Amur TigerPanthera tigris

Tigers can eat 100 pounds of meat a night. That’s 400 hamburgers! Tigers need a lot of food because they go days between meals. 

Tigers have white spots on the backs of their ears know as “follow me spots”. These markings help tiger cubs locate their mother in the thick, green forest. 

In the 1940s, Amur Tigers were on the brink of extinction, with fewer than 40 individuals surviving in the wild. Thanks to vigorous anti-poaching and conservation efforts, the population recovered and remained stable. This species isn’t out of the woods yet, as poaching and loss of habitat continue to threaten them.  Fewer than 400 Amur Tigers survive in the wild.

Animal Class

Mammal

Diet

Carnivore

Status in Wild

Endangered

Snow LeopardPanthera uncia

Snow Leopards are amazing jumpers; they are able to leap up to 30 feet. Native to the mountains of Central Asia, snow leopards jump onto narrow ledges and barrel down steep slopes as part of a day's hunt.  

Snow Leopards use their thick, furry tails to aid in balancing, much like you would stretch out your arms to balance on a log. Their tail is nearly as long as their body.

The main threat to the Snow Leopard’s survival comes from human actions. Snow leopards are poached for their thick fur and internal organs used in traditional Chinese medicine; they also suffer from habitat and prey loss. Fewer than 7,000 Snow Leopards exist in the wild.

Animal Class

Mammal

Diet

Carnivore

Status in Wild

Endangered

Grevy's ZebraEquus grevyi

Grevy’s Zebras have black stripes that cover their whole body, except for their belly, which is white.  Stripes confuse predators by making it difficult to single out an individual when they’re gathered in a group.  

Each zebra has a unique stripe pattern, like a person’s fingerprint.

The species has undergone one of the most significant reductions of range of any African mammal.  Competition with domestic grazing animals, habitat destruction, and human disturbance at critical water holes have added to their decline.

Near the end of the 1970s, the Grevy’s Zebra population throughout Africa was about 15,000.  Now, just 30 years later, it is estimated that less than 2,000 Grevy’s Zebras live the wild. 

Animal Class

Mammal

Diet

Herbivore

Status in Wild

Endangered

Siamang GibbonSymphalangus syndactylus

Siamang Gibbons are apes, not monkeys. One way to distinguish apes from monkeys is that apes do not have tails.

Siamang Gibbons are known for their calls, and paired males and females create their own unique “song.” It consists of a series of booms and barks, and is amplified by their inflatable throat sacs.  Even the couple’s kids get involved; each one adds their own sound to the call.  

Siamang Gibbons are one of the 43 Species Survival Plan animals cared for by the Great Plains Zoo. This species’ numbers have declined by at least 50 percent over the past 40 years due primarily to hunting for the pet trade and continued habitat loss. 

Animal Class

Mammal

Diet

Omnivore

Status in Wild

Endangered

African Wild DogsLycaon pictus

African Wild Dogs live in packs of two individuals all the way up to 20 individuals, and the pack is led by an alpha pair. Typically, only the alpha pair breeds; however, the entire pack will assist in raising the pups.

They also work in packs with cooperative hunting behavior. The larger the pack, the larger the prey that the pack can hunt. The Dogs will hunt anything from small antelope to larger prey such as buffalo.

African Wild Dogs are also commonly referred to as African Painted Dogs due to spots on their bodies that resemble paint splotches.

African Wild Dogs are considered to be an endangered species, due to habitat loss, disease and poaching.

Animal Class

Mammal

Diet

Carnivore

Status in Wild

Endangered

Giant AnteaterMyrmecophaga tridactyla

The Anteater’s long head conceals a 24-inch-long tongue. Their tongues are covered in spines that point backward and extra-sticky saliva. Their tongues can extend and retract at the rate of 150 times per minute. These adaptations help them devour thousands of ants and termites every day.  

Giant Anteaters are threatened by habitat loss, grassland fires, and hunting. This species has undergone a population loss of at least 30% in the last 10 years.      

You can see the Giant Anteater near our Wild Dogs of America exhibit.

Animal Class

Mammal

Diet

Omnivore

Status in Wild

Endangered

Humboldt PenguinSpheniscus humboldti

Unlike their Antarctic counterparts, Humboldt Penguins live in warm and temperate climates off the coast of Peru and Chile. 
Humboldt Penguins have a gland which enables them to drink salt water in addition to fresh water; the gland concentrates excess salt which then dribbles down their bill.

Habitat loss and competition from the fishing industry are threats to the Humboldt Penguin. They are also vulnerable to the natural weather pattern El Nino. When the water gets too warm, plants in the ocean die which reduces the penguin’s food supply.

Animal Class

Bird

Diet

Carnivore

Status in Wild

Endangered

Red PandaAilurus fulgens

Red Pandas were originally grouped in the same family as Raccoons due to similarities in teeth, skulls and ringed tails. Later, they were regrouped in the same family as Bears because of DNA similarities. The Red Panda’s natural habitat is shrinking due to deforestation and encroachment due to agriculture. 

You can find Red Pandas in the Prairie Cabin in the Hy-Vee Face-to-Face Farm. 

Animal Class

Mammal

Diet

Omnivore

Status in Wild

Endangered

Red Panda

Roji

Roji is a 4-year-old Red Panda. Red Pandas are found in regions of China, Nepal and India. They are omnivores, which means they eat a little bit of everything but Red Pandas focus on eating primarily bamboo and plants. Red Pandas spend most of their time climbing in trees; over time they have developed a small false thumb that helps them climb and hold their food. Roji is a very curious animal with a sweet deposition. She loves to spend time relaxing on her favorite branch!

Adopt a Red Panda Today!

Animal Class

Mammal

Diet

Herbivore

Status in Wild

Endangered

Humboldt Penguin

Maya

Humboldt Penguin Maya is a 4-year-old Humboldt Penguin. In the wild, you can find these penguins on the coasts of Chile and Peru. They weigh around 9 to 11 pounds and can live up to 30 years! Since these penguins live in warm climates, they have adaptations to help them stay cool. First off, they have bare patches of skin around their eyes to release body heat and they also blush! When they get too warm, they flush pink which helps them to shed heat. Maya is a playful penguin who loves to explore new places and toys. Make sure to keep an eye on your feet because she loves to untie shoelaces!

Adopt a Penguin Today!

Animal Class

Bird

Diet

Carnivore

Status in Wild

Endangered