Did you know?
A lion’s roar can be heard over 8km away? Or that just like our fingerprints, no two zebras have the same pattern of stripes? Learn some fascinating facts about the five species who call Taronga’s African Savannah home.
Giraffe
| Size | Males can be up to 6m in height. Females up to 5m. |
| Weight | Males 1100-1900kg. Females 700-1100kg. At birth, calves can weigh 45-70kg. |
| Life span | 20-28 years in captivity (15-20 years in the wild). |
| Collective name | Tower or Herd. |
Fast facts about Giraffe
- Giraffes are the tallest of all land mammals. Just their legs can grow over 2m!
- A giraffe’s tongue can be as long as 53cm, helping them reach high trees
- Infant giraffes are fast learners! They’re usually on their feet within 30 minutes of being born, and run soon after
- A single giraffe can eat up to 45kg of twigs and leaves a day
- With the largest eyes of any land mammal, giraffes have great eyesight and can see clearly up to 2km away
Meerkats
| Size | Standing 25-30cm. |
| Weight | 600g-1kg. |
| Life span | Up to 15 years in captivity (10 years in the wild). |
| Collective name | Mob or Gang. |
Fast facts about Meerkats
- Meerkats have at least 10 different vocalisations, including murmurs, growls, scolding clucks, and a distinctive defensive bark to alert others to danger
- A meerkats tail can grow up to 25cm long. That’s nearly as tall as their body!
- Meerkats live together in burrows, which help to protect them from both predators, and the harsh African sun
- Meerkats have a very defined social structure and rotate duties between members of the mob. While some of the group forages for food, some will stay behind and watch newborn pups, while others will take ‘sentry’ duty, where they monitor their surrounds for danger
Fennec Fox
| Size | Adults grow to just 20cm. |
| Weight | Up to 1.6kg. |
| Collective name | Skulk. |
Fast facts about Fennec Foxes
- The fennec fox is the smallest type of fox in the world
- Fennec Fox have thick hair which insulates them from the hot desert sun and cold nights. Even their feet are hairy to help protect them from scorching hot sand
- Fennec Fox have oversized ears that grow to the greatest length of any type of fox, relative to body size
- These unusually large ears come in handy. They help the fennec fox hear prey underground, and assist in dispersing heat, so they stay cool in the hot summer sun
Lions
| Size | 1-1.5m tall (Males are almost 50% larger than females). |
| Weight | Males 150-260kg. Females 120-180kg. |
| Life span | 20-25 years in captivity (12-18 years in the wild). |
| Collective name | Pride. |
Fast facts about Lions
- An adult male’s roar can be heard up to 8km away?
- Lions are often called the King of the Jungle, but most lions actually live in savannahs or grasslands
- Lions generally eat between 5kg and 7kg of meat a day, but on a big day, can consume up to 15% of their body weight
- Lions can sleep for up to 20 hours a day!
- Lions can leap up to 12 meters, and can run up to 60km/hr at top speed
Zebra
| Size | 2-2.5m long. |
| Weight | 200-450kg. |
| Markings | Every zebra has a unique pattern of black and white stripes. |
| Life span | 25 years in the wild. |
| Collective name | Zeal, Dazzle or Herd. |
Fast facts about Zebra
- There are three species of Zebra – the Plains Zebra, Mountain Zebra and Grevy’s Zebra
- Zebras can reach a top speed of 65km/hr
- Just like human finger prints, each zebra’s markings are unique. Scientists think their markings may help zebras identify each other
- Closely related to horses, zebras are part of the Equidae family
