Umbongo World Wildlife Fact Files

TIGERS

Tigers live in the continent of Asia and can be found in the jungles and grasslands of countries such as India, Nepal, Thailand and Vietnam. One hundred years ago there may have been as many as 100,000 tigers, but now due to the loss of their habitat and illegal hunting for their fur and bones there are probably no more than 5,000!

MOUNTAIN GORILLAS

Are found within a range of extinct volcanic mountains in the eastern Central Africa countries of Democratic Republic of Congo, Rwanda and Uganda. Here they are threatened with extinction and number only around 600! Mountain Gorillas live in forests in family groups, of between 5 and 10 individuals. They eat mainly plants, feeding on stems, shoots and a variety of fruits.

ELEPHANTS

Are the world's largest land mammals. They can weigh up to six tonnes and grow up to four metres high. There are two species of elephant, the Asian and the African elephant. They look different, Asian elephants are smaller and have smaller ears. Sadly elephants are hunted for their ivory tusks, and even though it's illegal many have been slaughtered for ivory. This trade in ivory, combined with the loss of its forest home in Asia has led the numbers of Asian elephants to drop to around 40,000.

FLUFFY TAILED FOREST DWELLER

Although common throughout Europe and Asia, the red squirrel is now rare in Britain and is considered an endangered species here. A possible cause for its decline is the destruction of its woodland habitat and competition for food with its larger relative the grey squirrel. Red squirrels are found in forests. Here they are tree-living and they nest in a ball of twigs and leaves built in branches or fork of a tree. This home is called a drey. They feed mainly on tree seeds, but will eat bark, insects or flowers and can live up to five years.

TINY FLYING MAMMAL

A bat is a mammal and there are 16 species of bat living in Britain. The most common species of bat is the pipistrelle. They are also our smallest bat- with wings folded they fit into a matchbox! Bats leave their roost (the place that they hang upside down and sleep!) at dusk to hunt for flying insects.

They find their food by echo-location. Most bats feed in and around woodland, or other places like lakes and rivers where insects can be found. The pipistrelle can be found in our gardens and around street lights but not in the cold winter months as, like other bats, this is when they sleep (hibernate), only waking up when spring arrives.