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

## One-line answer
The common warthog (Phacochoerus africanus) is a grazing wild pig of African savanna, listed as Least Concern; recognisable by facial warts and tusks, it kneels to graze and shelters in burrows when threatened.

## Introduction
The common warthog is a wild pig of African savanna and woodland, instantly recognisable by the facial 'warts' — thick skin pads — and the upward-curving tusks that protrude from its mouth. Warthogs kneel on their front wrists to graze close-cropped grass, a posture unique among African ungulates. They are fast runners, reaching 50 km/h, and retreat to burrows — often abandoned aardvark holes — when threatened. Made famous by the character Pumbaa in The Lion King, warthogs are ecologically important grazers and a prey species for lions, leopards and hyenas. Listed as Least Concern, they remain widespread but are hunted for bushmeat across much of their range.

## Takeaway
Warthogs kneel on their front wrists to graze — a distinctive feeding posture.

## Takeaway
Facial 'warts' are thick skin pads, not tumours — larger in males.

## Takeaway
They shelter in burrows, usually abandoned aardvark holes, entering tail-first.

## Takeaway
Warthogs can run at 50 km/h and are faster than they appear.

## Takeaway
Desert warthog of the Horn of Africa is a separate, less-known species.

## Takeaway
Bushmeat hunting is the main threat across much of their range.

## Two warthog species
Two warthog species exist in the genus Phacochoerus.

The common warthog (P. africanus) ranges across sub-Saharan Africa in savanna, woodland and grassland. The desert warthog (P. aethiopicus) is restricted to the Horn of Africa — Somalia, Ethiopia and Kenya — and is less well studied. Both have the characteristic warthog profile: large head with facial warts, upward-curving lower tusks and downward-curving upper tusks, a sparse mane along the spine and a tufted tail held erect when running. Common warthogs weigh 50–150 kg; males carry larger warts and tusks.

## Grazing, burrows and behaviour
Warthogs are primarily grazers, eating short grass, roots and occasionally fruit or carrion. They kneel on calloused front wrists to reach grass close to the ground — a behaviour that makes them efficient competitors in grazed savanna.

At night and during heat, warthogs retreat to burrows, entering backwards so tusks face the entrance. They often use burrows dug by aardvarks, though they can excavate their own. Family groups consist of a female and her offspring; males are usually solitary. Warthogs allow oxpeckers and mongooses to remove parasites from their skin — a mutualistic relationship.

## Predators and defence
Lions, leopards, cheetahs, wild dogs and hyenas prey on warthogs, particularly piglets and subadults. Adult warthogs defend themselves with sharp lower tusks — males clash during the rut. Their speed — up to 50 km/h — and habit of retreating to burrows provide effective escape. Piglets are vulnerable during the first months; females give birth in burrows and the litter stays underground for several weeks. Warthog alarm calls — grunts and snorts — alert group members to danger.


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

## Conservation status
The IUCN lists the common warthog as Least Concern with a stable or increasing population trend across most of its range. Warthogs are not listed under CITES. Bushmeat hunting with snares and guns reduces populations in Central and West Africa, where warthog is a valued food source. Habitat loss to agriculture affects local abundance. In southern and East African protected areas, warthog populations remain healthy. The desert warthog has a restricted range and may warrant separate assessment as data improve.

## Related WARN guides
Warthogs are savanna pigs — read WARN's wildebeest and impala guides for grazing neighbours, hyena and lion pages for predators, and meerkat guide for shared African grassland.

Antelope and gazelle pages cover ungulate guild context.

Burrow-sharing with aardvarks links warthogs to other ecosystem engineers.

## WARN work
WARN publishes this warthog guide as free public education. Bushmeat hunting that threatens warthog populations also devastates the predators and ecosystems of African savanna.

## Donation hook
If this guide helps you understand wildlife and the pressures it faces, a gift to WARN supports habitat protection and free public education in our partner countries.


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

## Why do warthogs have warts?
The 'warts' are thick skin pads — not tumours — that protect the face during fights between males. Warts are larger in males and sit above the eyes and on the cheeks.

## Why do warthogs kneel to eat?
Warthogs kneel on their front wrists to graze short grass close to the ground. Calloused wrist joints support this posture, which is unique among African grazing mammals.

## What is the difference between a warthog and a wild boar?
Warthogs (Phacochoerus) are African suids with facial warts and upward tusks. Wild boars (Sus scrofa) are Eurasian pigs without warts. They belong to different genera and continents.

## Do warthogs live in burrows?
Yes. Warthogs use burrows — usually abandoned aardvark holes — for shelter and raising young. They enter backwards so their tusks face the entrance.

## Are warthogs dangerous?
Warthogs generally flee from humans but will defend themselves with tusks if cornered. Male warthogs clash with each other during the rut. Unprovoked attacks on people are rare.

## Are warthogs endangered?
Common warthogs are Least Concern with stable populations across most of sub-Saharan Africa. Bushmeat hunting reduces local numbers but the species remains widespread.


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

## One-line answer
Gazelles are small swift antelopes of Africa and Asia; Thomson's gazelle (Eudorcas thomsonii) of East Africa is Least Concern with roughly 500,000 individuals and is the cheetah's primary prey.

## Introduction
Gazelles are small to medium-sized antelopes of the subfamily Antilopinae, found across Africa and Asia. The Thomson's gazelle — named after explorer Joseph Thomson — is the best-known East African species, inhabiting the short-grass plains of Kenya and Tanzania alongside wildebeest and zebra. Weighing just 12–26 kg, Thomson's gazelles are among the smallest antelopes on the savanna, yet they survive through speed — reaching 80 km/h — and agility. Roughly 500,000 remain, making them one of the most abundant wild ungulates in East Africa. They are a primary prey species for cheetahs, which specialise in hunting small gazelles.

## Takeaway
Roughly 19 gazelle species exist across Africa and Asia.

## Takeaway
Thomson's gazelle is the cheetah's primary prey on East African plains.

## Takeaway
Gazelles reach speeds of 80 km/h — among the fastest antelopes.

## Takeaway
Thomson's gazelles perform stotting — stiff-legged bouncing — to signal fitness to predators.

## Takeaway
Grant's gazelle is larger and shares the same plains but browses more.

## Takeaway
Habitat loss and poaching threaten Asian gazelle species more than African ones.

## Gazelles of Africa and Asia
The term 'gazelle' covers roughly 19 species in the genera Gazella, Eudorcas, Nanger and Procapra. African gazelles include Thomson's gazelle (Eudorcas thomsonii), Grant's gazelle (Nanger granti), dama gazelle (Nanger dama — Critically Endangered) and springbok (Antidorcas marsupialis) of southern Africa. Asian gazelles include the goitered gazelle (Gazella subgutturosa) and the Critically Endangered Arabian sand gazelle.

Gazelles share a graceful build, large eyes, lyre-shaped horns in males and often a dark side stripe. They inhabit open grassland, steppe and desert edge — habitats where speed and vigilance are essential.

## Thomson's gazelle on the plains
Thomson's gazelle is the archetypal East African plains antelope. It weighs 12–26 kg — small enough for cheetahs to kill — and feeds on short grass too low for wildebeest and zebra.

Both sexes carry horns, though male horns are thicker. During the Great Migration, Thomson's gazelles follow wildebeest herds, benefiting from the larger animals' grazing that keeps grass short. They are extraordinarily fast and manoeuvrable, making them challenging prey even for cheetahs, which succeed in roughly half of hunts. Stotting — a stiff-legged bounce — may signal to predators that pursuit is futile.

## Predators and survival strategies
Cheetahs specialise in hunting Thomson's and Grant's gazelles, relying on acceleration rather than endurance. Lions, leopards, hyenas and wild dogs also take gazelles, particularly fawns and sick adults. Gazelles compensate for small size with speed, vigilance and herd behaviour — many eyes scanning for danger. Calving often occurs in synchronised bursts to overwhelm predators. Thomson's gazelles require daily access to water, limiting their range to areas within roughly 10 km of permanent sources.


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

## Conservation across species
Thomson's gazelle is Least Concern with roughly 500,000 individuals and a stable trend in Tanzania's Serengeti. However, the dama gazelle of the Sahara is Critically Endangered with fewer than 100 mature individuals. The Arabian sand gazelle and several Asian species face similar crises from hunting and habitat loss. African savanna gazelles benefit from protected areas and tourism revenue, but snaring and poaching reduce populations outside reserves. CITES Appendix II regulates trade in some populations. This guide focuses on Thomson's gazelle as the most searched African species; see species-specific assessments for dama and Arabian gazelles.

## Related WARN guides
Gazelles are lightweight antelope — read WARN's impala and wildebeest guides for fellow grazers, antelope page for family overview, and cheetah and lion pages for primary predators.

Thomson's gazelle migration companions appear in wildebeest guide context.

Saiga and scimitar-horned oryx show how quickly antelope populations can crash.

## WARN work
WARN publishes this gazelle guide as free public education. Gazelles are indicators of savanna health — their abundance supports cheetahs, wild dogs and the entire predator community.

## Donation hook
If this guide helps you understand wildlife and the pressures it faces, a gift to WARN supports habitat protection and free public education in our partner countries.


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

## How many gazelle species are there?
Roughly 19 species across Africa and Asia, in genera including Gazella, Eudorcas, Nanger and Procapra. Thomson's gazelle and Grant's gazelle are the best-known East African species.

## What is the difference between Thomson's and Grant's gazelle?
Thomson's gazelle (Eudorcas thomsonii) is smaller (12–26 kg) and a grazer of short grass. Grant's gazelle (Nanger granti) is larger (35–80 kg), browses more, and can survive without daily water.

## Why do gazelles stot?
Stotting — stiff-legged bouncing while fleeing — may signal to predators that the gazelle is fit and pursuit is unlikely to succeed. It may also warn herd members or confuse attackers.

## Are gazelles endangered?
Thomson's gazelle is Least Concern with roughly 500,000 remaining. The dama gazelle of the Sahara is Critically Endangered with fewer than 100 mature individuals.

## What eats Thomson's gazelle?
Cheetahs are the primary specialist predator. Lions, leopards, spotted hyenas and African wild dogs also hunt gazelles, particularly fawns and weaker adults.

## How fast can a gazelle run?
Thomson's gazelles reach speeds of about 80 km/h over short distances, with rapid changes of direction that help them evade cheetahs and other predators.


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

## One-line answer
Antelope are horned ruminants of the family Bovidae — roughly 90 species across Africa and Asia; African savanna antelope form the prey base for the continent's great predators, with conservation status ranging from abundant to Critically Endangered.

## Introduction
Antelope is the common name for roughly 90 species of ruminant mammals in the family Bovidae, found across Africa and Eurasia. Unlike deer, antelope have permanent horns — not antlers — and belong to a separate evolutionary lineage. African savanna antelope include wildebeest, impala, gazelles, eland, kudu, hartebeest and sable, forming the prey base that sustains lions, cheetahs, leopards and wild dogs. Conservation status varies enormously: springbok and impala remain abundant, while the scimitar-horned oryx is Extinct in the Wild and the saiga antelope has faced catastrophic declines. This guide introduces the antelope family as a whole, with focus on African savanna species.

## Takeaway
Antelope are horned bovids — not deer — with permanent horns, not antlers.

## Takeaway
Africa holds the greatest antelope diversity, especially on savanna and in rainforest.

## Takeaway
Savanna antelope — wildebeest, impala, gazelle — sustain Africa's predator communities.

## Takeaway
The scimitar-horned oryx is Extinct in the Wild; saiga antelope has crashed repeatedly.

## Takeaway
Snaring and bushmeat hunting threaten antelope across Central and West Africa.

## Takeaway
Springbok, impala and blue wildebeest remain among the most abundant wild ungulates.

## What makes an antelope?
Antelope is a functional term, not a strict taxonomic group. It covers roughly 90 species in the family Bovidae — the same family that includes cattle, sheep and goats — spread across subfamilies Antilopinae, Alcelaphinae, Hippotraginae, Cephalophinae and others.

All antelope are cud-chewing ruminants with even-toed hooves and permanent horns (unlike deer, which shed antlers annually). African antelope range from the tiny royal antelope (2 kg) to the giant eland (900 kg). Asian antelope include blackbuck, nilgai and the critically threatened saiga of the steppes.

## Savanna antelope and the predator web
African savanna antelope form the foundation of the continent's predator ecosystems. Wildebeest, zebra and gazelle drive the Great Migration; impala are the most commonly killed prey in many reserves; eland and buffalo test the strength of lion prides. Cheetahs specialise in small gazelles; wild dogs pursue medium-sized antelope in endurance chases; leopards ambush whatever they can catch. Antelope compensate through speed, vigilance, herd behaviour and synchronised calving. The health of antelope populations directly reflects the health of the savanna ecosystem.


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

## Threats across the family
No single conservation status applies to all antelope. Generalist species such as impala, springbok and blue wildebeest remain Least Concern with large populations. At the other extreme, the scimitar-horned oryx (Oryx dammah) is Extinct in the Wild, surviving only in captive breeding programmes. The saiga antelope (Saiga tatarica) crashed from more than a million to fewer than 50,000 in the 1990s and again in 2015 from disease. Dama gazelle, addax and Arabian oryx are Critically Endangered. Snaring, bushmeat hunting, habitat loss and competition with livestock are the main threats.

## Conservation successes and priorities
Antelope conservation has notable successes. The Arabian oryx was reintroduced to the wild after captive breeding saved it from extinction. Black rhino range overlaps with antelope habitat in many reserves. Community conservancies in Kenya and Namibia generate tourism revenue that protects antelope and predators together.

Priorities include maintaining migration corridors, reducing snaring in Central Africa, and supporting captive breeding for the most endangered species. WARN's educational guides help searchers understand individual antelope species — wildebeest, impala, gazelle — and the family they belong to.

## Related WARN savanna guides
This page introduces the antelope family — but most readers want a particular species. Read WARN's wildebeest, impala and gazelle guides for Great Migration prey species, plus lion, cheetah and leopard pages for the predators that depend on antelope herds.

The scimitar-horned oryx and saiga antelope illustrate how quickly abundant ungulates can crash — and how captive breeding and anti-poaching can reverse decline.

Protecting savanna habitat in WARN partner countries supports the entire prey–predator web.

## WARN work
WARN publishes this antelope guide as free public education. African savanna antelope are the prey base for the continent's predators — protecting them means protecting the entire ecosystem.

## Donation hook
If this guide helps you understand wildlife and the pressures it faces, a gift to WARN supports habitat protection and free public education in our partner countries.


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

## How many antelope species are there?
Roughly 90 species worldwide, mostly in Africa. Africa holds the greatest diversity, from the tiny royal antelope to the giant eland.

## What is the difference between antelope and deer?
Antelope belong to the family Bovidae and have permanent horns. Deer belong to Cervidae and grow antlers that are shed annually. Antelope are native to Africa and Eurasia; deer to the Americas, Europe and Asia.

## Which antelope is most endangered?
The scimitar-horned oryx is Extinct in the Wild. The dama gazelle, addax and Arabian sand gazelle are Critically Endangered with fewer than 100–250 mature individuals each.

## What antelope are in the Great Migration?
Blue wildebeest dominate the migration, accompanied by common eland, Thomson's gazelle and Grant's gazelle. Plains zebra migrate alongside them.

## Are antelope endangered?
It depends on the species. Impala, springbok and blue wildebeest are Least Concern and abundant. Many Saharan, Arabian and Asian antelope are Critically Endangered or Extinct in the Wild.

## What do antelope eat?
Most antelope are grazers or browsers of grass, leaves and shoots. Some, like impala, switch between grazing and browsing seasonally. Diets vary with habitat and body size.


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

## One-line answer
The binturong (Arctictis binturong) is a Vulnerable tree-dwelling viverrid of South-east Asian rainforest, the only Old World mammal with a fully prehensile tail; it is threatened by deforestation and the illegal pet trade.

## Introduction
The binturong is a large viverrid — related to civets — of South-east Asian rainforest, named 'bearcat' for its stocky body, shaggy black fur and cat-like face. It is the only Old World mammal with a fully prehensile tail, which it uses to anchor itself in the canopy. Binturongs smell of buttered popcorn due to a glandular secretion. Listed as Vulnerable by the IUCN, populations are declining from deforestation, the pet trade and hunting for bushmeat and traditional medicine. Binturongs are slow breeders — typically one or two young per litter — making recovery difficult once populations are depleted.

## Takeaway
Binturongs smell of buttered popcorn — a scent from a glandular secretion.

## Takeaway
They are the only Old World mammal with a fully prehensile tail.

## Takeaway
Despite the nickname 'bearcat', binturongs are viverrids related to civets.

## Takeaway
Deforestation for palm oil, logging and agriculture is the primary threat.

## Takeaway
Binturongs are slow breeders — one to two young per litter.

## Takeaway
The pet trade removes individuals from the wild with high mortality in transit.

## A tree-dwelling viverrid
The binturong belongs to the family Viverridae alongside civets, genets and linsangs. It is the largest living viverrid, with a stocky body, coarse black fur often tipped with grey, stiff white whiskers and small rounded ears. The muscular prehensile tail — as long as the body — grips branches and acts as a fifth limb.

Binturongs are mainly nocturnal and arboreal, though they descend to the ground more than many rainforest mammals. Six subspecies are recognised across South-east Asia, from India and Nepal through Myanmar, Thailand, Malaysia, Indonesia and the Philippines to southern China.

## Diet and ecological role
Binturongs are omnivorous frugivores, eating figs and other fruit as a staple and supplementing with small vertebrates, insects, eggs and carrion. They are important seed dispersers — fig seeds pass through the gut and germinate in new locations, linking binturong survival to the health of fig tree communities.

In captivity, binturongs live over 25 years; wild lifespans are shorter. They communicate through scent marking, vocalisations including chuckles and howls, and the distinctive popcorn-scented secretion from a gland beneath the tail.

## Threats and the pet trade
Habitat loss is the primary driver of decline. South-east Asia has lost vast areas of lowland rainforest to oil palm, rubber, logging and dam construction. Binturongs cannot survive in plantations or heavily logged forest. Hunting for bushmeat and traditional medicine persists, and the illegal pet trade removes individuals — often young — from the wild. Binturongs are poor pets: they need large arboreal enclosures, specialist diets and nocturnal routines. Most confiscated animals cannot be released and require lifetime sanctuary care.


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

## Conservation outlook
The IUCN lists the binturong as Vulnerable with an estimated 30% population decline over three generations. It occurs in numerous protected areas but enforcement against hunting and trapping is weak in many range countries. CITES Appendix III in India requires export permits. Protecting connected primary forest, enforcing anti-trafficking law and reducing demand for exotic pets are the most effective measures. WARN's orangutan and slow loris work in Indonesia and Malaysia overlaps binturong range, where shared habitat protection benefits all rainforest mammals.

## Related WARN guides
Binturongs are viverrids — read WARN's civet guide for close relatives, red panda page for other arboreal mammals, and orangutan and slow loris guides for shared South-east Asian rainforest.

WARN works in Indonesia and Malaysia — core binturong range.

Never buy binturongs as pets; deforestation is the primary threat.

## WARN work
WARN funds rainforest habitat protection in Indonesia and Malaysia — range countries where binturongs share threatened forest with orangutans and slow lorises. This guide is free public education about a lesser-known species facing the same deforestation crisis.

## Donation hook
If this guide helps you understand wildlife and the pressures it faces, a gift to WARN supports habitat protection and free public education in our partner countries.


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

## Why do binturongs smell like popcorn?
A gland beneath the binturong's tail produces a compound called 2-acetyl-1-pyrroline — the same chemical that gives popcorn and bread its distinctive aroma. The scent is used in scent marking.

## Is a binturong a bear or a cat?
Neither. Despite the nickname 'bearcat', binturongs are viverrids — related to civets and genets. The name reflects their stocky build and facial appearance.

## Are binturongs endangered?
Binturongs are Vulnerable with an estimated 30% population decline over three generations. Habitat loss and the pet trade are the main threats.

## Where do binturongs live?
Binturongs inhabit tropical and subtropical rainforest from India and Nepal through South-east Asia to Indonesia and the Philippines. They are arboreal and need intact forest canopy.

## Can you keep a binturong as a pet?
No. Binturongs need large arboreal enclosures, specialist diets and nocturnal care. The pet trade threatens wild populations. Private ownership is restricted in most countries.

## What do binturongs eat?
Binturongs are mainly frugivorous, eating figs and other fruit. They also take small vertebrates, insects, eggs and carrion. They are important seed dispersers for fig trees.


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

## One-line answer
Civets are nocturnal viverrids of Africa and Asia; the African civet (Civettictis civetta) is Least Concern and widespread across sub-Saharan Africa, though Asian species face habitat loss and civet musk farming raises welfare concerns.

## Introduction
Civets are cat-like carnivorans of the family Viverridae, found in Africa and Asia. The African civet is the largest civet species, weighing up to 20 kg, with a distinctive black-and-white masked face, spotted coat and erect dorsal crest. Civets are mainly nocturnal and solitary, foraging for fruit, insects and small vertebrates. The species is best known historically for civet musk — a secretion used in perfumery — which led to civet farming. Listed as Least Concern, African civets remain widespread but face habitat loss and hunting. Asian civet species, including the small Indian civet and masked palm civet, face similar pressures; kopi luwak coffee production from caged palm civets remains a welfare concern.

## Takeaway
Civets are viverrids — related to binturongs and genets, not cats.

## Takeaway
The African civet is the largest civet species, with a distinctive masked face.

## Takeaway
Civet musk from perineal glands was historically farmed for perfumery.

## Takeaway
Kopi luwak coffee from caged Asian palm civets raises serious welfare concerns.

## Takeaway
Most civet species are nocturnal, solitary and omnivorous.

## Takeaway
Habitat loss and hunting threaten Asian civet species more than the African civet.

## Civets across two continents
Roughly 35 civet species occupy the family Viverridae across Africa and Asia. The African civet (Civettictis civetta) is the largest, ranging across sub-Saharan Africa in woodland, savanna and rainforest. Asian civets include the small Indian civet (Viverricula indica), the masked palm civet (Paguma larvata) and the Malay civet (Viverra tangalunga).

All share a general body plan: elongated body, short legs, long tail and anal scent glands used for marking territory. Civets are not cats — they belong to a separate carnivore lineage that also includes binturongs and genets.

## Civet musk and kopi luwak
Civet musk — a thick, oily secretion from perineal glands — has been used in perfumery for centuries. Historically, African and Asian civets were kept in cages and the secretion scraped from glands, a practice that continues in some regions. Synthetic alternatives now exist for most perfumery applications.

Kopi luwak — coffee made from beans passed through the digestive tract of Asian palm civets — drives demand for caged civets in Indonesia. Civets are confined in small cages and force-fed coffee cherries, causing severe welfare problems. Ethical coffee certification excludes caged-sourced kopi luwak.

## Ecology and behaviour
African civets are mainly nocturnal and solitary, patrolling home ranges of roughly 1–4 km². They are omnivorous, eating fruit, insects, rodents, birds, eggs and carrion. An erectile dorsal crest runs along the spine, raised during aggression or alarm. Civets communicate through scent marking — the musk secretion is deposited on rocks, logs and vegetation. Females give birth to one to four young in dense cover. Civets are adaptable and persist in secondary forest and near human settlement, though primary forest supports higher densities.


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

## Conservation across species
The African civet is Least Concern with a stable population across most of sub-Saharan Africa. Several Asian civet species face greater pressure from deforestation and hunting. The Malabar civet (Viverra civettina) of India is Critically Endangered and may be extinct. CITES Appendix III in Botswana regulates African civet exports. Reducing demand for wild-sourced musk and caged kopi luwak, protecting forest habitat and enforcing anti-trafficking law benefit all civet species. WARN's work in Indonesia overlaps palm civet range, where kopi luwak farming remains a welfare and conservation concern.

## Related WARN guides
Civets are viverrids — read WARN's binturong guide for the prehensile-tailed rainforest relative, raccoon page for procyonid comparison, and orangutan guide for shared habitat in WARN partner countries.

Kopi luwak farming drives civet welfare crises — avoid civet coffee products.

Forest protection in Malaysia and Indonesia benefits civets alongside orangutans.

## WARN work
WARN funds anti-trafficking and habitat work in Indonesia, where palm civets are caged for kopi luwak production. This civet guide is free public education about a family of mammals caught between forest loss and exploitative trade.

## Donation hook
If this guide helps you understand wildlife and the pressures it faces, a gift to WARN supports habitat protection and free public education in our partner countries.


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

## What is civet musk used for?
Civet musk — a glandular secretion — was historically used in perfumery as a fixative. Synthetic alternatives now exist for most applications. Some traditional perfumers still use small quantities of farmed musk.

## Is kopi luwak made from civets?
Yes. Kopi luwak coffee is made from beans that have passed through the digestive tract of Asian palm civets. Most commercial kopi luwak now comes from caged civets force-fed coffee cherries — a serious welfare concern.

## Are civets cats?
No. Civets belong to the family Viverridae, a separate branch of carnivorans that also includes binturongs and genets. They resemble cats superficially but are not closely related.

## Where do civets live?
Civets inhabit Africa and Asia — woodland, savanna, rainforest and secondary forest. The African civet ranges across sub-Saharan Africa; Asian species occur from India to Indonesia and southern China.

## Are civets endangered?
The African civet is Least Concern. Several Asian species are more threatened — the Malabar civet of India is Critically Endangered and may be extinct.

## What do civets eat?
Civets are omnivorous, eating fruit, insects, rodents, birds, eggs and carrion. Diet varies by species and habitat. Frugivory is important for seed dispersal in rainforest.


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

## One-line answer
The aardvark (Orycteropus afer) is the only living species of its order, a nocturnal insectivore of sub-Saharan Africa listed as Least Concern; it digs for termites and its burrows shelter dozens of other species.

## Introduction
The aardvark is the sole living species of the order Tubulidentata — one of Africa's most evolutionary distinctive mammals. With a pig-like snout, rabbit-like ears and a kangaroo-like tail, it is adapted for eating ants and termites, which it locates by smell and excavates with powerful claws. Aardvarks are strictly nocturnal and solitary, roaming territories of up to 4 km². Listed as Least Concern, they remain widespread but are hunted for bushmeat and threatened by pesticide use that reduces insect prey. Their abandoned burrows provide shelter for warthogs, hyenas, pythons and many other species.

## Takeaway
Aardvarks are the only living species of the order Tubulidentata.

## Takeaway
They eat up to 50,000 termites in a single night using a 30 cm tongue.

## Takeaway
Abandoned aardvark burrows shelter warthogs, hyenas, pythons and wild dogs.

## Takeaway
Aardvarks are strictly nocturnal and solitary.

## Takeaway
Pesticide use on termites and bushmeat hunting are the main threats.

## Takeaway
Their name means 'earth pig' in Afrikaans — a reference to their digging habit.

## An evolutionary oddity
The aardvark occupies its own order, Tubulidentata, with no close living relatives. Genetic studies suggest affinity with elephants, hyraxes and sirenians — the superorder Afrotheria. Its teeth are unique: hexagonal prisms of dentine without enamel, which grow continuously and are worn down by ingested soil. The body combines features that confuse casual observers: a long tubular snout, elongated ears, a thick tail and powerful digging claws.

Aardvarks range across sub-Saharan Africa wherever termites and ants are abundant, from open savanna to woodland.

## Termite hunting by night
Aardvarks leave their burrows after dark to forage, covering several kilometres per night. They detect termite and ant colonies by smell, then rip open mounds and runways with chisel-like claws. A sticky tongue up to 30 cm long laps up insects — an adult may consume 50,000 in one night.

Aardvarks also eat the aardvark cucumber (Cucumis humifructus), the only fruit whose seeds are dispersed exclusively by aardvarks. During the day they sleep in self-dug burrows up to 13 m long, entering tail-first.

## Burrows and ecosystem services
Aardvark burrows are a critical resource for other species. Warthogs, porcupines, hyenas, wild dogs and pythons use abandoned or shared burrows for shelter and denning. In arid areas, burrows provide the only shade and refuge for smaller animals. Aardvarks therefore act as ecosystem engineers — their digging aerates soil, recycles nutrients and creates habitat. Declining aardvark populations may cascade to dependent species.


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

## Conservation status
The IUCN lists the aardvark as Least Concern with a stable population across most of its range. Local declines occur from bushmeat hunting, road mortality and pesticide use that reduces termite prey. Aardvarks are not listed under CITES. Because they are solitary and nocturnal, population trends are hard to monitor. Protecting insect-rich habitat and reducing indiscriminate pesticide application benefit aardvarks and the species that depend on their burrows.

## Related WARN guides
Aardvarks are African ecosystem engineers — read WARN's hyena guide for aardwolf relatives, elephant page for other African oddities, and armadillo guide for burrowing mammals elsewhere.

Beaver and warthog pages cover other species whose burrows shelter neighbours.

Termite mound landscapes depend on aardvark digging.

## WARN work
WARN publishes this aardvark guide as free public education. Ecosystem engineers like aardvarks illustrate how losing one species can affect many others — a principle central to habitat protection.

## Donation hook
If this guide helps you understand wildlife and the pressures it faces, a gift to WARN supports habitat protection and free public education in our partner countries.


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

## What does an aardvark eat?
Aardvarks eat ants and termites almost exclusively, consuming up to 50,000 insects per night. They also eat the aardvark cucumber, a fruit whose seeds they alone disperse.

## Is an aardvark related to an anteater?
No. Despite similar diets, aardvarks (Africa) and anteaters (South America) evolved independently — convergent evolution. Aardvarks belong to Afrotheria; anteaters to Xenarthra.

## Why are aardvark burrows important?
Abandoned aardvark burrows provide shelter for warthogs, hyenas, pythons, porcupines and wild dogs. In arid regions, burrows are often the only refuge from heat and predators.

## Are aardvarks endangered?
Aardvarks are Least Concern globally. Local declines occur from bushmeat hunting and pesticide use, but the species remains widespread across sub-Saharan Africa.

## Are aardvarks active during the day?
No. Aardvarks are strictly nocturnal, leaving burrows after dark to forage for termites and ants. They sleep underground during the day.

## How many aardvark species exist?
One — Orycteropus afer. It is the sole living member of the order Tubulidentata, making it one of the most evolutionarily distinctive mammals alive.


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

## One-line answer
The gharial (Gavialis gangeticus) is a Critically Endangered fish-eating crocodilian of India and Nepal with fewer than 900 mature individuals remaining; river damming, sand mining and pollution are the primary threats.

## Introduction
The gharial is one of the most distinctive crocodilians on Earth, with an extraordinarily long, thin snout packed with interlocking teeth — adapted exclusively for catching fish. Males develop a bulbous nasal growth called a ghara at sexual maturity. Once widespread across the river systems of the Indian subcontinent, gharials now cling to a handful of rivers in India and Nepal. Listed as Critically Endangered, fewer than 900 mature individuals remain. Dam construction, sand mining, fishing nets and river pollution have destroyed the clean, deep, fast-flowing water gharials require.

## Takeaway
Gharials have the longest, thinnest snout of any crocodilian — built for catching fish.

## Takeaway
Males develop a bulbous 'ghara' on the snout tip used in vocalisation and display.

## Takeaway
Fewer than 900 mature gharials remain in the wild.

## Takeaway
They require clean, deep, fast-flowing rivers with sandbanks for nesting.

## Takeaway
Dam construction and sand mining have destroyed most historic gharial habitat.

## Takeaway
Captive breeding and head-starting programmes release juveniles into protected rivers.

## A crocodilian built for fish
The gharial belongs to the family Gavialidae, separate from true crocodiles and alligators. Its snout is exceptionally long and narrow, with 110–130 interlocking teeth — the most of any crocodilian. This morphology generates minimal water disturbance when snapping at fish. Gharials are not built for land; adults rarely leave the water except to bask and nest. Males reach 4–4.5 m; females are smaller.

The ghara — a cartilaginous nasal bulb — amplifies hissing and buzzing vocalisations during the breeding season and may serve as a visual signal.

## River life and breeding
Gharials inhabit deep, clear, fast-flowing rivers with high oxygen levels and abundant fish. They bask communally on sandbanks, often in groups of dozens. Breeding occurs during the dry season; females dig nest holes in sandbars and lay 30–60 eggs. Incubation takes roughly 70 days.

Hatchlings measure about 37 cm and receive no parental care, though females guard nests. Head-starting programmes — rearing hatchlings in captivity for two to three years before release — have boosted wild populations in the Chambal and Girwa rivers.

## Collapse and remnant rivers
Gharial populations collapsed from an estimated 5,000–10,000 in the 1940s to fewer than 200 by the 1970s. The Chambal River — straddling Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh and Uttar Pradesh — now holds the largest wild population. Smaller groups survive in the Girwa (Katarniaghat), Son, Gandak and Narayani rivers. Dam construction fragments rivers and alters flow; sand mining destroys nesting banks; fishing nets entangle and drown gharials; pollution reduces fish stocks. The species cannot survive in reservoirs or sluggish, polluted water.


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

## Conservation and recovery efforts
India and Nepal protect gharials under national law. Captive breeding at facilities in India and Nepal produces hundreds of juveniles annually for release. The IUCN Crocodile Specialist Group coordinates monitoring. Community engagement along the Chambal reduces sand mining and net fishing. Despite these efforts, the 2022 IUCN assessment recorded fewer than 900 mature individuals with a continuing decline. CITES Appendix I bans commercial trade. Saving gharials requires free-flowing rivers — a challenge that benefits all freshwater biodiversity.

## Related WARN guides
Gharials are fish-eating crocodilians — read WARN's alligator guide for American wetland relatives, saltwater crocodile page for Indo-Pacific giants, and crocodilian hub for the wider group.

WARN works in Pakistan — within gharial historical range on the Indus system.

River restoration and sandbank protection underpin gharial recovery.

## WARN work
WARN publishes this gharial guide as free public education. River conservation in India and Nepal — gharial range — aligns with the freshwater habitat protection that sustains biodiversity across South Asia.

## Donation hook
If this guide helps you understand wildlife and the pressures it faces, a gift to WARN supports habitat protection and free public education in our partner countries.


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

## Are gharials dangerous to humans?
Gharials are not man-eaters. Their narrow snouts and fish-specialist teeth cannot take large prey. No confirmed fatal gharial attack on a human has been documented. They are shy and retreat from disturbance.

## What is the ghara?
The ghara is a bulbous growth on the tip of the adult male gharial's snout, named after an Indian pot. It amplifies vocalisations during breeding and may serve as a visual signal to females and rival males.

## How many gharials are left?
The 2022 IUCN assessment estimated fewer than 900 mature individuals in India and Nepal. The Chambal River holds the largest remaining population.

## What do gharials eat?
Gharials eat fish almost exclusively. Juveniles also take insects and small crustaceans. Their long, narrow snouts are specialised for fast sideways snapping at fish in water.

## Why are gharials Critically Endangered?
Dam construction, sand mining, fishing net entanglement and river pollution have destroyed the clean, flowing rivers and sandbank nesting sites gharials require.

## Where can you see gharials?
Wild gharials can be viewed on the Chambal River (India), Katarniaghat Wildlife Sanctuary and in Nepal's Narayani River system. Boat safaris on the Chambal offer reliable sightings.


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

## One-line answer
Ibex are wild mountain goats of the genus Capra; the Alpine ibex (Capra ibex) is Least Concern after recovery from near extinction, with males carrying curved horns up to a metre long on cliffs across Europe and Asia.

## Introduction
Ibex are wild goats of the genus Capra, adapted to life on steep mountain cliffs from the Alps to the Himalayas, Atlas Mountains and Ethiopian highlands. The Alpine ibex — restored from near extinction in the nineteenth century — is the best-known species, with males carrying horns up to a metre long that curve backwards. Ibex graze alpine meadows and descend to salt licks; their split hooves grip rock faces that deter most predators. Several ibex species are Least Concern after recovery programmes, but the Walia ibex of Ethiopia and the Spanish ibex subspecies face ongoing threats from hunting and habitat competition with livestock.

## Takeaway
Ibex are wild goats of the genus Capra, adapted to steep mountain terrain.

## Takeaway
Alpine ibex males carry horns up to a metre long, curved backwards.

## Takeaway
The Alpine ibex was hunted to near extinction before nineteenth-century protection.

## Takeaway
Nubian ibex, Siberian ibex and Walia ibex are separate species with different ranges.

## Takeaway
Ibex graze alpine meadows and visit salt licks; split hooves grip cliff faces.

## Takeaway
Competition with livestock and hunting threaten ibex in parts of Africa and Asia.

## Ibex species across three continents
The genus Capra includes ibex and related wild goats across Europe, Asia and Africa. The Alpine ibex (C. ibex) inhabits the Alps and reintroduced populations in Slovenia, Austria and Bulgaria. The Nubian ibex (C. nubiana) ranges across the Middle East; the Siberian ibex (C. sibirica) across Central Asia; the Walia ibex (C. walie) is endemic to Ethiopia's Simien Mountains and is Endangered. The Spanish ibex (C. pyrenaica) includes several subspecies, one of which — the Pyrenean ibex — was the first animal to go extinct twice.

All ibex share muscular bodies, short legs, split hooves with rubbery pads and horns that grow throughout life.

## Life on the cliff edge
Ibex exploit terrain too steep for most predators. They graze grasses, herbs, mosses and lichens on alpine meadows, moving to cliff ledges to rest and escape wolves, leopards and eagles.

Males and females form separate herds for much of the year, joining during the rut when males clash horns in spectacular fights. Horns are used for display and combat, not defence against predators. Salt licks draw ibex to predictable locations, where they have been hunted historically. In winter, ibex descend to lower slopes where snow is less deep.

## Recovery and reintroduction
The Alpine ibex was reduced to a single valley — Italy's Gran Paradiso — by the 1820s before hunting bans and protected areas allowed recovery to over 50,000 individuals. Reintroduction programmes spread ibex across the Alps and into Slovenia and Austria. Similar efforts helped the Spanish ibex and Nubian ibex in some areas. The Walia ibex of Ethiopia recovered from roughly 250 to over 1,200 after Simien Mountains National Park protection, but remains Endangered. These recoveries demonstrate that mountain ungulates can rebound when hunting stops and habitat is secured.


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

## Current threats
Most ibex species are Least Concern or Near Threatened after recovery. Persistent threats include competition with domestic goats and sheep for grazing, habitat fragmentation from roads and ski development, and illegal hunting in Central Asia and the Middle East. Climate change may shift alpine vegetation zones, altering ibex forage. The Walia ibex remains Endangered with a small, isolated population. CITES regulates trade in some Capra species. Maintaining protected areas and managing livestock grazing are essential for long-term ibex persistence.

## Related WARN guides
Ibex are mountain goats — read WARN's markhor guide for Asian wild caprids, deer page for other hoofed mammals, and snow leopard guide for alpine predators.

Lynx and wolf pages cover carnivores in ibex range.

Reintroduction success in the Alps shows ibex can recover with protection.

## WARN work
WARN publishes this ibex guide as free public education. Mountain wildlife recovery stories like the Alpine ibex show what legal protection and habitat stewardship can achieve.

## Donation hook
If this guide helps you understand wildlife and the pressures it faces, a gift to WARN supports habitat protection and free public education in our partner countries.


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

## What is the difference between an ibex and a goat?
Ibex are wild goats of the genus Capra. Domestic goats (Capra hircus) descend from the wild bezoar ibex (C. aegagrus). Ibex retain wild behaviour, larger horns and adaptation to cliff terrain.

## How long are ibex horns?
Alpine ibex males carry horns up to about a metre long, curved backwards. Horns grow throughout life and are used in rutting fights. Female ibex have smaller horns or none, depending on species.

## Are ibex endangered?
The Alpine ibex is Least Concern with over 50,000 individuals after recovery. The Walia ibex of Ethiopia is Endangered. Status varies by species.

## Where do ibex live?
Ibex inhabit mountain ranges across Europe (Alps), Asia (Himalayas, Central Asia), the Middle East, North Africa (Barbary sheep) and Ethiopia (Walia ibex).

## What do ibex eat?
Ibex graze grasses, herbs, mosses, lichens and shrubs on alpine meadows and cliff ledges. They visit mineral licks for salt and minerals.

## Can ibex climb cliffs?
Yes. Ibex are among the most sure-footed mammals, using split hooves with rubbery pads to grip near-vertical rock faces that exclude most predators.


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

## One-line answer
The alpaca (Vicugna pacos) is a domesticated Andean camelid kept for its fine fleece; descended from the vicuña, it has been farmed for over 6,000 years in Peru, Bolivia and neighbouring countries.

## Introduction
The alpaca is a domesticated South American camelid descended from the wild vicuña, kept for its fine fleece for more than 6,000 years in the Andean highlands. Alpacas graze at 3,500–5,000 m elevation in Peru, Bolivia, Chile and Ecuador, where roughly 3.7 million animals support rural livelihoods. Two breed types exist: Huacaya with dense crimped fleece and Suri with silky dreadlock-like locks. Alpacas are social herd animals, communicating through hums, clicks and body posture. While domesticated alpacas are not wild conservation targets, their wild ancestor the vicuña was hunted to near extinction before recovering through community-based management.

## Takeaway
Alpacas are domesticated camelids descended from the wild vicuña.

## Takeaway
Peru holds roughly 3.7 million alpacas — the world's largest population.

## Takeaway
Two fleece types: Huacaya (crimped) and Suri (silky locks).

## Takeaway
Alpaca fleece is lanolin-free, hypoallergenic and thermally efficient.

## Takeaway
Wild vicuñas were hunted to near extinction before community recovery programmes.

## Takeaway
Alpacas are social herd animals that hum, click and spit when agitated.

## Domestication and Andean heritage
Alpacas were domesticated in the Andean highlands more than 6,000 years ago, alongside llamas — which descend from the guanaco. Genetic studies confirm the alpaca's primary ancestor is the vicuña (Vicugna vicugna), the smallest and finest-fleeced wild camelid.

Inca civilisation managed alpaca herds on a vast scale, weaving fleece into textiles reserved for royalty. Spanish colonisation disrupted traditional management, but indigenous communities maintained alpaca husbandry. Today Peru produces roughly 80% of the world's alpaca fibre, supporting an estimated 120,000 farming families.

## Huacaya and Suri breeds
Two breed types dominate commercial alpaca farming. Huacaya alpacas — roughly 90% of the global population — have dense, crimped fleece giving a fluffy appearance.

Suri alpacas have silky, pencil-thin locks that hang in dreadlock-like strands and command premium prices. Both breeds come in 22 natural fleece colours from white through fawn, brown, grey and black. Shearing occurs annually, yielding 1.5–3 kg of fleece per animal. Alpaca fibre is lanolin-free, making it hypoallergenic and suitable for sensitive skin.

## Husbandry and behaviour
Alpacas are social herd animals that become stressed in isolation. They communicate through soft hums, alarm calls, clucking and body posture — ears back and tail raised signal irritation. Alpacas spit regurgitated stomach contents at each other during hierarchy disputes; they rarely spit at humans unless mishandled. They graze grasses and hay at high altitude, using a three-compartment stomach efficient at extracting nutrients from coarse forage. Dung piles in communal latrines reduce parasite spread.


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

## Wild vicuña conservation
While alpacas themselves are domesticated, their wild ancestor the vicuña was hunted to fewer than 10,000 individuals by the 1960s for fine fleece. CITES Appendix I protection and community-based chaku round-ups — shearing wild vicuñas and releasing them — recovered populations to over 350,000. This model of sustainable wild fibre harvesting is a conservation success story. Alpaca farming reduces pressure on wild vicuñas by meeting commercial demand through domestic stock.

## Related WARN guides
Alpacas are domesticated camelids — read WARN's llama guide for the larger pack camelid, camel page for Old World relatives, and horse guide for other working animals WARN supports.

Wild vicuña conservation underpins alpaca fibre heritage.

Working animal welfare principles apply wherever alpacas carry loads or trek with tourists.

## WARN work
WARN publishes this alpaca guide as free public education. The vicuña recovery story — wild ancestor of the alpaca — illustrates how community-based conservation can reverse extinction trajectories.

## Donation hook
If this guide helps you understand wildlife and the pressures it faces, a gift to WARN supports habitat protection and free public education in our partner countries.


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

## What is the difference between an alpaca and a llama?
Alpacas are smaller (55–65 kg), with finer fleece and shorter faces, bred for fibre. Llamas are larger (130–200 kg), with coarser fleece, bred as pack animals. Alpacas descend from vicuñas; llamas from guanacos.

## Where do alpacas live?
Alpacas are domesticated and kept on high-altitude pastures in Peru, Bolivia, Chile and Ecuador, typically at 3,500–5,000 m elevation. Small populations exist on farms worldwide.

## Are alpacas wild animals?
No. Alpacas have been domesticated for over 6,000 years. Their wild ancestor is the vicuña, which survives in the Andes and has recovered from near extinction through conservation programmes.

## Why is alpaca fleece valuable?
Alpaca fleece is fine, lanolin-free, hypoallergenic and thermally efficient — warmer than sheep wool by weight. Suri fleece in particular commands premium prices in luxury textiles.

## Do alpacas spit?
Yes. Alpacas spit regurgitated stomach contents at each other during hierarchy disputes. They rarely spit at humans unless frightened or mishandled.

## How many alpacas are there?
Peru alone holds roughly 3.7 million alpacas — about 80% of the global population. Bolivia, Chile and Ecuador hold most of the remainder.


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

## One-line answer
The llama (Lama glama) is a domesticated Andean camelid bred for 5,000+ years as a pack animal and fibre source; descended from the guanaco, roughly seven million llamas support highland communities in Peru and Bolivia.

## Introduction
The llama is a domesticated South American camelid descended from the wild guanaco, bred for over 5,000 years as a pack animal, fibre source and cultural symbol of the Andean highlands. Llamas carry loads of 25–30% of their body weight across mountain trails above 4,000 m, where wheeled transport cannot reach. Roughly seven million llamas survive in Bolivia and Peru alone. They are intelligent, social herd animals with a reputation for spitting, though well-handled llamas are calm and cooperative. Like alpacas, llamas are domesticated — but their wild ancestor the guanaco faces habitat loss and hunting across Patagonia.

## Takeaway
Llamas are domesticated camelids descended from the wild guanaco.

## Takeaway
They have been used as pack animals in the Andes for over 5,000 years.

## Takeaway
Llamas carry 25–30% of body weight across high-altitude mountain trails.

## Takeaway
Bolivia and Peru hold roughly seven million llamas between them.

## Takeaway
Llamas are intelligent, social and communicate through hums and body posture.

## Takeaway
Wild guanacos face habitat loss and hunting in Patagonia.

## Domestication and Andean culture
Llamas were domesticated from the guanaco (Lama guanicoe) in the Andean highlands more than 5,000 years ago — before alpacas, which descend from vicuñas. Inca civilisation relied on llama caravans to transport goods along the Qhapaq Ñan road network spanning 30,000 km.

Llama fibre was woven into textiles; dung fuelled fires at altitude where wood is scarce; meat provided protein. Spanish colonisation devastated traditional herd management, but indigenous communities preserved llama husbandry. Today llamas remain essential to highland economies in Peru, Bolivia, Chile, Argentina and Ecuador.

## Pack animals and fibre
Llamas are the largest Andean camelid and the primary pack animal. A healthy adult carries 25–30% of its body weight — roughly 40–60 kg — for 15–20 km daily at elevations above 4,000 m. Their soft-padded feet cause minimal trail erosion compared with horses or mules.

Llama fleece is coarser than alpaca but still valuable; annual shearing yields 2–3 kg. Guard llamas are used on farms worldwide to protect sheep from foxes and coyotes — llamas bond with sheep herds and chase off predators.

## Behaviour and communication
Llamas are social herd animals that become anxious in isolation. They communicate through soft hums, alarm calls, ear position and tail posture. Spitting — regurgitated stomach contents — is directed at other llamas during hierarchy disputes, not typically at humans unless provoked. Llamas are intelligent and learn quickly; they can be trained to accept halters, loads and basic commands. They graze grasses and hay, using a three-compartment stomach efficient at processing coarse high-altitude forage.


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

## Wild guanaco conservation
Domestic llamas are not conservation targets, but their wild ancestor the guanaco persists across Patagonia and the Andes. Guanacos are Least Concern globally but face habitat loss from ranching, fencing that blocks migration, and hunting. Roughly 600,000 guanacos remain — a fraction of historic numbers. CITES Appendix II regulates guanaco trade. Sustainable guanaco fibre harvesting in Argentina mirrors the vicuña chaku model. Llama farming reduces pressure on wild guanacos by meeting commercial demand through domestic stock.

## Related WARN guides
Llamas are Andean pack camelids — read WARN's alpaca guide for the smaller fibre specialist, camel page for Old World relatives, and working donkey and horse guides for other load-bearing animals WARN supports.

Wild guanaco conservation underpins llama domestication heritage.

Fair load limits and heat-stress awareness protect working llamas worldwide.

## WARN work
WARN publishes this llama guide as free public education. The guanaco — wild ancestor of the llama — faces habitat pressures in Patagonia that mirror the challenges facing wildlife across our partner countries.

## Donation hook
If this guide helps you understand wildlife and the pressures it faces, a gift to WARN supports habitat protection and free public education in our partner countries.


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

## What is the difference between a llama and an alpaca?
Llamas are larger (130–200 kg), with longer faces and coarser fleece, bred as pack animals. Alpacas are smaller (55–65 kg), with finer fleece, bred for fibre production. Llamas descend from guanacos; alpacas from vicuñas.

## How much weight can a llama carry?
A healthy adult llama carries 25–30% of its body weight — roughly 40–60 kg — for 15–20 km daily at high altitude. Overloading causes injury and is considered poor husbandry.

## Are llamas wild animals?
No. Llamas have been domesticated for over 5,000 years. Their wild ancestor is the guanaco, which survives in Patagonia and the Andes.

## Do llamas spit?
Yes. Llamas spit regurgitated stomach contents at each other during hierarchy disputes. Well-handled llamas rarely spit at people unless frightened or provoked.

## Where do llamas live?
Domestic llamas are kept on high-altitude pastures in Peru, Bolivia, Chile, Argentina and Ecuador. They also appear on farms worldwide, including as guard animals for sheep.

## How many llamas are there?
Bolivia and Peru together hold roughly seven million llamas. Smaller populations exist in Chile, Argentina, Ecuador and on farms internationally.


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

## One-line answer
Hawks are birds of prey in the family Accipitridae — roughly 250 species worldwide; they hunt by sight using talons and hooked beaks, with conservation status ranging from abundant to Critically Endangered depending on species.

## Introduction
Hawk is the common name for birds of prey in the family Accipitridae, a diverse group of roughly 250 species found on every continent except Antarctica. In North America, 'hawk' often refers to buteos — broad-winged soaring hunters such as the red-tailed hawk — and accipiters — forest specialists such as the sharp-shinned hawk. In Europe, 'hawk' overlaps with buzzards and kites. Hawks hunt by sight, using powerful talons and hooked beaks to kill birds, mammals, reptiles and insects. Conservation status varies: the red-tailed hawk is abundant, while the Ridgway's hawk of Hispaniola is Critically Endangered with fewer than 300 individuals.

## Takeaway
Hawks belong to Accipitridae — a family of roughly 250 raptor species worldwide.

## Takeaway
Buteos soar on broad wings; accipiters manoeuvre through forest with short wings and long tails.

## Takeaway
Raptors see roughly eight times more sharply than humans.

## Takeaway
Rodenticide poisoning kills hawks that eat contaminated prey — a major modern threat.

## Takeaway
The red-tailed hawk is among the most abundant raptors in North America.

## Takeaway
Habitat loss and persecution remain threats for forest and island hawk species.

## What counts as a hawk?
'Hawk' is a loose common name rather than a strict taxonomic group. In North America it typically covers buteos (genus Buteo — red-tailed, red-shouldered and broad-winged hawks) and accipiters (genus Accipiter — sharp-shinned, Cooper's and goshawks). In Europe, 'hawk' often includes buzzards (Buteo) and sometimes kites and harriers.

All belong to Accipitridae alongside eagles, kites and Old World vultures. Hawks share hooked beaks, powerful talons, keen eyesight and carnivorous diets, but vary enormously in size — from the 100 g sharp-shinned hawk to the 1.4 kg red-tailed hawk.

When people search 'hawk' they may mean a soaring buteo, a woodland accipiter or a European buzzard — WARN's eagle, osprey and falcon guides help distinguish the wider raptor guild.

## Hunting and senses
Hawks hunt primarily by sight, detecting prey from hundreds of metres while soaring or perched. Raptor vision is roughly eight times sharper than human sight, with a higher density of colour-sensitive cones. Buteos soar on thermals, scanning open country for rodents, rabbits and reptiles. Accipiters dash through woodland on short, rounded wings and long tails, ambushing birds. Hawks kill with talons — the red-tailed hawk's grip exceeds 200 psi — and dismember prey with hooked beaks. Many species pair for life and reuse nest sites for decades.


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

## Threats to raptors
Modern threats to hawks include rodenticide poisoning — hawks eat rats and mice that have consumed anticoagulant poisons, leading to internal bleeding and death. Habitat loss removes nesting trees and hunting grounds. Persecution — shooting and trapping — persists in some regions despite legal protection. Wind turbines and power lines cause collision mortality. The Ridgway's hawk (Buteo ridgwayi) of Hispaniola is Critically Endangered with fewer than 300 individuals due to habitat loss and nest parasitism by palmchat birds.

## Conservation and legal protection
Most widespread hawk species — red-tailed hawk, common buzzard, Eurasian sparrowhawk — are Least Concern with stable or increasing populations. Legal protection under the US Migratory Bird Treaty Act, the EU Birds Directive and national laws in range countries has reduced persecution. CITES regulates international trade in many raptor species. Reducing rodenticide use, protecting nest sites and maintaining habitat connectivity benefit hawks alongside other raptors.

## Related WARN raptor guides
This page covers hawks as a group within Accipitridae. For species-level and specialist raptors, read WARN's eagle hub, osprey guide (fish-eating Pandionidae), falcon guide (fastest stoop hunters) and kestrel, buzzard and red kite pages.

Together these guides map the raptor guild for readers who search 'hawk' but need a particular species or hunting strategy.

Reducing rodenticide use and protecting nest sites benefits every raptor in the guild.

## WARN work
WARN publishes this hawk guide as free public education. Rodenticide poisoning and habitat loss threaten raptors worldwide — issues that connect to the broader ecosystem health WARN works to protect.

## Donation hook
If this guide helps you understand wildlife and the pressures it faces, a gift to WARN supports habitat protection and free public education in our partner countries.


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

## What is the difference between a hawk and an eagle?
Eagles are generally larger with broader wings and heavier beaks. Hawks (buteos and accipiters) are typically smaller and more manoeuvrable. Both belong to Accipitridae — the distinction is size and ecology, not taxonomy.

## How well can hawks see?
Raptors see roughly eight times more sharply than humans, with higher cone density for colour vision. A red-tailed hawk can spot a mouse from 30 m while soaring at 300 m altitude.

## Are hawks endangered?
Most common hawks — red-tailed hawk, common buzzard — are Least Concern. Island and forest specialists such as Ridgway's hawk are Critically Endangered. Status varies by species.

## What do hawks eat?
Hawks eat rodents, rabbits, birds, reptiles, amphibians and insects depending on species. Buteos favour mammals; accipiters specialise in catching other birds in flight.

## Do hawks mate for life?
Many hawk species form long-term pair bonds and reuse the same nest site for years. Both parents typically incubate eggs and feed chicks.

## What kills hawks?
Rodenticide poisoning, habitat loss, vehicle and turbine collisions, persecution and starvation are the main causes of hawk mortality. Poisoned prey is an increasing modern threat.


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

## One-line answer
Falcons are birds of prey in the family Falconidae — roughly 65 species including the peregrine, the fastest animal on Earth at over 320 km/h; most species recovered from DDT declines and are now Least Concern.

## Introduction
Falcons are birds of prey in the family Falconidae, distinct from hawks and eagles despite similar appearances. Roughly 65 species in the genus Falco range across every continent except Antarctica. The peregrine falcon is the fastest animal on Earth, reaching over 320 km/h in a hunting stoop. Falcons were nearly wiped out by DDT pesticide in the mid-twentieth century before one of conservation's greatest recoveries. Today most falcon species are Least Concern, though the saker falcon and several island falcons face ongoing threats from habitat loss, trapping for falconry and pesticide use.

## Takeaway
The peregrine falcon is the fastest animal on Earth — over 320 km/h in a stoop.

## Takeaway
Falcons belong to Falconidae, separate from hawks and eagles (Accipitridae).

## Takeaway
DDT pesticide nearly wiped out peregrine falcons before a global recovery programme.

## Takeaway
Falconry — hunting with trained falcons — is an ancient practice still regulated today.

## Takeaway
Saker and peregrine falcons are trapped illegally for the Middle Eastern falconry trade.

## Takeaway
Falcons kill with a notched beak 'tooth' that severs prey vertebrae instantly.

## Falcons versus hawks
Falcons belong to Falconidae; hawks and eagles to Accipitridae — convergent evolution produced similar predatory forms from different ancestors. Falcons have a notched beak (the tomial tooth) for severing prey spines, long pointed wings built for speed, and they kill primarily with the beak rather than talons. Hawks kill with talons. Falcons include the peregrine, kestrels, hobbies, merlins and caracaras. The peregrine falcon (Falco peregrinus) breeds on every continent except Antarctica, nesting on cliffs, city skyscrapers and bridges.

## The peregrine stoop
The peregrine falcon hunts by climbing high and folding its wings into a stoop — a vertical or angled dive exceeding 320 km/h, the fastest recorded speed of any animal. It strikes prey — typically pigeons, ducks and other birds — mid-air with clenched talons, killing on impact. Nictitating membranes protect the eyes during the dive. Peregrines were nearly extirpated in North America and Europe by DDT, which thinned eggshells causing nesting failure. After DDT was banned and captive breeding programmes released thousands of birds, peregrines recovered to Least Concern globally.

## Falconry and illegal trade
Falconry — hunting with trained falcons — dates back at least 4,000 years in Mesopotamia and remains a regulated tradition in the Middle East, Central Asia and Europe. The saker falcon (Falco cherrug) is prized in Arabian falconry and is Endangered, with illegal trapping in Central Asia supplying wealthy buyers. CITES Appendix I protects peregrine and saker falcons. Legal falconry uses captive-bred birds in most countries. Illegal trade remains a significant threat to wild saker and peregrine populations in Central Asia and the Mediterranean.


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

## Conservation successes and ongoing threats
The peregrine falcon recovery from near extinction is among conservation's greatest achievements — from fewer than 400 breeding pairs in the eastern United States in 1975 to over 3,000 today. Most falcon species are now Least Concern. Ongoing threats include habitat loss, rodenticide and pesticide poisoning, wind turbine collisions and illegal trapping for falconry. Protecting nesting cliffs, regulating falconry trade and reducing pesticide use benefit falcons worldwide.

## Related WARN raptor guides
This page covers falcons in family Falconidae — distinct from hawks and eagles. For the wider raptor guild read WARN's eagle hub, hawk guide (Accipitridae buteos and accipiters), osprey guide (fish specialist) and harpy eagle page for Neotropical forest giants.

The peregrine recovery from DDT shows that removing the cause of decline allows species to rebound — a principle that applies across raptor conservation.

Legal falconry uses captive-bred birds in most countries; illegal wild trapping of saker falcons remains a serious threat in Central Asia.

## WARN work
WARN publishes this falcon guide as free public education. The peregrine recovery from DDT extinction shows that species can rebound when the cause of decline is removed — a message relevant to conservation worldwide.

## Donation hook
If this guide helps you understand wildlife and the pressures it faces, a gift to WARN supports habitat protection and free public education in our partner countries.


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

## What is the fastest animal on Earth?
The peregrine falcon, which reaches over 320 km/h in a hunting stoop — a vertical dive onto prey. This is the fastest recorded speed of any animal.

## What is the difference between a falcon and a hawk?
Falcons (Falconidae) have pointed wings, a notched beak tooth and kill with the beak. Hawks (Accipitridae) have broader wings, kill with talons and belong to a separate family.

## Are falcons endangered?
Most falcon species are Least Concern after recovery from DDT declines. The saker falcon is Endangered; the Mauritius kestrel recovered from four individuals through intensive conservation.

## What is falconry?
Falconry is hunting with trained birds of prey — a tradition at least 4,000 years old. Modern falconry is regulated and typically uses captive-bred birds. Illegal wild trapping threatens saker falcons.

## Why did peregrine falcons nearly go extinct?
DDT pesticide caused eggshell thinning and nesting failure across North America and Europe. After DDT was banned in the 1970s and captive breeding programmes released thousands of birds, peregrines recovered globally.

## Where do peregrine falcons nest?
Peregrines nest on cliffs, skyscrapers, bridges and quarries — any high ledge with access to prey. Urban peregrines hunt pigeons and starlings in cities worldwide.


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

## One-line answer
The osprey (Pandion haliaetus) is a Least Concern fish-eating raptor found worldwide, the only member of family Pandionidae; it recovered from DDT declines and hunts by plunging feet-first into water to catch fish.

## Introduction
The osprey is a large fish-eating raptor found on every continent except Antarctica, the only species in the family Pandionidae. Ospreys hunt by hovering over water and plunging feet-first to grab fish with barbed talons and reversible outer toes — specialisations unique among raptors. Like peregrine falcons, ospreys were devastated by DDT pesticide in the mid-twentieth century before recovering after its ban. Listed as Least Concern, ospreys now nest on every continent and have adapted to artificial nesting platforms, pylons and harbour structures. They migrate enormous distances — GPS-tracked birds fly from Scotland to West Africa.

## Takeaway
Ospreys eat fish almost exclusively — roughly 99% of their diet.

## Takeaway
They are the only member of the family Pandionidae — a distinct raptor lineage.

## Takeaway
Ospreys dive feet-first into water, grabbing fish with barbed, reversible talons.

## Takeaway
DDT pesticide nearly wiped out ospreys before recovery after its ban.

## Takeaway
Ospreys nest on every continent except Antarctica, including artificial platforms.

## Takeaway
GPS tracking shows migrations of over 8,000 km between breeding and wintering grounds.

## A raptor built for fish
The osprey occupies its own family, Pandionidae, reflecting its unique specialisations. Dense, oily plumage repels water during dives. Barbed pads on the soles grip slippery fish. The outer toe is reversible — able to point forward or backward — providing a two-by-two talon grip.

Nostrils close on impact with water. Ospreys hunt by hovering 10–40 m above water, then plunging feet-first, sometimes submerging completely. They carry fish head-first for aerodynamic flight. Roughly 99% of the diet is fish, typically 15–30 cm long.

No other raptor hunts this way — ospreys are convergent specialists, sometimes called 'fish hawks' but taxonomically separate from true hawks.

## Global range and migration
Four subspecies range across the world. Pandion haliaetus haliaetus breeds across Eurasia and winters in Africa and South-east Asia. P. h. carolinensis breeds in North America, wintering in Central and South America. P. h. ridgwayi is resident in the Caribbean; P. h. cristatus in Australasia. Ospreys are long-distance migrants — GPS-tracked birds from Scotland fly over 8,000 km to West Africa. They return to the same nest site annually, often mating for life. Nests are large stick structures on cliffs, trees, pylons, buoys and purpose-built platforms.

## DDT recovery and nesting platforms
Ospreys shared the peregrine falcon's fate during the DDT era — eggshell thinning caused nesting failure across North America and Europe. After DDT was banned in the 1970s, populations rebounded. Conservationists accelerated recovery by installing artificial nesting platforms on poles, buoys and harbour structures. Ospreys readily adopted these, expanding into areas where natural nest sites were scarce. Today the global population exceeds 460,000 mature individuals. Ospreys nest near humans more readily than most large raptors, making them ambassadors for wetland and coastal conservation.


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

## Conservation and modern threats
The IUCN lists the osprey as Least Concern with an increasing global population. Modern threats include entanglement in fishing line and nets, rodenticide and pesticide accumulation, wind turbine collisions near coastal migration routes, and habitat loss of wetlands and clean waterways. Clean water supports fish stocks that sustain ospreys — making them indicators of aquatic ecosystem health. CITES Appendix II regulates international trade. Protecting wetlands, reducing fishing gear discard and maintaining nest platforms support osprey populations worldwide.

## Related WARN raptor guides
Ospreys sit alone in Pandionidae — but readers often compare them with hawks, eagles and falcons. Read WARN's hawk guide for Accipitridae buteos and accipiters, falcon guide for stoop hunters, and eagle hub for large apex raptors including harpy eagle.

The osprey recovery from DDT mirrors the peregrine falcon story — both demonstrate that banning persistent pesticides allows raptor populations to rebound when nesting habitat is protected.

Artificial nesting platforms remain one of conservation's simplest, most effective tools for this species.

## WARN work
WARN publishes this osprey guide as free public education. The osprey recovery from DDT extinction demonstrates that removing the cause of decline allows species to rebound — a principle that applies across conservation.

## Donation hook
If this guide helps you understand wildlife and the pressures it faces, a gift to WARN supports habitat protection and free public education in our partner countries.


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

## What do ospreys eat?
Ospreys eat fish almost exclusively — roughly 99% of their diet. They hunt by hovering and plunging feet-first into water, grabbing fish with barbed talons.

## Are ospreys eagles or hawks?
Neither. Ospreys belong to their own family, Pandionidae, separate from Accipitridae (hawks and eagles) and Falconidae (falcons). They are sometimes called 'fish hawks' but are not true hawks.

## Why did ospreys nearly go extinct?
DDT pesticide caused eggshell thinning and nesting failure across North America and Europe in the mid-twentieth century. After DDT was banned, populations recovered strongly.

## How do ospreys catch fish?
Ospreys hover above water, then plunge feet-first, sometimes submerging completely. Barbed talons and reversible outer toes grip slippery fish. They carry catches head-first for aerodynamic flight.

## Do ospreys migrate?
Most osprey populations are migratory. GPS-tracked birds fly over 8,000 km between breeding grounds in Europe and wintering areas in West Africa.

## Are ospreys endangered?
Ospreys are Least Concern with over 460,000 mature individuals globally and an increasing population trend after recovery from DDT declines.


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

## One-line answer
Eagles are large birds of prey in the family Accipitridae — roughly 60 species worldwide; they are apex raptors with powerful talons and keen eyesight, with conservation status ranging from recovered (bald eagle) to Critically Endangered (Philippine eagle).

## Introduction
Eagles are large birds of prey in the family Accipitridae, found on every continent except Antarctica. Roughly 60 species share the eagle name, from the golden eagle of the Northern Hemisphere to the bald eagle of North America, the wedge-tailed eagle of Australia and the critically endangered Philippine eagle. Eagles are defined by size, power and hunting ecology rather than a single taxonomic group — they occupy the top of the raptor hierarchy with broad wings, massive talons and exceptional eyesight. Conservation status varies sharply: bald eagles recovered from DDT extinction to over 300,000 individuals, while the Philippine eagle and Spanish imperial eagle remain Critically Endangered. This guide covers eagles as a group; see WARN's harpy eagle guide for that specific species.

## Takeaway
Eagles are large Accipitridae raptors — defined by size and power, not a single genus.

## Takeaway
Roughly 60 eagle species range across every continent except Antarctica.

## Takeaway
The bald eagle recovered from DDT near-extinction to over 300,000 individuals.

## Takeaway
The Philippine eagle and Spanish imperial eagle are Critically Endangered.

## Takeaway
Eagles pair for life and reuse massive nest structures for decades.

## Takeaway
Habitat loss, persecution and pesticide poisoning remain threats for many species.

## What makes an eagle?
'Eagle' is a common name for the largest and most powerful Accipitridae raptors, rather than a strict taxonomic category. Sea eagles (Haliaeetus — bald eagle, white-tailed eagle) fish in coastal and river habitats. Booted eagles (Aquila — golden eagle, wedge-tailed eagle) hunt mammals on open ground and mountains. Forest eagles (Harpia, Pithecophaga, Morphnus) are giant specialists of tropical canopy. Snake eagles (Circaetus) feed on reptiles. Each group occupies a distinct ecological niche.

What unites them is size — most eagles weigh 3–7 kg or more — powerful grasping talons, broad wings for soaring and exceptional long-distance vision. An eagle's eyes fill much of the skull, with two foveae for forward and side focus simultaneously. That optical hardware lets a golden eagle spot a hare from three kilometres while riding a thermal.

Because 'eagle' spans multiple genera, conservation status varies enormously. Always check species-level assessments rather than assuming all eagles share the same trajectory.


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

## Sea eagles, golden eagles and forest giants
The bald eagle (Haliaeetus leucocephalus) is North America's national symbol, recovered from fewer than 500 breeding pairs in the lower 48 states to over 300,000 individuals after DDT was banned. The white-tailed eagle rebounded similarly across Europe. Golden eagles (Aquila chrysaetos) range across the Northern Hemisphere, hunting hares, marmots and ground birds on open terrain.

At the other extreme, the Philippine eagle (Pithecophaga jefferyi) — Critically Endangered with fewer than 400 pairs — hunts monkeys and flying lemurs in remnant rainforest. The harpy eagle of Central and South America is covered in a separate WARN guide with full conservation detail for Brazil and Colombia.

Steller's sea eagle of Russia and Japan, the wedge-tailed eagle of Australia and the African fish eagle each fill similar apex roles on different continents — proof that eagle ecology repeats wherever large prey and open air meet.

## Threats and recovery
Eagles face diverse threats. DDT and other pesticides caused eggshell thinning and near-extinction for bald and white-tailed eagles before bans enabled recovery. Habitat loss — deforestation for forest eagles, wetland drainage for sea eagles — removes nesting and hunting grounds. Persecution persists: golden eagles are still poisoned and shot on grouse moors in Scotland; wedge-tailed eagles were persecuted by ranchers in Australia.

Wind turbine collisions kill eagles at coastal and mountain migration routes. Lead ammunition in carrion poisons eagles that scavenge shot game. Illegal trade in feathers and live birds affects crested and forest eagle species.

Recovery stories matter: the bald eagle's rebound shows that removing a chemical cause can restore a population within decades when habitat remains. Forest eagles lack that easy fix — they need intact canopy and anti-poaching patrols.

## Eagles and human culture
Eagles hold extraordinary cultural significance. The bald eagle adorns the Great Seal of the United States; the golden eagle appears on flags and coats of arms across Eurasia; the Philippine eagle is a national symbol of the Philippines. Indigenous peoples across North America, Siberia and Australia revere eagles in ceremony and art.

That cultural weight can aid conservation — public outrage over DDT-driven eagle declines helped catalyse pesticide regulation — or hinder it, when demand for eagle feathers or live birds fuels illegal trade. Ethical ecotourism that values living eagles supports habitat protection in range countries.

For students and searchers, eagles exemplify why apex predators need space: huge territories, stable prey bases and freedom from poisoned carrion.

## Related WARN eagle and raptor guides
This page is the eagle family hub. For the Critically Endangered harpy eagle of Neotropical rainforest — a forest giant of Brazil and Colombia — read WARN's dedicated harpy eagle wildlife guide.

Smaller raptors share the Accipitridae tree: kestrel, red kite and buzzard guides cover common European and North American hawks; osprey, falcon and hawk pages address fish-hunting and open-country specialists. Together they map the raptor guild for readers who search 'eagle' but need a specific species.

Supporting habitat protection appeals helps every raptor in the guild — from marsh-hunting harriers to cliff-nesting peregrines.

## WARN work
WARN publishes this eagle guide as free public education. Our harpy eagle guide covers that Critically Endangered forest giant in detail; this page helps searchers understand the wider eagle family and the threats apex raptors face worldwide.

## Donation hook
If this guide helps you understand wildlife and the pressures it faces, a gift to WARN supports habitat protection and free public education in our partner countries.


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

## How many eagle species are there?
Roughly 60 species worldwide, grouped in genera including Aquila (golden eagles), Haliaeetus (sea eagles), Harpia (harpy eagle), Pithecophaga (Philippine eagle) and others. 'Eagle' describes size and ecology, not a single genus.

## What is the difference between an eagle and a hawk?
Eagles are generally larger and more powerful, with broader wings and heavier beaks. Hawks (buteos and accipiters) are typically smaller and more manoeuvrable. Both belong to Accipitridae — the distinction is size and hunting ecology.

## Are bald eagles endangered?
No. Bald eagles recovered from near extinction — fewer than 500 breeding pairs in the lower 48 US states — to over 300,000 individuals after DDT was banned. They are now Least Concern.

## Which eagle is most endangered?
The Philippine eagle (Pithecophaga jefferyi) is Critically Endangered with fewer than 400 breeding pairs. The Spanish imperial eagle and Steller's sea eagle are also Endangered.

## How well can eagles see?
Eagle vision is roughly eight times sharper than human sight, with higher cone density for colour detection. A golden eagle can spot a rabbit from over 3 km away while soaring.

## Do eagles mate for life?
Most eagle species form long-term pair bonds and return to the same nest site annually. Nests — called eyries — are massive stick structures reused and expanded for decades, sometimes reaching several metres across.


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

## One-line answer
Rhinoceroses are five living species of horned megaherbivores in Africa and Asia; all are threatened by poaching for keratin horn, with three species Critically Endangered including the Sumatran rhino with fewer than 50 individuals.

## Introduction
Rhinoceroses are massive herbivorous mammals of the family Rhinocerotidae, defined by one or two keratin horns on the snout and thick grey skin that looks like armour plating. Five species survive: white and black rhinos in Africa; greater one-horned, Javan and Sumatran rhinos in Asia. All are threatened — three are Critically Endangered. Rhino horn is made of keratin, the same protein as human fingernails, yet illegal trade drives poaching that kills more than a thousand rhinos annually in Africa alone. The Sumatran rhino — the smallest and hairiest — numbers fewer than 50 individuals. This guide covers rhinos as a family; see WARN's Sumatran rhino guide for that species in detail.

## Takeaway
Five rhino species survive — white, black, greater one-horned, Javan and Sumatran.

## Takeaway
Rhino horn is keratin — the same protein as fingernails — with no proven medical value.

## Takeaway
Three species are Critically Endangered: black, Javan and Sumatran rhino.

## Takeaway
The Sumatran rhino is the smallest and rarest, with fewer than 50 individuals.

## Takeaway
Poaching for the illegal horn trade is the primary threat to all five species.

## Takeaway
White rhinos recovered from fewer than 100 to over 17,000 through intensive protection.

## Five species, two continents
African rhinos comprise the white rhino (Ceratotherium simum) — the largest, with a wide square lip for grazing — and the black rhino (Diceros bicornis) — smaller, with a pointed lip for browsing. White rhinos number over 17,000 after recovery from near extinction; the northern white rhino is functionally extinct with two surviving females. Asian rhinos include the greater one-horned rhino (Rhinoceros unicornis) of India and Nepal — recovered to over 4,000; the Javan rhino (Rhinoceros sondaicus) — Critically Endangered with around 50 individuals confined to Ujung Kulon National Park on Java, following a 2019–2023 poaching operation; and the Sumatran rhino (Dicerorhinus sumatrensis) — the smallest, hairiest and rarest, with fewer than 50 individuals in Indonesia.

## The horn trade and poaching crisis
Rhino horn consists of keratin — compressed hair — with no scientifically proven medicinal value. Despite this, demand in Vietnam and China for traditional medicine and status symbols drives an illegal trade worth hundreds of millions of dollars annually. Poachers use high-powered rifles, veterinary immobilising drugs and chainsaws to remove horns from living or dead animals. At the 2015 peak, more than 1,300 rhinos were poached in South Africa alone. Anti-poaching units, dehorning programmes, DNA horn tracking and demand-reduction campaigns have reduced poaching rates, but the threat persists wherever rhinos carry horn.


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

## Ecology and behaviour
Rhinos are megaherbivores shaping savanna and forest ecosystems. White rhinos graze grass, maintaining open savanna; black rhinos browse shrubs and trees. Greater one-horned rhinos graze and browse floodplain vegetation. All species use wallows and mud baths to regulate temperature and remove parasites. Rhinos have poor eyesight but acute hearing and smell. They communicate through vocalisations, scent marking and dung piles. Calves stay with mothers for two to four years. Despite their bulk — white rhinos reach 2,300 kg — rhinos can charge at 50 km/h when threatened.

## Conservation successes and priorities
Rhino conservation has notable successes alongside catastrophic losses. White rhinos recovered from fewer than 100 in the 1890s to over 17,000 through translocation and protected-area management. Greater one-horned rhinos rebounded from roughly 200 to over 4,000. The Javan rhino persists in a single population in Ujung Kulon National Park. Sumatran rhino recovery depends on captive breeding and isolated wild populations in Indonesia. CITES Appendix I bans all commercial international horn trade. WARN's rhino appeal supports anti-poaching and habitat work; see the Sumatran rhino guide for detail on the rarest species.

## WARN work
WARN funds anti-poaching and habitat protection for rhinos through our rhino appeal. This guide is free public education about all five rhino species — helping searchers understand the horn trade crisis and why every rhino population matters.

## Donation hook
If this guide helps you understand wildlife and the pressures it faces, a gift to WARN supports habitat protection and free public education in our partner countries.


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

## How many rhino species are there?
Five living species: white and black rhino in Africa; greater one-horned, Javan and Sumatran rhino in Asia. Three are Critically Endangered.

## What is rhino horn made of?
Keratin — the same protein as human fingernails and hair. It has no scientifically proven medicinal value, yet illegal demand drives poaching across Africa and Asia.

## Which rhino is most endangered?
The Sumatran rhino is the rarest, with an estimated 34–47 individuals in Indonesia. The Javan rhino numbers around 50 after a 2019–2023 poaching operation. The northern white rhino is functionally extinct — two females remain.

## Are white rhinos extinct?
Southern white rhinos number over 17,000 — a major recovery success. The northern white rhino is functionally extinct with only two surviving females in Kenya; the last male died in 2018. Scientists have created dozens of embryos from frozen sperm and the two females' eggs, with transfers into surrogate southern white rhinos attempted in 2024–2025.

## Why are rhinos poached?
For their horns, driven by demand in Vietnam and China for traditional medicine and status symbols. Horn is keratin with no proven medical benefit, but black-market prices exceed gold per kilogram.

## How many rhinos are left in the world?
Roughly 27,000 rhinos survive across all five species — about 23,000 in Africa and 4,000 in Asia. Three species are Critically Endangered.


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

## One-line answer
Bears are eight living species in the family Ursidae across North America, South America, Europe and Asia; conservation status ranges from abundant (American black bear) to Vulnerable (polar bear, sun bear) to dependent on intensive protection (giant panda).

## Introduction
Bears are large mammals of the family Ursidae — eight living species across four continents. From the polar bear on Arctic ice to the spectacled bear in Andean cloud forest, bears occupy an extraordinary range of habitats. All are omnivorous generalists with keen smell, non-retractable claws and the ability to enter winter torpor. Conservation status varies: American black bears number over 800,000; polar bears are Vulnerable to climate change; sun bears and Asiatic black bears face bile farming and habitat loss; the giant panda became a global conservation icon. This guide covers bears as a family; see WARN's sun bear guide for Southeast Asian bear welfare and bile farming.

## Takeaway
Eight bear species survive across four continents — the most widespread carnivore family.

## Takeaway
All bears are omnivorous generalists with excellent smell and non-retractable claws.

## Takeaway
Polar bears depend on sea ice; climate change is their primary threat.

## Takeaway
Sun bears and Asiatic black bears suffer in the bile farming industry across Asia.

## Takeaway
American black bears number over 800,000 — a conservation success in North America.

## Takeaway
The giant panda recovery from Endangered to Vulnerable is a flagship conservation achievement.

## Eight bears across four continents
The family Ursidae contains eight species. North America holds the American black bear, grizzly (brown) bear and polar bear. South America has the spectacled (Andean) bear — the only bear on the continent. Europe and Asia share the brown bear and the Asiatic black bear (moon bear). Asia also holds the sloth bear of India, the sun bear of Southeast Asia and the giant panda of China. The brown bear has the widest range of any bear — from the Arctic to Turkey — with the largest populations in Russia, Alaska and Canada. Each species occupies a distinct ecological niche shaped by habitat and diet.

## Ecology, diet and denning
Bears are omnivorous generalists. Polar bears hunt seals on sea ice; brown bears catch salmon, graze berries and dig for roots; black bears raid beehives and scavenge carrion; pandas eat almost exclusively bamboo; sun bears tear open tropical trees for honey and insects. All bears except polar bears (and some tropical species) enter winter torpor — a state of reduced metabolism in dens. Pregnant females give birth during torpor, nursing cubs for months before emerging. Bear intelligence is well documented: tool use, long-term memory of food sources and problem-solving in human-modified landscapes.

## Bile farming and the bear trade
Asiatic black bears and sun bears suffer in the bear bile industry — caged for years and milked for bile used in traditional medicine. Bear bile contains ursodeoxycholic acid, a compound with real pharmaceutical applications, but synthetic alternatives have existed since the 1950s. Bear bile farming is legal only in China; Vietnam banned extraction in 2005. Sun bear cubs are taken from the wild for the pet trade. CITES Appendix I protects most bear species from commercial international trade. WARN's moon bear and sun bear appeals support rescue and sanctuary care for bile farm survivors.