African Lion
The African Lion is the apex predator that hunts large herbivores such as buck, wildebeest, zebra and buffalo. To successfully hunt these large herbivores, lions are one of the largest and strongest big cats in Africa. Their claws, teeth and tongue help with hunting and eating.
Lions are social animals and are the only big cats that live in a pride which helps with protecting the young and when hunting.
Lions are well camouflaged and blend into the Savanna. They hunt in the open grasslands and can run for short distances at 80 kilometre per hour and leap as far as 11 meters.
Lion's Adaptations
Lions have long claws to help the it grab and hold it's prey. The lion’s rough tongue is then used to peel skin away from flesh and then flesh away from the bone.
The Lion’s roar can be heard from 8 kilometres away and is used to communicate with other pride members and also to warn intruders of territorial boundaries.
The Loin's long, sharp canines can tear through tough hides and suffocate an animal in seconds.
The lion’s tawny colour helps it blend in with the environment.
The social behaviour of lions means that they work together to successfully raise their young and to hunt.
Lions are social animals and are the only big cats that live in a pride which helps with protecting the young and when hunting.
Lions are well camouflaged and blend into the Savanna. They hunt in the open grasslands and can run for short distances at 80 kilometre per hour and leap as far as 11 meters.
Lion's Adaptations
Lions have long claws to help the it grab and hold it's prey. The lion’s rough tongue is then used to peel skin away from flesh and then flesh away from the bone.
The Lion’s roar can be heard from 8 kilometres away and is used to communicate with other pride members and also to warn intruders of territorial boundaries.
The Loin's long, sharp canines can tear through tough hides and suffocate an animal in seconds.
The lion’s tawny colour helps it blend in with the environment.
The social behaviour of lions means that they work together to successfully raise their young and to hunt.
Cape Buffalo
The buffalo is a herbivore that grazes mainly on grass, feeding mostly in the night when it is cooler. It is one of the largest herbivores in the African Savanna.
Buffalo are known to help other buffaloes in distress, saving them from predators. When under attack, the adults in the herd form a circle around the young and the weak. The adults face outward and lower their heads to form a solid barrier of sharp horns. This makes it difficult for predators to attack calves and weaken members of the herd.
The Cape Buffalo is known for their size, strength and deadly horns. These are used for protection. Buffaloes also have an excellent sense of smell and hearing.
Buffalo are known to help other buffaloes in distress, saving them from predators. When under attack, the adults in the herd form a circle around the young and the weak. The adults face outward and lower their heads to form a solid barrier of sharp horns. This makes it difficult for predators to attack calves and weaken members of the herd.
The Cape Buffalo is known for their size, strength and deadly horns. These are used for protection. Buffaloes also have an excellent sense of smell and hearing.
Buffaloes adaptions
Cape Buffalo have big, muscular, strong bodies to fight off predators.
All adult buffalo have horns. Male buffalo use their large horns to fight each other to determine dominance and for self-defence.
Adult buffalo have powerful leg muscles that allow them sprint at speeds of up to 60 km to outrun predators.
Buffalo eat and digest the tall grass that many animals find hard to digest.
To protect them from predators, buffalo have a heightened sense of hearing and smell that compensates for their weak eyesight.
Buffalo live in herds of a few hundred but have been known to congregate in their thousands - safety in numbers.
All adult buffalo have horns. Male buffalo use their large horns to fight each other to determine dominance and for self-defence.
Adult buffalo have powerful leg muscles that allow them sprint at speeds of up to 60 km to outrun predators.
Buffalo eat and digest the tall grass that many animals find hard to digest.
To protect them from predators, buffalo have a heightened sense of hearing and smell that compensates for their weak eyesight.
Buffalo live in herds of a few hundred but have been known to congregate in their thousands - safety in numbers.