About Our Animals

American Elk

Also known as the Wapiti, this large deer is found in western North America. The male elk, bulls, use their antlers in mating jousts. The huge antlers are shed and regrown every year. The most polygamous deer in America and perhaps the world, bull elks assemble harems of up to 60 cows (females).

Bald Eagle  (Haliaeetus leucocephalus)

The bald eagle gets its name from the white color found on its head. An adult bird can have a wingspan of up to eight (8) feet. In the winter, they spend much of their time around lakes, rivers, and coastal areas for finding fish. Eagles belong to a group of birds called raptors, or birds of prey. The bald eagle, which is solely native to North America, has been a protected species since 1940.

Bengal Tiger  (Panthera tigris tigris)

The Bengal Tiger lives in India, Bangladesh, Burma, Nepal, and Bhutan. There are believed to be 3,240 - 4,700 Bengal Tigers in the wild. The Bengal Tiger’s fur is an orange-yellow color, with distinctive black stripes. The stripes fade to the belly, which is white.  The Bengal tiger preys upon animals such as deer, antelope, pigs, and buffalo. Although, there may be as few as one (1) or as many as seven (7) cubs, litters typically consist of two (2) to three (3) cubs. Parents begin to teach the young to hunt at eight (8) weeks of age.

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American Bison  (Bison bison)

Also known as the American buffalo, these animals live in hierarchal herds led by a dominant female. The bison is almost extinct in the wild but once numbered more than 50 million. They can be found in warm, dry plains as well as mountainous regions. Their heavy coats and thick manes are impervious to snow and ice.

Lion  (Panthera leo)

The lion exhibits a unique trait among felines, it lives in a social group known as a pride. The female lions hunt together, and the male lions protect the pride. Found throughout central and south Africa, the lion's status in the wild is vulnerable.

Reticulated Python  (Python reticulatus)

The reticulated python can grow to a length of 33 feet and weigh over 400 pounds. It is the longest snake in the entire world! Native to Southeast Asia, this species diet includes birds and mammals.

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Two-toed Sloth  (Choloepus didactylus)

The two-toed sloth is found in South America, and lives in rainforests. The two-toed sloth feeds on fruits and vegetables. Its fur serves as camouflage, and protects it from predators. The two-toed sloth moves very slowly, and on its fur, algae grows. In the wild, its coat serves as a "habitat" for moths, beetles and mites that live off the algae.

Wrinkled Hornbill  (Aceros corrugatus)

This colorful bird is often mistaken for a toucan, but is more closely related to a kingfisher. Their diet consists of fruit, insects, and other small animals. In all hornbill species, the female seals herself into a tree cavity and incubates her eggs. The male hornbill will pass food through a small slit in the tree. As the chicks grow, the female will break out of the sealed nest to help the male feed the family. The nest is sealed with a combination of mud, food, and excrement!