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Ring-tailed Lemur
Endemic to Madagascar, this lemur is diurnal and omnivorous. Normally residing in groups of thirty, this social group is female dominant. This mammal is listed as endangered due to loss of habitat, bush meat, and the illegal pet trade, despite being the most populous lemur in zoos worldwide.
Bontebok
This antelope comes from South Africa, and herds contain only males or only females, or mixed. They were once extensively killed as pests, but populations rebound. They are diurnal, good at crawling under things, but are not jumpers. They are easily farm, easy to sustain, and are common in exotic farms.
Chimpanzee
Native to forests and savannahs of South Africa, is humans' closest living relative. The chimp is an endangered species due to disease, poaching, and habitat loss. Jane Goodall has been working with and studying chimps since 2960 in Gombe Stream National Park in Tanzania. Most of what we know about these primates is due to her work, though others have studies them as well.
White Rhinoceros
This is a species of South Africa, and there are two species of white rhino. The northern species is very rare, all known species (2) in zoos. The Southern rhino has three toes on each foot, and there are two horny growths, one behind each other. The larger horn is about two feet long, but can reach fifty-nine inches, only in females. The ears can move independently for sound, yet it relies the greatest upon smell. These animals are found in grassland and savannah, preferring the shortest grains, drinking water twice daily if available. It can live four or five days without water. Even though it is large, this agile mammal can run up to thirty-one mph. Vulnerable to hunting due to its large size and herd living, it also has poor eyesight and unaggressive. It is poached for the medicinal purposes of its horns. It is now near threatened.
Marabou Stork
This large wading bird breeds in Africa south of the Sahara Desert. It is referred to as the undertaker bird due to its physical characteristics. Frequently a scavenger, it will consume anything that it can, and they depend upon vultures for their hooked bills, so frequently follow them. They also will eat odd things from dump sites.
Plains Zebra
Known as the common zebra, it is near threatened and its fragmented range is usually between eastern and southern Africa south of the Sahara. They usually avoid deserts, permanent wetlands, and dense rainforest. This highly social system has harems of several females, with one male and their young. No two zebras shares the same striping. They are classified as near threatened.
Dama Gazelle
This species is critically endangered and is the largest of all gazelles, from the Sahara. It performs a behaving called "pronking," to warn its herd about danger. It will jump up and down with all legs stiff, meaning that its legs leave and touch the ground simultaneously. Humanity has caused much of its problems, including poaching and habitat destruction. Since it lives in poor countries, very little has been done to increase populations.
Grey Crowned Crane
Also known as the African Crowned Crane, they are found in eastern and southern Africa, and holds the extinction of the National Bird of Uganda. Their legs are long to wade through tall grasses. One of the only two cranes that can roost in trees, it possesses a long hind toe that can grasp branches. It is listed as vulnerable to endangered.
Giraffe
The giraffe is the tallest living terrestrial animal and largest ruminant. The giraffe come from Africa and has eight species. Most adult animals are 14-18 feet tall, with males being the tallest of the two sexes. The tallest male was 19.3 feet and the tallest female 17 feet. Males darken with age and the spot pattern of the young is obtained from their mother. Each individual has a unique pattern. Its closest relate is the okapi. Giraffe groupings tend to be sex-segregated, though mixed sex groups of females and young males will occur. As males become older they are usually in pair groups or will associate with female groups. The species is not territorial, simply driven by rain and human proximity.
