Paws & Jaws at Johannesburg Zoo

This week, Johannesburg Zoo showcases carnivores. Started yesterday 5 July until 9July, carnivores such as vultures, andean condors, owls, snakes, crocodiles, frogs, lions, tigers, cheetahs, wild dogs, pumas, caracals, servals, civet, honey badger, ground hornbills and many more will come under scrutiny.

A display of preserved animals such as stuffed lion, tiger and leopard, skins, bones, paws, skulls will all be on display.

This will be accompanied by animal talk and feeding sessions about birds, snake, polar bear, wild dog and cheetah. The talk & feeding sessions are done by zoo keepers, where they narrate personal stories about the animals:  how they live, what do they eat, where they come from, how old they are, relationship with each other and their keepers and much more. The session closes with a visit to the lion’s night room, an area ordinarily reserved for zoo keepers.

Carnivore week presents an opportunity for visitors to learn more about the meat eaters and understand their role in the ecosystem. The zoo hopes that the event will get people to understand and appreciate the creatures and wildlife in general.

The event takes place at the zoo’s Anglo Gold Lion Enclosure and runs from 9h30 to 14h00. Visitors are expected to pay zoo entrance fee and there is no separate charge for the event.

Interesting facts about carnivores

• Most carnivores are solitary, territorial and polygamous.
• Ambush Predators: (e.g. lion) lie in wait or surround prey
• Snatchers & Grabbers: (e.g. Civet) is the most opportunistic way of feeding, forage and flush their prey then just use whatever means possible of subduing it.
• Not all carnivores eat meat only
• Today there are 235 carnivores worldwide, 66 in Africa. 50% of those are under 50cm in length. 90% under 1 meter in length.
• Carnivores have highly developed senses of hearing, sight and smell.

Johannesburg Zoo strives to be Gauteng’s environmental and wildlife destination of choice and aims to inspire people to appreciate wildlife by providing an educational and recreational facility for all visitors.

Go to: www.jhbzoo.org.za

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