World Animal Rescue Network (https://worldanimalrescuenetwork.org/wildlife-guides/coconut-crab): Coconut Crab — wildlife guide.

## One-line answer
The coconut crab (Birgus latro) is the world's largest land-living arthropod, a giant terrestrial hermit crab found on tropical islands across the Indo-Pacific. Adults reach a leg span of about 1 m (3 ft) and weigh up to roughly 4 kg (9 lb).

## Introduction
The coconut crab (Birgus latro) is the world's largest land-living arthropod, a giant terrestrial hermit crab found on tropical islands across the Indo-Pacific. Adults reach a leg span of about 1 m (3 ft) and weigh up to roughly 4 kg (9 lb). Famous for climbing trees and cracking open coconuts with powerful claws, it is a long-lived omnivore that may survive 40 to 60 years. The IUCN lists it as Vulnerable.

## Takeaway
The coconut crab is the heaviest land arthropod on Earth, with a leg span reaching about 1 m (3 ft) and a body mass of up to roughly 4 kg (9 lb).

## Takeaway
Coconut crabs are accomplished climbers that scale palm trunks and other trees, sometimes several metres up, to reach fruit or to escape the heat.

## Takeaway
Despite the name, the coconut crab is a broad omnivore rather than a coconut specialist.

## Size and body
The coconut crab is the heaviest land arthropod on Earth, with a leg span reaching about 1 m (3 ft) and a body mass of up to roughly 4 kg (9 lb). Unlike its smaller hermit-crab relatives, an adult no longer carries a borrowed shell, instead hardening its own abdomen for protection. Its front claws are extraordinarily strong, capable of a pinch measured among the most powerful of any animal for its size. The body is armoured in a thick exoskeleton that ranges from bluish to reddish-orange depending on the island population.

## Climbing and coconuts
Coconut crabs are accomplished climbers that scale palm trunks and other trees, sometimes several metres up, to reach fruit or to escape the heat. They are named for their habit of husking and cracking coconuts, using their claws to strip the fibrous outer layer and hammer through to the flesh inside, a task that can take days. On the ground they are slow, moving at only around 4 km/h, so climbing gives them access to food that faster animals cannot reach. Their grip is strong enough to carry objects heavier than their own body.

## Diet and feeding
Despite the name, the coconut crab is a broad omnivore rather than a coconut specialist. It eats fallen fruit, seeds, nuts, the pith of toppled trees, and carrion, and will scavenge almost anything organic it encounters at night. It also feeds on other crabs and has been recorded taking small live animals when the chance arises. A keen sense of smell, unusual among crustaceans and more like that of insects, guides it to food across the forest floor.

## Life cycle and breeding
Coconut crabs are terrestrial as adults but remain tied to the sea for reproduction. After mating on land, a female carries her eggs on the underside of her abdomen and then releases the hatching larvae into the ocean, usually at high tide. The tiny larvae drift and develop in the water for several weeks before settling and, like young hermit crabs, occupying small shells while they mature on land. Once large enough, they abandon the shell for good and never return to the water, growing slowly over decades.


World Animal Rescue Network (https://worldanimalrescuenetwork.org/wildlife-guides/coconut-crab): Coconut Crab — wildlife guide.

## Distribution and habitat
The species is found on tropical islands and coastlines throughout the Indo-Pacific, from the western Indian Ocean to islands scattered across the central Pacific. It favours forested coastal areas with plenty of cover, sheltering by day in rock crevices or burrows lined with fibre and emerging to forage after dark. Because populations are isolated island by island, numbers vary widely from place to place. It has vanished from some islands where humans are numerous and survives best on remote, undisturbed land.

## Conservation status
The coconut crab is listed as Vulnerable by the IUCN, with populations declining across much of its range. Its slow growth, late maturity, and long lifespan of possibly 40 to 60 years make it slow to recover from losses. Hunting for food, habitat loss, and predation of larvae and juveniles by introduced animals all put pressure on island populations. Several countries now regulate harvesting, setting size limits and protecting breeding females to keep local populations from collapsing.

## WARN work
WARN does not run a dedicated coconut crab programme — this guide is part of the World Animal Rescue Network's free educational library. The coconut crab faces documented conservation pressure in the wild, which is why clear, sourced public information about it matters. Building public understanding of species like the coconut crab supports the broader conservation awareness that underpins WARN's partner-led rescue work across its network.

## Donation hook
If clear, science-based wildlife guides like this help you understand and value animals, please consider supporting the World Animal Rescue Network's educational and rescue work so we can keep producing them.


World Animal Rescue Network (https://worldanimalrescuenetwork.org/wildlife-guides/coconut-crab): Coconut Crab — wildlife guide.

## How big can a coconut crab get?
Coconut crabs are the largest land arthropods in the world. A full-grown adult can span about 1 m (3 ft) from leg tip to leg tip and weigh up to roughly 4 kg (9 lb).

## Can coconut crabs actually open coconuts?
Yes. They use their powerful front claws to strip the fibrous husk and then hammer and pry at the shell until it cracks, reaching the flesh inside. The process can take several days for a single coconut.

## Do coconut crabs climb trees?
They do. Coconut crabs regularly climb palms and other trees, sometimes several metres up, to reach fruit or escape the heat of the ground. Climbing is important because they move slowly on land, at only about 4 km/h.

## How long do coconut crabs live?
They are remarkably long-lived for an invertebrate, possibly reaching 40 to 60 years. They grow slowly and mature late, which is one reason their populations recover slowly from over-harvesting.

## Are coconut crabs dangerous to humans?
Their claws are among the strongest of any animal for their size and can deliver a painful, even injurious pinch, so they should be handled with care. They are not aggressive predators of people, but a grip from a large adult is difficult to break.

## Where do coconut crabs live?
They live on tropical islands and coasts across the Indo-Pacific, from the western Indian Ocean to the central Pacific. As adults they are fully land-dwelling, returning to the sea only to release their larvae.


World Animal Rescue Network (https://worldanimalrescuenetwork.org/wildlife-guides/giant-house-spider): Giant House Spider — wildlife guide.

## One-line answer
The giant house spider (Eratigena atrica) is one of Britain's largest spiders, a fast-moving but harmless funnel-weaver often seen indoors in autumn. Females reach a body length of up to about 7.5 cm across the legs, with a leg span reaching around 12 cm, and adults live for around three years.

## Introduction
The giant house spider (Eratigena atrica) is one of Britain's largest spiders, a fast-moving but harmless funnel-weaver often seen indoors in autumn. Females reach a body length of up to about 7.5 cm across the legs, with a leg span reaching around 12 cm, and adults live for around three years. It builds sheet-like webs in sheds, garages and quiet corners and preys on flies and other invertebrates. It is common and of Least Concern.

## Takeaway
The giant house spider is a large, brown, long-legged spider with a leg span that can reach around 12 cm, making it one of the biggest spiders regularly encountered in Britain and northern Europe.

## Takeaway
Rather than spinning a sticky orb web, this spider weaves a flat sheet of silk that ends in a funnel-shaped retreat, where it waits out of sight.

## Takeaway
The spiders most people notice indoors are mature males, which leave their webs in early autumn to wander in search of females.

## Appearance and size
The giant house spider is a large, brown, long-legged spider with a leg span that can reach around 12 cm, making it one of the biggest spiders regularly encountered in Britain and northern Europe. Its body is mottled brown with darker markings, and the legs are covered in fine hairs. Females are bulkier than males, with body lengths of up to about 7.5 cm across the legs, while males have longer, spindlier legs relative to their bodies. Their size and speed make them look alarming, but the impression is misleading.

## Webs and how it catches prey
Rather than spinning a sticky orb web, this spider weaves a flat sheet of silk that ends in a funnel-shaped retreat, where it waits out of sight. When a fly, moth or other invertebrate blunders onto the sheet, the vibrations alert the spider, which rushes out from its tunnel to seize the prey before retreating to feed. The web is not sticky; it relies on the spider's speed to reach victims before they escape. These funnels are often tucked behind furniture, in the corners of sheds, or among log piles and garden debris.

## Why you see them in autumn
The spiders most people notice indoors are mature males, which leave their webs in early autumn to wander in search of females. This is why giant house spiders seem to appear suddenly in September and October, scuttling across floors or trapped in baths where they have fallen and cannot climb the smooth sides. They are not invading in greater numbers; they are simply more visible during the mating season. Once a male finds a female's web, he may stay with her for some time before mating.

## Are they dangerous?
Despite their size and the fright they can cause, giant house spiders are harmless to people. Their venom is used to subdue small invertebrate prey and has no significant effect on humans, and they are reluctant to bite, preferring to flee. On the rare occasion a bite does occur, it is comparable to a minor sting at most. They are, in fact, useful housemates that help keep down numbers of flies and other insects.


World Animal Rescue Network (https://worldanimalrescuenetwork.org/wildlife-guides/giant-house-spider): Giant House Spider — wildlife guide.

## Habitat and life cycle
Giant house spiders live in and around human buildings, including houses, sheds, garages and outbuildings, as well as in natural sites such as log piles, cavities and gardens. Females stay close to their webs for life, laying eggs in silken sacs and living for up to around three years, longer than many spiders. Males have shorter lives and usually die within weeks of maturing and mating. The species is common and widespread and is classed as Least Concern.

## WARN work
WARN does not run a dedicated giant house spider programme — this guide is part of the World Animal Rescue Network's free educational library. The giant house spider is currently widespread and not globally threatened, and this guide helps readers understand the pressures that can change that. Building public understanding of species like the giant house spider supports the broader conservation awareness that underpins WARN's partner-led rescue work across its network.

## Donation hook
If clear, science-based wildlife guides like this help you understand and value animals, please consider supporting the World Animal Rescue Network's educational and rescue work so we can keep producing them.


World Animal Rescue Network (https://worldanimalrescuenetwork.org/wildlife-guides/giant-house-spider): Giant House Spider — wildlife guide.

## Are giant house spiders dangerous?
No. Giant house spiders are harmless to people, with venom that only affects their small invertebrate prey. They are reluctant to bite and prefer to run away, and any rare bite is no worse than a minor sting.

## Why do giant house spiders come indoors in autumn?
The spiders seen indoors in September and October are mostly mature males wandering in search of a mate. They are not invading in greater numbers but are simply more visible as they roam. Many end up trapped in baths, unable to climb the smooth sides.

## How big do giant house spiders get?
They are among Britain's largest spiders, with a leg span reaching around 12 cm. Females have a bulky body up to about 7.5 cm across the legs, while males have longer, thinner legs. Their size makes them look more threatening than they are.

## What do giant house spiders eat?
They are carnivores that prey on flies, moths and other invertebrates. They build a flat sheet web with a funnel retreat and rush out to seize prey that lands on it. This makes them helpful in controlling household insects.

## How long do giant house spiders live?
Females can live for around three years, which is long for a spider. Males live much shorter lives, usually dying within a few weeks of maturing and finding a mate in autumn.

## Do giant house spiders make webs?
Yes. They weave a flat sheet of silk ending in a funnel-shaped tunnel where they hide. The web is not sticky, so the spider relies on speed to dash out and catch prey before it escapes.


World Animal Rescue Network (https://worldanimalrescuenetwork.org/wildlife-guides/boa-constrictor): Boa Constrictor — wildlife guide.

## One-line answer
The boa constrictor (Boa constrictor) is a large, heavy-bodied, non-venomous snake native to tropical forests, savannas, and deserts across Central and South America. It typically reaches 2 to 3 m and weighs around 10 to 15 kg, killing prey not with venom but by coiling around it and squeezing until it can no longer breathe.

## Introduction
The boa constrictor (Boa constrictor) is a large, heavy-bodied, non-venomous snake native to tropical forests, savannas, and deserts across Central and South America. It typically reaches 2 to 3 m and weighs around 10 to 15 kg, killing prey not with venom but by coiling around it and squeezing until it can no longer breathe. A slow-moving ambush hunter, the boa can live 20 to 30 years and is listed as Least Concern.

## Takeaway
The boa constrictor is a thick, muscular snake that commonly grows to 2 to 3 m, with females larger than males and weighing up to around 15 kg.

## Takeaway
The boa constrictor is non-venomous and kills entirely by constriction, as its name suggests.

## Takeaway
Boas are carnivores that eat a wide range of warm-blooded prey, from rodents, birds, and bats to lizards and larger mammals such as opossums.

## Size and appearance
The boa constrictor is a thick, muscular snake that commonly grows to 2 to 3 m, with females larger than males and weighing up to around 15 kg. Its background colour ranges from tan and brown to grey, overlaid with distinctive dark saddle-shaped markings that deepen to reddish tones towards the tail, giving rise to the nickname red-tailed boa. This patterning is superb camouflage among leaf litter and dappled forest light. Unlike venomous snakes, it has a narrow head only slightly wider than its neck and no fangs.

## How it kills by constriction
The boa constrictor is non-venomous and kills entirely by constriction, as its name suggests. It seizes prey with backward-curving teeth, then throws several coils of its powerful body around the animal. Rather than crushing bones, the snake tightens its grip each time the prey exhales, cutting off blood flow and breathing until the animal quickly loses consciousness. It then swallows the meal whole, head first, its jaws stretching around prey far wider than its own head.

## Diet and hunting
Boas are carnivores that eat a wide range of warm-blooded prey, from rodents, birds, and bats to lizards and larger mammals such as opossums. They are ambush hunters, lying still and camouflaged before striking with a rapid lunge. Heat-sensitive scales around the mouth help them detect the body warmth of prey in darkness. After a large meal a boa may not need to feed again for weeks.

## Habitat and range
The boa constrictor ranges widely across Central and South America and some Caribbean islands, occupying a remarkable variety of habitats. It is found in tropical rainforest, dry woodland, savanna grassland, and semi-desert scrub, from sea level into the hills. Young boas often climb into trees and shrubs, while heavier adults spend more time on the ground, frequently near water. This adaptability across so many habitats is one reason the species remains widespread.


World Animal Rescue Network (https://worldanimalrescuenetwork.org/wildlife-guides/boa-constrictor): Boa Constrictor — wildlife guide.

## Reproduction and young
Boa constrictors give birth to live young rather than laying eggs, a trait known as ovoviviparity. The female carries the developing embryos internally and delivers a litter that can number a couple of dozen fully formed babies, each around 40 to 50 cm long. The young are independent from birth, receiving no parental care, and begin hunting small prey almost at once. They grow steadily over several years before reaching breeding size.

## Conservation and people
The boa constrictor is listed as Least Concern by the IUCN, reflecting its wide range and adaptability, though some local populations are pressured by hunting for the skin trade and collection for pets. It is one of the most familiar snakes in captivity, valued in the reptile hobby for its manageable temperament and striking pattern. Introduced boas have also established themselves in a few places outside their native range. Habitat loss is the main long-term concern for wild populations.

## WARN work
WARN does not run a dedicated boa constrictor programme — this guide is part of the World Animal Rescue Network's free educational library. The boa constrictor is currently widespread and not globally threatened, and this guide helps readers understand the pressures that can change that. Building public understanding of species like the boa constrictor supports the broader conservation awareness that underpins WARN's partner-led rescue work across its network.

## Donation hook
If clear, science-based wildlife guides like this help you understand and value animals, please consider supporting the World Animal Rescue Network's educational and rescue work so we can keep producing them.


World Animal Rescue Network (https://worldanimalrescuenetwork.org/wildlife-guides/boa-constrictor): Boa Constrictor — wildlife guide.

## Are boa constrictors venomous?
No. Boa constrictors are non-venomous and have no fangs or venom. They kill prey entirely by constriction, coiling around the animal and tightening until it can no longer breathe.

## How big do boa constrictors get?
Boa constrictors typically reach 2 to 3 m in length and weigh around 10 to 15 kg. Females grow noticeably larger and heavier than males, and exceptional individuals can be longer still.

## What do boa constrictors eat?
Boa constrictors are carnivores that eat warm-blooded prey such as rodents, birds, bats, lizards, and larger mammals like opossums. They ambush their prey, seize it, and kill it by constriction before swallowing it whole.

## How does a boa constrictor kill its prey?
It grips the prey with its teeth and wraps several coils of its body around it, then squeezes tighter each time the animal breathes out. This cuts off blood flow and breathing, and the prey loses consciousness within moments before being swallowed whole.

## Do boa constrictors lay eggs?
No. Boa constrictors give birth to live young rather than laying eggs. A female carries the developing babies internally and delivers a litter of up to a couple of dozen fully formed young, which are independent from birth.

## How long do boa constrictors live?
Boa constrictors commonly live 20 to 30 years. Well-kept animals in captivity often reach the upper end of that range, and some live even longer with good care.


World Animal Rescue Network (https://worldanimalrescuenetwork.org/wildlife-guides/corn-snake): Corn Snake — wildlife guide.

## One-line answer
The corn snake (Pantherophis guttatus) is a gentle, colourful North American rat snake and one of the most popular pet snakes in the world. Native to the fields, woodlands and farmland of the southeastern United States, it grows to around 1.4 m (up to about 1.8 m) and is a non-venomous constrictor that hunts rodents.

## Introduction
The corn snake (Pantherophis guttatus) is a gentle, colourful North American rat snake and one of the most popular pet snakes in the world. Native to the fields, woodlands and farmland of the southeastern United States, it grows to around 1.4 m (up to about 1.8 m) and is a non-venomous constrictor that hunts rodents. Docile and easy to keep, corn snakes can live 15 to 20 years in captivity and are listed as Least Concern.

## Takeaway
The corn snake is named partly for the maize-like checkerboard pattern on its belly and partly for its habit of hunting around grain stores.

## Takeaway
The corn snake is completely harmless to people, with no venom and only tiny teeth.

## Takeaway
In the wild the corn snake ranges across the southeastern United States, favouring fields, woodlands, farmland and abandoned buildings.

## Appearance and colour
The corn snake is named partly for the maize-like checkerboard pattern on its belly and partly for its habit of hunting around grain stores. Wild individuals are typically orange or reddish-brown with bold, black-edged red or orange blotches down the back. Decades of captive breeding have produced a huge range of colour and pattern variations, known as morphs, from snow-white to lavender. A slender adult reaches about 1.4 m long and weighs around 0.9 kg (2 lb).

## A non-venomous constrictor
The corn snake is completely harmless to people, with no venom and only tiny teeth. It kills its prey by constriction, coiling around a rodent and tightening its grip until the animal stops breathing before swallowing it whole. Corn snakes are carnivores that feed mainly on mice, rats and other small rodents, along with the occasional bird or egg. This appetite for rodents makes them welcome around farms and barns, where they help control pests.

## Habitat and behaviour
In the wild the corn snake ranges across the southeastern United States, favouring fields, woodlands, farmland and abandoned buildings. It slithers across the ground and is a capable climber, scaling trees and rafters in search of prey and shelter. Mostly active at dawn, dusk and night, it spends much of its time hidden under logs, rocks or debris. When alarmed it may vibrate its tail against dry leaves, mimicking a rattlesnake to bluff predators.

## Why it is a popular pet
The corn snake is often recommended as an ideal beginner's snake because it is calm, tolerant of handling and simple to care for. It stays a manageable size, feeds readily on frozen-thawed rodents, and rarely bites. Its wide array of colour morphs also makes it a favourite among keepers and breeders. With good care a pet corn snake can live 15 to 20 years.


World Animal Rescue Network (https://worldanimalrescuenetwork.org/wildlife-guides/corn-snake): Corn Snake — wildlife guide.

## Reproduction and life cycle
Corn snakes breed in spring, after emerging from a cooler winter dormancy that helps trigger the cycle. The female lays a clutch of around a dozen eggs in a warm, humid, hidden spot such as rotting wood or leaf litter, then leaves them to develop on their own. The eggs hatch after about two months, and the young snakes are independent from birth. In the wild corn snakes generally live several years, but in captivity they commonly reach 15 to 20 years.

## Conservation status
The corn snake is listed as Least Concern and remains common across its native range in the southeastern United States. It is one of the most widely bred snakes in the world, so the pet trade draws overwhelmingly on captive-bred animals rather than wild ones. Habitat loss and road deaths affect some local populations, but the species as a whole is secure. Its adaptability to farmland and disturbed land has helped it persist alongside people.

## WARN work
WARN does not run a dedicated corn snake programme — this guide is part of the World Animal Rescue Network's free educational library. The corn snake is currently widespread and not globally threatened, and this guide helps readers understand the pressures that can change that. Building public understanding of species like the corn snake supports the broader conservation awareness that underpins WARN's partner-led rescue work across its network.

## Donation hook
If clear, science-based wildlife guides like this help you understand and value animals, please consider supporting the World Animal Rescue Network's educational and rescue work so we can keep producing them.


World Animal Rescue Network (https://worldanimalrescuenetwork.org/wildlife-guides/corn-snake): Corn Snake — wildlife guide.

## Are corn snakes venomous or dangerous?
No. Corn snakes are completely non-venomous and harmless to people. They kill prey by constriction, are very docile, and rarely bite, which is why they are considered one of the safest pet snakes.

## How big do corn snakes get?
Corn snakes typically grow to around 1.4 m long, with some reaching about 1.8 m (6 ft), and weigh roughly 0.9 kg (2 lb). They are a slender, moderately sized rat snake.

## What do corn snakes eat?
Corn snakes are carnivores that feed mainly on mice, rats and other small rodents, along with the occasional bird or egg. In captivity they are usually fed appropriately sized frozen-thawed rodents.

## How long do corn snakes live?
With good care a pet corn snake can live 15 to 20 years. Wild corn snakes generally live shorter lives because of predators and other hazards.

## Why are corn snakes good pets for beginners?
Corn snakes are calm, tolerant of handling and simple to care for. They stay a manageable size, feed readily on frozen-thawed rodents, rarely bite, and come in a wide range of attractive colour morphs.

## Why is it called a corn snake?
The name comes partly from the maize-like checkerboard pattern on the snake's belly and partly from its habit of hunting rodents around grain and corn stores. It is a type of North American rat snake.


World Animal Rescue Network (https://worldanimalrescuenetwork.org/wildlife-guides/frilled-lizard): Frilled Lizard — wildlife guide.

## One-line answer
The frilled lizard (Chlamydosaurus kingii) is a tree-dwelling reptile of northern Australia and southern New Guinea, famous for the wide, leathery frill it snaps open around its neck when threatened. It grows up to about 0.9 m (3 ft) long including the tail and weighs around 0.5 kg (1.1 lb).

## Introduction
The frilled lizard (Chlamydosaurus kingii) is a tree-dwelling reptile of northern Australia and southern New Guinea, famous for the wide, leathery frill it snaps open around its neck when threatened. It grows up to about 0.9 m (3 ft) long including the tail and weighs around 0.5 kg (1.1 lb). When alarmed on the ground it sprints away on its hind legs, and it can live 10 to 20 years.

## Takeaway
The frill is a fold of skin supported by long rods of cartilage attached to the jaw.

## Takeaway
If the display fails, the frilled lizard turns and flees in a way few reptiles can match.

## Takeaway
Frilled lizards are strongly arboreal and spend most of the day clinging to trunks and branches in tropical woodland and dry forest.

## The famous frill and its bluff
The frill is a fold of skin supported by long rods of cartilage attached to the jaw. Normally it lies flat against the shoulders, but when the lizard opens its mouth the frill springs out into a disc that can be up to 30 cm across. Combined with hissing, gaping, and tail-lashing, this display makes the animal look far larger and more dangerous than it really is. The bluff is meant to startle a predator long enough for the lizard to escape.

## Running on two legs
If the display fails, the frilled lizard turns and flees in a way few reptiles can match. It rears up and runs on its hind legs alone, tail held out for balance, in a comical upright sprint toward the nearest tree. This bipedal dash can reach around 30 km/h over short distances. Once it reaches a trunk it scrambles up and freezes against the bark, where its grey-brown colouring blends in.

## Life in the trees
Frilled lizards are strongly arboreal and spend most of the day clinging to trunks and branches in tropical woodland and dry forest. From this vantage point they watch the ground for movement and drop down to snatch prey. They are ambush hunters that stay motionless for long stretches, relying on camouflage rather than active searching. Height also keeps them clear of many ground predators.

## Diet and feeding
This lizard is a carnivore that feeds mainly on insects. Cicadas, beetles, ants, termites, and spiders make up the bulk of its diet, and larger individuals will also take small lizards and the occasional small mammal. It hunts by sitting still and ambushing anything that wanders within reach. Feeding activity rises sharply in the wet season, when insect numbers explode.

## Seasons and breeding
Northern Australia's climate swings between a hot wet season and a long dry season, and the frilled lizard's year is built around it. The animals are most active and breed during the wet, when food is abundant, and become far more sluggish and secretive through the dry months. Females lay clutches of roughly 8 to 23 eggs in shallow nests dug into soft soil. The eggs hatch after two to three months, and hatchlings are independent from birth.


World Animal Rescue Network (https://worldanimalrescuenetwork.org/wildlife-guides/frilled-lizard): Frilled Lizard — wildlife guide.

## Conservation status
The frilled lizard is listed as Least Concern by the IUCN and remains widespread across its northern Australian and New Guinean range. The main pressures it faces are habitat clearance, wildfire, and predation by introduced cats and foxes. It is also collected for the exotic pet trade, though wild populations are currently considered stable. Healthy tree cover is the single most important thing for its long-term survival.

## WARN work
WARN does not run a dedicated frilled lizard programme — this guide is part of the World Animal Rescue Network's free educational library. The frilled lizard is currently widespread and not globally threatened, and this guide helps readers understand the pressures that can change that. Building public understanding of species like the frilled lizard supports the broader conservation awareness that underpins WARN's partner-led rescue work across its network.

## Donation hook
If clear, science-based wildlife guides like this help you understand and value animals, please consider supporting the World Animal Rescue Network's educational and rescue work so we can keep producing them.


World Animal Rescue Network (https://worldanimalrescuenetwork.org/wildlife-guides/frilled-lizard): Frilled Lizard — wildlife guide.

## Why does the frilled lizard have a frill?
The frill is a defensive bluff. When a predator approaches, the lizard opens its mouth and flares the frill into a wide disc, making itself look much bigger and scarier so the attacker hesitates. It is not used for feeding and has no venom behind it.

## Can a frilled lizard really run on two legs?
Yes. When it flees on open ground the frilled lizard rears up and runs on its hind legs alone, holding its tail out for balance. This upright bipedal sprint carries it quickly to the nearest tree, where it climbs to safety.

## How big does a frilled lizard get?
A frilled lizard reaches up to about 0.9 m (3 ft) in total length, though most of that is its long tail. Body weight is only around 0.5 kg (1.1 lb), so it is a lightly built, agile climber rather than a heavy reptile.

## What do frilled lizards eat?
Frilled lizards are carnivores that eat mostly insects, including cicadas, beetles, ants, termites, and spiders. Larger individuals also take small lizards and occasionally small mammals. They hunt by ambush, staying still and grabbing prey that passes close by.

## Are frilled lizards dangerous to humans?
No. Despite the dramatic threat display, frilled lizards are harmless to people. They have no venom, and a large one can deliver only a mild bite if handled. Their whole strategy is to frighten enemies off rather than to fight.

## How long do frilled lizards live?
Frilled lizards typically live between 10 and 20 years. Lifespan depends heavily on avoiding predators such as birds of prey, snakes, and introduced cats and foxes, especially while young and small.


World Animal Rescue Network (https://worldanimalrescuenetwork.org/wildlife-guides/garter-snake): Garter Snake — wildlife guide.

## One-line answer
The garter snake is one of the most common and widespread snakes in North America, found in meadows, marshes, woodlands, and gardens from Canada to Mexico. It is a slender snake, typically 0.5 to 1.3 m long and about 150 g, usually striped in yellow or green along a darker body.

## Introduction
The garter snake is one of the most common and widespread snakes in North America, found in meadows, marshes, woodlands, and gardens from Canada to Mexico. It is a slender snake, typically 0.5 to 1.3 m long and about 150 g, usually striped in yellow or green along a darker body. Harmless to people, it slithers actively by day hunting worms, amphibians, and fish, and lives around four to ten years.

## Takeaway
Garter snakes are best known for the long stripes that run the length of the body, usually one down the back and one along each side, in yellow, green, or cream against brown, grey, or black.

## Takeaway
The garter snake is a carnivore with a broad appetite, eating earthworms, slugs, amphibians, small fish, and the occasional rodent or nestling.

## Takeaway
Few snakes are as adaptable, and the garter snake ranges from Canada through the United States into Mexico across an enormous variety of habitats.

## Appearance and identification
Garter snakes are best known for the long stripes that run the length of the body, usually one down the back and one along each side, in yellow, green, or cream against brown, grey, or black. Adults are slim and typically measure 0.5 to 1.3 m (about 1.5 to 4.3 ft) and weigh around 150 g. There are many regional colour forms, so patterning varies widely across the species' huge range. The keeled scales give the skin a slightly rough, matte look rather than a glossy sheen.

## Diet and hunting
The garter snake is a carnivore with a broad appetite, eating earthworms, slugs, amphibians, small fish, and the occasional rodent or nestling. It slithers actively through vegetation and shallow water by day, using sight and a flicking tongue to track prey rather than lying in wait. Some populations tolerate the toxins of newts and toads that would poison other predators. Prey is seized in the jaws and swallowed whole, as the snake has no venom potent enough to subdue large animals.

## Habitat and range
Few snakes are as adaptable, and the garter snake ranges from Canada through the United States into Mexico across an enormous variety of habitats. It thrives in damp meadows, marshes, pond edges, woodland, and suburban gardens, rarely far from water. This tolerance of cool climates lets it live farther north than almost any other North American snake. Its willingness to live alongside people makes it one of the reptiles most familiar to gardeners.

## Reproduction and hibernation
Garter snakes give birth to live young rather than laying eggs, producing litters that can number from a handful to several dozen. In colder regions they spend winter in communal dens called hibernacula, sometimes gathering by the hundreds or thousands in the same rocky shelter. When they emerge in spring, males may form writhing mating balls around a single female. The newborn snakes are fully independent from birth and receive no parental care.


World Animal Rescue Network (https://worldanimalrescuenetwork.org/wildlife-guides/garter-snake): Garter Snake — wildlife guide.

## Defence and predators
When threatened, a garter snake first tries to flee, slithering quickly into cover. If cornered it may flatten its body, strike, or release a foul-smelling musk from glands near the tail to deter a predator. Its saliva contains a mild toxin that helps subdue small prey but is harmless to humans, causing at most minor irritation. Hawks, larger snakes, raccoons, and domestic cats are among its many predators.

## Lifespan and conservation
In the wild garter snakes typically live four to ten years, though predation means many do not survive their first year. The species is listed as Least Concern by the IUCN and remains abundant across its range. A few localised subspecies, such as the San Francisco garter snake, are threatened by habitat loss and are protected. For the species as a whole, adaptability and a varied diet keep populations healthy.

## WARN work
WARN does not run a dedicated garter snake programme — this guide is part of the World Animal Rescue Network's free educational library. The garter snake is currently widespread and not globally threatened, and this guide helps readers understand the pressures that can change that. Building public understanding of species like the garter snake supports the broader conservation awareness that underpins WARN's partner-led rescue work across its network.

## Donation hook
If clear, science-based wildlife guides like this help you understand and value animals, please consider supporting the World Animal Rescue Network's educational and rescue work so we can keep producing them.


World Animal Rescue Network (https://worldanimalrescuenetwork.org/wildlife-guides/garter-snake): Garter Snake — wildlife guide.

## Are garter snakes dangerous to humans?
No. Garter snakes are essentially harmless to people; they have only a very mild toxin in their saliva that helps them subdue small prey. A bite may cause minor irritation or swelling but is not medically dangerous.

## What do garter snakes eat?
They are carnivores that eat earthworms, slugs, amphibians such as frogs and toads, small fish, and occasionally rodents or nestlings. They hunt actively by day, tracking prey by sight and scent.

## How big do garter snakes get?
Most garter snakes are 0.5 to 1.3 m long (about 1.5 to 4.3 ft) and weigh around 150 g. They are slender snakes, so even the longest individuals stay lightweight.

## Do garter snakes lay eggs?
No, garter snakes give birth to live young rather than laying eggs. A single female can produce anywhere from a few to several dozen fully independent offspring in a litter.

## How long do garter snakes live?
In the wild they usually live four to ten years, although heavy predation means many die young. Individuals in captivity can live somewhat longer under stable conditions.

## Where are garter snakes found?
They range across North America from Canada to Mexico and live in meadows, marshes, woodlands, pond edges, and gardens. Their tolerance of cool climates lets them live farther north than almost any other North American snake.


World Animal Rescue Network (https://worldanimalrescuenetwork.org/wildlife-guides/african-wild-dog): African Wild Dog — wildlife guide.

## One-line answer
The African wild dog is a lean, long-legged carnivore of sub-Saharan Africa, famous for its mottled coat of black, tan, and white patches. Weighing 20 to 30 kg and standing about 1.1 m in body length, it is one of the world's most efficient pack hunters, chasing prey at up to 60 km/h.

## Introduction
The African wild dog is a lean, long-legged carnivore of sub-Saharan Africa, famous for its mottled coat of black, tan, and white patches. Weighing 20 to 30 kg and standing about 1.1 m in body length, it is one of the world's most efficient pack hunters, chasing prey at up to 60 km/h. Packs are intensely social and cooperative. With only a few thousand left, the IUCN lists the species as Endangered.

## Takeaway
Also called the painted wolf, the African wild dog wears a unique coat blotched with black, yellow-tan, and white, so no two individuals look alike.

## Takeaway
African wild dogs are among the most social of all carnivores, living in packs led by a dominant breeding pair.

## Takeaway
These dogs are carnivores that hunt medium-sized antelope such as impala and kudu, along with warthog and smaller game.

## Appearance and identity
Also called the painted wolf, the African wild dog wears a unique coat blotched with black, yellow-tan, and white, so no two individuals look alike. It has large, rounded 'satellite-dish' ears that help with hearing and shed heat, a lean frame built for endurance, and only four toes on each foot rather than five. Adults weigh between 20 and 30 kg, with males slightly larger than females. This is Africa's only member of its genus, distinct from wolves, jackals, and domestic dogs.

## Pack life and social structure
African wild dogs are among the most social of all carnivores, living in packs led by a dominant breeding pair. The whole pack cooperates to raise pups, hunt, and care for sick or injured members, sharing food by regurgitation. Rather than fighting over rank, they use elaborate greeting ceremonies of twittering calls and body contact to bond and coordinate. Packs even 'vote' on whether to set off hunting through a chorus of sneezes, with the majority deciding the move.

## Hunting and diet
These dogs are carnivores that hunt medium-sized antelope such as impala and kudu, along with warthog and smaller game. Instead of ambushing, they run their prey down in a sustained, coordinated chase, reaching speeds of up to 60 km/h and wearing quarry out over long distances. Their teamwork makes them extraordinarily successful, with hunts often ending in a kill far more reliably than those of lions or hyenas. After a kill, pups are allowed to eat first, an unusual mark of their cooperative nature.

## Breeding and pups
Normally only the dominant pair breeds, producing a large litter after a gestation of about 70 days. Litters can be exceptionally big, sometimes exceeding ten pups, which are raised in a den and guarded by the whole pack. Adults returning from a hunt regurgitate meat for the pups and for any pack members that stayed behind. Young dogs remain with the pack to help rear the next generation before some disperse to form new packs.


World Animal Rescue Network (https://worldanimalrescuenetwork.org/wildlife-guides/african-wild-dog): African Wild Dog — wildlife guide.

## Why it is endangered
The African wild dog is listed as Endangered, with only a few thousand individuals remaining across a fragmented range. Habitat loss and the break-up of large wild areas force packs into contact with people, leading to conflict with livestock farmers and deaths on roads. They are also highly vulnerable to diseases such as rabies and canine distemper caught from domestic dogs. Because they need vast territories, protecting connected landscapes and wildlife corridors is vital to their survival.

## Range and habitat
African wild dogs once roamed across much of the continent but now survive mainly in southern and eastern Africa. They favour savannas, grasslands, and open woodlands where there is room to run down prey. Some of the strongest populations persist in large protected areas such as those in Botswana, Zimbabwe, and Tanzania. Each pack ranges over a huge home area, which is why fragmented habitat hits them so hard.

## WARN work
WARN does not run a dedicated african wild dog programme — this guide is part of the World Animal Rescue Network's free educational library. The african wild dog faces documented conservation pressure in the wild, which is why clear, sourced public information about it matters. Building public understanding of species like the african wild dog supports the broader conservation awareness that underpins WARN's partner-led rescue work across its network.

## Donation hook
If clear, science-based wildlife guides like this help you understand and value animals, please consider supporting the World Animal Rescue Network's educational and rescue work so we can keep producing them.


World Animal Rescue Network (https://worldanimalrescuenetwork.org/wildlife-guides/african-wild-dog): African Wild Dog — wildlife guide.

## Are African wild dogs actually dogs?
African wild dogs belong to the dog family, Canidae, but they are not closely related to domestic dogs and cannot interbreed with them. They are the only living species in the genus Lycaon, set apart by having just four toes on each foot instead of five.

## How fast can an African wild dog run?
African wild dogs can reach speeds of up to 60 km/h (37 mph) and, crucially, sustain a fast pace over long distances. This endurance lets them wear down prey in extended chases rather than relying on a short ambush.

## Why are African wild dogs endangered?
They are Endangered mainly because of habitat loss, conflict with farmers, road deaths, and diseases such as rabies and distemper spread by domestic dogs. Because each pack needs a very large territory, the break-up of wild landscapes is especially damaging.

## How successful are African wild dogs at hunting?
African wild dogs are among the most successful large predators in Africa, with a high proportion of their coordinated hunts ending in a kill. Their success comes from teamwork and stamina rather than raw power or surprise.

## Why do African wild dogs sneeze?
Researchers have found that packs use sneezes as a kind of vote when deciding whether to leave a resting spot and hunt. If enough dogs sneeze during their social greeting rituals, the pack sets off, so the sneezes act as a group decision.

## How long do African wild dogs live?
In the wild, African wild dogs usually live about 10 to 11 years. Individuals in captivity, safe from disease, predators, and vehicles, can live somewhat longer.


World Animal Rescue Network (https://worldanimalrescuenetwork.org/wildlife-guides/aye-aye): Aye-aye — wildlife guide.

## One-line answer
The aye-aye is a large nocturnal lemur found only in Madagascar, easily recognised by its bushy tail, rodent-like teeth and long, spindly middle finger. It weighs 2 to 3 kg (4.4 to 6.6 lb) and forages alone at night for insect larvae, fruit, nectar and fungi.

## Introduction
The aye-aye is a large nocturnal lemur found only in Madagascar, easily recognised by its bushy tail, rodent-like teeth and long, spindly middle finger. It weighs 2 to 3 kg (4.4 to 6.6 lb) and forages alone at night for insect larvae, fruit, nectar and fungi. Long-lived for a lemur, it can survive 20 to 23 years in the wild. The IUCN lists it as Endangered.

## Takeaway
The aye-aye feeds using a method found in no other primate, sometimes called percussive foraging.

## Takeaway
Although insect larvae are a signature food, the aye-aye is an omnivore with a varied menu.

## Takeaway
The aye-aye grows to around 0.9 m (3 ft) including its long, bushy tail, which is often longer than its body.

## A unique way of finding food
The aye-aye feeds using a method found in no other primate, sometimes called percussive foraging. It taps rapidly along a branch with its slender middle finger and listens for the hollow echo of a tunnel left by wood-boring grubs. Once it locates a cavity, it gnaws a hole with its ever-growing incisors and hooks the larva out with that same thin finger. This tap-and-listen technique fills the same ecological niche that woodpeckers occupy elsewhere in the world.

## Diet beyond insects
Although insect larvae are a signature food, the aye-aye is an omnivore with a varied menu. It also eats fruit, nectar and fungi, and is fond of the seeds inside ripe coconuts and ramy nuts, which it opens with its powerful teeth. This flexible diet allows it to survive in both native rainforest and human-planted coconut groves. Its taste for cultivated crops occasionally brings it into conflict with farmers.

## Anatomy and senses
The aye-aye grows to around 0.9 m (3 ft) including its long, bushy tail, which is often longer than its body. Its most extraordinary feature is the elongated, almost skeletal middle finger, fitted with a ball-and-socket joint that lets it swivel freely. Large, sensitive ears give it acute hearing for detecting grubs beneath bark, and its huge eyes are adapted to gathering light on moonlit nights. Unusually among primates, its front teeth never stop growing, like a rodent's.

## Behaviour and lifestyle
Aye-ayes are strictly nocturnal and spend the daylight hours asleep in a spherical nest of leaves and twigs high in the canopy. They are largely solitary, moving slowly through the trees and leaping between branches to cover their large home ranges. Males range more widely than females and their territories often overlap, though individuals usually forage alone. They are surprisingly long-lived for a lemur, reaching over two decades in the wild.


World Animal Rescue Network (https://worldanimalrescuenetwork.org/wildlife-guides/aye-aye): Aye-aye — wildlife guide.

## Why it is endangered
The aye-aye is listed as Endangered by the IUCN, threatened chiefly by the clearing of Madagascar's forests for farming and timber. It also suffers from direct persecution, because some local traditions regard the animal as an omen of bad luck and kill it on sight. Its slow reproduction, with females raising a single infant every two to three years, makes it hard for populations to recover. Protected reserves and captive-breeding programmes now play a key role in safeguarding the species.

## WARN work
WARN does not run a dedicated aye-aye programme — this guide is part of the World Animal Rescue Network's free educational library. The aye-aye faces documented conservation pressure in the wild, which is why clear, sourced public information about it matters. Building public understanding of species like the aye-aye supports the broader conservation awareness that underpins WARN's partner-led rescue work across its network.

## Donation hook
If clear, science-based wildlife guides like this help you understand and value animals, please consider supporting the World Animal Rescue Network's educational and rescue work so we can keep producing them.


World Animal Rescue Network (https://worldanimalrescuenetwork.org/wildlife-guides/aye-aye): Aye-aye — wildlife guide.

## What is an aye-aye?
The aye-aye is a nocturnal lemur native to Madagascar and the world's largest nocturnal primate. It is famous for its long, thin middle finger, which it uses to fish grubs out of tree bark.

## Why does the aye-aye have such a long finger?
Its elongated middle finger is a specialised feeding tool. The aye-aye taps on branches to find hollow tunnels made by insect larvae, gnaws a hole in the wood, then uses the thin finger to hook the grubs out.

## What do aye-ayes eat?
Aye-ayes are omnivores. They eat insect larvae, fruit, nectar and fungi, and are especially fond of coconut flesh and the seeds inside hard nuts, which they crack open with their strong, ever-growing teeth.

## How long do aye-ayes live?
Aye-ayes can live 20 to 23 years in the wild, which is unusually long for a lemur. In captivity, well-cared-for individuals may live even longer.

## Are aye-ayes endangered?
Yes. The aye-aye is classified as Endangered by the IUCN. Habitat loss across Madagascar and killing driven by local superstition are the main threats to its survival.

## Where do aye-ayes live?
Aye-ayes live only on the island of Madagascar. They inhabit rainforests and, increasingly, coconut plantations, where they spend the day sleeping in leaf nests high in the trees.


World Animal Rescue Network (https://worldanimalrescuenetwork.org/wildlife-guides/howler-monkey): Howler Monkey — wildlife guide.

## One-line answer
The howler monkey is a large, leaf-eating New World primate famous for having one of the loudest calls of any land animal in the Americas. Living in the tropical forests of Central and South America, it weighs around 5 to 10 kg and spends almost its whole life high in the canopy.

## Introduction
The howler monkey is a large, leaf-eating New World primate famous for having one of the loudest calls of any land animal in the Americas. Living in the tropical forests of Central and South America, it weighs around 5 to 10 kg and spends almost its whole life high in the canopy. Its booming dawn chorus, produced with the help of a specialised throat bone, can carry for several kilometres. Howlers live 15 to 20 years in the wild and are listed as Least Concern.

## Takeaway
Howler monkeys are named for the deep, roaring calls that make them one of the loudest land animals in the Americas.

## Takeaway
Howler monkeys, of the genus Alouatta, live throughout the tropical forests of Central and South America, from southern Mexico to northern Argentina.

## Takeaway
Howlers are folivores, feeding mainly on leaves along with fruit, flowers, and buds.

## The famous howl
Howler monkeys are named for the deep, roaring calls that make them one of the loudest land animals in the Americas. Males produce these booming howls using an enlarged hyoid bone in the throat that acts as a resonating chamber. The calls carry for several kilometres through dense forest and are used to space out rival troops without the need to fight. Choruses are most striking at dawn and dusk, when neighbouring groups answer one another across the canopy.

## Range and habitat
Howler monkeys, of the genus Alouatta, live throughout the tropical forests of Central and South America, from southern Mexico to northern Argentina. They inhabit a range of woodland, including rainforest, dry forest, and mangrove, wherever there are enough tall trees. Almost their entire life is spent in the canopy, where they find food, sleep, and travel. They are among the most widespread of the New World monkeys.

## Diet and slow metabolism
Howlers are folivores, feeding mainly on leaves along with fruit, flowers, and buds. Leaves are low in energy and slow to digest, so the monkeys have an enlarged gut where bacteria ferment the tough plant material. To cope with this low-energy diet they rest for much of the day, sometimes for 15 hours or more. When fruit and young leaves are plentiful they take advantage of the richer food.

## Movement through the canopy
Howler monkeys move slowly and deliberately through the trees, rarely leaping and instead climbing carefully from branch to branch. Their strong, fully prehensile tail acts as a fifth limb, gripping branches and even supporting the animal's full weight while it reaches for food. Top speeds of around 16 km/h are reached only in short bursts, as their leaf-based diet leaves little energy to spare. They almost never come down to the ground, staying safe among the high branches.

## Social structure
Howlers live in troops of around 6 to 15 individuals, usually including several adults of both sexes along with juveniles and infants. Rather than fighting over territory, neighbouring groups rely on their loud calls to keep their distance. Within the troop, grooming and vocal exchanges help maintain social bonds. Males are larger than females and take the lead in the roaring contests that define howler society.


World Animal Rescue Network (https://worldanimalrescuenetwork.org/wildlife-guides/howler-monkey): Howler Monkey — wildlife guide.

## Reproduction and lifespan
Females give birth to a single infant after a gestation of around six months, and the newborn clings to its mother as she moves through the trees. Young howlers are weaned gradually and learn which leaves and fruit are safe to eat by watching the adults. In the wild, howler monkeys live around 15 to 20 years. Their slow, energy-conserving lifestyle is reflected in their unhurried pace of breeding and growth.

## WARN work
WARN does not run a dedicated howler monkey programme — this guide is part of the World Animal Rescue Network's free educational library. The howler monkey is currently widespread and not globally threatened, and this guide helps readers understand the pressures that can change that. Building public understanding of species like the howler monkey supports the broader conservation awareness that underpins WARN's partner-led rescue work across its network.

## Donation hook
If clear, science-based wildlife guides like this help you understand and value animals, please consider supporting the World Animal Rescue Network's educational and rescue work so we can keep producing them.


World Animal Rescue Network (https://worldanimalrescuenetwork.org/wildlife-guides/howler-monkey): Howler Monkey — wildlife guide.

## Why are howler monkeys so loud?
Male howler monkeys have an enlarged hyoid bone in the throat that acts as a resonating chamber, letting them produce deep, booming calls. These howls can carry for several kilometres and are used to advertise a troop's presence so that rival groups keep their distance without fighting.

## What do howler monkeys eat?
Howler monkeys are folivores, feeding mainly on leaves along with fruit, flowers, and buds. Leaves provide little energy and are slow to digest, so howlers have an enlarged gut to ferment them and spend much of the day resting to conserve energy.

## Where do howler monkeys live?
Howler monkeys live in the tropical forests of Central and South America, ranging from southern Mexico to northern Argentina. They occupy rainforest, dry forest, and mangroves, spending almost their entire lives high in the canopy.

## How loud is a howler monkey's call?
A howler monkey's call is among the loudest of any land animal in the Americas and can be heard several kilometres away through dense forest. The calls are loudest at dawn and dusk, when neighbouring troops answer one another across the canopy.

## How long do howler monkeys live?
Howler monkeys live around 15 to 20 years in the wild. Their slow, energy-conserving lifestyle, driven by a low-energy diet of leaves, is reflected in their unhurried pace of growth and breeding.

## Are howler monkeys endangered?
Howler monkeys are listed as Least Concern by the IUCN, meaning they are not currently at high risk of extinction. They remain widespread across the Americas, though habitat loss and hunting affect some populations more than others.


World Animal Rescue Network (https://worldanimalrescuenetwork.org/wildlife-guides/capuchin): Capuchin Monkey — wildlife guide.

## One-line answer
The capuchin is a small, highly intelligent New World monkey found in the tropical forests of Central America and northwest South America. Weighing about 3 to 4 kg and measuring roughly half a metre in body length, it is an agile tree-dweller that uses its prehensile tail for balance.

## Introduction
The capuchin is a small, highly intelligent New World monkey found in the tropical forests of Central America and northwest South America. Weighing about 3 to 4 kg and measuring roughly half a metre in body length, it is an agile tree-dweller that uses its prehensile tail for balance. Capuchins are famous for their problem-solving and use of simple tools, and they can live for 20 to 25 years in the wild. The IUCN lists them as Least Concern.

## Takeaway
White-faced capuchins live across the tropical forests of Central America and the north-western fringe of South America, from Honduras down to Colombia and Ecuador.

## Takeaway
Capuchins are among the most intelligent of the New World monkeys, with large brains relative to their body size.

## Takeaway
As omnivores, capuchins eat a broad and opportunistic diet of fruit, insects, small vertebrates, and nuts.

## Range and habitat
White-faced capuchins live across the tropical forests of Central America and the north-western fringe of South America, from Honduras down to Colombia and Ecuador. They occupy a wide variety of woodland, from lowland rainforest to dry and mangrove forest, and are highly adaptable. Most of their lives are spent in the canopy and mid-levels of the forest, though they will descend to lower branches and occasionally the ground to forage. This flexibility has helped keep them widespread and common across their range.

## Intelligence and tool use
Capuchins are among the most intelligent of the New World monkeys, with large brains relative to their body size. They are well documented using simple tools, such as stones to crack open nuts and shellfish, and they rub crushed plants and insects into their fur, which may deter parasites. Their dexterity and learning ability have long made them a focus of scientific study into primate cognition. In captivity, this same cleverness has seen them trained to assist people with disabilities.

## Diet and foraging
As omnivores, capuchins eat a broad and opportunistic diet of fruit, insects, small vertebrates, and nuts. They are inventive foragers, tearing apart bark, prising open pods, and searching leaf litter for hidden prey. Their strong hands and problem-solving skills let them reach foods that many other monkeys cannot. By carrying and dropping seeds as they feed, capuchins help spread the plants of the forest they live in.

## Social life
Capuchins live in groups of around 10 to 35 individuals, led by a dominant male and female. These troops are noisy and cooperative, grooming one another and joining together to mob predators such as snakes and birds of prey. Communication relies on a rich mix of calls, facial expressions, and body postures. Young capuchins learn foraging techniques and social rules by closely watching the adults around them.


World Animal Rescue Network (https://worldanimalrescuenetwork.org/wildlife-guides/capuchin): Capuchin Monkey — wildlife guide.

## Movement through the trees
Capuchins are agile, quadrupedal climbers that run and leap through the branches, reaching speeds of up to 24 km/h in the trees. Their semi-prehensile tail acts as a fifth limb, curling around branches to steady them and free their hands for feeding. They rarely make the long, arm-swinging leaps of larger primates, instead moving in quick, controlled bounds. On the ground they move less confidently and prefer to stay aloft where they are safer from predators.

## Reproduction and lifespan
Females usually give birth to a single infant after a gestation of about five to six months. The newborn clings to its mother's back and is cared for by her and, at times, other members of the troop. Capuchins mature slowly for a small monkey, reflecting their long lives of 20 to 25 years in the wild and often longer in captivity. This slow pace of life is closely tied to their large brains and lengthy learning period.

## WARN work
WARN does not run a dedicated capuchin monkey programme — this guide is part of the World Animal Rescue Network's free educational library. The capuchin monkey is currently widespread and not globally threatened, and this guide helps readers understand the pressures that can change that. Building public understanding of species like the capuchin monkey supports the broader conservation awareness that underpins WARN's partner-led rescue work across its network.

## Donation hook
If clear, science-based wildlife guides like this help you understand and value animals, please consider supporting the World Animal Rescue Network's educational and rescue work so we can keep producing them.


World Animal Rescue Network (https://worldanimalrescuenetwork.org/wildlife-guides/capuchin): Capuchin Monkey — wildlife guide.

## Why are capuchin monkeys considered so intelligent?
Capuchins have unusually large brains for their body size and are among the few primates that use tools in the wild, such as stones to crack nuts. They learn quickly, solve novel problems, and pass foraging techniques between generations, which is why they feature so often in studies of primate cognition.

## What do capuchin monkeys eat?
Capuchins are omnivores with a varied diet of fruit, insects, small vertebrates, and nuts. They are resourceful foragers that tear open bark and pods and search leaf litter for hidden prey, adjusting their diet to whatever is available in their forest.

## Where do capuchin monkeys live?
The white-faced capuchin lives in the tropical forests of Central America and the north-west of South America, ranging from Honduras to Colombia and Ecuador. They occupy many forest types, from lowland rainforest to dry and mangrove woodland, spending most of their time in the canopy.

## How long do capuchin monkeys live?
Capuchins live around 20 to 25 years in the wild and often longer in captivity. This is a long lifespan for such a small monkey and is linked to their large brains and slow development.

## Do capuchin monkeys make good pets?
Capuchins are wild animals and generally make poor pets. They are long-lived, highly intelligent, and social, and in captivity they often become destructive or aggressive when their complex needs are not met. Their care is demanding and, in many places, keeping one is legally restricted.

## Are capuchin monkeys endangered?
The white-faced capuchin is listed as Least Concern by the IUCN, meaning it is not currently at high risk of extinction. It remains widespread and adaptable, though like most rainforest animals it is affected by habitat loss and the pet trade in parts of its range.


World Animal Rescue Network (https://worldanimalrescuenetwork.org/wildlife-guides/elephant-seal): Northern Elephant Seal — wildlife guide.

## One-line answer
The northern elephant seal (Mirounga angustirostris) is a huge deep-diving seal of the eastern Pacific, breeding on beaches in California and Mexico and feeding far offshore. Bulls are enormous, reaching around 3.5 m long and weighing anywhere from 400 to 2,300 kg, far heavier than females.

## Introduction
The northern elephant seal (Mirounga angustirostris) is a huge deep-diving seal of the eastern Pacific, breeding on beaches in California and Mexico and feeding far offshore. Bulls are enormous, reaching around 3.5 m long and weighing anywhere from 400 to 2,300 kg, far heavier than females. They dive for squid and deep-sea fish and typically live 11 to 13 years. The species is listed as Least Concern.

## Takeaway
Northern elephant seals are named for the large, inflatable snout of adult males, which resembles a short trunk and hangs over the mouth.

## Takeaway
Few mammals dive as deeply or for as long as the northern elephant seal.

## Takeaway
Elephant seals are carnivores that feed mainly on squid, deep-sea fish, and occasionally rays and small sharks.

## Size and the elephant-like nose
Northern elephant seals are named for the large, inflatable snout of adult males, which resembles a short trunk and hangs over the mouth. Bulls are among the largest of all seals, growing to roughly 3.5 m and weighing from 400 kg up to about 2,300 kg, while females are far smaller. Males use the trunk-like proboscis as a resonating chamber, producing deep, clattering roars that carry across a crowded breeding beach. This dramatic size difference between the sexes is one of the most extreme of any mammal.

## Record-breaking diving
Few mammals dive as deeply or for as long as the northern elephant seal. Individuals routinely descend hundreds of metres and can reach depths beyond 1,500 m, staying submerged for 20 minutes or more between short breaths at the surface. They spend most of the year at sea, diving almost continuously day and night to hunt in the cold, dark water column. Special adaptations, including large blood volume and oxygen-rich muscle, let them stay under far longer than their lung capacity alone would allow.

## Diet and hunting at depth
Elephant seals are carnivores that feed mainly on squid, deep-sea fish, and occasionally rays and small sharks. They hunt in the twilight and dark zones of the open ocean, using sensitive whiskers and large eyes to detect prey where little light reaches. Because they feed far offshore and deep down, they rarely compete with coastal fisheries. A foraging seal may travel thousands of kilometres across the Pacific during a single trip to sea.

## Breeding beaches and battles
Each winter, northern elephant seals haul out on beaches in California and Baja California, Mexico, to breed. Dominant bulls fight for control of harems of females, rearing up and slamming their chests and necks together in bloody clashes. Females give birth to a single pup and nurse it on extremely rich milk for about a month before returning to sea. Only the largest, most dominant males win the right to mate, so the winners father a large share of the pups.


World Animal Rescue Network (https://worldanimalrescuenetwork.org/wildlife-guides/elephant-seal): Northern Elephant Seal — wildlife guide.

## Recovery from near-extinction
The northern elephant seal is a rare conservation success story. Hunted relentlessly for its blubber oil in the nineteenth century, the species was reduced to perhaps fewer than 100 animals before protection began. Given legal protection by Mexico and later the United States, the population has rebounded into the hundreds of thousands and is now listed as Least Concern by the IUCN. Because all living individuals descend from that tiny remnant, however, the species carries very low genetic diversity.

## Time on land and moulting
Although superb swimmers, elephant seals are ungainly on land, hauling themselves along at up to about 16 km/h in short bursts. They come ashore twice a year: once to breed and again to moult, when they shed skin and fur in large patches during a so-called catastrophic moult. During these weeks on land they fast, living off stored blubber rather than feeding. Between these visits they are almost entirely oceanic, returning to the same beaches year after year.

## WARN work
WARN does not run a dedicated northern elephant seal programme — this guide is part of the World Animal Rescue Network's free educational library. The northern elephant seal is currently widespread and not globally threatened, and this guide helps readers understand the pressures that can change that. Building public understanding of species like the northern elephant seal supports the broader conservation awareness that underpins WARN's partner-led rescue work across its network.

## Donation hook
If clear, science-based wildlife guides like this help you understand and value animals, please consider supporting the World Animal Rescue Network's educational and rescue work so we can keep producing them.


World Animal Rescue Network (https://worldanimalrescuenetwork.org/wildlife-guides/elephant-seal): Northern Elephant Seal — wildlife guide.

## How big is a northern elephant seal?
Bulls reach around 3.5 m in length and can weigh anywhere from 400 kg to about 2,300 kg (880 to 5,070 lb). Females are much smaller, which makes the northern elephant seal one of the most size-differentiated mammals between the sexes.

## How deep can elephant seals dive?
Northern elephant seals are among the deepest-diving mammals, routinely reaching several hundred metres and sometimes exceeding 1,500 m. They can stay underwater for 20 minutes or more, thanks to large blood volume and oxygen-storing muscle.

## What do elephant seals eat?
They are carnivores that feed mainly on squid and deep-sea fish, along with the occasional ray or small shark. They hunt in the dark, deep layers of the open Pacific rather than in shallow coastal waters.

## Where do northern elephant seals live?
They spend most of the year far offshore in the eastern North Pacific and come ashore to breed and moult on beaches in California and Baja California, Mexico. Well-known haul-out sites include Año Nuevo and Piedras Blancas.

## Why are they called elephant seals?
The name comes from the large, inflatable snout of adult males, which resembles a short elephant's trunk. Bulls use it to amplify their roaring calls during the breeding season.

## Are northern elephant seals endangered?
No. Although they were hunted almost to extinction in the 1800s, they have recovered strongly and are now listed as Least Concern by the IUCN. The whole population descends from a tiny surviving group, so genetic diversity remains low.


World Animal Rescue Network (https://worldanimalrescuenetwork.org/wildlife-guides/grey-seal): Grey Seal — wildlife guide.

## One-line answer
The grey seal (Halichoerus grypus) is a large North Atlantic seal named for its long, horse-like muzzle. It swims after fish, squid, and crustaceans along rocky coasts, islands, and ice edges, and a big bull can weigh up to 230 kg.

## Introduction
The grey seal (Halichoerus grypus) is a large North Atlantic seal named for its long, horse-like muzzle. It swims after fish, squid, and crustaceans along rocky coasts, islands, and ice edges, and a big bull can weigh up to 230 kg. Powerful swimmers, grey seals reach about 24 km/h in the water and can live 25 to 35 years. The IUCN lists the species as Least Concern.

## Takeaway
Grey seals are strong, agile swimmers, driving themselves through the water with their hind flippers at speeds of up to 24 km/h.

## Takeaway
As carnivores, grey seals take a wide range of fish, along with squid and crustaceans.

## Takeaway
Grey seals are easily confused with the smaller common (harbour) seal, but a few features set them apart.

## Swimming and diving
Grey seals are strong, agile swimmers, driving themselves through the water with their hind flippers at speeds of up to 24 km/h. They routinely dive to depths of tens of metres and can stay submerged for well over ten minutes while hunting on or near the seabed. A thick layer of blubber keeps them warm in cold Atlantic water and stores energy for the breeding season. On land they are far clumsier, hauling out onto rocks and beaches to rest, moult, and breed.

## Diet and hunting
As carnivores, grey seals take a wide range of fish, along with squid and crustaceans. Sandeels, cod, and other bottom-dwelling fish feature heavily in the diet, and prey choice shifts with the seasons and what is locally abundant. Sensitive whiskers help them detect the movements of fish in dark or murky water. A large adult may eat several kilograms of food each day to fuel its bulk.

## Telling grey seals apart
Grey seals are easily confused with the smaller common (harbour) seal, but a few features set them apart. The grey seal has a long, straight, horse-like muzzle with nostrils that sit almost parallel, whereas the common seal has a shorter, dog-like face and V-shaped nostrils. Grey seals are also noticeably bigger, with bulls far larger than cows. Coat patterns are blotchy rather than neatly spotted.

## Breeding colonies and pups
Grey seals gather in large, noisy colonies to breed, with bulls competing to control stretches of beach and the females on them. Each cow gives birth to a single pup with a fluffy white coat, which she nurses on extremely rich milk. The pup piles on weight rapidly over about three weeks, then is weaned abruptly and left to moult its white fur and take to the sea on its own. Adults may live 25 to 35 years, so a colony contains many long-established animals.

## Where grey seals live
Grey seals are animals of North Atlantic coasts, islands, and ice edges, on both the European and North American sides of the ocean. The coasts of Britain and Ireland are a global stronghold, holding a large share of the world's grey seals, which makes them a familiar sight to UK sea-watchers. They favour remote rocky shores, sandbanks, and offshore islands where they can haul out undisturbed. Individuals may range widely at sea between these haul-out sites.


World Animal Rescue Network (https://worldanimalrescuenetwork.org/wildlife-guides/grey-seal): Grey Seal — wildlife guide.

## Conservation
The grey seal is listed as Least Concern by the IUCN, and numbers in the North Atlantic have generally been stable or increasing. In Britain the species is legally protected, and its populations have grown since the days of heavy hunting. Entanglement in fishing gear, disturbance at breeding beaches, and conflict with fisheries remain the main concerns. Careful monitoring of colonies helps track the health of the wider population.

## WARN work
WARN does not run a dedicated grey seal programme — this guide is part of the World Animal Rescue Network's free educational library. The grey seal is currently widespread and not globally threatened, and this guide helps readers understand the pressures that can change that. Building public understanding of species like the grey seal supports the broader conservation awareness that underpins WARN's partner-led rescue work across its network.

## Donation hook
If clear, science-based wildlife guides like this help you understand and value animals, please consider supporting the World Animal Rescue Network's educational and rescue work so we can keep producing them.


World Animal Rescue Network (https://worldanimalrescuenetwork.org/wildlife-guides/grey-seal): Grey Seal — wildlife guide.

## How fast can a grey seal swim?
Grey seals can swim at up to about 24 km/h, propelling themselves with their hind flippers. They are agile in the water and can dive to considerable depths, but they move slowly and awkwardly on land.

## What do grey seals eat?
Grey seals are carnivores that feed on fish, squid, and crustaceans. Sandeels, cod, and other bottom-living fish are important, and their diet shifts with the seasons and local abundance. A large adult eats several kilograms a day.

## How can you tell a grey seal from a common seal?
A grey seal has a long, straight, horse-like muzzle with near-parallel nostrils and is noticeably larger. The common (harbour) seal has a shorter, dog-like face with V-shaped nostrils. Grey seals also have blotchy rather than neatly spotted coats.

## How big do grey seals get?
Grey seals weigh from around 100 kg up to 230 kg, with bulls much larger than cows. They reach roughly 2.3 m in length, making them one of the largest seals in the North Atlantic.

## Where do grey seals live in the UK?
Grey seals breed all around the coasts of Britain and Ireland, favouring remote rocky shores, sandbanks, and offshore islands. The UK holds a large share of the world's grey seals, so they are a common sight for coastal wildlife watchers.

## How long do grey seals live?
Grey seals typically live 25 to 35 years in the wild. Females often live longer than the heavily competing bulls, and long-established colonies contain many older, experienced animals.


World Animal Rescue Network (https://worldanimalrescuenetwork.org/wildlife-guides/hawksbill-turtle): Hawksbill Sea Turtle — wildlife guide.

## One-line answer
The hawksbill is a small sea turtle of tropical coral reefs worldwide, named for its narrow, bird-like beak. It grows to about 0.9 m (3 ft) and 45 to 90 kg, feeds mainly on sponges, and can swim at up to 24 km/h (15 mph).

## Introduction
The hawksbill is a small sea turtle of tropical coral reefs worldwide, named for its narrow, bird-like beak. It grows to about 0.9 m (3 ft) and 45 to 90 kg, feeds mainly on sponges, and can swim at up to 24 km/h (15 mph). Hawksbills live 30 to 50 years in the wild and are Critically Endangered, largely because their beautiful shells were harvested for tortoiseshell.

## Takeaway
The hawksbill is instantly recognised by its overlapping, amber-and-brown scutes, which form the patterned shell long prized as "tortoiseshell".

## Takeaway
Hawksbills are one of the very few animals that eat sponges as the core of their diet, using that narrow beak to reach into reef crevices.

## Takeaway
Hawksbills favour tropical coral reefs, rocky areas, lagoons, and mangrove estuaries across the Atlantic, Indian, and Pacific Oceans.

## Appearance and the tortoiseshell shell
The hawksbill is instantly recognised by its overlapping, amber-and-brown scutes, which form the patterned shell long prized as "tortoiseshell". Its jaws taper to a sharp, hooked beak that works like a pair of scissors, and the rear of the shell is serrated like the teeth of a saw. Adults reach around 0.9 m (3 ft) in shell length and 45 to 90 kg, making them smaller than the bulky loggerhead.

## A sponge specialist
Hawksbills are one of the very few animals that eat sponges as the core of their diet, using that narrow beak to reach into reef crevices. They also take jellyfish, sea anemones, and algae, and are tolerant of toxins that would poison most predators. By grazing sponges that would otherwise overgrow corals, hawksbills help keep reef surfaces open for reef-building coral.

## Coral reef habitat
Hawksbills favour tropical coral reefs, rocky areas, lagoons, and mangrove estuaries across the Atlantic, Indian, and Pacific Oceans. They are strong, agile swimmers that reach speeds of up to 24 km/h (15 mph) and squeeze into tight reef spaces where larger turtles cannot follow. Individuals often show strong fidelity to particular reefs, returning to the same feeding grounds year after year.

## Nesting and reproduction
Females come ashore on remote tropical beaches, usually at night, digging a pit and laying clutches that can exceed 100 eggs. The sex of the hatchlings is set by nest temperature, with warmer sand producing more females. Hatchlings emerge after about two months and scramble to the sea, but only a tiny fraction survive to adulthood, and females may not breed until they are decades old.

## Why it is Critically Endangered
The hawksbill is listed as Critically Endangered by the IUCN, and its population has fallen sharply over the last century. The main driver was the tortoiseshell trade, which killed vast numbers for jewellery and ornaments, and demand persists illegally today. Habitat loss, coral-reef decline, egg collection, and entanglement in fishing gear continue to threaten the species despite international protection.


World Animal Rescue Network (https://worldanimalrescuenetwork.org/wildlife-guides/hawksbill-turtle): Hawksbill Sea Turtle — wildlife guide.

## Lifespan and slow maturity
Hawksbills are long-lived, reaching 30 to 50 years in the wild, but they mature slowly and reproduce late. This slow life history means populations recover very gradually, so losses from hunting or bycatch take decades to replace. Protecting nesting beaches and reducing illegal shell trade are therefore central to any recovery.

## WARN work
WARN does not run a dedicated hawksbill sea turtle programme — this guide is part of the World Animal Rescue Network's free educational library. The hawksbill sea turtle faces documented conservation pressure in the wild, which is why clear, sourced public information about it matters. Building public understanding of species like the hawksbill sea turtle supports the broader conservation awareness that underpins WARN's partner-led rescue work across its network.

## Donation hook
If clear, science-based wildlife guides like this help you understand and value animals, please consider supporting the World Animal Rescue Network's educational and rescue work so we can keep producing them.


World Animal Rescue Network (https://worldanimalrescuenetwork.org/wildlife-guides/hawksbill-turtle): Hawksbill Sea Turtle — wildlife guide.

## Why is the hawksbill turtle endangered?
Hawksbills are Critically Endangered mainly because of the historic tortoiseshell trade, which killed huge numbers for their patterned shells. Ongoing threats include illegal shell sales, loss of coral-reef habitat, egg poaching, and accidental capture in fishing gear.

## What do hawksbill turtles eat?
Hawksbills are specialists that feed mainly on sponges, which most animals avoid. They also eat jellyfish, sea anemones, and algae, using their narrow, beak-like jaws to reach prey inside reef crevices.

## How big do hawksbill turtles get?
Adult hawksbills reach about 0.9 m (3 ft) in shell length and weigh roughly 45 to 90 kg (100 to 200 lb). They are noticeably smaller than loggerhead and green turtles.

## How long do hawksbill turtles live?
In the wild hawksbills live around 30 to 50 years. They mature slowly and breed late in life, which makes their populations slow to recover from losses.

## Why is it called a hawksbill turtle?
The name comes from its narrow, pointed beak, which curves like a hawk's bill. This sharp beak lets it reach into tight crevices in the reef to pull out sponges and other prey.

## How fast can a hawksbill turtle swim?
Hawksbills can swim at up to about 24 km/h (15 mph) in short bursts. They are agile in the water and can twist through narrow reef spaces that larger turtles cannot enter.


World Animal Rescue Network (https://worldanimalrescuenetwork.org/wildlife-guides/box-turtle): Eastern Box Turtle — wildlife guide.

## One-line answer
The eastern box turtle (Terrapene carolina) is a small, land-dwelling turtle of the eastern United States, known for the hinged shell it can close like a box for protection. It lives in woodlands, meadows, and wetlands, eating insects, fruit, mushrooms, and carrion.

## Introduction
The eastern box turtle (Terrapene carolina) is a small, land-dwelling turtle of the eastern United States, known for the hinged shell it can close like a box for protection. It lives in woodlands, meadows, and wetlands, eating insects, fruit, mushrooms, and carrion. Barely 15 cm long and weighing around half a kilogram, it is a famously slow, long-lived reptile that can survive 50 to 100 years. The IUCN lists it as Vulnerable.

## Takeaway
The box turtle takes its name from the hinge across its lower shell, or plastron, which lets it fold the front and back sections tightly shut.

## Takeaway
Eastern box turtles are omnivores with a varied appetite that changes as they grow.

## Takeaway
The species lives in the woodlands, meadows, and wetlands of the eastern United States, favouring moist, leafy ground with plenty of cover.

## The hinged shell
The box turtle takes its name from the hinge across its lower shell, or plastron, which lets it fold the front and back sections tightly shut. Pulled into its high-domed shell, the turtle can seal itself completely inside, leaving no soft parts exposed to a predator. This living armour is its main defence, since it is far too slow to flee from danger. The shell also bears colourful yellow or orange markings that vary from turtle to turtle.

## Diet and feeding
Eastern box turtles are omnivores with a varied appetite that changes as they grow. Young turtles lean heavily towards animal prey such as insects, worms, and snails, while adults eat more plant matter, including fruit and mushrooms. They will also scavenge carrion when they find it. Remarkably, box turtles can eat certain fungi that are toxic to humans without coming to harm.

## Habitat and home range
The species lives in the woodlands, meadows, and wetlands of the eastern United States, favouring moist, leafy ground with plenty of cover. Individual turtles are strongly tied to a small home range, often only a few hectares, which they may occupy for their entire lives. This deep attachment to home means a turtle moved far away will try to travel back, frequently dying on roads in the attempt. On hot days they shelter in leaf litter, logs, or shallow pools to stay cool and moist.

## Longevity and reproduction
Box turtles are among the longest-lived of small reptiles, commonly reaching 50 years and sometimes approaching a century. They mature slowly, often taking several years to reach breeding age. After mating, the female digs a nest in soft soil and lays a small clutch of eggs, then leaves them to incubate unattended. Only a few hatchlings survive to adulthood, so the loss of even a handful of breeding adults can hurt a population.

## Hibernation
In the colder parts of its range, the eastern box turtle spends winter in a state of dormancy. As temperatures drop it burrows into loose soil, leaf litter, or the mud of pond edges and slows its body down to survive the freeze. It can even tolerate small amounts of ice forming in its tissues without dying. When the ground warms in spring, the turtle emerges to resume feeding and breeding.


World Animal Rescue Network (https://worldanimalrescuenetwork.org/wildlife-guides/box-turtle): Eastern Box Turtle — wildlife guide.

## Why it is Vulnerable
The eastern box turtle is listed as Vulnerable by the IUCN, and its slow life history makes it hard to recover from losses. Habitat destruction, road deaths, and collection for the pet trade all take a steady toll on wild populations. Because the turtles breed slowly and rely on many years of adult survival, even modest ongoing losses cause long-term decline. Keeping woodland habitats connected and leaving wild turtles where they are found both help the species persist.

## WARN work
WARN does not run a dedicated eastern box turtle programme — this guide is part of the World Animal Rescue Network's free educational library. The eastern box turtle faces documented conservation pressure in the wild, which is why clear, sourced public information about it matters. Building public understanding of species like the eastern box turtle supports the broader conservation awareness that underpins WARN's partner-led rescue work across its network.

## Donation hook
If clear, science-based wildlife guides like this help you understand and value animals, please consider supporting the World Animal Rescue Network's educational and rescue work so we can keep producing them.


World Animal Rescue Network (https://worldanimalrescuenetwork.org/wildlife-guides/box-turtle): Eastern Box Turtle — wildlife guide.

## Why is it called a box turtle?
It is named for the hinge across its lower shell, which lets the turtle fold the shell shut like a box. Sealed inside its high-domed shell, it can hide every soft part from predators, its main defence against attack.

## What do eastern box turtles eat?
They are omnivores. Young turtles eat mostly insects, worms, and snails, while adults take more fruit and mushrooms, and both will scavenge carrion. They can safely eat some fungi that are poisonous to people.

## How long do box turtles live?
Eastern box turtles are remarkably long-lived, commonly reaching 50 years and sometimes nearing 100. They grow and mature slowly, so a wild population depends on adults surviving for many decades.

## How big do eastern box turtles get?
They are small turtles, only about 15 cm long and weighing roughly 0.3 to 0.6 kg. Their shell is distinctively high and domed, marked with variable yellow or orange patterns.

## Why should you not move a box turtle?
Box turtles are strongly attached to a small home range they may keep for life. A turtle carried away will try to return, often dying on roads in the attempt, so wild ones are best left exactly where they are found.

## Are eastern box turtles endangered?
They are listed as Vulnerable by the IUCN. Habitat loss, road deaths, and collection for the pet trade steadily reduce their numbers, and their very slow breeding makes recovery from these losses difficult.


World Animal Rescue Network (https://worldanimalrescuenetwork.org/wildlife-guides/brown-bear): Brown Bear — wildlife guide.

## One-line answer
The brown bear is one of the world's largest land carnivores, found across North America, Europe, and Asia. Adults typically weigh 130–360 kg (290–800 lb), run up to 56 km/h (35 mph), and hibernate through winter in dens.

## Introduction
The brown bear is one of the world's largest land carnivores, found across North America, Europe, and Asia. Adults typically weigh 130–360 kg (290–800 lb), run up to 56 km/h (35 mph), and hibernate through winter in dens. Coastal populations that feed heavily on salmon can grow much larger than inland grizzlies.

## Takeaway
Brown bears are omnivores whose diet shifts with the seasons.

## Takeaway
Pregnant females enter dens in late autumn and give birth during hibernation, usually to one to three cubs that nurse and grow inside the den until spring.

## Takeaway
Brown bears once ranged across much of western North America, Europe, and temperate Asia.

## Diet and seasonal feeding
Brown bears are omnivores whose diet shifts with the seasons. In spring they graze on sedges and roots; summer brings berries and insects; autumn is dominated by hyperphagia as bears pack on fat before winter. Coastal bears gather at salmon runs, while inland populations rely more on plants and small mammals.

## Hibernation and reproduction
Pregnant females enter dens in late autumn and give birth during hibernation, usually to one to three cubs that nurse and grow inside the den until spring. Hibernation slows heart rate and metabolism dramatically, allowing bears to survive months without eating, drinking, or passing waste.

## Range and subspecies
Brown bears once ranged across much of western North America, Europe, and temperate Asia. Today they persist in Scandinavia, the Carpathians, the Rockies, Alaska, and Russia's Kamchatka Peninsula. The North American grizzly and the Kodiak bear are well-known subspecies of Ursus arctos.

## Conservation and human conflict
Globally listed Least Concern, brown bears nevertheless face local declines from habitat fragmentation, poaching, and conflict with livestock. Responsible bear-country practices — securing food, carrying deterrents, and giving mothers with cubs space — reduce dangerous encounters.

## WARN work
WARN does not run a dedicated brown bear programme — this guide is part of the World Animal Rescue Network's free educational library. The brown bear is currently widespread and not globally threatened, and this guide helps readers understand the pressures that can change that. Building public understanding of species like the brown bear supports the broader conservation awareness that underpins WARN's partner-led rescue work across its network.

## Donation hook
If clear, science-based wildlife guides like this help you understand and value animals, please consider supporting the World Animal Rescue Network's educational and rescue work so we can keep producing them.


World Animal Rescue Network (https://worldanimalrescuenetwork.org/wildlife-guides/brown-bear): Brown Bear — wildlife guide.

## What is the difference between a brown bear and a grizzly bear?
Grizzly bears are a subspecies of brown bear (Ursus arctos horribilis) found mainly in inland North America. Coastal brown bears that eat more salmon tend to grow larger. All grizzlies are brown bears, but not all brown bears are grizzlies.

## How big do brown bears get?
Most adult males weigh 180–360 kg (400–800 lb), while females are smaller. Exceptional coastal males in Alaska and Kamchatka can exceed 600 kg when salmon is abundant.

## Do brown bears hibernate?
Yes. Brown bears enter a deep winter dormancy for several months, living off stored body fat. Their heart rate and body temperature drop, and females may give birth inside the den during this period.

## Are brown bears dangerous to humans?
Brown bears usually avoid people, but surprise encounters, food-conditioned bears, and mothers defending cubs can be dangerous. Wildlife agencies advise making noise on trails, storing food properly, and never running from a bear.

## What do brown bears eat?
They are omnivores. Plants — especially berries, roots, and grasses — often make up most of the diet, supplemented by fish, insects, small mammals, and carrion depending on location and season.


World Animal Rescue Network (https://worldanimalrescuenetwork.org/wildlife-guides/bonobo): Bonobo — wildlife guide.

## One-line answer
Bonobos are great apes found only in the Democratic Republic of Congo, closely related to chimpanzees but generally less aggressive, with female-led social bonds and extensive use of social behaviour to resolve conflict. Listed Endangered, they weigh 30–50 kg and face habitat loss and bushmeat hunting.

## Introduction
Bonobos are great apes found only in the Democratic Republic of Congo, closely related to chimpanzees but generally less aggressive, with female-led social bonds and extensive use of social behaviour to resolve conflict. Listed Endangered, they weigh 30–50 kg and face habitat loss and bushmeat hunting.

## Takeaway
Bonobo groups are led by strong female alliances that cooperate to manage aggression and access food.

## Takeaway
Bonobos evolved separately from chimpanzees after the Congo River formed a barrier roughly two million years ago.

## Takeaway
Bonobos pass mirror tests, use tools in captivity, and show advanced communication in language research projects.

## Female-centred society
Bonobo groups are led by strong female alliances that cooperate to manage aggression and access food. Females migrate between groups and form bonds that reduce male dominance compared with chimpanzees. Social grooming and play are central to group cohesion.

## Congo River isolation
Bonobos evolved separately from chimpanzees after the Congo River formed a barrier roughly two million years ago. They occupy forests exclusively south of the river in the DRC — a range far smaller and more fragmented than that of chimps.

## Intelligence and tool use
Bonobos pass mirror tests, use tools in captivity, and show advanced communication in language research projects. In the wild they forage mainly for ripe fruit, sharing patches peacefully more often than chimpanzees do.

## Conservation crisis
Fewer than 20,000 bonobos may remain, listed Endangered from bushmeat hunting, logging, and civil conflict in the DRC. Protected areas such as Salonga National Park are critical, but enforcement remains challenging in remote rainforest.

## WARN work
WARN does not run a dedicated bonobo programme — this guide is part of the World Animal Rescue Network's free educational library. The bonobo faces documented conservation pressure in the wild, which is why clear, sourced public information about it matters. Building public understanding of species like the bonobo supports the broader conservation awareness that underpins WARN's partner-led rescue work across its network.

## Donation hook
If clear, science-based wildlife guides like this help you understand and value animals, please consider supporting the World Animal Rescue Network's educational and rescue work so we can keep producing them.


World Animal Rescue Network (https://worldanimalrescuenetwork.org/wildlife-guides/bonobo): Bonobo — wildlife guide.

## Bonobo vs chimpanzee — what is the difference?
Bonobos are slimmer, more often walk upright, and have less aggressive male-dominated politics. Chimpanzees live north of the Congo River; bonobos live south.

## Are bonobos peaceful?
They are less violent than chimpanzees toward their own kind, using social bonding to reduce tension — though they are not conflict-free and can still fight.

## Where do bonobos live?
Only in the Democratic Republic of Congo, in forests south of the Congo River — nowhere else in the wild.

## How intelligent are bonobos?
Among the most intelligent non-human animals, with advanced social cognition, tool use in research settings, and complex communication abilities.

## Are bonobos endangered?
Yes — Endangered on the IUCN Red List, mainly from hunting and habitat destruction in one of the world's poorest and most conflict-affected regions.