Why do elephants have such big ears?

The large flapping ears of an elephant are very important for temperature regulation. Elephant ears are made of a very thin layer of skin stretched over cartilage and a rich network of blood vessels. On hot days, elephants will flap their ears constantly, creating a slight breeze. This breeze cools the surface blood vessels, and then the cooler blood gets circulated to the rest of the animal's body. The hot blood entering the ears can be cooled down several degrees before returning to the body. Differences in the ear sizes of African and Asian elephants can be explained, in part, by their geographical distribution. Africans originated and stayed near the equator, where it is warmer. Therefore, they have bigger ears. Asians live farther north, in slightly cooler climates, and thus have smaller ears.

The ears are also used in certain displays of aggression and during the males' mating period. If an elephant wants to intimidate a predator or rival, it will spread its ears out wide to make itself look more massive and imposing. During the breeding season, males give off an odour from the musth gland located behind their eyes. Joyce Poole, a well-known elephant researcher, has theorized that the males will fan their ears in an effort to help propel this "elephant cologne" great distances.

What do tiger´s eat?

In the wild, tigers mostly feed on larger and medium sized animals.
Sambar, gaur, chital, wild boar, nilgai and both water buffalo and domestic buffalo are the tiger's favored prey in India.
Sometimes, they also prey on leopards, pythons, sloth bears and crocodiles.
In Siberia the main prey species are manchurian wapiti, wild boar, sika deer, moose, roe deer, and musk deer.
In Sumatra Sambar, muntjac, wild boar, and malayan tapir are preyed on.
In the former Caspian tiger's range, prey included saiga antelope, camels, caucasian wisent, yak, and wild horses.
Like many predators, they are opportunistic and will eat much smaller prey, such as monkeys, peafowls, hares, and fish.

The tiger

The tiger (Panthera tigris) is a member of the Felidae family;
the largest of the four "big cats" in the genus Panthera.
Native to much of eastern and southern Asia,
the tiger is an apex predator and an obligate carnivore.
Reaching up to 3.3 metres in total length
and weighing up to 300 kilograms.
Aside from their great bulk and power,
their most recognizable feature is the pattern of dark vertical stripes that overlays near-white to reddish-orange fur.

What is the difference between a leopard and a cheetah?

Although both leopards and cheetahs have spots that help keep them hidden in forests and grasslands, they have different predatory jobs, or ecological niches.
Leopards hide in the grass to wait for prey, and their large, muscular legs and necks help them drag their prey into trees away from lions and hyenas.

Cheetahs are more doglike-they are built almost like racing greyhounds.
Their slender legs are built for speed and help them chase down antelope and other prey.

Why do we need rodents?

Rodent´s are natures collectors.
Chipmunks stuff food into their jaw pouches to store underground.
They may store fruits and seeds in several different borrows.
Borrowing helps turn soils and allows water to flow to deep plant roots.







Rodent´s are also natures foresters.
Gray squirrels and other squirrels are important to the life of the forest.
They bury a lot of their food in the summer and fall but often don´t find it again. Those lost and nuts and seeds become many of the new trees and shrubs that sprout each year!







Rodent´s are also natures builders.
Beaver´s build dams, lodges, and canals.
Colonies of mole rats excavate complex tunnel systems.
Muskrats and other aquatic rodents make grass lodges in swampy areas.
Squirrels create tree cavities and leaf nests.
The ponds behind beaver dams provide feeding,
resting and nesting sites for migratory birds.

How do rodents protect themselves?

Some rodents, like spiny mice and porcupines, have special sharp hairs called "quills" that help protect them from danger. Each porcupine has tens of thousnads of quills, making them some of the best-armored mammals ever.
Porcupines don´t purposely shoot quills off their bodies, the quills are so ligthly attached to the porcupines body that they immediately adhere to any predator that touches them. Ouch!

Monkeys and apes

The Titi-monkey lives in South America.

























Monkeys and apes
Have two unique characteristics
Among animals:
Hands that can grab
And eyes that face straight ahead.
Foreward facing eyes allow them
To see precise distances
As they jump and grab at branches,
Which is useful for animals
That hang out in trees!

Hamadryas Baboons

Hamadryas Baboons have thin coats
That keep them cool
As they forage for food
In dry African gorges.
They live in the semi-desert areas of Africa.

Macaques in Japan

Japanese macaques live in the snowy regions of Japan
And have thick coats of hair to keep them warm.

The friendly Polar Bear! :)

This is a true story.
It happened in the wilds of Canada's Hudson Bay.

Norbert Rosing took these stricking images
Of a wild polar bear
Coming upon tethered sled dogs!

The photographer was sure
That he was going to see the end of his dogs
When the polar bear wandered in.

It's hard to believe that this polar bear
Only needed to hug someone!

The Polar Bear returned every night
That week to play with the dogs.

May you always have love to share,
Health to spare,
And friends that care.