Here is a little information about the residents of the African realm at The Montgomery Zoo.

Lions: live in prides but hunt alone, eat large prey including antelope, giraffe, zebra, hogs and buffalo, found in sub-saharan Africa, sleep up to 21 hours per day

Hammercop: found south of the Sahara in Africa, they breed solitary, but make nests near each other, feeds in shallow water and uses its bill to rake the bottom, it eats frogs, tadpoles and fish.

Black-Footed Penguin: found off the coast o South Africa, warm weather penguins, known for their braying that sounds like a donkey.

Pygmy Hippo: found in West Africa, 1/5 the weight of his cousin, eats shrubs, ferns, and fruits, forge at night, can live up to 55 years, give birth to a single calf.

Cheetah: found in savanna grassland, scrub, and semi-desert in parts of Africa, eats mostly gazelles and impalas, fastest land animal – can go up to 70 miles for hour. Will live up to 19 years in captivity and 14 years in the wild.

African Crowned Crane: found in east and southern Africa, locally common, easily identified by their golden crests or crowns and by their ability to perch in trees. ( it has a well-developed hind toe for perching)

Zebra: Population is declining, are protected in several national parks, make typical horse calls, social, living in groups, are active day and night, may live up to 40 years in captivity but fewer in the wild. Are found in Southern and eastern Africa outside forested and developed land

Giraffe: live in loose groups, active both day and night, hardly sleep, have 7 vertebrae in neck (just like humans) Can live up to 36 years in captivity but only 25 in the wild. Baby’s are born standing 6 feet tall.

African Elephant: Lives in family groups, typically 2 or 3 sisters and offspring, they live mainly in savannah grassland, eat grasses, tree leaves, fruit or bark. Males can weigh up to 6.8 tons and females 3.4 tons, can live to be 70 years old in captivity or 60 in the wild.