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Grass (family Poaceae)

Interesting fact:

Grass, unlike other plants, grows from its roots, rather than its tips. It is a very important food source, and in the wet season the grasslands of the African savannah can feeds huge herds of plant eating animals, such as zebra and wildebeest.

What do I eat?

Grass obtains the energy it needs by absorbing sunlight, water and carbon dioxide and turning it into sugars and oxygen - a process known as photosynthesis.

Threatened?

Grass is not currently threatened.

Plains zebra (Equus quagga)

Interesting fact:

Various theories have been suggested to explain why zebra have stripes, including confusing predators and regulating temperature, but the most likely theory appears to be that they help bond the herd and stimulate grooming.

What do I eat?

The plains zebra obtains its food by grazing, feeding selectively on certain grass species.

Threatened?

Widespread and common, the plains zebra is not currently considered threatened. However, local populations are affected by habitat loss, hunting, and competition with livestock for grass and water.

Chacma baboon (Papio ursinus)

Interesting fact:

The male is bigger than the female and has much larger canine teeth, which can measure up to a formidable five centimetres in length!

What do I eat?

Like all baboons, the chacma baboon has a varied diet, eating a range of plants, crabs, fish, insects, and other small prey. Larger prey, such as young antelope, is occasionally taken.

Threatened?

The chacma baboon is an adaptable species, and remains widespread and abundant. However, it is sometimes killed by farmers for raiding crops, taking livestock and damaging pine plantations.

Impala (Aepyceros melampus)

Interesting fact:

The graceful impala is renowned for its agile leaps, which can reportedly reach up to 9 metres long and 2.5 metres high.

What do I eat?

During the wet season, impala mostly graze on grass. In the dry season they feed more on shrubs and bushes.

Threatened?

The common impala is not yet considered to be threatened; however, the black-faced impala subspecies is thought to be vulnerable as a result of hunting and competition with livestock.

Lion (Panthera leo)

Interesting fact:

The lion is the only truly social cat. Related females live together in prides, and males form small groups that compete to rule a pride.

What do I eat?

The lion is a predatory carnivore which feeds upon almost any animal from rodents to rhinos, although antelope, zebra and wildebeest form the bulk of its prey.

Threatened?

Lions are often shot or poisoned by farmers as they are sometimes known to take livestock, and much of their habitat has been lost to farming and human settlement.

Lappet-faced vulture (Torgos tracheliotos)

Interesting fact:

The lappet-faced vulture is the largest vulture in Africa, and is even powerful enough to fend off a jackal.

What do I eat?

The lappet-faced vulture is primarily a scavenger, feeding on the carcasses of other animals. Unusually for a vulture, it also sometimes hunts and kills live prey, including small mammals and birds, in addition to feeding on eggs and insects.

Threatened?

Vultures are often accidentally poisoned, feeding on bait left out by farmers to kill lions and other predators.

African wild dog (Lycaon pictus)

Interesting fact:

Hunting together in packs, African wild dogs are one of the most successful predators in Africa, and can bring down prey many times their size.

What do I eat?

Being carnivorous, African wild dogs feed on a variety of other animals, including antelope, wildebeest and zebra.

Threatened?

Although it rarely happens, African wild dogs have a reputation for attacking livestock, and are often killed by farmers. They can also catch diseases such as rabies from domestic dogs.

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