LER 0794
Ages Grades
2+ PreK+
Guide
Animal Facts
Black Rhinoceros
• Black rhinos spend a lot of time bathing in shallow pools and mud. This
gives them relief from the hot African climate and helps them remove
fleas and ticks that land on their bodies.
• Black rhinos are listed as “critically endangered” with a population of
about 4,000. The main threat to their survival is poaching (illegal hunting).
• The black rhinoceros (rhino) weighs up to 3,000 pounds (1,360 kg) and has
two horns. The longer horn is in the front, near the nostrils, and can be
almost 2 feet (60 cm) long.
• Black rhinos are actually gray or brown in color. Black rhinos are also called
“hook-lipped rhinos” to describe their prehensile (able to grasp objects)
upper lip.
• Black rhinos eat grass—along with over 200 other plants!—and are
considered “grazers,” just like cows.
Giant Panda
• Giant pandas live in the mountains of central China, where there are many
bamboo trees for them to eat and the climate is cool and rainy.
• There are less than 2,000 pandas in existence. Pandas are endangered
because of hunting, bamboo shortages and habitat destruction.
• Pandas show emotion in very different ways than grizzly or black bears.
For instance, when angry, pandas bark or growl rather than roar.
• Unlike black bears, pandas cannot walk on their hind legs and do not
hibernate in winter.
• Scientists are not sure why pandas have black and white spots. Some
believe that pandas’ spots camouflage them in the dark, snowy mountains
where they live.
Cheetah
• Cheetahs live mainly in the desert and grassland habitats of Africa.
• The biggest threat to cheetahs’ survival is habitat loss—today there are
almost no cheetahs left in Asia, where the population was once strong.
• The cheetah is the fastest land animal, able to sprint up to 75 miles per
hour (120.7 km/h)! However, cheetahs can only maintain this speed for
about 20 seconds.
• Cheetahs are the only cats that do not have retractable claws. This means
that their claws are fully extended at all times, helping them gain traction
while sprinting.
• Cheetahs have thin, long black marks that run from the corners of their
eyes to the corners of their mouths. These unique marks keep the sun out
of their eyes and help them see from far distances.
Manatee
• Manatees spend half of every day sleeping underwater and the rest of the
day grazing on algae and leaves.
• Manatees are endangered because of habitat destruction and accidents
involving boats and other water vehicles.
• Measuring 13 feet (4 m) long and weighing 1,300 pounds (590 kg),
manatees are commonly known as sea cows because of their size and
gentle nature.
• Manatees are very intelligent, have excellent long-term memories and, like
dolphins, can understand and perform complex tasks.
• Fossils show that ancestors of the Florida manatee date back over 45
million years!
Albatross
• Albatrosses are endangered for many different reasons: other animals
attacking the nests, accidents involving long-line fishing, and pollution.
• There are 21 species of albatross—one of these, the great albatross, has a
wingspan of 11 feet (3.3 m), the largest of any bird.
• Albatrosses feed on squid, octopus and other fish, swooping over the
surface of the water or diving into it to catch their prey.
• Albatrosses are able to travel long distances without using much energy.
These world travelers fly to many different places, from Antarctica to
Alaska—a range of 11,000 miles (17,700 km)!
Discussion Starters
In addition to providing great opportunities for pretend play, Jumbo Endangered
Animals are helpful early science discussion starters. Ask questions, such as
the following, to help students understand the similarities and the differences
between the animals.
Do any of the animals lay eggs?
Does the coloring of any of the animals help it blend into its natural habitat?
Which of the animals are herbivores (plant eaters)?
Why are the animals endangered? Are the reasons similar among every animal?
Which two animals have characteristics similar to a cow?
Questions like these help students develop early classification skills based on the
characteristics of the animals.
Design a Habitat
Challenge students to use crayons and paper to design one of the animals in its
natural habitat. Make sure the students consider the basic needs of the animals
including food and shelter.
Animal Act
Encourage students to move and make noise like each of the animals as you
hold them up in view. Have students take turns acting like an animal and have
others guess which animal the actor is pretending to be. Discuss how the animals
sound and move in comparison to each other. How are they alike? How are they
different?
Care Instructions
To clean, wipe the surfaces of the animals with a damp cloth. Dry immediately. To
prevent water from trapping inside the animals, do not immerse them in water.
Pieces are not dishwasher safe.
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