enough to disembowel a lion. The male makes the nest, a scrape in the sand about 3 feet across and 1 foot deep. The "major hen" lays an egg in the nest first and then any "minor hens", each laying up to 12 eggs over a three-week period. A hen can lay about 70 eggs each year. The egg weighs about 2 pounds and has a thick ivory colored shell. The egg is the equivalent of about 18 - 24 chicken eggs. Many animals, as well as humans eat the eggs and the African people use the shells for holding water. The male, being black in color, sits on the nest at night, while only the "major hen" sits on it during the day when her lighter brown coloration provides better camouflage. Incubation takes 42-48 days. The baby ostrich is well developed and active as soon as they are hatched. They are about the size of a domestic hen. Both the male and "major hen" raise and protect the chicks.
 

Originally Native To: Australia
Height: 5 - 6 ft.
Weight Male: 120 lbs.
Female: 120 lbs.
Gestation Period: 53 days
Offspring: 15 eggs
Lifespan: Wild: 5 - 10 yrs.
Captivity: 20 yrs.
Social Behavior: Live in pairs or male with several females
Status: Domesticated
Habitat: Grasslands
Predators: Man
Food: Browse, fruit, flowers, insects, seeds and green vegetation, caterpillars

Characteristics: Large bird with 3-toed feet with sharp claws; featherless blue skin on the front of their necks & cheeks; hairy, hanging, barb-like plumage

Besides the Ostrich, the Emu is the largest bird in the world. The emu is a prehistoric bird thought to have roamed the outback of Australia some 80 million years ago.  The Emu is flightless and can use its powerful legs to travel up to 30 mph.  It will also use its legs for defense by kicking predators.
The female lays 9 - 12 dark green eggs weighing 1 to 1.5 lbs each. Then she defends the nest during the 53 day incubation period, while the male incubates the clutch without drinking and rarely eating. Chicks are cream colored with brown stripes and dark dots on their heads. They leave the nest after 2 - 3 days. The male teaches the chicks what to eat, how to eat it and where to find it. The male guards the chicks for up to 18 months.

Habitat:   Open grasslands, prairies
Predators:   Wolves, grizzly bears, coyotes, man
Food:  Grasses & weeds
Originally Native To North America
Height:  6 ft. 6 in. at hump
Weight Male: 2200
Female: 1100
Characteristics:  Distinct hump over shoulders Short curved black horns
Gestation Period:  9 - 9.5 mos.
Offspring: 1 calf
Birth Season:  Spring
LifespanWild: 15- 20 yrs.
Captivity: 30 yrs.
Social Behavior: Mixed sex herds

Bison are members of the cattle family and are only found in North America and Europe. Historically bison herds ranged from 30 to 60 million and roamed free all over the united States but were hunted extensively for their meat and skin.  By 1890, only several hundred bison survived.  Today there are over 100,000 bison in existence with the help from private and governmental conservation efforts.
Bison calves average 35 - 50 lbs. at birth and are normally reddish-brown, but some are black. Bison are unpredictable and can be very dangerous. While appearing slow and docile, they are agile and can run as fast as a horse.