Safari

Ellipsis Waterbuck

Live near bodies of water. They will spend time in bodies of water to avoid predators that don't like water. Males have horns that can reach up to 3 feet. They are named for the elliptical shape on their rear. They produce a viscous substance from their sweat glands that attract males. The pungent smell of this fluid repels predators and water proofs their body when it runs through water.

Black Swan

Live their whole lives on or around water but that can't dive. They lose all of their flight feathers at once when they molt after breeding, leaving them unable to fly. Males are cobs, females are pens, young are cygnets. Have 24-25 vertebrae in their neck. Swans have the largest eggs of any flighted bird.

Llama

A direct relative of Camels. Excellent climbers due to the soft pads on their feet. Are confused with Alpacas, but they are much larger than alpacas, they also don't have eye lashes, but alpacas do. Very temperamental, when angered or threatened will regurgitate stomach bile and spit it at those near them. Their spit is very extremely smelly and will stain clothes. They can be so aggressive when provoked that many farmers will use llamas to guard flocks of sheep against predators.

Greater Kudu

Africa's 3rd largest antelope. They live in hilly, woodsy areas with easy access to water. When they're threatened they will freeze in hopes of not being seen by predators because they aren't very fast. Males have horns but also have little shaggy beards on their chest. It may take 6 years to develop the 2 and a half foot twists of their horns.

Aoudad

Also called Barbary sheep. Curved horns can grow up to 2 feet long. Males are larger with thicker horns and a shaggy beard on their chest. They are surefooted climbers, native to the Atlas mountains. They are vulnerable to habitat degradation and hunting but also competition from domestic livestock. Estimated 5,000-10,000 left in the world.

White Bearded Gnu

Also called the Blue Wildebeest. Spelled Gnu, but the G is silent. Males have much longer and thicker horns than females . Largest terrestrial migration on earth, their migrations may contain as many as one million at a time, up to half a million zebra and gazelle also travel with them. Newborns can walk and run within 3-7 minutes of being born.

White Tailed Gnu

Also known as the black wildebeest. Smaller than the white bearded gun. Both male and females have forward curving horns, while the white beard gnu have side curving horns. They are named for the light color of their tail. At the end of the 19th century the entire population of black wildebeest could be found on two farms in South Africa, numbering in the hundreds. Thanks to conservation efforts they've been reintroduced to countries they were extinct in. Now the population is estimated at 18,000.

Sable Antelope

Among the largest African antelopes, weighing in at over 500 lbs. Calves are born with faint facial markings, and as they age their fur darkens and the white facial markings become more prominent. Fight off predators instead of running away. Their horns can grow to about 5 feet long and they're curved. They're named for their dark brown coat.

Zebra

Are thought to just be pretty horses, but are closer related to donkeys. Weigh up to around 1,000 lbs. Babies can walk 20 minutes after being born. Their stripe pattern is unique for each individual, like human finger prints. All white bellies, the dark brown color of their hoof, inner ear and color muzzle indicates they are dark brown with white stripes. Their striped coat allows them to blend into one another to confuse predators.

Beisa Oryx

Both male and females have horns that can reach about 3-4 feet. They are found in dry regions and can go without water for extended periods of time. Their kidneys are highly specialized to retain as much water as possible. Can tolerate periods of extreme heat by raising their body temperature to 116 Fahrenheit. Raising their body temp to meet the outside environment allows them to conserve water by not need to sweat.

Asian Water Buffalo

Can always be found in ponds of Africa. Spend a lot of time wallowing in water or mud. Their fetlock, which the is the joint right above their hove, is highly flexible, which allows them to move through mud easily. Their hide is used for leather, which is think and tough. Their milk, has more fat then domesticated cattle and is used to make liquid butter in India. Domesticated individuals are used as beasts of burden throughout Asia and frequently found on farms.

Tigers

Largest cat species, identifiable by their striped coat. A tigers roar can be heard for nearly two miles. They will rarely give chase to prey if they don't catch it within the first few bonds. They can run up to 40 mph. Great swimmers, will chase prey into water. There are 6 subspecies of tiger still in existence. All of which are endangered or critically endangered. Over the past 100 years the global population has gone from 100,000 to under 4,000, and 3 subspecies have gone extinct. Major threat is poaching for skin, teeth and claws.

African Elephants

Largest land animal in the world. they can stand at 12 feet high, and weigh up to 7 tons. They drink up to 60 gallons of water a day and eat 300 lbs of food a day. Their trunk is made up of over 100,000 muscles. Will live 60-80 years because of their teeth. Pregnancies last 22 months. Trunks are used to pick up items, suck up water, and spray. Breath while completely under water. They are vulnerable in the wild. Due to two major threats are the ivory trade and habitat destruction. There is an estimated 700,000 left in current population.

White Rhinoceros

Males average around 4,000-6,000 lbs. They have poor eyesight, but a great sense of smell. They have two horns, made from the same material as hair and fingernails. Keratin If their horn is cut off it can grow back if the root is still intact. the Dutch would call them "wide" rhinos , so English speakers thought they were saying white rhino. so that is why they are called white rhinos. They are near threatened in the wild, about 20,000 left in the wild. Their primary threat is poaching for their horns. Because they have poor vision they are eay targets for poachers.

Roosevelt Elk

Named for Theodore Roosevelt. The largest elk subspecies in North America. Males can weigh up to 1,000 lbs and are identifiable by their antlers which average about 4 feet long. Their long antlers clear paths as they walk in the forest.

Peacock

Native to India. Loud and territorial. They can fly. Males are called Peacocks, Females are called Peafowl. Females are brown and grey with no bright colors, males are the brightly colored ones to attract females. We have one leucistic male peacock in the safari.

Bengal Tigers

Native to Southern Asia. There are fewer than 2,500 left in the wild. The only subspecies of tiger to have color variations. 4 in total, 3 at this park. There's orange with black stripes, white with black stripes, white Bengals grow faster and larger than traditional colored Bengals. Also there is a Golden Tabby, which is a strawberry blond coat with butterscotch stripes. And then the rare Strip less White or Snow tiger, which is a white tiger with off white stripes.

Black Bear

North Americas smallest and most popular bear species, hanging out in the Rockies, Mexico, most of Canada and Alaska. Males generally weigh around 200-500 pounds, but can reach into the 800's, females are smaller weighing below 400 lbs. They are great climbers but it becomes harder for them to climb as they get older. Though called black bear their coat can also be white, blond, light or dark brown. They try to avoid humans, but will go into towns looking for food. Varied diet, depending on season, they'll eat fruit, meat, plants, nuts, seeds, insects and fish. They will hibernate in the winter, because it's hard to hunt in the snow, and because of the limited sources of food. They will gain excess body fat leading up to hibernation. Throughout hibernation they don't eat or use the bathroom. Pregnant females will give birth during hibernation. They will be woken up during birth and go back into hibernation right after. Cubs humming makes their mom lactate and provide food, even though she's sleeping. Cubs are born blind and deaf, weigh under a pound and are less than a foot. They are able to walk and explore right at the end of their mothers hibernation.

Lions

Only social cat species, living in groups called Prides. Prides usually consist of 1 male and many females and their cubs, but it is not unheard of for their to be multiple males in a pride, but with 1 alpha male. The easiest cat species to tell apart from their gender. Males are bigger and have manes, females do not and are generally smaller. Females do all the work when it comes to hunting, they do it in large numbers to increase success. They rely on stalking their prey and quickly ambushing it rather than exhausting it. Male lions will sleep about 18-20 hours a day, females 15-18 hours. Males weigh about 450 pounds, females about 280. They have small hearts for their bodies, which leads them to have poor endurance. They are listed as Vulnerable. In the 1940's their population was 450,000, today it's at 20,000 and has dropped off 40% in 20 years. Major threat is human conflict, with farmers hunting lions to keep their livestock safe.

Fallow Deer

Same size as New Jersey white tail deer. They keep their spots throughout life. Males are bucks, Females are doe, Young are fawn. Originally from Europe. Bucks shed their antlers once a season. While growing antlers a layer of skin called Velvet covers the antlers allowing blood flow for growth. As the velvet sheds to reveal the antler, blood vessels underneath make it look like it's bleeding. To shed velvet, they will rub their antlers on trees, which is why our trees are fenced off.

Yak

Small wild population of fewer than 10,000, so they are listed as vulnerable in the wild. But they have a domesticated population of 14 million. They're used for milk, fur, meat and kept as beasts of burden. Thick coat of hair that protects from elements and extreme cold.

Common Eland

The Largest Antelope Species. Can be around 6 feet tall and way up to 2000 lbs Good jumpers, can jump up to 8 feet in the air. But they are the slowest antelopes running at about 25 mph. Both male and females have horns. Males are larger and have darker coats. Naturally destructive, capable of knocking down small to medium sized trees to eat leaves. When predators approach males will bark and trot back and forth to alert the herd to danger.

Red Lechwe

Usually found in aquatic areas and are well suited to life around water. They have extremely long hind limbs, it helps them run long distances in the marshy soil. Males have horns that are ribber and lyre shaped, which reach up to 3 feet tall. Lechwe population have fallen off due to habitat loss, specifically to dams and drainage systems, also hunting and poaching.

Dama Gazelle

Worlds largest Gazelle because of their long slender legs. They have a light toasted almond colored coat. Both male and female's have s shaped horns. They leap straight up, lighting all four feet of the ground while keep their legs stiff. Are critically endangered, with an estimated maximum wild population of 250. There are more under human care than in the wild. Their main threat is habitat loss.

Blackbuck

they travel in herds of 5-50, of either mixed or bachelor herds. The males have long twisted horns. Males transition from a tan color to a darker brown as they get older. Females don't have horns and are fawn colored with white undersides. Can reach speeds up to 50 mph for short distances. Can jump up to 5 feet straight up in the air. Six flags has them in the plains, Serengeti and Asia sections.

Addax

Desert animal with flat hooves to allow them to walk well over loose sand. Both male and females have horns which reach up to 3 and a half feet. They will dig depressions in the sand and lat behind rocks to escape heat and winds in the desert. Summer coat is light white, to help with the heat. Winter coat is a darker grey to adsorb heat from the sun. When viewed from the side at a certain angle. Their horns line up perfectly to make it look like they have one horn. Critically endangered, with an estimated population of under 100 in the wild. in 2016 a survey found signs of the animals but not the animals itself. Approximately 700 are currently in captive breeding programs to help increase the global population.

Brown Bear

European brown bear are native to much of Europe and Asia. On average are smaller than grizzlies by about 100 lbs, weighing in at 550-650 lbs. Less stocky then black bear, with longer muzzle and larger shoulder humps. Wider variety of food than black bears, less veggies, tend to be more predatory. Active any time of the day, but ones that live near humans are nocturnal. Adults with cubs can be highly aggressive. Due to having straighter, blunter claws than black bear, they typically don't climb trees, thought protective mothers may chase their cubs up a tree in times of danger.

Rhea

Flightless bird from South America. Stand up to 5 feet tall, weigh around 40-50 lbs. Females lay up to 20 eggs in a nest, the males incubate the eggs which lasts around 40 days. Their wings are used as rudders for balance while running at high speeds. A group of flightless birds are called a "Ratite" They have 3 toes. The white individuals are leucistic not albino, leucistic animals cannot produce melanin, a type of pigment, so they have blue eyes. Albinos cannot produce any pigment, so they have red eyes.

Red Kangaroo

Full grown males can stand about 6 feet tall, with a total body length of 9 feet. they are the largest kangaroo species. While called Red Kangaroo, only the ales have the red-orange coat, females are smaller with a grey coat. Their tails are extremely long and thick. They can jump over 20 feet in a single bound, and jump nearly 10 feet off the ground. Tails are used for another leg, they will prop themselves up on it sometimes. Young males will fight over females by boxing though they are known to throw kicks as well. They give birth to underdeveloped joeys, they'll be blind, hairless and the size of a Lima bean. Then they will climb into the pouch and nurse for six months, then they can explore the outside world. Females are almost always pregnant, delaying the pregnancy until the current Joey is out of the pouch. She can nurse 2 joeys at the same time, one in the pouch, and one not.

Eastern Crowned Crane

Gets it's name from the cluster of feathers on its head. African birds that live near bodies of water. They roost in trees due to a special elongated backwards toe used to grip the branches. When they are ready to mate they do a dance where they hop around. The male and females will mimic each other if they are interested. Endangered due to pollution and drainage in their marshy habitat.

Suffolk Sheep

Hornless, black faced breed of domestic sheep. An adult can produce 5-8 lbs of wool in a year. Australia has a sheep population of 75 million, which is second to China. Close relatives to goats, sheep have a divided upper lip and their tails hang down. Prefer grass to leaves.

Ostrich

Largest bird in the word. They are flightless. Can stand up to 8 feet tall and weigh around 300 lbs. Can run as fast as 45 mph in short distances, and 32 mph for long distances. Males are black, females are grey, both with white feathers on the end of their wings. Their eggs weigh about 3 lbs, the size of a grapefruit, and are the equivalent of 24 chicken eggs.

Bison

The largest American land animal. Weigh up to 2,200 lbs and stand up to 5-6 and a half feet tall. Can run up to 35 mph. Are born orange, but turn's into a very thick brown coat so they don't get cold in the winter. They shed in the summer. The national mammal of the United States of America. Prior to the westward expansion their population were in the tens of millions, as settlers moved west these animals were hunted to near extinction due to a number of factors. By 1880s there were only a few hundred of them in the U.S. At that point they passed a law against hunting these animals. Today approximately 500,000 live on ranches and about 30,000 in the wild.

Nilgai

The largest Asiatic antelope. The disappearance of tigers from their region has caused a boom in their population. So common they're causing major crop damage to parts of India. Their name means "blue cow" or "blue bull" due to the color of the males that will darken with age. Horns on males will grow less than a foot. Both male and females have a coloration around their ankles that look like gym socks.

Southern Ground Hornbill

The largest Hornbill. Mainly active on the ground but will nist in trees overnight. Rarely flies, though its wingspan of about 6 and a half feet long. They're known for their bright red neck and face. with females having a violet patch of skin on their throat. Very vocal, with calls that can be heard from miles away.

Siberian Tigers

The largest subspecies and largest living cat species alive today. They can be 13-14 feet long, weigh over 600 lbs. Found further north than their cousin, common misconception is that all Siberian Tigers are white since they live further north and encounter snow a lot more, nut they're always orange and black. In the 1930s their population fell too between 20-30 individuals left in the wild. That number has gone up, but is still only at an estimated 360 wild Siberians.

Giraffe

The tallest animal in the word. Males can be 18 feet tall, and weigh 4,000 lbs. Females will stand about 16 feet tall, and weigh 2,000 lbs. A group of giraffes is called a tower. Giraffes legs are 6 feet tall, so when they give birth, because they give birth standing. The baby will have a six foot drop. When they walk they have a parrotlet gait, meaning both legs on one side will move at the same time. Their necks are 7 feet long. Their hearts are 2 feet wide, and weigh 25 pounds. Their lungs can hold 12 gallons of air. Their heart is so large because it requires double the blood pressure to pump the blood up to their brain against gravity When they drink they spread their to get closer to the water. They have the same amount of vertebrae as humans due in their neck, with 7. Vulnerable to extinction, their numbers have dropped 40% over the past 30 years. Reasons are habitat loss, poaching, increased human wildlife conflict.

Sacred Ibis

They are carnivorous Birds that eat small reptiles, insects, fish and amphibians in water. On land will eat eggs, grasshoppers and other insects. Both parents will guard and incubate the nests, both will help feed the chicks. While flying will for a v formation or diagonal lines to help with wind resistance. Use their slender beak to probe for food in wetlands and rivers.

Emu

They can reach almost 7 feet tall, sprint up to 30 mph, and take strides that are about 9 feet apart. The third largest bird in the world, and the only bird with calf muscles. The blue on their face is close to the blue-green color for their eggs. Their feathers are stiff and can be rattles to scare predators. Males often do all of the incubation, which takes about 8 weeks. During that 8 weeks he may lose up to a third of his body weight. Great swimmers. Used by the research team of Jurassic Park to model what the raptors would walk like. Have a clawed tip on their wings.

Scimitar Horned Oryx

They have a toasted marshmallow colored coat, for camouflage in the desert. They can survive without water for many weeks. They are named for the curved scimitar like horns. A scimitar is a curved sword that looks just like their horns. So that is what their named after. They are extinct in the wild. They started a breeding program in the 60's to ensure genetic diversity among those under human care. In 2016, 25 oryx were released in Chad as the start of a reintroduction program. That summer the first Scimitar Horned Oryx was born in the wild in 30 years. In the year 2000 they were officially listed as extinct in the wild.

Red Ankole Cattle

They unlike Bison and Buffalo are true cattle. They are used more for their milk then their meet. Their horns can grow up to 6 feet long, they are bred for their horns. Blood vessels in their horns help them cool off by circulating blood away from their body and then returning it once it's cooled.

Mute Swan

Though they are very beautiful, they are very aggressive. Especially when it comes to defending their family. They're called mute because they're a lot less vocal then other species of Swan. They will use the same nest year after year. Young are brown/tan color turning into a bright white with an orange beak in adulthood.