H
ey everyone! It’s Kimmy
the Zoo Detective, and I’m
back to solve more Zoo
mysteries. I found a clue that
said a group of animals in the
Africa Savanna has a
summer birthday, so
let’s creep closer and
see if we can find the
mysterious critters. Wait,
what are those three animals
digging in the mud…? They
are Red River Hogs!
Red River Hogs are covered in
reddish fur, which means they are
mammals. They are also part of the
pig family. Red River Hogs come
from Western and Central Africa,
including the island of Madagascar.
Let’s scoot a bit closer and see what
other interesting facts we can learn
about Red River Hogs.
Did you know that Red River
Hogs have been known to follow
chimpanzees to find fruit?
Red River
Hogs are omnivores, which means
they eat plants and meat. In the
wild they feed on roots, grass, eggs,
insects and more. Even though they
are only around two pounds at birth,
they can grow up to 286 pounds.
Right now, the Zoo’s Red River Hogs
weigh between 132-189 pounds.
Did you know that male Red River
Hogs have warts above the eyes but
females do not?
Red River Hogs live
in groups with one grown up male
(
boar), several females (sows) and
their young. These groups usually
have 6-20 animals and are called
sounders. The Zoo’s three female Red
River Hogs all turn eight-years-old
on the Fourth of July.
Did you know that Red River Hogs
fight by butting heads and whipping
each other with their tails?
When
they feel threatened, they fluff up
the hair on their face to look bigger.
Leopards are the main predators
for Red River Hogs. Leopards hunt
at night, when Red River Hogs
also search for food. Being active
at night means they are primarily
nocturnal. The Zoo’s Red River Hogs
particularly love to look for sweet
potatoes and crickets!
Wow, we learned a lot about Red
River Hogs today! If you visit the
Zoo for the Fourth of July, be sure to
stop by and wish Star, Spangle and
Banner “Happy Birthday!” Until then,
I’m off to find more amazing animal
mysteries to solve. See you soon!
Kimmy
The ZoO
Detective
Investigates the
Red River Hog
By Danielle Williams, Primate Keeper
You will need these
supplies:
•
Paper towel tube (cut into
halves or thirds)
•
Bird seed
•
Elmer’s
®
glue
•
Yarn
Help the planet by creating
a simple birdfeeder with
everyday household items.
ECO-FRIENDLY
BIRDFEEDER
Directions:
1.
Cover the paper towel tube with
a light layer of glue.
2.
Once the tube is completely
covered in glue, roll the tube in
the bird seed.
3.
When the tube is dry, take
a piece of yarn and feed it
through the tube. Tie the yarn
so that the birdfeeder can hang.
Finally, take your eco-friendly
birdfeeder and hang it in your
favorite outdoor spot.
9
SUMMER 2014 ANIMAL TRACKS
