WildlifeTrip

10 Places Where Penguins Live in the Wild

While most people associate penguins with the endless ice and snow of Antarctica, the cute critters inhabit diverse countries and habitats. Barring the Galapagos penguin which lives on tropical islands just to the north of the equator, all the rest of the 17 or so species can be found in scenic and secluded spots within the Southern Hemisphere.

In general, penguins live in colonies along a country’s coastline or on isolated islands that are surrounded by waters teeming with krill, fish, and squid; their main food source. Highly adapted for life at sea, the flightless birds have flippers rather than wings which propel them through the water after their prey.

To help them evade and escape predators such as orcas and leopard seals, the agile aquatic creatures are camouflaged with black backs and white fronts. Penguins come in a wide range of sizes with the smallest standing at just 30 centimeters in height and the tallest – the majestic emperor penguin – towering to over a meter.

1. Antarctica

Antarctica© dreamstime

Surrounding the South Pole is the Earth’s southernmost continent, the inhospitable and ice-clad Antarctica. Amidst the biting cold and blinding blizzards, five species of penguin live, huddling together for warmth and protection, on the thick pack ice and endless ice shelves.

The most famous of these is the aforementioned emperor penguin, the tallest and heaviest of the entire species. Remarkably enough, they are also the only kind that breeds during the freezing Antarctic winters in massive breeding colonies that number in the thousands.

Like their nearby neighbors, Adelie, Chinstrap, Gentoo and King penguins also live on and around the icy edges of Antarctica. While seeing these incredible waddling creatures from up close is an amazing experience, Antarctica is, unfortunately, the most inaccessible of all Earth’s continents with only a few tours that take people to see the penguins each year.

2. South Africa

South Africa© dreamstime

While most people would usually associate Africa with lions, elephants, and giraffes, the continent is also home to the African penguin with numerous colonies found scattered along South Africa’s coastline. Also known as the ‘black-footed’ or ‘jackass penguin’ due to its loud donkey-like bray, the charismatic species is very popular with tourists but has sadly been in decline for a while now.

In total, South Africa is home to the vast majority of the Earth’s African penguin population. Most of the beautiful birds reside either in Algoa Bay, the Eastern Cape or on isolated islands off the Western Cape. The most popular place to see them, and even swim alongside them, though is at Boulders Beach, just outside Cape Town.

Besides walking alongside penguins on the sheltered beach, visitors can also view the 60 centimeter-tall birds and their colony from the nearby boardwalk. As well as being a top tourist attraction, the penguins play an important role in the survival of their species. They are the only colony to still breed on the continent, with all the rest nesting on islands offshore.

3. Galapagos Islands

Galapagos Islands© dreamstime

Renowned around the world for its unique wildlife, the isolated Ecuadorian archipelago of the Galapagos Islands lies in the Pacific Ocean, over a thousand kilometers from the mainland of South America. Although the small collection of volcanic islands are tropical, they host the Earth’s northernmost penguin population; the Galapagos penguin.

Despite the warm climate, the second smallest species of penguin has survived thanks to the cooling and nutrient-rich waters of the Humboldt and Cromwell Currents. In addition to this, they have also developed several ingenious techniques to keep cool, such as panting, protecting their feet from the sun, and keeping their eggs and chicks in the shade.

Almost all of the penguins can be found on the western islands of Fernandina and Isabela, with only small scatterings living on the other isles. A monogamous species that mates for life, the Galapagos penguin is sadly in steep decline due to factors such as illegal fishing, unreliable food sources, and the many predators that prey on them due to their small size.

4. New Zealand

New Zealand© dreamstime

Although it might not get quite as cold as Antarctica, a staggering 13 species of penguin have been sighted in New Zealand over the years. While some breed along the South Island’s cold and craggy coastline, others inhabit the subantarctic archipelagos of the Antipodes, Auckland, Bounty, Campbell, and Snares Islands.

Lying hundreds of kilometers to the south of mainland New Zealand, these isolated and uninhabited islands boast several important breeding colonies. Within their rocky reaches live erect-crested, southern rockhopper and Snares penguins; all of which exhibit exquisitely coloured quiffs and crests.

On the South Island, you can also find other species, such as the Fiordland crested penguin and the rare yellow-eyed penguin. While the former remarkably nests among tree roots and in coastal forests, the latter makes for a very popular tourist attraction with many people going to visit the colonies on the Otago Peninsula.

5. Argentina

Argentina© dreamstime

The eighth-largest country in the world, Argentina lies mostly in the southern half of South America with its cold climes home to four species of penguin. While only a few small Gentoo breeding colonies have so far been discovered, Macaroni, southern rockhopper and Magellanic penguins are relatively common and inhabit numerous coastal regions and islands.

As the Macaroni penguins in Argentina only breed on isolated islands that are very inaccessible, most visitors instead go to see the other two species. At Puerto Deseado, for instance, you can take a boat trip to the nearby Isla Pinguino to see southern rockhoppers hopping about the rocky island and nesting amidst its tall grasses.

One of the most popular places to see penguins, however, is at Punta Tombo in Patagonia where hundreds of thousands of Magellanic penguins come to breed between August and October each year. Stretching for as far as the eye can see, the massive colony certainly makes for a spectacular sight as all the proud parents and fluffy hatchlings coat the wide beaches of the peninsula.

6. Namibia

Namibia© dreamstime

While Namibia might not be the first place that springs to mind when people think of penguins, the Southern African nation also has a couple of colonies scattered along its rocky coastline. In general, small groups of African penguins can be found either in secluded spots on the mainland that are protected from predators or on craggy coastal islands just offshore.

Many of the smallish species breed at either Hollams Bird Island or the Cape Cross Seal Reserve, with many more residing on the, appropriately named, Penguin Islands. In total, the pretty penguins can be found from Roastbeef Island in the south, right up to Cape Fria in the north. They can be distinguished from other kinds of penguins by the distinctive pink glands above their eyes.

While the number of African penguins on the continent has sadly been in decline now for a few decades, due to decreases in sardine stocks and other environmental pressures, Namibia’s population has thankfully remained relatively stable.

7. South Georgia Island

South Georgia Island© dreamstime

Surrounded by the wild waters of the Atlantic Ocean is the secluded subantarctic South Georgia Island, over two thousand kilometers to the east of South America’s tip. Administered by the United Kingdom, and only accessible by boat, its remote reaches and numerous bays and fjords are home to a plethora of penguins, as well as countless other kinds of birds and seals.

Most hardy adventurers and avid bird watchers who make it to the isolated isle come to see its huge colonies of King penguins. In total, around a million of the incredible creatures can be found at both St Andrews Bay and Salisbury Plain where they cover its beaches year-round. This is because the waters surrounding the island are rich in terms of both nutrients and sea life. The aquatic birds are remarkably able to dive over a hundred metres in depth to search for food.

While seeing so many of the second largest species of penguin is certainly South Georgia’s standout attraction, the idyllic isle is also inhabited by colonies of chinstrap and Gentoo penguins. It is also well known for boasting the world’s largest colony of Macaroni penguins, said to number around three million breeding pairs in total.

8. Falkland Islands

Falkland Islands© dreamstime

Made up of two main islands and hundreds of smaller ones, the Falkland Islands are located far off the east coast of Argentina in South America. Biogeographically part of the Antarctic zone, its cold and wind-swept coasts, hills, and even cliffs, are inhabited by penguins with many other birds and wildlife also on show.

The most prevalent of its penguins are the remarkable rockhoppers who defy gravity as they scale steep cliffs to sit atop of escarpments overlooking the sea. While there certainly are a lot of them, most of the migratory species live on and around the uninhabited Beauchene and Jason islands.

The Falkland Islands are also home to the largest population of Gentoo penguins in the world. Due to this, the cute critters with their distinctive white head marking act somewhat as a mascot for the British overseas territory. The archipelago also has sizeable colonies of King, Macaroni and Magellanic penguins scattered about here and there.

9. Chile

Chile© dreamstime

Sandwiched between the Andes to the east and the Pacific Ocean to the west, is the long and narrow country of Chile which makes up most of the west of South America. Home to a staggeringly long coastline, it boasts some of the most awe-inspiring and accessible penguin populations in the world. Five different species can be found inhabiting its cooler southern realms.

Just off the southernmost tip of mainland South America, for instance, is the Tierra del Fuego where you can find the phenomenal Pinguino Rey Park. As well as being home to stunning scenery, it also boasts the continent’s only colony of King penguins, who make for a fine sight with their regal stature and colourful plumage.

Besides the many Macaroni, Magellanic and southern rockhopper penguins who live along Chile’s craggy coast and on isolated isles, the country also hosts most of the world’s Humboldt penguins. Named after the famous German naturalist and explorer, its countless colonies dot the entire coast with the majority residing within the Pinguino de Humboldt National Reserve in the north of Chile.

10. Australia

Australia© dreamstime

As well as being home to kangaroos, koalas and wallabies, Australia and its sub-antarctic islands have six spectacular species of penguin for visitors to check out. While many of these live on isolated and icy isles nearer to Antarctica than the Outback, others can be found just a stone’s throw from both Melbourne and Sydney.

Just off the continent’s southern coastline, for instance, is Phillip Island which is home to the largest little penguin colony in the world. Also known as the fairy or little blue penguin due to its plumage, it is the smallest of the species, reaching an adorable 30 centimeters in height. These pint-sized penguins look amazing all rushing towards the sea together.

The rugged and remote Macquarie, Heard, and McDonald islands also house King, Royal, Gento, Macaroni, and rockhopper penguins. As the islands are very inaccessible, however, these captivating creatures and their colonies are only seldom visited by people other than scientists and researchers.

10 Places Where Sloths Live in the Wild

Renowned for being the slowest moving mammal on Earth, sloths can only be found in the tropical rainforests of Central and South America. While only being able to inch their way along branches and between trees may seem like a liability, their sluggish and sleepy nature actually has a number of important benefits.

Besides saving them an enormous amount of energy, their spectacularly slow movements also allow them to avoid detection from predators. In addition to this, it also gives algae enough time to grow on their fur which then helps to camouflage them amidst the canopies.

Sloths live in the jungle and spend almost all of their time sleeping and rarely leave the treetops, only descending once a week to go to the toilet at the foot of a tree. In fact, sloths can do almost everything hanging upside down from a branch as they sleep, eat, mate and even breed in that manner.

Despite being so named due to their low metabolism and slow and deliberate movements, sloths are surprisingly very good swimmers, even dropping into pools to go for a paddle from time to time. In total, six species of sloth can be found in the wild with some being two-toed and others three-toed.

1. Brazil

Brazil© dreamstime

As so much of the continent-sized country is coated in the dense and diverse foliage and vegetation of the steamy Amazon rainforest, it should come as no surprise to learn that Brazil is home to five out of the six species of sloth.

While both the pale-throated and Linnaeus’s two-toed sloth can only be found to the north of the Amazon River, the solitary and mostly nocturnal Hoffmann’s two-toed sloth inhabits just a thin slice of the far west of the country. The most common kind, the brown-throated sloth, is actually spread throughout the continent with its wide range even reaching all the way up to Honduras.

Besides all these amazing animals which are unfortunately quite elusive and inaccessible due to the wild reaches in which they reside, Brazil also boasts the majestic maned sloth which can be found nowhere else on Earth. Now considered to be vulnerable, these slow-moving sloths live in the Atlantic Forest that hugs Brazil’s southeastern coastline, not far from many seaside cities and towns.

2. Costa Rica

Costa Rica© dreamstime

Long a popular nature travel destination, Costa Rica is home to a whole host of national parks with fabulous flora and fauna, volcanoes and rainforests wherever you look. As well as being one of the most biodiverse places on Earth, the small Central American country also has a couple of charming species of sloth for you to look out for, camouflaged against the canopy and cloud forests.

In fact, Costa Rica is often considered to be the best place in the world to see sloths up close and in the wild as it has just so many national parks and nature reserves in which you can spot them. For instance, the incredible Corcovado, Manuel Antonio and Santa Rosa are all home to the tranquil tree-dwellers, while Tortuguero National Park even has a superb sloth sanctuary to visit nearby.

While the brown-throated sloth is relatively easy to come across, especially at the privately owned Bijagua Ranas and La Fortuna, Hoffmann’s two-toed sloth is harder to spot as it is largely nocturnal. With so many places to see them, however, and so much spellbinding scenery on show, Costa Rica really is well-worth visiting if you want to see sloths in their natural habitat.

3. Panama

Panama© dreamstime

Situated just to the south of Costa Rica is Panama which is also home to the same species of sloth as its neighbor as well as one more welcome addition – the pygmy three-toed sloth. Mountainous in nature, it lies in between the Caribbean Sea and Pacific Ocean with its dense jungles being home to all kinds of awe-inspiring animals and wonderful wilderness.

Both two-toed and three-toed sloths can be spotted throughout the Central American country with some even spied from time to time in Panama City’s Metropolitan Park. Some of the best and most accessible places to see them are in Soberania National Park and at the Gamboa Wildlife Rescue Center which rehabilitates wounded and sick sloths before returning them to the wild.

On the Isla Escudo de Veraguas which lies just off of the country’s Caribbean coast, visitors can find the significantly smaller pygmy sloth which only resides within the isolated island’s red mangroves. Endemic and exclusive to the area, the sweet small sloths are sadly considered critically endangered with studies showing that only a few remain in the world.

4. Colombia

Colombia© dreamstime

Occupying the northwest corner of South America is the colossal country of Colombia which is delightfully diverse in terms of its scenery, landscapes and nature. Besides boasting lots of beautiful beaches and craggy coastal areas, it is also home to the awe-inspiring Andes and Amazon rainforest with three species of sloth to be found scattered here and there.

While the shaggy-furred Hoffmann’s two-toed sloth lives in thick forests along the country’s Pacific and Caribbean coastlines, both the brown-throated and Linnaeus’s two-toed sloth reside within the rainforest. As in many other countries, sloths here are often wonderfully compared to gardeners as they fertilize the forest floor and play an important role in spreading seeds.

If you don’t have time to visit the remote reaches of the rainforest, you may instead find them at the Aiunau Sloth Sanctuary on the outskirts of Medellin which nurses sick sloths back to health. On top of this, you can sometimes spot a sloth right in the center of Cartagena in the city’s Centenario Park.

5. Peru

Peru© dreamstime

These same three species of sloth can again be found in Colombia’s southern neighbor Peru with all of them living to the east of the Andes in its Amazon rainforest. With a huge variety of trees and canopy plants for them to eat, sleep and mate amidst, its steamy confines are the ideal environment for the slow-moving mammals to inhabit.

While both the Hoffmann’s and Linnaeus’s two-toed sloths closely resemble one another, the brown-throated sloth is markedly different with its three-toes, blunter nose and smaller size. Although they are all omnivores, a sloth’s diet usually mostly consists of lots of low-energy leaves which goes a long way to explaining the fifteen or so hours a day that they sleep.

In Peru, the best places to see sloths in the wild include the phenomenal Pacaya-Samiria National Reserve in the northeast and the tantalizing Tambopata National Reserve in the southeast, both of which also boast lots of breath-taking scenery and nature.

6. Ecuador

Ecuador© dreamstime

Nestled in the northwest of South America between both Colombia and Peru is Ecuador which, like its neighbors, is considered to be a megadiverse country. This is because it is home to a number of distinct ecosystems and is very biodiverse with its coastal lowlands giving way to the soaring Andes and expansive Amazon rainforest in the east.

While Hoffmann’s two-toed sloths can be found relaxing and reclining along the country’s cooler coasts as can the brown-throated sloth, the Linnaeus’s two-toed sloth instead inhabits the ever-wet rainforest. Although sloths are heterothermic and can adapt to whatever environment and climate they are in, this species of sloth prefers to live in hot and humid areas.

When traveling along the country’s long Pacific Ocean coastline, it is worth keeping an eye out for languid and lethargic sloths lying in the treetops. Alternatively, you may instead want to head to Ecuador’s Amazon region which is home to both Cuyabeno Wildlife Reserve and Yasuni National Park. Two of the most biodiverse places on Earth, their vast forests are also inhabited by both two-toed and three-toed sloth alongside countless other incredible creatures.

7. Nicaragua

Nicaragua© dreamstime

Sandwiched between Honduras and Costa Rica is Nicaragua which is both the largest and least densely populated country in Central America. Although it is often referred to as ‘the land of lakes and volcanoes’, it also boasts a remarkable array of plants and wildlife with two species of slow-moving sloth to be found in its rainforests.

In many of the country’s seventy or so wildlife refuges and nature reserves, you can come across the sloths casually and calmly hanging upside down, almost perfectly camouflaged against the canopy. As they sprawl over such huge areas and are home to such dense vegetation and forests, the idyllic Indio Maiz Biological Reserve in the southeast and the Bosawas Biosphere Reserve in northeastern Nicaragua are two of the best places to visit to see sloths.

While the Hoffmann’s two-toed sloth prefers to move about, mate and eat during the dark of night, brown-throated sloths are more diurnal and are mostly active during the day. This is despite the fact that sloths have poor eyesight and cannot see all that much in bright sunshine – another factor that accounts for them being so slow.

8. Suriname

Suriname© dreamstime

While Suriname may be the smallest state in South America, it certainly boasts some of the most untouched and unspoiled scenery and nature on the continent. Mostly made up of tropical rainforest, it lies tucked in between Guyana and French Guiana on the Caribbean with Brazil and the endless Amazon bordering it to the south.

Due to all of its pristine nature, both the Linnaeus’s two-toed sloth and the pale-throated sloth can be found residing and reclining within its rainforests. While the latter’s arms are almost twice the length of its legs, the limbs of the Linne’s two-toed sloth, as it is also known, are much more equal.

The easiest place to see sloths in the wild is at the brilliant Brownsberg Nature Park as it is located just 130 kilometers drive from Paramaribo, the capital. Otherwise, much of its remote rainforest is quite inaccessible with visitors having to travel by boat and 4X4 to reach such scenic, secluded and sloth-inhabited spots as the Central Suriname Nature Reserve.

9. Guyana

Guyana© dreamstime

Right to the west of Suriname is Guyana which is home to some of the most unspoiled yet inaccessible rainforest on the planet. While most of the country is made up of rolling highlands with a low coastal plain along the Caribbean, vast swathes of steamy and spectacular rainforest cover its secluded south.

This is where you can find both the Linnaeus’s two-toed sloth and the pale-throated sloth tending to their forest gardens and slowly traveling from tree to tree. While their lichen-coated fur helps them to avoid detection, they do run the risk of being eaten by ocelots or jaguars when they descend to the forest floor to defecate. Remarkably enough, up to two-thirds of a sloth’s weight can actually be the contents of its stomach. This is because the leaves it consumes are so low in nutrients and take such a long time to digest.

The best place to see sloths in Guyana is undoubtedly at the sensational Sloth Island which is set on the Essequibo River and is home to a whole host of the amazing animals. Another option is to fly to the rugged and remote Kaieteur National Park which is named after its fabulous falls.

10. Venezuela

Venezuelaflickr/Fernando Flores

Another of the continent’s megadiverse countries is Venezuela which is home to everything from Caribbean islands and Atlantic Ocean coastline to majestic mountains, roaring rivers and both cloud forest and rainforest ecosystems. In total, its rich, biodiverse realms are inhabited by four of the six sloth species with the tranquil tree-dwellers dotted about delightfully different parts of the country.

The shaggy-furred Hoffmann’s two-toed sloth, for instance, only lives in a tiny slice of the far west of Venezuela in the rainforests of the Sierra de Perija National Park. Here you can find the more common brown-throated sloth which also resides in the wonderful wilderness of the south of the nation alongside the Linnaeus’s two-toed sloth.

In contrast, the instantly recognizable pale-throated sloth can only be found in the east amidst its hot and humid tropical rainforests. As well as boasting lots of stunning scenery, both Canaima National Park and Parima Tapirapeco National Park count among the best places to see sloths in Venezuela due to their diverse fauna and dense vegetation.

5 Places Where Polar Bears Live in the Wild

The largest carnivorous land mammals on Earth, polar bears certainly make for a spectacular sight with their staggering size and wonderfully white fur. While seeing one up close and personal is an awe-inspiring experience, hardy adventurers will need to trek to the isolated world of the Arctic Circle if they are to stand any chance at spotting one in the wild.

Although they are born on land, polar bears spend most of their lives on the vast and ever-changing sea ice, roaming over snow, ice and open water in search of seals – their main prey and food source. Much larger than females, adult males can weigh up to a huge 700 kilos and reach a length of three meters, with the beautiful bears living up to 25 years in the wild.

Classified as a vulnerable species, they are reckoned to number between 20,000 and 30,000 in total. So where do Polar Bears Live in the wild? In this article you’ll discover that these majestic mammals are found in just five nations that surround the Arctic Ocean.

1. Greenland

Greenland© dreamstime

The world’s largest island, Greenland lies between the Arctic and Atlantic oceans with almost all of its rugged landscape coated in a shimmering sheet of ice. Very sparsely populated, it boasts unspoiled snowy scenery with glaciers and fjords found alongside endless tundra and ice floes.

Due to its wintery realm, Greenland is home to many of the world’s remaining polar bears with most of them found in the northernmost parts of the isle. This, however, is a very inaccessible area with much of the remote region protected as part of Northeast Greenland National Park; remarkably the largest national park in the world.

As such, the best chance of seeing the incredible creatures in the wild is to take an epic Arctic cruise along the east coast of the island. Although sightings of polar bears are still relatively rare due to the staggering size of the region in which they hunt and roam, you’ll certainly pass spellbinding scenery and jaw-dropping views on the trip. The undoubted highlight, however, is finally spotting one of them and their off-white fur against the snowy landscapes and ice all around them.

Despite, or perhaps because, of their elusive nature, polar bears have long played a prominent role in the island’s culture, traditions and heritage. While its indigenous Inuit peoples have hunted and even worshiped polar bears for millennia, the magnificent mammal now occupies pride of place on Greenland’s coat of arms.

2. Svalbard

Svalbard© dreamstime

Famed for being home to more polar bears than people, the Arctic archipelago of Svalbard can be found midway between the northern coast of Norway and the North Pole. With most of its isolated and inhospitable islands coated in glaciers and snow, it is no wonder that the archipelago is home to thousands of polar bears. As well as being Svalbard’s iconic symbol, these awe-inspiring animals are also its main tourist attraction.

One of the northernmost places on the planet where people live, it is only the main island of Spitsbergen that has any small settlements and infrastructure to speak of. As polar bears are so prevalent in the region, inhabitants and tourists alike are required to carry a rifle with them at all times for protection in case they encounter one of the powerful predators.

From these secluded settlements, you can arrange to go on boat trips around the nearby islands that are mostly made up of national parks and nature reserves. The best time of year to visit is between May and September when the ships can push their way through the melting ice and reach the snow-clad areas and dense drift ice in which so many bears live, roam, and hunt.

While some of Spitsbergen’s fjords, such as Liefdefjord and Storfjord, seem to have small, stable populations of polar bears, important denning areas can be found on Edgeoya and Hopen, with the highest density being on Kongsoya.

Besides being one of the best places to see polar bears, Svalbard boasts stunning scenery with whales, walruses, and reindeer also regularly sighted.

3. Alaska

Alaska© dreamstime

The only state in the US to be home to all three species of bear, Alaska has long been renowned for its vast stretches of rugged and remote wilderness. Fittingly nicknamed ‘the last frontier’, its endless forests, fiery volcanoes and towering mountain ranges slowly give way to the tundra and permafrost of Arctic Alaska.

It is here, in the state’s far north that most of its polar bears reside and roam, although they have been found as far south as St. Lawrence Island during particularly cold and icy winters. While they range over a wide area, its two main populations can be found along Alaska’s northern coastline in the Southern Beaufort Sea and in the Chukchi Sea off western Alaska.

While they spend most of their lives out on the sea ice hunting seals, many of the massive mammals spend the ice-free months between August and October on or around the scenic and secluded Barter Island. During this time many people visit the isle’s Inupiat village of Kaktovik. From here you can charter small planes to fly above the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge and spot polar bears prowling about from the air.

The only other place to see polar bears is at Utqiagvik which lies at the northwestern most tip of Alaska. To catch a glimpse of the mighty mammals, many people take boat tours or charter flights out over the surrounding pack ice. Polar bears can sometimes actually be spotted just outside your window though on the rare occasion that they venture into town and pad about the small settlement.

4. Russia

Russia© dreamstime

With such a huge swathe of the country’s colossal landmass lying in the icy Arctic Circle, it should come as no surprise to learn that Russia is home to several significant polar bear populations. Of these, the largest and most well-known are found on and around the remote Wrangel Island in the Russian Far East and on the isolated and icy archipelago of Franz Josef Land.

Renowned for having the highest density of dens in the world, Wrangel Island is often referred to as the ‘polar bear maternity ward’. Remarkably enough, more than 500 mothers give birth to cubs here each year with most of the island protected as part of a nature reserve. As it lies in a very remote spot between the Chukchi and East Siberian seas, Wrangel Island is very hard to reach with only a few tour companies running excursions to see the polar bears.

The other main place to see polar bears in their natural habitat is at Franz Josef Land which lies 900 kilometers below the North Pole. Home to a huge and healthy population of polar bears, its 192 inhospitable islands are only inhabited by a few hardy military personnel. Now protected as part of the Russian Arctic National Park, the archipelago boasts wonderful wilderness and wildlife with its glaciers only being accessible by boat.

Besides these two main population centers, smaller groups of polar bears can be found scattered along the country’s long Arctic Ocean coastline. While they are rated as rare in the Laptev Sea, both the adjacent Taymyr Peninsula and Kara Sea are home to many more of the majestic creatures.

5. Canada

Canada© dreamstime

The second-largest country in the world, Canada is renowned for its vast untouched wilderness that includes everything, from mighty mountains and verdant forests to lovely lakes and a staggeringly long coastline. Fittingly nicknamed the Great White North, it boasts massive icy Arctic areas and an immense maritime terrain and is impressively believed to be home to between 60 to 80% of all the Earth’s polar bears.

One of the best places to spot them is in the nation’s newest, largest and most northerly territory of Nunavut which stretches from the west coast of Hudson Bay up to the Canadian Arctic Archipelago. The beautiful bay’s scenic shoreline is known as ‘Polar Bear Alley’ as each autumn the world’s southernmost polar bear population slowly heads north in search of sea ice and seals.

Although watching them migrate is an amazing experience, it is the neighboring town of Churchill in Manitoba that is the undisputed ‘polar bear capital of the world’. For decades tourists and polar bears alike have flocked to its remote reaches with thousands of the latter converging on its shores every autumn. Once sturdy enough ice has formed on Hudson Bay, the awesome animals set off in search of ringed seals – their main food source.

While many polar bear populations around the Arctic sadly seem to be in decline due to climate change and encroachments on their territory, Churchill’s may, in fact, be increasing. Thanks to the unspoilt scenery and the inaccessibility and isolation of the region, Canada’s vast Arctic reaches are the perfect place for polar bears to live in peace in the wild.

What do Elephants Eat?

Given their large size, you can probably guess that elephants eat a massive amount of food. In fact, because they are the biggest land animals in the world, the amount of calories an elephant consumes in a 24 hour period would be enough to sustain a human being for several months.

While we know elephants eat a lot, you might be wondering “what do elephants eat?”. This question is a bit more tricky to answer if you aren’t an expert in these magnificent animals. Thankfully, in this article, we’re going to answer this question and more!

Are Elephants Plant Eaters (or ‘Herbivores’)?

Are you familiar with the eating patterns of elephants? Believe it or not, they are herbivores – let’s dive into what that means.

The Latin word “herbivora” means “to eat a small plant or herb”’. That means herbivorous animals only consume vegetables and other forms of vegetation. An elephant’s diet consists of plants and shrubs.

Over time, elephants have evolved to be able to live off of the green of the earth and nearby bodies of water. The need for a vegetation-rich diet eventually aided in transforming their body entirely. For example, elephants are equipped with flat teeth to help them grind their food and tusks to strip bark from a tree.

Unlike humans who grow baby teeth that are then replaced by adult teeth, elephants continually replace rows of their teeth throughout their lifetime. Elephants are one of the few mammals to be a polyphyodont.

How Much do Elephants Eat & Drink?

It’s no surprise that elephants eat a ton of food every day – about 70 kg of food to be exact. They also drink an insane amount of water – around 45 liters every day!

However, the amount of food an elephant consumes can depend on their environment and food availability. For example, if an elephant lives in a hotter climate they are likely to drink more water than their temperate region counterparts. In some areas, elephants are required to drink huge amounts of water in a single sitting to compensate for the scarcity of water nearby. Elephants will travel around 10-20 km a day just to find an appropriate amount of food and water for their entire herd.

Experts have recorded some elephants traveling up to 180 km per day for food in the Etosha region of Namibia. They are willing to do whatever it takes! Elephants are sure to stick with their herd when searching for food and will enjoy the fruits of the labor together.

What do Elephants Eat?

Considering their size, elephants cannot be picky when it comes to food in order to keep their energy up. They will eat anything from leaves, twigs, bark, roots, fruits and flowers. In fact, they will eat anything if it’s nearby vegetation.

Otherwise, they drink water from any nearby body of water. In the hotter regions, they use water to regulate their body temperature and cool off. Excessive amounts of water are required to keep them hydrated daily. While the plants of the different regions may vary, elephants generally eat the same things.

What do African Elephants Eat?

Surrounded by forest trees, African elephants eat from the bounty of trees and bushes to preserve their health. It can be difficult for African elephants to stumble upon long grasslands.

But an adult can eat an entire tree. For the kids, they tend to stick to the small stuff like twigs, leave, bark, and fruit. African elephants have been coined with the nickname “browsers” because of their habit to browse from one tree to the other for sustenance.

What do Asian Elephants Eat?

Grasslands are plentiful for the Asian elephants, and they take advantage of it by eating a variety of grasses, woody plants, or trees.

In the dryer areas of Asia, elephants may rely on some bushes with thorns. Otherwise, Asian elephants’ diet is very similar to their African cousins which features twigs, bark, leaves, and roots.

Asian elephants have been coined with the nickname “grazers” because of how they mozy on the grasslands and eat vegetation that is lower to the ground.

What do Savanna Elephants Eat?

Savanna elephants indulge in weeds such as Prickly Pear, Mesquite, and Rubber Vine. Elephants in this region prefer the Acacia and Bushwillow trees for munching.

Fun fact: In order to help with digestion, baby elephants will often eat their mother’s dung.

Why do Elephants Eat so Much Food?

Elephants’ large frame requires a huge amount of food to sustain themselves. They could never eat a twig and sleep the rest of the day.

There are a few reasons why elephants eat around 150 kg of food and drink 40 liters of water every day:

  • They need copious amounts of energy found in food to survive.
  • Traveling 15-30 km with a lot of weight requires excessive amounts of food to manage the journey.
  • In the drier areas, where water is scarce, elephants need to drink a large amount of water to stay hydrated.

Another Reason Why Elephants Eat so Much

Elephants require so much food because the majority of the food they eat does not digest. Since their bodies are not digesting, they are always craving more energy and therefore, more food.

But elephants have a day long digestion period. That means they have to wait an entire day before loading up the calories again. Plus, elephants only sleep around 3-4 hours a day. Just reading that is enough to make anyone feel exhausted!

What do Elephants Eat – Frequently Asked Questions

See a brief list of what elephants eat below:

  • Shrubs
  • Twigs
  • Bushes
  • Fruits
  • Tree bark
  • Shoots
  • Roots
  • Leaves

…and more.

Are Elephants Carnivores?

No. Elephants are considered herbivores, which means they do not eat meat. Instead they snack on vegetation such as twigs, shrubs, bushes, and leaves. They’re also known to enjoy fruits and tree bark. Other animals, like lions, tigers, and cheetahs, are a few carnivores that eat meat.

Do Elephants Like Bananas?

Yes, elephants eat bananas, since they grow from the earth. With that being said, you would need a lot of bananas to satisfy an elephant’s hunger!

What do Elephants Eat in The Zoo?

Zookeepers pay close attention to their elephants in order to provide a precise diet every day. They record the body-mass index of the elephant and activity levels to ensure they are receiving an appropriate amount of food.

Elephants are generally given hay, fruits, pellets and vegetables at the zoo while browsing through the available shrubs and trees.

Conclusion

If you’ve read this article, then you should be able to answer the question ‘what do elephants eat?” whenever someone asks you. As you can see, elephants consume a lot of food and a wide variety of it as well.

The simplest way to describe an elephant’s diet, though, is to say they are ‘herbivores’. Unlike other animals in the wild — who are carnivorous, meaning they consume meat — elephants like to chow down on plants and fruits.

What do Lions Eat?

Lions are incredible, yet ferocious, animals. With this in mind, it’s no wonder why so many are intrigued when it comes to how lions behave and what their diets consist of.

If you’ve ever pondered the question “what do lions eat?”, the short answer is “meat and flesh”. As apex predators, lions are adept at hunting for their food, which is typically other animals that live within its habitat. This can include anything from antelopes, giraffes, zebras, wild hogs and even crocodiles.

The long list of animals lions prey upon is one of the main reasons they are referred to as the ‘kings of the jungle’. To put it simply, lions are at the top of the food chain in the wild and can almost hunt any animal they choose given their brute strength, sharp teeth and claws, and intelligence.

In this article, we’re going to explore what lions eat in detail to help you fully understand these amazing (and massive) felines.

Exploring a Lion’s Diet

Lions are carnivorous animals that only eat meat. A carnivore is an animal that scavenges or hunts animals to gain energy and nutrients from their respective flesh and tissue.

As the “Apex Predator”, lions are at the top of the food chain which means no other animal sees them as prey. Also referred to as “Obligate Carnivores”, lions only consume animal flesh for nourishment. “Facultative Carnivores” are animals that eat non-animal foods in addition to meat.

Why Do Lions Eat Meat

As “Obligate Carnivores”, over 70% of a lion’s diet relies on meat. Lions do not naturally produce the level of amino acids their bodies need to survive. In order to fulfil their daily intake, lions have to consume animal flesh.

While lions cannot effectively digest vegetation, they still may nibble on some grass or fruits. Lions do not have the enzymes responsible to break down plant matter; they can only digest meat successfully.

What Animals do Lions Prey on?

Lions are not picky when it comes to what they prey on, including:

  • Antelopes
  • Giraffes
  • Rhinoceros
  • Buffaloes
  • Smaller elephants
  • Zebras
  • Wild Hogs
  • Crocodiles

If they were to come across these smaller prey, they are very likely to eat them as well:

  • Mice
  • Birds
  • Hares
  • Tortoises
  • Lizards

Exploring a Lion’s Diet in The Wild

Lions will eat any and every animal they are able to capture. In the wild, this results in a wide variety of animals in their daily diet.

Zebras, Pigs, buffaloes, antelopes, hippos, giraffes, rhinos, and wildebeests are the animals lions are most likely to consume. Lions will also prey on small and young offspring of large animals anywhere from 50 to 300 kg in size.

On average, an adult lion kills 15 animals annually. They usually feed off of the corpses of kills made by the hunters of the lions’ pride. In the wild, scavenging accounts for half of a lions diet.

What Do Lions Eat at The Zoo?

In a zoo, lions are usually kept to a diet of beef (sometimes the bones as well), chicken, rabbit, sheep, and horse.

In addition to the animal flesh, captive lions will indulge in commercially and specially formulated cat food. These foods are crafted to sustain all of a lion’s dietary needs.

What African Lions Eat

Usually found in the grasslands, African lions often eat:

  • Antelopes
  • Wildebeest
  • Zebras

What White Lions Eat

White lions are also obligate carnivores so they require the flesh of animals to satisfy their dietary needs.

These days, white lions are rarely found in the wild where they originated from Timbavati, South Africa. They would eat the same animals as African lions including zebras, pigs, buffaloes, gazelles, rabbits, and wildebeests.

They are often found in captivity where they are held by a variety of animals and the formulated cat food.

What Do Lions Prefer To Eat?

Considering lions’ digestive systems are crafted to digest animal flesh, they will always crave other animals. Some of their favorite animals include:

  • Antelopes
  • Buffaloes
  • Crocodiles
  • Young or small elephants
  • Giraffe
  • Hippos
  • Hogs
  • Rhinos
  • Wildebeests
  • Zebras

How Much & How Often Do Lions Eat?

An average lion in the wild eats around 10 and 25 pounds (4.5 and 11 kg) of food per day.

If there are copious amounts of food, male lions are able to eat up to 43 kg of meat compared to a female who can ingest up to 25 kg in a day.

The Association of Zoos and Aquariums recommends that a male lion in captivity should eat around 3.6 kg (8 pounds) and a female should eat around 2.7 kg (6 pounds). Lions are required to eat daily. However, they are able to survive up to 14 days without food if necessary.

How Lions Eat Their Food

Like most carnivores, lions are equipped with three types of teeth:

  • Canines
  • Incisors
  • Carnassials

In order to eat their food, they use their specialized teeth and strong jaws. A lion’s mouth can open up to 11 inches (28 cm) wide. Lions also have one of the largest bites in the animal kingdom.

The extreme long and sharp canine teeth are used for grasping and killing their prey, while thier incisors are the smaller teeth in the front of the moth used for tearing smaller pieces of meat from the fresh corpse.

In order to tear away large chunks of meat, lions use their sharp carnassial teeth located in the bath of their mouth. Instead of chewing their food, lions just swallow large chunks of meat.

Where & When Do Lions Eat?

Lions almost always consume their prey immediately after to kill. But if they kill their prey in a body of water, they will pull it to the shore first.

If they are unable to finish the meal in its entirety, they will guard the carcass from unwanted scavengers and wait until they are hungry again. Sometimes, lions will enjoy their kill in the shade to avoid the heat.

While lions can hunt during the day, they usually save their prey for the nighttime. After a pride successfully kills their prey, they take turns eating the flesh. Adult males go first, then lionnesses, and then the cubs and older or weaker lions.

Do Lions Eat Each Other?

Lions usually only kill each other if there is a conflict in the pride or a shift in control in a new territory. From time to time, male lions will kill a lioness who refuses to mate in a newly acclaimed territory.

Do Lions Eat Their Cubs?

Lions will sometimes kill and eat their cubs in order to make their mother pregnant. Male lions may also kill and eat new young cubs of a new territory.

Do Lions Eat Humans?

It is uncommon for lions to eat humans, however there have been a few cases where a lion has eaten a human. The most famous case being the 1898 Tsavo man-eaters. In 9 months, two lions consumed 28 railways workers while they were building the Kenya-Uganda railway.

American and Tanzanian scientists revealed a staggering report. From 1990 to 2005, at least 563 villagers in the rural parts of Tanzania were attacked by lions and many were eaten.

Packer estimates that 200 to 400 Tanzanian people are killed by wild animals, 70 of these deaths are by lions.

At least 35 people were killed by a main-eating lion in Southern Tanzania along the Rufiji river, before game scouts hunted and killed it in April of 2004. Asian lions are also capable of eating humans. Attacks on humans were reported twice in 2012 from an area about 55 km from the Gir sanctuary.

Conclusion

As you can see, when it comes to what lions eat, it can vary depending on the region and circumstances the lion is in. Regardless, though, all lions eat meat and flesh and love to hunt for their prey, which is what makes them such a ferocious predator in the wild.

For more fun facts and guides about wild animals, check out some of the other articles on WildlifeTrip!

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