Flash
31/10/23
Predators and Scavengers
Animals can be described as carnivores, omnivores or herbivores according to what they eat. Carnivores eat meat but animals obviously can’t go to the supermarket for food or McDonalds for their dinner! Some carnivores are predators which means they will hunt and kill other animals so they can eat them. Other carnivores are scavengers, which means they also eat other animals but actually aren’t predators, instead they rely on finding animals that are already dead. There are also omnivores, who will eat a mixture of meat and plants and herbivores who just eat plants.
Predators and Scavengers at Whipsnade Zoo
I went to Whipsnade Zoo to find out more about predators and scavengers. They have so many animals there, it was such a fun day out. Whipsnade Zoo obviously has lots of wild animals to see, not just predators and scavengers. You can find out more about Whipsnade and the other animals they have by exploring their website or going there yourself. I’d recommend it!
Lions, Tigers and Cheetahs
When you think about predators, wild cats, such as lions, tigers and cheetahs are probably creatures that you would think about first. This is because these animals are such good predators and with their ability to run and pounce so well and their terrifying claws and sharp teeth it is easy to imagine them attacking other animals!
Lions, tigers and cheetahs are often quite tricky to see at a zoo. Do you know why that might be? Wild cats are most active at dawn and dusk, not during the middle of the day. So when you do see them at a zoo more often than not they will probably be trying to sleep!
When I was at Whipsnade I was lucky to see the tigers and a cheetah but the lions weren’t out and about. But I actually think I saw something even better. A lions skull! Don’t worry, it was a model of one, not a real one but it was really amazing!
Wild Dogs
African Wild Dogs are incredibly good predators. They live together in packs and help each other to catch their prey. Not a lot can get away from a pack of wild dogs when they work together. They like to hunt creatures such as antelope, warthogs, wildebeest and gazelles.
Wild Dogs are also called Painted Dogs as they have patterns on their fur. They have round ears and long legs which help them to run fast and catch their prey. They can often outrun their prey, being able to run for ages at speeds of up to 30 miles and hour. They often catch the animal when the prey is exhausted and can’t run any further.
African Wild Dogs are found in Africa, living in grassland habitats, where there is plenty of space to run.
Brown Bears
I enjoyed seeing Brown Bears at Whipsnade, they looked really cute. But they are actually predators and can be pretty scary if they want to be! Brown Bears will pretty much eat anything they can find but will also scavenge food too if they have the opportunity. They are omnivores and the largest part of their diet is made up of things such as plants, fruit and nuts. They do hunt small creatures to eat too though, for example fish, birds and small mammals.
Brown Bears are one of the largest species of bears and when they are standing up the males can be over 2 metres tall. They are covered in brown fur, surprisingly enough , but they can be lighter or darker in colour. They have very long claws, which can grow up to 10cm long. What do you think they might use those for?
Brown Bears can be found living in countries like Russia, Canada and America. In the winter they’d be incredibly hard to find as they spend the colder months of the year hibernating.
Wolverines
A wolverine is a bit of a strange animal and another one I have never seen before. They are a predator but will also eat anything they can find, scavenging food off other predators too.
It looks a bit like a small bear but is actually part of the weasel family. They have thick brown fur to keep them warm, have short legs and feet suitable for walking long distances in the snow. They can grow up to about 100cm long in length.
Wolverines live in cold habitats in countries such as Alaska, Canada and Russia. Males like to live on their own, while females often will keep their babies with them for around two years.
Dwarf Crocodiles
Dwarf Crocodiles are another creature that are pretty scary looking even though they are so small and its easy to see that they are definitely predators. They like to eat fish, crustaceans and frogs and any other small creatures they can find living in the rivers and swamps they like to live in when in the wild.
Dwarf Crocodiles are the smallest species of crocodile growing up to about 1 and a half metres long. Bigger species can grow up to 5 metres long! As they are small they have to protect themselves from bigger predators and have an armoured body so they are not as easy to munch through! Female crocodiles will also try and protect their babies in the nest as much as they can to stop them being eaten before they can grow bigger and be able to protect themselves better.
Dwarf Crocodiles are an African species and can only be found living in the wild in Western Africa. It is a vulnerable species which means numbers of them living in the wild has become smaller.
Penguins
Whipsnade have two species of penguins at the zoo, African Penguins and Rockhopper Penguins, which were definitely my favourite. Penguins don’t seem like typical predators, but they do catch and kill other animals to eat. Different species like to eat slightly different things, depending on where they live, but most penguins live off creatures such as fish, squid, octopus and different crustaceans.
Penguins can be found in so many places around the world, not just in cold climates. In fact, if you visit a zoo and see penguins they are going to be species who prefer warmer weather. African Penguins are from Africa, a very warm place. African Penguins are identifiable from other penguins by a pink strip above their eyes. They can grow up to about 70cm tall.
Rockhopper Penguins are a very small species of penguin, only growing to about 50cm tall. They are called Rockhoppers because instead of sliding around on their bellies, like most penguins do, they hop on the rocky habitat they live in. Mainly because jagged rocks don’t allow them to slide around very well! Rockhopper Penguins have amazing yellow eyebrows which make them look very funny. They definitely seemed quite cheeky when I saw them at Whipsnade, I really enjoyed watching them.
Other Animals!
At Whipsnade they also have Lynx cats, Otters, Owls and Chameleons which are also carnivores but the zoo has so much to do and see I didn’t get round to seeing these creatures. I was sad not to see the owls especially as I think they’re amazing. Its strange to think of something so cute and graceful like an owl to be such a good predator!
It’s good though, it means next time I visit Whipsnade Zoo there will still be lots to see!
All photos and illustrations in this blog post are Whizzbots Images.