Kids are curious about African animals
You wanted to know
Students from Maria Barba's first-grade class at MacArthur Elementary School in Hoffman Estates sent Kids Ink this message: “Tell us about animals from Africa.”
Africa, the world's second largest continent, has jungles, plains and deserts, but also mountains with subarctic regions. Diverse regions means Africa has many species of animals.
Brookfield Zoo has two habitats for African animals — Habitat Africa! Forest, and Habitat Africa! Savannah, as well as other exhibits that feature animals from Africa.
Most people are familiar with giraffes, hippos and aardvarks. Some of the more unusual animals are klipspringers, okapis and red river hogs.
Africa is the only continent where giraffes live. Their long graceful necks make it all but impossible to forage for food on the ground. “All food at the exhibit is up high for the giraffes,” said Amy Roberts, curator of mammals, pachyderms and hoof stock at the Brookfield Zoo.
Habitat Africa! The Savannah is home to five giraffes. “They are herd animals. In the wild, you find small bachelor herds or lone bachelors. There are loose affiliations of females with calves.”
Because their native home is the savannah and average temperatures are around 70 degrees Fahrenheit, the giraffes remain inside the zoo exhibit during the winter months.
Curators and zoo patrons celebrate when the Chicago temperatures climb high enough for the giraffes to roam in their outdoor exhibit, usually in late April.
Habitat Africa! The Forest features okapis, relatives of the giraffe that come from a remote forest in the Democratic Republic of Congo, a war-torn country with few resources.
Named by the native Lese tribal people, legend says the okapi copied their zebra-stripe leg designs from decorated arrow shafts crafted by the Lese.
“The place where they live is so remote that these animals weren't discovered by Europeans until 1901,” Roberts said. “Their only predator is the leopard.”
The okapi share the zoo's African forest exhibit with two species of duiker and red river hogs.
New African wild dog puppies will be on exhibit soon. A litter of 10 was recently born at the zoo. The exhibit also has klipspringers, which are small antelopes that live atop rock cliffs and outcrops. Klipspringers are terrific runners and jumpers — a necessary skill when hungry lions and leopards are sighted.
The animals that you think you know well can have some unusual qualities.
Did you know hippopotamuses are related to whales and their sweat is red in color? The sweat has antibacterial properties and acts as a sunscreen for the animal's delicate skin. Look for hippos at Brookfield Zoo's Pachyderm House.
And giraffes are the world's tallest animals. At 17 feet in height, these long-necked browsers would be a great asset to any basketball team, if they could dunk.
Check these out
The Indian Trails Public Library in Wheeling suggests these titles on African animals:
Ÿ “African Animals,” by Caroline Arnold
Ÿ “African Critters,” by Robert B. Haas
Ÿ “Animals You Never Even Heard Of,” by Patricia Curtis
Ÿ “Super Safari,” by Tony Mitton
Ÿ “On A Road In Africa,” by Kim Doner
Ÿ “Water Hole Waiting,” by Jane Kurtz
Ÿ “What The Animals Were Waiting For,” by Jonathan London