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

## One-line answer
The raccoon (Procyon lotor) is a Least Concern omnivorous procyonid native to the Americas, famous for its eye mask, ringed tail and dexterous paws; it thrives in wild and urban habitats and has been introduced to Europe.

## Introduction
The raccoon is a medium-sized carnivoran of the family Procyonidae, native to North and Central America and now established in parts of Europe and Japan through introductions. Its black eye mask, ringed tail and dexterous front paws make it one of the most recognisable mammals in the Americas. Raccoons are intelligent omnivores that thrive in forests, wetlands and cities alike. Listed as Least Concern by the IUCN, populations are stable and expanding in many regions. In South America, close relatives such as the kinkajou share rainforest canopy niches in Colombia and Brazil — habitats central to WARN's partner conservation work.

## Takeaway
Raccoons belong to Procyonidae alongside coatis and kinkajous — not dogs or cats.

## Takeaway
Their front paws are remarkably dexterous, capable of opening latches and manipulating objects.

## Takeaway
Raccoons are omnivorous generalists eating fruit, invertebrates, eggs, fish and human refuse.

## Takeaway
Urban raccoons can live at densities far higher than in pristine forest.

## Takeaway
South American relatives such as kinkajous share rainforest habitats in Colombia and Brazil.

## Takeaway
Introduced raccoons in Europe and Japan can compete with native species and spread disease.

## A procyonid of forests and cities
The raccoon belongs to the family Procyonidae — a New World carnivore lineage that also includes coatis, ringtails and kinkajous. Procyon lotor is the type species of the genus, with 22 recognised subspecies across North and Central America. Adults weigh 3–9 kg with dense grey-brown fur, a pointed muzzle and the characteristic black mask across the eyes.

The bushy tail carries four to ten black rings. Raccoons are plantigrade — they walk on the soles of their feet — and their front paws have long digits with sensitive pads that allow fine manipulation. Contrary to folklore, 'washing' food in water is not universal; the behaviour appears linked to moistening paw pads to improve tactile sensitivity.

In South America, procyonids occupy parallel niches: coatis forage on the ground and in trees; kinkajous are nocturnal canopy specialists in Colombian and Brazilian rainforest. Understanding raccoon ecology helps readers grasp the wider procyonid family that shares threatened forest habitats in WARN partner countries.


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

## Diet, denning and behaviour
Raccoons are opportunistic omnivores. Wild diets include berries, nuts, insects, crayfish, frogs, bird eggs, small mammals and carrion. Near water they hunt fish and amphibians; in autumn they fatten on maize and orchard fruit. Urban raccoons exploit refuse, pet food and garden crops, often achieving densities of 50–100 individuals per square kilometre.

They are mainly nocturnal and solitary outside the breeding season. Dens are made in tree hollows, burrows abandoned by other animals, or human structures — attics, storm drains and culverts. Females raise litters of two to five kits alone; young disperse in autumn. Raccoons do not truly hibernate but may sleep for extended periods during severe northern winters, living off fat reserves.

Their intelligence and problem-solving ability are well documented in laboratory studies and field observations. This adaptability underpins both their ecological success and their reputation as agricultural and urban pests.

## Range expansion and introductions
Native raccoons range from southern Canada through the United States, Mexico and Central America to northern Panama. Historically absent from the US South-west, they expanded there in the twentieth century as agriculture and water development spread. Fur farming and the pet trade introduced raccoons to Germany, the Caucasus and Japan in the twentieth century.

European populations — particularly in Germany — now number in the hundreds of thousands. Introduced raccoons compete with native carnivores for den sites and food, raid bird nests and may transmit rabies and raccoon roundworm (Baylisascaris procyonis) to humans and pets. Japan's Hokkaido population originated from escaped pets and now damages crops and heritage buildings.

In their native range, raccoons remain abundant. The IUCN lists Procyon lotor as Least Concern with a stable or increasing population trend. Road mortality, hunting for fur and fur-farm harvest affect local numbers but do not threaten the species globally.

## Conservation and human conflict
Raccoons are not conservation priorities in North America, where legal protection varies by state and hunting seasons regulate harvest. Wildlife rehabilitators treat orphaned kits and animals injured by vehicles or traps. Rabies vaccination programmes in eastern North America target raccoons as a vector species.

Where raccoons are introduced, management focuses on preventing further spread and reducing damage to agriculture and native wildlife. European authorities conduct population monitoring and targeted removal in sensitive areas. The lesson for conservation is that adaptable generalists can become invasive when moved outside their native range — a principle relevant to exotic pet releases in WARN partner countries.

In Colombia and Brazil, native procyonids such as kinkajous face deforestation rather than overabundance. Protecting rainforest canopy habitat benefits these relatives while introduced raccoons in Europe illustrate the risks of translocation.

## Related WARN guides and rainforest relatives
Readers searching 'raccoon' may also be interested in South American procyonids. WARN's educational content on kinkajous and coatis covers rainforest relatives in Colombia and Brazil — countries where procyonid diversity peaks and forest loss is the central threat.

For North American wildlife context, see WARN's wolf, coyote and black bear guides. The raccoon's story — abundant in native range, problematic when introduced — parallels challenges with invasive species management worldwide.

Reducing exotic pet demand and preventing releases protects both native wildlife abroad and ecosystems in regions where raccoons have already been introduced.

## WARN work
WARN funds rainforest protection in Colombia and Brazil, where procyonid relatives such as kinkajous share threatened canopy habitat with primates and slow lorises. This raccoon guide is free public education connecting familiar North American wildlife to the broader procyonid family.

## 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/raccoon): Raccoon — wildlife guide.

## Are raccoons related to bears?
No. Raccoons belong to Procyonidae, a New World carnivore family related to coatis and kinkajous. Bears belong to Ursidae. Both are in the order Carnivora but diverged tens of millions of years ago.

## Why do raccoons wash their food?
Raccoons often manipulate food near water, but this is not true washing. Moistening paw pads improves tactile sensitivity — their front paws are highly dexterous and water may enhance nerve function in the digits.

## Are raccoons endangered?
No. The common raccoon is Least Concern with stable or increasing populations across its native North and Central American range. Introduced populations in Europe and Japan are also expanding.

## Can raccoons be pets?
Raccoons are wild animals with sharp teeth, strong jaws and complex needs. Private keeping is restricted or illegal in most jurisdictions. Pet trade demand has contributed to introductions outside the native range.

## What do raccoons eat?
Raccoons are omnivorous generalists eating fruit, nuts, insects, crayfish, frogs, eggs, small mammals, fish and carrion. Urban raccoons also eat refuse and pet food.

## Where do raccoons live?
Native raccoons inhabit forests, wetlands and urban areas from southern Canada through the United States, Mexico and Central America. Introduced populations exist in Germany, Japan and parts of eastern Europe.

## Are raccoons dangerous?
Raccoons are not generally dangerous to people. The raccoon (Procyon lotor) is a Least Concern omnivorous procyonid native to the Americas, famous for its eye mask, ringed tail and dexterous paws; it thrives in wild and urban habitats and has been introduced to Europe. Give wild individuals space and do not corner or handle them.

## How long do raccoons live?
A precise wild lifespan for raccoons is not firmly established in the sources cited on this guide. The raccoon (Procyon lotor) is a Least Concern omnivorous procyonid native to the Americas, famous for its eye mask, ringed tail and dexterous paws; it thrives in wild and urban habitats and has been introduced to Europe. Where longevity figures appear in the literature they vary by region, sex and whether animals are wild or captive.

## How big is a raccoon?
A Raccoon is about 3–9 kg. The raccoon (Procyon lotor) is a Least Concern omnivorous procyonid native to the Americas, famous for its eye mask, ringed tail and dexterous paws; it thrives in wild and urban habitats and has been introduced to Europe.


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

## One-line answer
Beavers are Least Concern rodents of the genus Castor — the Eurasian and American species build dams and lodges that create wetlands supporting fish, birds and amphibians; Eurasian beavers recovered from near extinction through reintroduction.

## Introduction
Beavers are the world's second-largest rodents and among the most influential ecosystem engineers on Earth. Two living species exist: the Eurasian beaver (Castor fiber) and the North American beaver (Castor canadensis). Both transform streams into ponds and wetlands by building dams and lodges, creating habitat for fish, amphibians, birds and mammals. The Eurasian beaver was hunted to near extinction for fur and castoreum but has recovered across much of Europe through reintroduction. American beavers remain abundant. Both species are Least Concern. Their wetland creation parallels the freshwater habitat protection WARN supports in partner countries from Brazil to Pakistan.

## Takeaway
Beavers are the world's second-largest rodents after the capybara.

## Takeaway
Dam building creates wetlands that support fish, amphibians, birds and mammals.

## Takeaway
Eurasian beavers were hunted to roughly 1,200 individuals before reintroduction.

## Takeaway
Beaver ponds filter sediment, store carbon and reduce downstream flooding.

## Takeaway
American beavers remain abundant across Canada and the northern United States.

## Takeaway
Beaver dams can conflict with agriculture and infrastructure but also offer flood mitigation.

## Two species, one engineering instinct
Beavers belong to the family Castoridae and the genus Castor. The Eurasian beaver (Castor fiber) once ranged from Britain to China; the American beaver (Castor canadensis) occupies Canada, the United States and northern Mexico. Both species share a stocky body, webbed hind feet, a broad flat tail used as a rudder and alarm slap, and large orange incisors that gnaw through trees.

Adults weigh 11–30 kg depending on species and latitude. Beavers are primarily nocturnal and live in family groups of an adult pair and offspring from the current and previous year. They communicate through scent mounds of mud and castoreum — a musk from anal glands historically used in perfumery and medicine.

The two species diverged roughly 7.5 million years ago when populations were separated by the Bering land bridge. They are ecologically interchangeable: both build dams, excavate canals and construct lodges of branches and mud.

## Dam building and wetland ecology
Beavers dam streams to raise water levels, protecting lodge entrances and providing access to food. Dams are built from branches, mud and stones; the largest recorded structures exceed 500 m in length. Ponds behind dams expand wetland area, slow water flow, trap sediment and raise groundwater levels.

These wetlands become biodiversity hotspots. Fish spawn in warm shallow water; amphibians breed in ponds safe from fish predation; waterfowl nest on floating platforms; moose and deer browse on willow regrowth. Dead wood in ponds supports invertebrates and otters. Studies in North America and Europe document increased bird and fish diversity on beaver-modified streams.

Beaver ponds also store carbon in accumulated sediment and reduce peak flood flows downstream — services increasingly valued in climate adaptation planning. Where beavers are absent, streams run faster and carry more sediment, altering the entire riparian community.


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

## Near extinction and recovery
Eurasian beavers were hunted relentlessly for fur, meat and castoreum from the Middle Ages through the nineteenth century. By 1900, fewer than 1,200 individuals survived in scattered refuges in Norway, Germany, France and Russia. Legal protection and reintroduction programmes began in the 1920s.

Today Eurasian beavers number over one million across Europe, with populations restored to Scandinavia, Germany, the Netherlands, Britain and the Baltic states. Scotland's official reintroduction in 2009 established a growing population on the River Tay. American beavers were less depleted — fur trade pressure reduced numbers but never approached Eurasian levels. Current North American populations are estimated at 10–15 million.

The IUCN lists both species as Least Concern. CITES Appendix III in Armenia regulates Eurasian beaver exports. Reintroduction success demonstrates that aquatic mammals can recover when hunting stops and habitat is available.

## Conflict, coexistence and modern management
Beaver activity can conflict with human infrastructure. Dams flood roads, fields and timber plantations; gnawing kills orchard trees. Mitigation includes flow devices that maintain pond levels without flooding, tree wrapping and translocation of problem animals. Several European countries now compensate landowners for beaver damage rather than permitting unregulated killing.

In North America, beaver trapping remains regulated. Wildlife agencies balance population management with wetland benefits. Research increasingly frames beavers as partners in natural flood management — Welsh and Scottish projects evaluate beaver reintroduction for downstream flood reduction.

Freshwater ecosystem health — the foundation of beaver persistence — is a global concern. WARN partner countries including Brazil, Colombia, Indonesia and Pakistan face river pollution, dam construction and wetland loss that threaten aquatic biodiversity regardless of whether beavers are native.

## Related WARN guides and freshwater conservation
Beavers illustrate how a single species can reshape entire ecosystems — a principle relevant to freshwater conservation worldwide. WARN's alligator, gharial and otter guides cover other wetland and river specialists whose survival depends on healthy waterways.

In South America, WARN works in Brazil and Colombia where river systems support giant otters, caimans and countless fish species. Protecting free-flowing rivers and wetland complexes benefits entire food webs — the same principle that underpins beaver recovery in Europe.

Readers interested in ecosystem engineers may also explore WARN's aardvark guide — burrow builders whose abandoned tunnels shelter dozens of other species.

## WARN work
WARN supports freshwater habitat education across partner countries where rivers and wetlands sustain biodiversity from Brazil's Pantanal to Pakistan's Indus basin. This beaver guide is free public education about one of the world's most influential ecosystem engineers.

## 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/beaver): Beaver — wildlife guide.

## How many beaver species exist?
Two living species: the Eurasian beaver (Castor fiber) of Europe and Asia, and the American beaver (Castor canadensis) of North America. Both build dams and lodges.

## Why do beavers build dams?
Dams raise water levels around lodge entrances, providing safe access to food and protection from predators. Ponds also expand wetland feeding areas and store food caches underwater for winter.

## Are beavers endangered?
Both species are Least Concern. Eurasian beavers recovered from near extinction through reintroduction; American beavers remain abundant across Canada and the northern United States.

## What is castoreum?
Castoreum is a musky secretion from beaver anal glands, used in scent marking and historically harvested for perfumery and medicine. Synthetic alternatives now exist for most applications.

## What do beavers eat?
Beavers gnaw wood to build dams and lodges but do not digest cellulose efficiently. They eat bark, leaves, twigs and aquatic plants — willow, aspen and cottonwood are preferred. Adults weigh 11–30 kg and live in nocturnal family groups of an adult pair and offspring.

## Where do beavers live?
Two living species exist: the Eurasian beaver across Europe and Asia and the American beaver across Canada, the United States and northern Mexico. Both transform streams into ponds and wetlands by building dams and lodges, creating habitat for fish, amphibians, birds and mammals.

## How long do beavers live?
No reliable maximum lifespan figure is established for beavers. Eurasian beavers recovered from roughly 1,200 individuals to over one million through reintroduction after hunting for fur and castoreum; both species are now Least Concern and remain primarily nocturnal family groups.

## How big is a beaver?
Adult beavers weigh 11–30 kg depending on species and latitude according to this guide's stats and quickFacts. They are the world's second-largest rodents after the capybara, with webbed hind feet, a broad flat tail and large orange incisors adapted for gnawing trees and building dams.

## Are beavers dangerous?
Beavers are not generally dangerous to people. Beavers are Least Concern rodents of the genus Castor — the Eurasian and American species build dams and lodges that create wetlands supporting fish, birds and amphibians; Eurasian beavers recovered from near extinction through reintroduction. Give wild individuals space and do not corner or handle them.


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

## One-line answer
The European badger (Meles meles) is a Least Concern mustelid of European and Asian woodlands, living in social groups in extensive underground setts and feeding on earthworms, fruit and small vertebrates.

## Introduction
The European badger is a stocky carnivoran of the family Mustelidae, widespread across Europe and western Asia. Its black-and-white facial stripes, powerful forelimbs and complex underground setts make it one of the most familiar wild mammals in Britain and continental Europe. Badgers are omnivorous, mainly nocturnal and live in social groups sharing large burrow systems. Listed as Least Concern by the IUCN, populations are stable across most of the range. Badgers elsewhere — American, honey and hog badgers — belong to separate lineages. In Pakistan and parts of the Middle East, badgers persist in scrub and mountain foothills where habitat protection overlaps with WARN's regional education work.

## Takeaway
European badgers live in social groups sharing large underground setts.

## Takeaway
A single sett may have dozens of entrances and chambers used for generations.

## Takeaway
Earthworms form the bulk of the diet — up to 200 per night in summer.

## Takeaway
American badgers, honey badgers and hog badgers are not closely related.

## Takeaway
Bovine tuberculosis in badgers is a contentious issue in British cattle farming.

## Takeaway
Badgers persist in scrub and foothills from Europe to Pakistan.

## Badgers across three families
The name 'badger' covers roughly eight species in three families. The European badger (Meles meles) belongs to Mustelidae alongside otters and weasels. The American badger (Taxidea taxus) is in Mustelidae but a separate genus. Honey badgers (Mellivora capensis) and hog badgers (Arctonyx) occupy distinct lineages.

European badgers are stocky animals with grey fur, a white head stripe running from nose to shoulder and short powerful legs built for digging. Adults weigh 8–15 kg. They are the most social mustelids — family groups of up to 20 individuals share setts, though they forage alone.

Other badger species occupy different continents and habitats. Honey badgers range across Africa and Asia with legendary fearlessness. Hog badgers inhabit South-east Asian forest — including Malaysia and Indonesia where WARN partners work on rainforest protection.

## Setts, society and foraging
European badger setts are among the most complex mammal burrows. Excavated in woodland, hedgerows and pasture, a large sett may have 40 or more entrances, chambers for sleeping and latrines, and tunnels extending over 300 m. Setts are maintained across decades and passed between generations.

Badgers are mainly nocturnal. They emerge at dusk to forage, using sensitive snouts to locate earthworms — the primary summer food. A single badger may consume 200 earthworms per night. They also eat fruit, nuts, insects, wasp larvae, small mammals, birds and carrion. In autumn they fatten on windfall fruit and cereals.

Social structure centres on matrilineal groups — related females share a sett while males roam between groups. Cubs born in spring remain with the group for over a year. Grooming and scent marking maintain group cohesion.


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

## Range and habitat
European badgers range from Ireland and Spain east to Russia, Iran and western China. They inhabit woodland, pasture, hedgerows, scrub and suburban edges wherever soil allows digging and food is available. Britain holds an estimated 250,000–400,000 badgers — one of the densest populations globally.

In the Middle East and Pakistan, badgers occupy mountain foothills, scrubland and agricultural margins. They are adaptable omnivores that benefit from mixed farming landscapes with hedgerows and pasture — habitats declining under intensive agriculture.

Road mortality is a significant cause of death across Europe. Badgers also face persecution from sett digging, baiting with dogs (illegal but persistent in some regions) and government culling programmes linked to bovine tuberculosis transmission to cattle in Britain and Ireland.

## Conservation and disease conflict
The IUCN lists the European badger as Least Concern with a stable population across most of its range. Legal protection in Britain, Germany and much of the EU has helped maintain populations. CITES Appendix III in Ukraine regulates exports.

Bovine tuberculosis (bTB) in badgers and its transmission to cattle has driven controversial culling programmes in Britain and Ireland since the 1970s. Science shows badgers contribute to bTB spread but culling alone does not eliminate the disease — biosecurity, cattle testing and vaccination are essential components. Public debate remains intense.

Outside Europe, badger populations face habitat loss from agricultural intensification and hunting. Protecting hedgerow networks, reducing road mortality with wildlife crossings and managing disease through vaccination rather than culling support badger persistence.

## Related WARN guides and Asian badger relatives
Readers interested in badgers may explore WARN's otter guides — fellow mustelids dependent on healthy freshwater habitat. Honey badgers and hog badgers in Malaysia and Indonesia share rainforest and scrub habitats with species WARN protects.

The European badger's sett-building parallels the aardvark's burrow engineering in Africa — both create underground habitat used by other species. WARN's aardvark guide explores that ecosystem service in savanna ecosystems.

Maintaining mixed farmland with hedgerows and reducing persecution benefits badgers across their range from Britain to Pakistan.

## WARN work
WARN publishes this badger guide as free public education. Badgers persist in scrub and foothill habitats across the Middle East and Pakistan — regions where habitat stewardship connects to broader conservation education.

## 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/badger): Badger — wildlife guide.

## Are badgers and wolverines related?
Yes. Both belong to Mustelidae — the weasel family. European badgers are in genus Meles; wolverines are in Gulo. Honey badgers belong to a separate family, Mellivoridae.

## What do badgers eat?
European badgers are omnivorous. Earthworms form the bulk of summer diets; they also eat fruit, nuts, insects, wasp larvae, small mammals, birds and carrion.

## Are badgers endangered?
The European badger is Least Concern with stable populations across most of Europe. Some Asian badger species face greater pressure from habitat loss and hunting.

## How big is a badger sett?
Large setts may have 40 or more entrances and tunnels extending over 300 m, with chambers for sleeping and latrines. Setts are used across generations over decades.

## Do badgers live in groups?
European badgers are the most social mustelids. Family groups of up to 20 individuals share a sett, though they typically forage alone at night.

## Why are badgers culled in Britain?
Badgers can carry bovine tuberculosis and transmit it to cattle. Controversial culling programmes aim to reduce disease, though vaccination and biosecurity are also essential tools.

## Where do badgers live?
European badgers range from Ireland and Spain east to Russia, Iran and western China in woodland, pasture, hedgerows, scrub and suburban edges wherever soil allows digging. Britain holds an estimated 250,000–400,000 badgers — one of the densest populations globally. In Pakistan and the Middle East they persist in scrub and mountain foothills.

## Are badgers dangerous?
Badgers rarely attack unprovoked but have powerful jaws and sharp claws for digging. They are mainly nocturnal omnivores feeding heavily on earthworms — up to 200 per night in summer. Family groups of up to 20 share extensive setts with dozens of entrances and tunnels extending over 300 m.

## How long do badgers live?
This guide does not give a precise lifespan figure for European badgers. Cubs born in spring remain with the group for over a year, and setts are maintained across decades and passed between generations — signs of a long-lived, stable social species listed Least Concern by the IUCN.


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

## One-line answer
The golden jackal (Canis aureus) is a Least Concern wild canid ranging from Africa through the Middle East to Pakistan and Nepal — an adaptable omnivore of savanna, scrub and farmland.

## Introduction
Jackals are medium-sized wild canids of Africa, Asia and south-eastern Europe. The golden jackal (Canis aureus) is the most widespread, ranging from East Africa through the Middle East and South Asia to Pakistan and Nepal. Smaller than wolves but larger than foxes, jackals are adaptable omnivores that hunt, scavenge and forage across savanna, desert edge, farmland and urban margins. Listed as Least Concern, golden jackal populations are stable and expanding in parts of Europe. In Pakistan and across South Asia, jackals persist in scrub and agricultural landscapes where human-wildlife coexistence shapes conservation outcomes.

## Takeaway
Golden jackals range from East Africa through the Middle East to Pakistan and Nepal.

## Takeaway
Three jackal species exist: golden, black-backed and side-striped.

## Takeaway
Jackals are adaptable omnivores hunting small prey and scavenging carrion.

## Takeaway
Golden jackals are expanding northward into Europe — a range shift linked to climate change.

## Takeaway
In Pakistan and South Asia, jackals persist in scrub and agricultural landscapes.

## Takeaway
Jackals communicate through howls, yelps and scent marking like other canids.

## Three jackal species
Three jackal species occupy the genus Canis alongside wolves, coyotes and domestic dogs. The golden jackal (Canis aureus) is the most widespread, with sandy to tawny fur, a bushy tail and a range spanning Africa, the Middle East, South Asia and expanding into south-eastern Europe.

The black-backed jackal (C. mesomelas) is restricted to southern and eastern Africa — savanna and coastal scrub specialist. The side-striped jackal (C. adustus) inhabits Central and West African forest edge and woodland. All three are smaller than wolves, with elongated muzzles, pointed ears and social structures ranging from pairs to small family groups.

Golden jackals weigh 7–15 kg. They resemble small wolves or large foxes but have a narrower muzzle and shorter legs than wolves. Genetic studies show golden jackals in Africa are distinct from Asian populations, with possible species-level splits under review.

## Ecology and diet
Jackals are opportunistic feeders. Golden jackals hunt rodents, hares, birds, reptiles and amphibians; scavenge carrion from larger predator kills; and eat fruit, insects and human refuse. In agricultural landscapes they raid melon fields and poultry yards, drawing persecution from farmers.

Black-backed jackals are more carnivorous, hunting small antelope lambs, hares and ground-nesting birds. They follow lion and hyena kills to scavenge. Side-striped jackals are the most omnivorous, eating fruit, insects and small vertebrates in forest edge habitat.

Jackals are mainly crepuscular and nocturnal. They communicate through varied vocalisations — howls, yelps and alarm calls — and scent marking with urine and faeces. Pairs or family groups defend territories of 1–5 km² depending on habitat quality.


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

## Range and expansion
Golden jackals historically ranged from Senegal and Tanzania through the Middle East to India, Pakistan and Nepal. In recent decades they have expanded northward into the Baltic states, Germany, Denmark and Austria — likely aided by climate warming and abundant food in agricultural landscapes.

In Pakistan, golden jackals inhabit scrub forest, riverine vegetation and agricultural margins from the Indus plains to foothill zones. They coexist with wolves, leopards and striped hyenas in some areas. Persecution from livestock predation and hunting for fur persist but populations remain resilient.

African jackals occupy complementary niches. Black-backed jackals are common in East African savanna — meerkat alarm calls often warn of approaching jackals. Side-striped jackals are less studied but persist in Central African forest mosaic habitats.

## Conservation and persecution
The IUCN lists the golden jackal as Least Concern with a stable or increasing population trend. Black-backed and side-striped jackals are also Least Concern. None are listed under CITES. Jackals benefit from legal protection in some countries but are hunted or poisoned as vermin in others.

Persecution arises from poultry depredation, rabies concerns and competition with hunters for game species. In Europe, expanding golden jackal populations generate debate about management as a native versus colonising species. Science increasingly treats European golden jackals as natural range expansion rather than invasive introduction.

Maintaining prey populations, reducing indiscriminate poisoning and educating farmers about non-lethal deterrents support jackal persistence. In Pakistan and South Asia, jackals share landscapes with livestock herders — coexistence programmes that reduce retaliatory killing benefit both communities and wildlife.

## Related WARN canid guides
Jackals belong to the canid family alongside wolves, foxes and coyotes. WARN's wolf and maned wolf guides cover other wild canids whose conservation depends on habitat protection and coexistence with people.

In African savanna, black-backed jackals interact with meerkats, lions and hyenas — species covered in WARN's savanna guides. The golden jackal's expansion into Europe parallels coyote range expansion in North America — both illustrate how adaptable canids respond to landscape change.

Readers in Pakistan and South Asia searching 'jackal' will find overlap with WARN's snow leopard and habitat protection work in mountain and scrub ecosystems.

## WARN work
WARN publishes this jackal guide as free public education. Golden jackals persist across Pakistan and South Asia in landscapes where coexistence between herding communities and wildlife is central to conservation outcomes.

## 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/jackal): Jackal — wildlife guide.

## What is the difference between a jackal and a fox?
Jackals belong to genus Canis alongside wolves and coyotes. Foxes belong to genus Vulpes or related genera. Jackals are generally larger, more social and more carnivorous than most foxes.

## Where do jackals live?
Golden jackals range from East Africa through the Middle East to Pakistan, India and Nepal, with expanding populations in south-eastern Europe. Black-backed jackals inhabit southern and eastern Africa.

## Are jackals endangered?
All three jackal species are Least Concern with stable populations. Golden jackals are expanding northward into Europe.

## What do jackals eat?
Jackals are omnivorous opportunists eating rodents, hares, birds, reptiles, fruit, insects, carrion and human refuse. Diet varies by species and habitat.

## Do jackals attack humans?
Jackal attacks on humans are extremely rare. They generally avoid people. Rabid jackals may behave aggressively — rabies remains a concern in some South Asian and African regions.

## Are jackals related to dogs?
Yes. Jackals belong to genus Canis alongside wolves, coyotes and domestic dogs. They share a common ancestor and can interbreed with dogs in rare cases.

## How long do jackals live?
A precise wild lifespan for jackals is not firmly established in the sources cited on this guide. The golden jackal (Canis aureus) is a Least Concern wild canid ranging from Africa through the Middle East to Pakistan and Nepal — an adaptable omnivore of savanna, scrub and farmland. Where longevity figures appear in the literature they vary by region, sex and whether animals are wild or captive.

## How big is a jackal?
A Jackal is about 7–15 kg. The golden jackal (Canis aureus) is a Least Concern wild canid ranging from Africa through the Middle East to Pakistan and Nepal — an adaptable omnivore of savanna, scrub and farmland.


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

## One-line answer
Mongooses are small carnivorans of family Herpestidae — roughly 34 species across Africa and Asia; the small Asian mongoose (Herpestes javanicus) is Least Concern and native from Pakistan to Indonesia, famous for hunting snakes.

## Introduction
Mongooses are small carnivorans of the family Herpestidae, found across Africa, Asia and parts of Europe. Roughly 34 species occupy grassland, forest, scrub and rocky terrain. The small Asian mongoose (Herpestes javanicus) is among the most widespread, native from Iran and Pakistan through India and South-east Asia to Indonesia and Malaysia. Mongooses are famous for attacking snakes, including cobras, though they are omnivorous generalists. Listed as Least Concern, the small Asian mongoose is abundant in native range but problematic where introduced. In Malaysia and Indonesia, native mongoose species share rainforest edge habitat with primates and slow lorises that WARN partners protect.

## Takeaway
Mongooses belong to Herpestidae — distinct from mustelids and viverrids.

## Takeaway
The small Asian mongoose ranges from Pakistan through Malaysia and Indonesia.

## Takeaway
Mongooses are famous for attacking venomous snakes including cobras.

## Takeaway
Introduced mongooses have devastated native birds and reptiles in Hawaii and the Caribbean.

## Takeaway
Meerkats are mongooses — the most social species, living in cooperative groups.

## Takeaway
Malaysia and Indonesia hold native mongoose species in rainforest edge habitat.

## Mongooses across Africa and Asia
Mongooses belong to the family Herpestidae — a carnivore lineage separate from mustelids (weasels) and viverrids (civets). Roughly 34 species in 14 genera range across Africa, Asia and southern Europe. They share a general body plan: slender body, short legs, pointed snout, small rounded ears and often banded or grizzled fur.

The small Asian mongoose (Herpestes javanicus) is native from Iran, Afghanistan and Pakistan through India, Nepal, South-east Asia, Malaysia and Indonesia. It inhabits open country, scrub, forest edge and agricultural land. Other notable species include the Egyptian mongoose, the white-tailed mongoose of Africa and the meerkat (Suricata suricatta) — the social sentinel of the Kalahari.

In Malaysia and Indonesia, mongooses occupy rainforest margins and disturbed forest — habitats overlapping with orangutan and slow loris range where WARN partners work on habitat protection.

## Snake hunting and diet
Mongooses are renowned for confronting venomous snakes. They attack with quick reflexes, thick loose skin that resists shallow bites and some tolerance to snake venom — though they are not immune. Indian grey mongooses regularly kill cobras and kraits. This behaviour made mongooses popular in nineteenth-century travelling shows.

Diet is broader than snake hunting suggests. Mongooses eat rodents, birds, eggs, insects, crustaceans, fruit and carrion. The small Asian mongoose raids poultry yards, drawing persecution from farmers across its range. They are mainly diurnal — unlike many carnivorans — and patrol territories with scent marking and vocalisations.

Meerkats specialise in scorpions and insects in arid Kalahari scrub, with sentinel behaviour that has made them among the most studied social carnivorans.


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

## Introductions and ecological damage
The small Asian mongoose is one of the world's most successful invasive mammals. Introduced to Fiji, Hawaii, Jamaica, Puerto Rico and dozens of other islands to control rats in sugar plantations, it became a devastating predator of native birds, reptiles and amphibians.

In Hawaii, mongoose introductions in the 1880s contributed to the decline of endemic ground-nesting birds and the extinction of several species. Mongooses raid nests, eat hatchling sea turtles and compete with native predators. Island ecosystems with no evolutionary history of mammalian predators suffer disproportionate losses.

In native range from Pakistan to Indonesia, mongoose populations are stable and natural. The conservation lesson is stark: species that are harmless or beneficial in native ecosystems can become destructive when introduced to islands or regions without equivalent predators.

## Conservation across species
The IUCN lists the small Asian mongoose as Least Concern with a stable population across its vast native range. Most African mongoose species are also Least Concern. The Liberian mongoose (Liberiictis kuhni) of West African rainforest is Endangered with a restricted range.

Threats in native range include habitat loss from agricultural expansion, persecution as poultry predators and hunting for fur. In South-east Asia, deforestation removes forest edge habitat mongooses exploit. CITES Appendix III in India regulates some Herpestes exports.

Protecting rainforest edge habitat in Malaysia and Indonesia benefits native mongooses alongside primates, hornbills and civets. Preventing further mongoose introductions to islands remains an urgent biosecurity priority.

## Related WARN primate and rainforest guides
Mongooses in Malaysia and Indonesia share rainforest edge habitat with orangutans, slow lorises and macaques — species central to WARN's partner conservation work. This guide helps readers distinguish mongooses from civets, ferrets and other small carnivorans.

WARN's meerkat content in the main species library covers the social mongoose of southern African savanna. For South Asian context, mongooses overlap with tiger, leopard and sloth bear range.

Island biosecurity — preventing mongoose introductions — parallels WARN's anti-trafficking education about exotic pet releases in partner countries.

## WARN work
WARN funds rainforest habitat protection in Malaysia and Indonesia where native mongooses share forest edge habitat with orangutans and slow lorises. This mongoose guide is free public education about a widespread carnivoran family.

## 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/mongoose): Mongoose — wildlife guide.

## Are mongooses immune to snake venom?
Mongooses are not immune but have some tolerance and thick loose skin that resists shallow bites. They rely on speed and agility to kill snakes before sustaining serious envenomation.

## Is a meerkat a mongoose?
Yes. Meerkats (Suricata suricatta) are mongooses — the most social species, living in cooperative groups with sentinel behaviour in southern African arid scrub.

## Where do mongooses live?
Mongooses inhabit Africa, Asia and southern Europe. The small Asian mongoose ranges from Pakistan through India and South-east Asia to Malaysia and Indonesia.

## Are mongooses endangered?
Most mongoose species are Least Concern. The Liberian mongoose of West Africa is Endangered. The small Asian mongoose is abundant in native range but invasive where introduced.

## Why were mongooses introduced to Hawaii?
Mongooses were introduced to Hawaii in the 1880s to control rats in sugar plantations. They hunt by day while rats are active at night, so the control failed. Mongooses instead devastated native birds and reptiles.

## What do mongooses eat?
Mongooses are omnivorous, eating rodents, birds, eggs, insects, snakes, crustaceans, fruit and carrion. Diet varies by species and habitat.

## Are mongooses dangerous?
Mongooses are famous for attacking snakes, including cobras, though they are omnivorous generalists. They are snake hunting — including cobras. Give wild mongooses space; do not corner or handle them.

## How long do mongooses live?
A precise wild lifespan for mongooses is not firmly established in the sources cited on this guide. Mongooses are small carnivorans of family Herpestidae — roughly 34 species across Africa and Asia; the small Asian mongoose (Herpestes javanicus) is Least Concern and native from Pakistan to Indonesia, famous for hunting snakes. Where longevity figures appear in the literature they vary by region, sex and whether animals are wild or captive.

## How big is a mongoose?
A Mongoose is about 0.5–5 kg (Size range across mongoose species). Mongooses are small carnivorans of family Herpestidae — roughly 34 species across Africa and Asia; the small Asian mongoose (Herpestes javanicus) is Least Concern and native from Pakistan to Indonesia, famous for hunting snakes.


World Animal Rescue Network (https://worldanimalrescuenetwork.org/wildlife-guides/wild-boar): Wild Boar — wildlife guide.

## One-line answer
The wild boar (Sus scrofa) is a Least Concern suid native across Europe, Asia and North Africa — ancestor of the domestic pig, widespread from Pakistan to Indonesia and increasing across Europe.

## Introduction
The wild boar is the ancestor of the domestic pig and one of the widest-ranging mammals on Earth. Native across Europe, Asia and North Africa, Sus scrofa inhabits forest, scrub, grassland and farmland from the British Isles to Japan, Indonesia and Pakistan. Boars are powerful omnivores that root soil for tubers, invertebrates and fungi, wallow in mud and form matriarchal groups called sounders. Listed as Least Concern, wild boar populations are increasing across much of Europe. In Brazil and Colombia, feral populations of domestic pig origin damage crops; in Malaysia and Indonesia, wild boar are native forest species hunted for bushmeat.

## Takeaway
Wild boar are the ancestor of all domestic pig breeds worldwide.

## Takeaway
Sounders are matriarchal groups of females and young led by an older sow.

## Takeaway
Male boars develop sharp lower canines — tusks — used in dominance fights.

## Takeaway
Wild boar root soil, creating disturbance that benefits some plants and invertebrates.

## Takeaway
Populations are increasing across Europe after decades of legal protection.

## Takeaway
In Malaysia and Indonesia, wild boar are native forest species and bushmeat targets.

## An ancestor with global reach
Wild boar belong to the family Suidae alongside warthogs, babirusas and pygmy hogs. Sus scrofa is the only suid native to Europe and much of Asia. Domestic pigs descend from wild boar domesticated roughly 9,000 years ago in Anatolia and China. Sixteen subspecies are recognised across the native range.

Boars are stocky, bristly animals with a cartilaginous disc on the snout used for rooting. Coat colour varies from black to reddish-brown to striped in piglets. Males develop prominent lower canines that curve upward — tusks used in ritualised fights during the rut. Adults weigh 50–200 kg; males exceed females substantially.

The species ranges from the British Isles and Scandinavia through the Middle East, Pakistan, India, South-east Asia, Malaysia and Indonesia to Japan and Taiwan. North African populations persist in Morocco and Tunisia. Introduced feral pigs occur in the Americas, Australia and New Zealand.

## Sounders, rooting and ecology
Wild boar society centres on sounders — matriarchal groups of related females and their offspring. Adult males are solitary outside the breeding season, joining sounders during the rut. Females give birth to striped piglets in a nest of vegetation; the sow defends young aggressively against predators including wolves, leopards and tigers.

Rooting behaviour — turning soil with the snout disc — is ecologically significant. It aerates soil, exposes invertebrates and seeds, and creates wallows that hold water for other species. In European forests, boar rooting increases plant diversity by disturbing dominant species. In agricultural landscapes, the same behaviour damages crops and draws farmer persecution.

Boars are omnivorous, eating roots, tubers, acorns, fruit, earthworms, insects, eggs, small vertebrates and carrion. They visit salt licks and mineral-rich soil. Nocturnal and crepuscular activity patterns help avoid human disturbance.


World Animal Rescue Network (https://worldanimalrescuenetwork.org/wildlife-guides/wild-boar): Wild Boar — wildlife guide.

## Range, hunting and bushmeat
In Europe, wild boar were hunted to near extinction by the nineteenth century before legal protection and reintroduction restored populations. Germany, France and Poland now hold hundreds of thousands of boar. Vehicle collisions and regulated hunting manage numbers in some regions.

In South Asia, wild boar range across Pakistan, India and Nepal in forest, scrub and agricultural margins. They are a major prey species for tigers and leopards. Crop raiding generates conflict with farmers; retaliatory killing and snaring persist.

In Malaysia and Indonesia, wild boar inhabit rainforest and forest edge. Hunting for bushmeat is widespread — boar meat is valued in rural communities. Sustainable hunting can coexist with conservation when protected areas maintain source populations. In Brazil and Colombia, feral pigs of domestic origin — not native Sus scrofa — damage crops and spread disease to native wildlife.

## Conservation and management
The IUCN lists wild boar as Least Concern with a stable or increasing global population trend. European populations are expanding northward, aided by milder winters and agricultural food sources. Wild boar are not listed under CITES.

Management challenges differ by region. In Europe, debate centres on hunting quotas, crop damage compensation and disease — African swine fever outbreaks in eastern Europe threaten both wild and domestic pigs. In Asia, maintaining forest habitat and reducing indiscriminate snaring benefit boar populations and the predators that depend on them.

Feral pig control in the Americas and Australia is a separate issue from native wild boar conservation. Preventing domestic pig releases and managing feral populations protects native ecosystems in WARN partner countries Brazil and Colombia.

## Related WARN guides — pigs, predators and forest
Wild boar are primary prey for tigers, leopards and wolves — species covered in WARN's big cat and canid guides. In Indonesia and Malaysia, boar share rainforest with orangutans and clouded leopards.

WARN's tapir and peccary guides cover other forest ungulates in Brazil and Colombia. Feral pig damage in South America illustrates the risks of domestic animal releases — a message relevant to exotic pet and livestock management worldwide.

Readers searching 'wild boar' in Pakistan and South Asia will find overlap with leopard and jackal ecology in shared scrub and forest landscapes.

## WARN work
WARN works in Brazil, Colombia, Malaysia and Indonesia where wild boar and feral pigs interact with forest ecosystems, bushmeat trade and agricultural conflict. This wild boar guide is free public education about a globally widespread suid.

## 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/wild-boar): Wild Boar — wildlife guide.

## Are wild boar the same as domestic pigs?
Wild boar (Sus scrofa) are the wild ancestor of domestic pigs. Domestic pigs descend from boar domesticated roughly 9,000 years ago. Feral pigs are domestic pigs living wild.

## What is a sounder?
A sounder is a matriarchal group of wild boar — related females and their offspring led by an older sow. Adult males are usually solitary outside the breeding season.

## Are wild boar dangerous?
Wild boar generally avoid humans but can charge if cornered or if a sow defends piglets. Males have sharp tusks capable of serious injury. Most incidents involve dogs or hunters.

## Are wild boar endangered?
Wild boar are Least Concern with stable or increasing populations globally. European populations are expanding after decades of protection and reintroduction.

## Where do wild boar live?
Native wild boar range across Europe, Asia and North Africa from Britain to Japan, including Pakistan, Malaysia and Indonesia. Feral pigs occur in the Americas and Australia.

## What do wild boar eat?
Wild boar are omnivorous, eating roots, tubers, acorns, fruit, earthworms, insects, eggs, small vertebrates and carrion. They root soil to find underground food.

## How long do wild boars live?
A precise wild lifespan for wild boars is not firmly established in the sources cited on this guide. The wild boar (Sus scrofa) is a Least Concern suid native across Europe, Asia and North Africa — ancestor of the domestic pig, widespread from Pakistan to Indonesia and increasing across Europe. Where longevity figures appear in the literature they vary by region, sex and whether animals are wild or captive.

## How big is a wild boar?
A Wild Boar is about 50–200 kg (males larger). The wild boar (Sus scrofa) is a Least Concern suid native across Europe, Asia and North Africa — ancestor of the domestic pig, widespread from Pakistan to Indonesia and increasing across Europe.


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

## One-line answer
The sloth bear (Melursus ursinus) is a Vulnerable myrmecophagous bear of India, Nepal, Sri Lanka and Bhutan — adapted for eating ants and termites with long claws and a tube-like muzzle, threatened by habitat loss and conflict.

## Introduction
The sloth bear is the only bear species native to South Asia, found in India, Nepal, Sri Lanka and Bhutan. Unlike other bears, it is adapted for myrmecophagy — eating ants and termites — with long curved claws, a hairless muzzle that can be closed as a tube, and missing upper incisors that create a gap for sucking insects. Shaggy black fur, a whitish chest blaze and a slow shambling gait give sloth bears a distinctive appearance. Listed as Vulnerable by the IUCN, populations are declining from habitat loss, poaching for body parts and increasing human-bear conflict as forests fragment.

## Takeaway
Sloth bears are the only bear species native to South Asia.

## Takeaway
They specialise in eating ants and termites with long claws and a tube-like muzzle.

## Takeaway
Missing upper incisors create a gap for sucking insects — unique among bears.

## Takeaway
Sloth bears are more aggressive toward humans than most bear species.

## Takeaway
Dancing bears — cruel training for street performance — were banned in India in 1972.

## Takeaway
Habitat fragmentation drives increasing human-bear conflict across India.

## A bear built for insects
The sloth bear belongs to the family Ursidae but occupies a unique ecological niche. Its long, curved claws — up to 8 cm — are designed for tearing open termite mounds and ant nests, not for climbing like other bears. The hairless muzzle can be closed to form a tube for sucking insects. Upper incisors are reduced or absent, creating a gap that channels termites and ants into the mouth.

Shaggy black or dark brown fur covers the body; a whitish or chestnut U-shaped or Y-shaped blaze marks the chest. Adults weigh 55–145 kg — smaller than most bear species. The name 'sloth bear' reflects early European observers who confused its slow gait and long claws with sloths.

Sloth bears are mainly nocturnal in human-disturbed areas, foraging alone except when females accompany cubs. They communicate through loud snorts, screams and grunts — vocalisations that can alarm people who encounter them at night.

## Diet, range and behaviour
Termites and ants form the bulk of the diet, supplemented with fruit — especially figs and flowers of mahua trees — honey, eggs and occasional carrion. Sloth bears raid sugarcane fields and maize crops, drawing conflict with farmers. In Sri Lanka, they also eat yams and palmyra fruit.

The range spans lowland and montane forest, scrub and grassland across India, Nepal, Sri Lanka and Bhutan. India holds roughly 90% of the global population, with significant numbers in Madhya Pradesh, Karnataka, Maharashtra and the Western Ghats. Nepal's Chitwan and Bardia national parks support important populations. Sri Lankan sloth bears are isolated on the island.

Females give birth in dens — rock caves, burrows or hollow trees — typically to one or two cubs. Cubs ride on the mother's back for several months — a behaviour unique among bears. Cubs remain with mothers for up to two years.


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

## Dancing bears and poaching
For centuries, sloth bear cubs were captured and trained as 'dancing bears' — a cruel practice where a hot rod or ring through the muzzle forced bears to rise on hind legs. India's Wildlife Protection Act of 1972 banned this practice. Wildlife SOS and government agencies confiscated the last dancing bears from streets by 2009, rehoming animals to sanctuaries.

Poaching for body parts — gall bladders, claws and bones — persists for traditional medicine markets. Sloth bear gall bladders are traded alongside those of other bear species across Asia. Anti-poaching patrols and CITES Appendix I protection aim to reduce illegal trade.

Human-bear conflict is the growing threat. As forests fragment, sloth bears enter villages at night to raid crops and encounter people. Startled bears attack defensively — sloth bears are among the most aggressive bear species toward humans. Retaliatory killing and accidental deaths from snares set for other animals reduce populations.

## Conservation outlook
The IUCN lists the sloth bear as Vulnerable with an estimated population of roughly 6,000–11,000 mature individuals and a decreasing trend. Habitat loss from mining, agriculture, road construction and urban expansion removes forest cover. Protected areas in India — Kanha, Satpura, Tadoba and others — anchor populations but connectivity between reserves is poor.

Conservation priorities include maintaining forest corridors, reducing crop-raiding conflict through electric fencing and compensation schemes, anti-poaching enforcement and continuing sanctuary care for confiscated dancing bears. Community education in villages near bear habitat reduces surprise encounters.

Sri Lankan and Nepalese populations face similar pressures with smaller absolute numbers. Regional cooperation across South Asia benefits all bear populations and the forest ecosystems they require.

## Related WARN bear and big cat guides
Sloth bears share Indian forest with tigers and leopards — predators covered in WARN's big cat guides. Bears and big cats compete for fruit and carrion resources in shared habitat.

WARN's Andean bear guide covers South America's only bear species — a fellow forest specialist facing habitat fragmentation. Both illustrate how bear populations collapse when forest connectivity fails.

South Asian wildlife conservation connects to WARN's broader education about habitat protection in partner countries facing similar forest loss pressures in Indonesia and Malaysia.

## WARN work
WARN publishes this sloth bear guide as free public education. South Asia's only bear faces habitat loss and conflict — challenges that mirror forest conservation pressures in WARN partner countries Indonesia and Malaysia.

## 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/sloth-bear): Sloth Bear — wildlife guide.

## Why is it called a sloth bear?
Early European naturalists named it for its slow shambling gait and long curved claws, which superficially resemble sloths. Sloth bears are bears, not related to sloths.

## Are sloth bears dangerous?
Sloth bears are among the most aggressive bear species toward humans. They are easily startled, especially when females defend cubs. Surprise encounters at night in villages cause most attacks.

## What do sloth bears eat?
Sloth bears specialise in ants and termites, using long claws to tear open mounds and a tube-like muzzle to suck insects. They also eat fruit, honey, eggs and occasionally carrion.

## Are sloth bears endangered?
Sloth bears are Vulnerable with an estimated 6,000–11,000 mature individuals and a decreasing population trend. Habitat loss and human conflict are the main threats.

## What were dancing bears?
Dancing bears were sloth bear cubs trained through cruel muzzle piercing to perform on streets. India banned the practice in 1972; the last street dancing bears were removed by 2009.

## Where do sloth bears live?
Sloth bears inhabit India, Nepal, Sri Lanka and Bhutan in forest, scrub and grassland. India holds roughly 90% of the global population.

## How long do sloth bears live?
A precise wild lifespan for sloth bears is not firmly established in the sources cited on this guide. The sloth bear (Melursus ursinus) is a Vulnerable myrmecophagous bear of India, Nepal, Sri Lanka and Bhutan — adapted for eating ants and termites with long claws and a tube-like muzzle, threatened by habitat loss and conflict. Where longevity figures appear in the literature they vary by region, sex and whether animals are wild or captive.

## How big is a sloth bear?
A Sloth Bear is about 55–145 kg. The sloth bear (Melursus ursinus) is a Vulnerable myrmecophagous bear of India, Nepal, Sri Lanka and Bhutan — adapted for eating ants and termites with long claws and a tube-like muzzle, threatened by habitat loss and conflict.


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

## One-line answer
The African buffalo (Syncerus caffer) is a Near Threatened bovid of sub-Saharan Africa — a 900 kg herd grazer and formidable prey for lions, with roughly 400,000 individuals; Asian wild water buffalo is a separate Endangered species.

## Introduction
The African buffalo is one of the largest and most dangerous bovids in Africa, weighing up to 900 kg with a heavy horn boss that fuses into a shield on mature males. Syncerus caffer ranges across sub-Saharan savanna, woodland and forest from Senegal to South Africa. Herds of hundreds graze grasslands by day and drink at waterholes where lions hunt them — one of the few prey species that can kill lions in defence. Listed as Least Concern, African buffalo number roughly 400,000 but face habitat loss, disease and hunting pressure outside protected areas. Asian wild water buffalo — a separate species — is Endangered in remnant populations from India to Indonesia.

## Takeaway
African buffalo are among the most dangerous prey for lions — herds can kill attacking cats.

## Takeaway
Four subspecies range from savanna to forest across sub-Saharan Africa.

## Takeaway
Mature males develop a fused horn boss — a solid shield across the forehead.

## Takeaway
African buffalo are a major prey species sustaining lion populations across savanna.

## Takeaway
Wild Asian water buffalo (Bubalus arnee) is Endangered — separate from African buffalo.

## Takeaway
Disease outbreaks including bovine tuberculosis and rinderpest have historically devastated herds.

## African buffalo across the continent
The African buffalo belongs to the family Bovidae alongside antelope, cattle and bison. Syncerus caffer is distinct from Asian water buffalo (Bubalus bubalis) and American bison — all called 'buffalo' in common English but separate species. Four subspecies are recognised: the Cape buffalo (S. c. caffer) of southern and East Africa; the savanna buffalo (S. c. brachyceros) of West Africa; the Nile buffalo (S. c. aequinoctialis) of Central Africa; and the forest buffalo (S. c. nanus) — a smaller reddish form of Congo Basin rainforest.

Adults weigh 300–900 kg. Both sexes carry horns; in males the bases fuse into a continuous boss across the forehead by age seven. Coat colour ranges from dark brown to black in savanna forms to reddish-brown in forest buffalo. Buffalo have poor eyesight but acute hearing and smell.

Herds structure around matriarchal groups of females and young, with bachelor herds of males and solitary old bulls — dagga boys — that are notoriously aggressive.

## Grazing, herds and predator defence
African buffalo are bulk grazers, eating grasses and sedges in savanna and woodland. Herds of 50–500 aggregate near water daily, travelling up to 17 km from grazing areas to drink. During the dry season, larger aggregations form around permanent water sources.

Lions are the primary predator, hunting buffalo in coordinated ambushes. Buffalo herds mob lions aggressively — documented cases show herds killing lions that attack calves or wounded members. Hyenas and crocodiles take calves and weak animals. Buffalo alarm calls alert herds to danger; the species is among the most dangerous to hunters due to ambush charges.

Males fight for dominance during the rut, clashing horns in spectacular battles. Females give birth during the rainy season when grass quality peaks. Calves are hidden in thick cover for the first weeks before joining the herd.


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

## Disease, hunting and habitat loss
African buffalo populations crashed historically from rinderpest — a cattle disease that swept Africa in the 1890s killing millions of buffalo and ungulates. Bovine tuberculosis persists in buffalo herds and can transmit to cattle where ranges overlap. Foot-and-mouth disease cycles through populations with variable mortality.

Hunting for bushmeat and trophy harvest affects populations outside protected areas. Snaring kills buffalo indiscriminately in Central and West Africa. Habitat loss from agricultural expansion and livestock encroachment reduces range in East and West Africa, though southern African populations remain robust in large reserves.

The forest buffalo of Congo Basin rainforest faces deforestation pressure — habitat loss in Central Africa mirrors forest threats in WARN partner countries Brazil and Colombia. Asian wild water buffalo (Bubalus arnee) survives in small populations from India to Cambodia and Indonesia, listed as Endangered with fewer than 4,000 individuals.

## Conservation status
The IUCN lists the African buffalo as Least Concern with an estimated 400,000 individuals and a stable population trend in well-managed protected areas. Southern African reserves — Kruger, Chobe, Serengeti — hold large populations that sustain tourism revenue. West and Central African populations are more fragmented and less monitored.

CITES Appendix II regulates international trade in African buffalo trophies and products. Community conservancies in southern Africa generate income from regulated hunting and tourism that incentivises habitat protection. Anti-snaring patrols in Central Africa reduce indiscriminate killing.

Maintaining protected area networks and migration corridors between reserves supports buffalo herds and the lion populations that depend on them as primary prey.

## Related WARN savanna guides
African buffalo are the heavyweight prey that tests lion prides — read WARN's lion, hyena and wild dog guides for the predator communities buffalo sustain. Wildebeest, zebra and impala guides cover other savanna grazers in the same ecosystems.

For Asian buffalo context, wild water buffalo in Indonesia and Malaysia face Endangered status — overlapping with WARN's rainforest and wetland habitat work. Gaur and yak guides on this tier cover other wild bovids of Asia.

The buffalo–lion dynamic — dangerous prey sustaining apex predators — illustrates keystone prey ecology across African savanna.

## WARN work
WARN publishes this buffalo guide as free public education. African buffalo anchor savanna predator ecosystems; Asian wild water buffalo in Indonesia face Endangered status — both illustrate how large bovids connect 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/buffalo): Buffalo — wildlife guide.

## Is an African buffalo the same as a water buffalo?
No. African buffalo (Syncerus caffer) are native to sub-Saharan Africa. Asian water buffalo (Bubalus bubalis) are a separate species domesticated in Asia. American bison are also distinct. All are called 'buffalo' in common English.

## Are buffalo dangerous?
African buffalo are among the most dangerous animals in Africa to hunters. They charge without warning, especially wounded animals and old solitary bulls. Herds also mob lions aggressively in defence.

## How many African buffalo are left?
Roughly 400,000 African buffalo survive across sub-Saharan Africa. Southern African protected areas hold the largest concentrations; West and Central African populations are more fragmented.

## What do lions eat — buffalo?
Yes. African buffalo are a primary prey species for lions, especially in southern and East African savanna. Hunting buffalo tests the strength and coordination of lion prides.

## Are buffalo endangered?
African buffalo are Least Concern with roughly 400,000 individuals. Asian wild water buffalo (Bubalus arnee) is Endangered with fewer than 4,000 wild individuals.

## What is a dagga boy?
A dagga boy is an old solitary male African buffalo, often past prime breeding age, that lives alone or in small bachelor groups. They are notoriously aggressive and unpredictable.

## Where do buffalos live?
Buffalos live in Sub-Saharan Africa. The African buffalo (Syncerus caffer) is a Near Threatened bovid of sub-Saharan Africa — a 900 kg herd grazer and formidable prey for lions, with roughly 400,000 individuals; Asian wild water buffalo is a separate Endangered species.

## How long do buffalos live?
A precise wild lifespan for buffalos is not firmly established in the sources cited on this guide. The African buffalo (Syncerus caffer) is a Near Threatened bovid of sub-Saharan Africa — a 900 kg herd grazer and formidable prey for lions, with roughly 400,000 individuals; Asian wild water buffalo is a separate Endangered species. Where longevity figures appear in the literature they vary by region, sex and whether animals are wild or captive.

## How big is a buffalo?
A Buffalo is about 300–900 kg. The African buffalo (Syncerus caffer) is a Near Threatened bovid of sub-Saharan Africa — a 900 kg herd grazer and formidable prey for lions, with roughly 400,000 individuals; Asian wild water buffalo is a separate Endangered species.


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

## One-line answer
The wild yak (Bos mutus) is a Vulnerable high-altitude bovid of the Tibetan Plateau and Himalayas — ancestor of the domestic yak, threatened by hunting, hybridisation and habitat disturbance; remnant populations persist in Pakistan and Nepal.

## Introduction
The wild yak is a massive bovid of the high-altitude Tibetan Plateau and Himalayan ranges, adapted to life above 3,000 m where oxygen is thin and winters are brutal. Bos mutus is the ancestor of the domestic yak, which supports herding communities across Tibet, Nepal, Pakistan and Mongolia. Wild yaks weigh up to 1,000 kg with long shaggy black hair, curved horns and a humped shoulder profile. Listed as Vulnerable by the IUCN, wild yak populations have declined from hunting, hybridisation with domestic yaks and habitat disturbance. Pakistan's northern highlands hold remnant wild yak populations in the shadow of the Himalayas.

## Takeaway
Wild yaks are the ancestor of domestic yaks supporting Himalayan herding communities.

## Takeaway
They survive at altitudes above 3,000 m where oxygen levels are roughly 60% of sea level.

## Takeaway
Wild yak populations have declined from hunting and hybridisation with domestic yaks.

## Takeaway
Pakistan's northern highlands hold remnant wild yak populations near the Himalayas.

## Takeaway
Wild yaks can weigh up to 1,000 kg with long shaggy hair insulating against -40°C winters.

## Takeaway
Domestic yaks outnumber wild yaks by millions — wild gene pool conservation is critical.

## Life on the Tibetan Plateau
Wild yaks belong to the genus Bos alongside cattle, bison and gaur. Bos mutus is the largest native mammal of the Tibetan Plateau — adults weigh 500–1,000 kg with males substantially larger than females. Long shaggy black hair covers the body; a dense woolly undercoat insulates against temperatures below -40°C. Curved horns span up to 1 m in males.

Wild yaks inhabit alpine meadows, steppe and desert steppe above 3,000 m on the Tibetan Plateau and in the western Himalayas of India, Nepal and Pakistan. They descend to lower elevations in winter. Physiological adaptations include large lungs, efficient oxygen utilisation and a compact body that minimises heat loss.

Domestic yaks (Bos grunniens or Bos mutus grunniens — taxonomy debated) were domesticated from wild yaks at least 4,000 years ago. Millions of domestic yaks support pastoralist economies across Tibet, Nepal, Ladakh, Pakistan's Gilgit-Baltistan and Mongolia.

## Herds, behaviour and ecology
Wild yaks form herds of females and young led by mature females. Males are solitary or form bachelor groups, joining female herds during the breeding season. Herds graze grasses, sedges and herbs on alpine meadows, migrating seasonally between summer high pastures and winter valleys.

Wild yaks are strong swimmers and can cross rivers when migrating. They use horns and bulk in defence against wolves and snow leopards — predators that also threaten domestic yak herds in Pakistan and Nepal. Calves are born in spring when grass growth resumes after winter.

Wild yaks play an ecological role as large grazers shaping alpine vegetation. Their dung fertilises meadows and supports invertebrate communities. Where wild yaks have declined, domestic yaks and livestock have altered grazing pressure on fragile alpine ecosystems.


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

## Decline, hunting and hybridisation
Wild yak populations collapsed in the twentieth century from commercial hunting for meat and hides. The Tibetan Plateau held an estimated one million wild yaks in 1950; by the 1990s fewer than 15,000 remained. China's Chang Tang Nature Reserve — roughly 300,000 km² — anchors the largest remaining population.

Hybridisation with domestic yaks is a critical threat. Domestic males mate with wild females, diluting the wild gene pool. As pastoralism expands across the plateau, contact between wild and domestic herds increases. Conservation programmes promote separation and genetic monitoring.

In Pakistan's Gilgit-Baltistan and neighbouring Himalayan regions, remnant wild yak populations persist at the western edge of the range. Northern Pakistan's high-altitude communities depend on domestic yaks for transport, milk and fibre — the same landscapes where snow leopards and wild yaks overlap, connecting to WARN's regional coexistence education.

## Conservation and recovery efforts
The IUCN lists wild yak as Vulnerable with an estimated 7,000–10,000 mature individuals and a decreasing population trend. China protects wild yaks in Chang Tang, Kekexili and Sanjiangyuan reserves. Anti-poaching patrols and firearms confiscation have reduced hunting pressure. CITES Appendix I bans commercial international trade.

Conservation genetics programmes track hybridisation rates and maintain pure wild yak bloodlines in captive facilities. Community engagement with Tibetan pastoralists promotes separation of domestic and wild herds. Nepal and India protect wild yaks in border regions with China.

Pakistan's northern conservation landscape — snow leopards, Marco Polo sheep and wild yaks — depends on maintaining low-disturbance high-altitude habitat. Infrastructure development and mining threaten the fragile alpine ecosystems wild yaks require.

## Related WARN Himalayan guides
Wild yaks share Pakistan's northern highlands with snow leopards — predators and prey in the same fragile alpine ecosystem. WARN's snow leopard guide covers coexistence between herding communities and mountain wildlife in Gilgit-Baltistan and neighbouring ranges.

Gaur and domestic cattle relatives on this tier illustrate the broader Bos genus across Asia. The wild yak's decline from millions to thousands parallels other large mammal collapses when hunting and habitat disturbance outpace protection.

Protecting high-altitude habitat in Pakistan, Nepal and Tibet benefits wild yaks, snow leopards and the pastoral communities whose livelihoods depend on healthy mountain ecosystems.

## WARN work
WARN supports coexistence education in Pakistan's northern highlands where wild yaks, snow leopards and herding communities share fragile alpine habitat. This yak guide is free public education about a Vulnerable high-altitude giant.

## 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/yak): Yak — wildlife guide.

## What is the difference between wild and domestic yak?
Wild yaks (Bos mutus) are larger, entirely black and never domesticated. Domestic yaks descend from wild yaks domesticated at least 4,000 years ago. They can interbreed, threatening wild gene pools through hybridisation.

## Where do wild yaks live?
Wild yaks inhabit the Tibetan Plateau and western Himalayas above 3,000 m in China, India, Nepal, Pakistan and Mongolia. China's Chang Tang reserve holds the largest population.

## Are yaks endangered?
Wild yaks are Vulnerable with roughly 7,000–10,000 mature individuals and a decreasing trend. Domestic yaks number in the millions and are not threatened.

## How do yaks survive extreme cold?
Wild yaks have long shaggy outer hair and a dense woolly undercoat insulating against temperatures below -40°C. Compact bodies minimise heat loss. Large lungs extract oxygen efficiently at high altitude.

## Do wild yaks live in Pakistan?
Remnant wild yak populations persist at the western edge of the range in Pakistan's northern highlands, including Gilgit-Baltistan, near the Himalayan border with China.

## What do yaks eat?
The wild yak (Bos mutus) is a Vulnerable high-altitude bovid of the Tibetan Plateau and Himalayas — ancestor of the domestic yak, threatened by hunting, hybridisation and habitat disturbance; remnant populations persist in Pakistan and Nepal. The guide's ecology sections give the prey or forage detail behind that summary.

## Are yaks dangerous?
Yaks are domesticated animals and are not dangerous to people in the wild-predator sense. The wild yak (Bos mutus) is a Vulnerable high-altitude bovid of the Tibetan Plateau and Himalayas — ancestor of the domestic yak, threatened by hunting, hybridisation and habitat disturbance; remnant populations persist in Pakistan and Nepal. Usual risks are husbandry and handling, not unprovoked attacks.

## How long do yaks live?
A precise wild lifespan for yaks is not firmly established in the sources cited on this guide. The wild yak (Bos mutus) is a Vulnerable high-altitude bovid of the Tibetan Plateau and Himalayas — ancestor of the domestic yak, threatened by hunting, hybridisation and habitat disturbance; remnant populations persist in Pakistan and Nepal. Where longevity figures appear in the literature they vary by region, sex and whether animals are wild or captive.

## How big is a yak?
A Yak is about 500–1,000 kg (males larger). The wild yak (Bos mutus) is a Vulnerable high-altitude bovid of the Tibetan Plateau and Himalayas — ancestor of the domestic yak, threatened by hunting, hybridisation and habitat disturbance; remnant populations persist in Pakistan and Nepal. Conservation status: Hunting and hybridisation with domestic yaks.


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

## One-line answer
The gaur (Bos gaurus) is a Vulnerable forest bovid — the largest wild cattle species, ranging from India through Malaysia; threatened by habitat loss, bushmeat hunting and agricultural encroachment.

## Introduction
The gaur is the largest living bovid — bulls reach 1,000 kg with a muscular black body, white stockings on the lower legs and massive curved horns. Bos gaurus ranges across forest and woodland from India and Nepal through Myanmar, Thailand and Malaysia to Vietnam. Gaurs graze forest clearings and browse woodland vegetation, forming herds led by mature females. Listed as Vulnerable by the IUCN, populations are declining from habitat loss, hunting for bushmeat and conflict with expanding agriculture. In Malaysia and Indonesia, gaur persist in rainforest fragments where WARN partners work on forest protection.

## Takeaway
Gaur are the largest living bovid — bulls can exceed 1,000 kg.

## Takeaway
White stockings on the lower legs distinguish gaurs from other Asian bovids.

## Takeaway
Gaurs inhabit forest clearings and woodland from India to Malaysia.

## Takeaway
Tiger predation on gaur calves and subadults is documented across India.

## Takeaway
Habitat loss and bushmeat hunting are the primary threats.

## Takeaway
Malaysia and Indonesia hold important South-east Asian gaur populations.

## The largest wild cattle
The gaur belongs to the genus Bos alongside cattle, wild yaks and banteng. Bos gaurus is the heaviest living wild bovid — bulls stand 1.7–2.2 m at the shoulder and weigh 600–1,000 kg. Cows are roughly half the size. The coat is dark brown to black; lower legs are white or pale, creating 'stocking' markings. Horns curve upward and inward, reaching 85 cm in large bulls.

Gaurs inhabit tropical and subtropical forest, woodland and bamboo thickets from India and Nepal through Myanmar, Thailand, Cambodia, Laos, Vietnam, Malaysia and western Indonesia. They graze grasses in forest clearings and glades, browse leaves and shoots, and visit salt licks. Herds of 8–20 females and young are led by an older female; mature bulls are often solitary.

Domestic gayal or mithun — kept by indigenous communities in India and Myanmar — may descend from gaur domestication or hybridisation, though the relationship remains debated.

## Forest ecology and predator interactions
Gaurs are diurnal, foraging in early morning and late afternoon in forest openings. They avoid dense closed canopy where movement is restricted. Forest clearings maintained by elephants, fire and natural treefall create grazing habitat gaurs depend on.

Tigers prey on gaur calves and subadults — among the largest prey tigers regularly hunt. Documented kills of adult gaur by tigers occur but are uncommon. Dholes and leopards take calves. Gaurs defend young by forming protective circles with horns facing outward.

As large grazers and browsers, gaurs shape forest vegetation. Their grazing maintains grassland patches in forest; their browsing influences woody plant composition. Declining gaur populations alter forest ecology in reserves across India and South-east Asia.


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

## Threats across the range
Habitat loss is the primary threat. Forest clearance for agriculture, logging, rubber and oil palm plantations removes gaur habitat across South-east Asia. In India, mining and infrastructure development fragment forest reserves. Gaurs require large forest areas with access to clearings and water — fragmented landscapes cannot support viable herds.

Hunting for bushmeat and trophies persists across Myanmar, Cambodia, Laos and Malaysia. Snares kill gaurs indiscriminately in Southeast Asian forests. In India, retaliatory killing after crop raiding occurs where forest meets farmland.

Disease from domestic cattle contact — including foot-and-mouth disease — can devastate gaur herds. Domestic livestock grazing inside protected areas brings disease risk and competition for forage.

## Conservation and protected areas
The IUCN lists gaur as Vulnerable with an estimated 21,000 mature individuals and a decreasing population trend. India holds the largest population — roughly 15,000 in the Western Ghats, central India and north-eastern forests. Kaziranga, Nagarahole and Bandipur national parks support significant herds.

South-east Asian populations are smaller and more fragmented. Malaysia's Taman Negara and Royal Belum State Park hold important herds. Indonesia's gaur populations on Sumatra and Java are severely reduced. CITES Appendix I bans commercial international trade.

Anti-poaching patrols, corridor protection between reserves and reducing livestock incursion into protected areas are priority actions. Community engagement in buffer zones reduces retaliatory killing and bushmeat demand.

## Related WARN forest guides
Gaurs share Malaysian and Indonesian rainforest with orangutans, tigers and clouded leopards — species central to WARN's partner conservation work. This gaur guide connects the largest Asian bovid to the forest ecosystems WARN protects in South-east Asia.

WARN's tiger and leopard guides cover the predators that hunt gaur calves. Banteng and wild water buffalo guides address other threatened Asian bovids in overlapping habitat.

Forest protection in Malaysia and Indonesia — gaur range countries — benefits gaurs alongside primates, hornbills and countless other forest species.

## WARN work
WARN funds rainforest habitat protection in Malaysia and Indonesia where gaur share threatened forest with orangutans and tigers. This gaur guide is free public education about the largest wild cattle on Earth.

## 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/gaur): Gaur — wildlife guide.

## What is the largest wild cattle species?
The gaur (Bos gaurus) is the largest living wild bovid. Bulls can exceed 1,000 kg and stand over 2 m at the shoulder — larger than African buffalo and American bison.

## Are gaurs the same as bison?
No. Gaurs are Asian forest bovids (Bos gaurus). American bison are a separate species (Bison bison). Both are large bovids but inhabit different continents and habitats.

## Do tigers hunt gaur?
Yes. Tigers prey on gaur calves and subadults across India. Adult gaur are among the largest prey tigers attempt, though kills of full-grown bulls are uncommon.

## Are gaurs endangered?
Gaurs are Vulnerable with roughly 21,000 mature individuals and a decreasing population trend. Habitat loss and bushmeat hunting are the main threats.

## Where do gaurs live?
Gaurs inhabit forest and woodland from India and Nepal through Myanmar, Thailand, Malaysia and Vietnam to western Indonesia. India holds the largest population.

## What do gaurs eat?
Gaurs graze grasses in forest clearings and browse leaves, shoots and bark. They visit salt licks and require access to water and open forest glades.

## Are gaurs dangerous?
Gaurs are not generally dangerous to people. The gaur (Bos gaurus) is a Vulnerable forest bovid — the largest wild cattle species, ranging from India through Malaysia; threatened by habitat loss, bushmeat hunting and agricultural encroachment. Give wild individuals space and do not corner or handle them.

## How long do gaurs live?
A precise wild lifespan for gaurs is not firmly established in the sources cited on this guide. The gaur (Bos gaurus) is a Vulnerable forest bovid — the largest wild cattle species, ranging from India through Malaysia; threatened by habitat loss, bushmeat hunting and agricultural encroachment. Where longevity figures appear in the literature they vary by region, sex and whether animals are wild or captive.

## How big is a gaur?
A Gaur is about 600–1,000 kg (bulls); cows roughly half. The gaur (Bos gaurus) is a Vulnerable forest bovid — the largest wild cattle species, ranging from India through Malaysia; threatened by habitat loss, bushmeat hunting and agricultural encroachment.


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

## One-line answer
The rock pigeon (Columba livia) is a Least Concern columbid native to Europe, North Africa and western Asia, now feral in cities worldwide; it is the wild ancestor of domestic racing and homing pigeons.

## Introduction
The rock pigeon — known worldwide as the feral pigeon or city pigeon — is the wild ancestor of domestic pigeons bred for racing, messaging and show. Native to rocky cliffs and coastlines of Europe, North Africa and western Asia, Columba livia has colonised cities on every continent through centuries of domestication and release. Wild-type birds are blue-grey with two dark wing bars and iridescent green and purple neck feathers. Listed as Least Concern, rock pigeons are abundant globally, though wild cliff populations face local pressure from hybridisation with feral birds. Pigeons are remarkable navigators, using magnetoreception, olfactory cues and visual landmarks to find home from hundreds of kilometres away.

## Takeaway
Rock pigeons are the wild ancestor of all domestic and feral pigeons worldwide.

## Takeaway
Homing pigeons navigate using magnetoreception, smell and visual landmarks.

## Takeaway
Feral urban populations thrive on human food waste; wild cliff populations are rarer.

## Takeaway
Pigeons feed crop milk to squabs — a secretion unique among birds.

## Takeaway
Hybridisation with feral birds threatens genetically distinct wild cliff populations.

## Takeaway
Pigeon racing and messaging traditions date back at least 5,000 years.

## From cliff face to city square
The rock pigeon evolved on sea cliffs, mountain gorges and rocky coastlines across its native range. Its compact body, strong flight muscles and broad wings suit life in exposed, open terrain where quick take-off evades raptors. Domestication began at least 5,000 years ago in Mesopotamia; selective breeding produced homing pigeons, tumblers, fantails and hundreds of show varieties.

Feral populations now occupy cities worldwide, roosting on ledges, bridges and building eaves that mimic natural cliff niches. Urban pigeons exploit grain spillage, discarded food and deliberate feeding. Wild cliff-dwelling populations persist in Scotland, Ireland, Mediterranean coasts and North Africa, but many are genetically swamped by feral hybridisation.

Despite their ubiquity, rock pigeons display complex social behaviour — pair bonds, communal roosting and coordinated flock manoeuvres that confuse predators.

## Navigation and intelligence
Homing pigeons remain among the most studied navigators in the animal kingdom. Released hundreds of kilometres from home, experienced birds return reliably, integrating multiple sensory systems. Magnetoreception — detecting Earth's magnetic field — provides a compass; olfactory maps may identify home-region scents; solar position and familiar landmarks fine-tune the route.

Laboratory studies show pigeons discriminate human faces, learn abstract rules and delay gratification — cognitive abilities once reserved for primates. In the wild, this intelligence supports flexible foraging in unpredictable urban environments.

During both World Wars, homing pigeons carried messages across enemy lines; several received the Dickin Medal for animal bravery. Modern racing pigeon sport remains popular across Europe and Asia.


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

## Ecology and diet
Rock pigeons are granivorous, eating seeds, grain, buds and occasional invertebrates. Both parents produce crop milk — a protein-rich secretion from the crop lining — to feed squabs for the first week of life. This adaptation, shared with flamingos and some penguins, allows rapid chick growth without relying on insect prey.

Breeding occurs year-round in mild climates. Nests are flimsy platforms of twigs and debris on ledges. Two eggs are typical; both parents incubate and feed. Peregrine falcons, sparrowhawks and urban cats are the main predators.

Large flocks can compete with native granivorous birds for food, though evidence for significant ecological displacement is mixed. Droppings accumulate on monuments and buildings, creating management conflicts in historic city centres.

## Threats to wild populations
Globally, rock pigeons are Least Concern with an estimated population exceeding 260 million. The threat profile differs between feral and wild birds. Urban ferals face culling programmes, contraceptive bait trials and architectural deterrents — spikes, nets and electric tracks — in cities from London to Melbourne.

Wild cliff populations face a subtler threat: genetic introgression from feral and racing pigeons that interbreed on coastal cliffs. Distinct wild-type plumage and behaviour may disappear as hybrid swarms dominate. Peregrine falcon recovery in cities has added a natural predator to urban pigeon populations, partially regulating numbers.

Disease — including avian paramyxovirus and salmonella — spreads in dense roosts and can affect domestic poultry. Good hygiene and managed feeding reduce public health concerns.

## Pigeons and people
Human relationships with pigeons span reverence and revulsion. They are fed in squares from Venice to Mumbai, featured in art and poetry, and dismissed as 'flying rats' in public health debates. Scientifically, they remain invaluable models for navigation, learning and vision research.

Conservation attention focuses on preserving genetically distinct wild cliff populations — particularly in Scotland and Ireland — through protection from racing-pigeon release near nesting cliffs. Readers can support wild rock pigeons by avoiding deliberate release of domestic birds near coastal breeding sites.

WARN publishes this pigeon guide as free public education about one of the world's most successful commensal birds — a species whose story intertwines with human history across millennia.

## WARN work
WARN publishes this pigeon guide as free public education. Understanding commensal species like rock pigeons helps readers appreciate how wildlife adapts to — and is shaped by — human landscapes.

## 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/pigeon): Pigeon — wildlife guide.

## Are pigeons wild or domestic?
Both. The rock pigeon (Columba livia) is a wild species; feral pigeons in cities are descendants of domestic birds returned to the wild. Wild cliff populations still exist in parts of Europe and North Africa.

## How do homing pigeons find their way home?
Homing pigeons integrate magnetoreception, olfactory cues, solar position and visual landmarks. Experienced birds return reliably from hundreds of kilometres.

## Are pigeons intelligent?
Yes. Pigeons discriminate human faces, learn abstract rules and show flexible problem-solving in laboratory studies — cognitive abilities comparable to many mammals.

## Are rock pigeons endangered?
No. Wild rock pigeons are Least Concern with an estimated global population exceeding 260 million. Genetically distinct wild cliff populations face local hybridisation pressure.

## What do rock pigeons eat?
Rock Pigeons eat Granivorous — seeds and grain. The rock pigeon (Columba livia) is a Least Concern columbid native to Europe, North Africa and western Asia, now feral in cities worldwide; it is the wild ancestor of domestic racing and homing pigeons.

## Where do rock pigeons live?
Rock Pigeons live in Worldwide — native to Europe, North Africa and western Asia; feral populations on every continent except Antarctica. The rock pigeon (Columba livia) is a Least Concern columbid native to Europe, North Africa and western Asia, now feral in cities worldwide; it is the wild ancestor of domestic racing and homing pigeons.

## Are rock pigeons dangerous?
Rock Pigeons are domesticated animals and are not dangerous to people in the wild-predator sense. The rock pigeon (Columba livia) is a Least Concern columbid native to Europe, North Africa and western Asia, now feral in cities worldwide; it is the wild ancestor of domestic racing and homing pigeons. Usual risks are husbandry and handling, not unprovoked attacks.

## How long do rock pigeons live?
A precise wild lifespan for rock pigeons is not firmly established in the sources cited on this guide. The rock pigeon (Columba livia) is a Least Concern columbid native to Europe, North Africa and western Asia, now feral in cities worldwide; it is the wild ancestor of domestic racing and homing pigeons. Where longevity figures appear in the literature they vary by region, sex and whether animals are wild or captive.

## How big is a rock pigeon?
A Rock Pigeon is about 29–37 cm. The rock pigeon (Columba livia) is a Least Concern columbid native to Europe, North Africa and western Asia, now feral in cities worldwide; it is the wild ancestor of domestic racing and homing pigeons.