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

## Baboons and people
As agriculture expands into savanna and woodland, baboons increasingly raid maize, sugar cane and fruit crops. Farmers often shoot or poison raiding troops. In South Africa, chacma baboons in the Cape Peninsula have become habituated to urban areas, entering homes and cars for food — leading to management programmes involving relocation and aversive conditioning. In Ethiopia and Saudi Arabia, hamadryas baboons are sometimes kept as pets or used in traditional practices. Tourism that feeds baboons creates aggression and disease risk. Sustainable solutions include electric fencing, guard dogs, compensation schemes and waste management that removes attractants.

## Conservation status
Most baboon species are Least Concern with large populations and adaptable behaviour. The Guinea baboon is Near Threatened due to habitat loss and hunting in West Africa. CITES lists all baboon species on Appendix II.

Because baboons are not globally threatened, they receive less conservation funding than endangered primates — yet local extirpation occurs where habitat is destroyed or persecution is intense. Protected areas and wildlife corridors maintain connectivity between troops. Research on baboon social behaviour continues to inform understanding of primate cognition and human evolution.

## Related WARN primate guides
Baboons are among Africa's most visible primates — but readers often confuse them with mandrills, macaques or monkeys more broadly. Read WARN's monkey species library for New and Old World primates, mandrill guide for Central African forest relatives, and gorilla and chimpanzee pages for great ape context.

Human–wildlife conflict with crop-raiding baboons mirrors challenges WARN addresses in partner countries where forests become farms.

Never feed baboons at tourist sites — habituation leads to aggression and culling.

## WARN work
WARN publishes this baboon guide as free public education. Baboons illustrate the complexity of human-wildlife coexistence — adaptable enough to persist, yet vulnerable to persecution where forests become farms.

## 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/baboon): Baboon — wildlife guide.

## How many baboon species are there?
Six species are recognised: hamadryas, olive, yellow, chacma, Guinea and Kinda baboon. The Kinda baboon was described as a separate species in 2013.

## Are baboons dangerous?
Baboons are powerful animals with large canine teeth. They rarely attack unprovoked but will defend themselves if cornered or if they associate humans with food. Feeding baboons increases aggression.

## What do baboons eat?
Baboons are omnivorous, eating fruit, seeds, roots, insects, small mammals, birds and eggs. They also raid crops — maize, sugar cane and fruit — which brings them into conflict with farmers.

## How big are baboon troops?
Troop size varies from 20 to 200 individuals depending on species and habitat. Hamadryas baboons form smaller one-male units that merge into bands of several hundred.

## Are baboons endangered?
Most species are Least Concern. The Guinea baboon is Near Threatened due to habitat loss in West Africa. Local populations decline where persecution and habitat destruction are intense.

## What is the difference between a baboon and a mandrill?
Baboons (Papio) and mandrills (Mandrillus) are related but separate genera. Mandrills are more colourful, with blue and red facial ridges, and live in Central African rainforest. Baboons inhabit more open savanna and woodland.

## Where do baboons live?
Baboons live across sub-Saharan Africa and the Arabian Peninsula in savanna, woodland, semi-desert and rocky hills. Six species are recognised, from the hamadryas baboon of the Horn of Africa and Arabia to the chacma baboon of southern Africa. Troops of up to 200 individuals forage on the ground by day and roost in cliffs or trees at night.

## How long do baboons live?
No reliable maximum lifespan figure is established for baboons. Females stay in their natal troop and inherit rank from their mothers, while males leave at maturity and transfer between troops — a slow social life history that makes local population losses from crop-raiding conflict hard to replace quickly.


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

## One-line answer
The spotted hyena (Crocuta crocuta) is Africa's most common large carnivore, living in matriarchal clans on the savanna; listed as Least Concern, it is a skilled hunter — not merely a scavenger — facing persecution and habitat loss.

## Introduction
The spotted hyena is Africa's most common large carnivore and one of the most successful hunters on the savanna — yet it suffers from centuries of misrepresentation as a cowardly scavenger. Spotted hyenas live in clans of up to 80 individuals with a strict female-dominated hierarchy; females are larger and more aggressive than males, an rarity among mammals. They hunt in coordinated groups, taking zebra, wildebeest and antelope, and communicate through an extraordinary repertoire of whoops, giggles and groans. Listed as Least Concern, spotted hyenas remain widespread but face persecution from farmers and decline where prey and habitat disappear.

## Takeaway
Spotted hyenas are skilled hunters, not just scavengers — they kill most of their own prey.

## Takeaway
Females are larger and dominant over males — a rare reversal among mammals.

## Takeaway
Hyena clans can contain up to 80 individuals with complex social hierarchies.

## Takeaway
Their 'laugh' is a stress signal, not amusement — each hyena has a unique voice.

## Takeaway
Spotted hyenas have the strongest jaws relative to size of any mammalian carnivore.

## Takeaway
Persecution by farmers and decline of prey are the main threats.

## Three hyena species
Four hyena species exist, in three genera. The spotted hyena (Crocuta crocuta) is the largest and most social, ranging across sub-Saharan Africa.

The striped hyena (Hyaena hyaena) is smaller, more solitary, and ranges from North Africa through the Middle East to India — listed as Near Threatened. The brown hyena (Parahyaena brunnea) is restricted to southern Africa and is Near Threatened. The aardwolf (Proteles cristata) is a hyena relative that eats termites. This guide focuses on the spotted hyena, the species most associated with African savanna and the one most frequently searched.

## Matriarchal society and communication
Spotted hyena clans are led by an alpha female and her allies. Females inherit rank above males and invest heavily in their offspring — hyena mothers produce exceptionally rich milk, and cubs compete fiercely.

Clan members cooperate for nursing position from birth. Clan members cooperate to defend territory, raise cubs communally in a shared den, and hunt together. Communication is sophisticated: whoops carry individual identity over several kilometres; giggles signal submission or stress during feeding competition; groans and grunts coordinate group movement. Research in the Maasai Mara and Ngorongoro Crater has revealed hyena intelligence comparable to some primates.

## Hunting and ecology
Contrary to popular belief, spotted hyenas kill 60–95% of the food they eat, depending on the population. They hunt zebra, wildebeest, Thomson's gazelle and other ungulates, often working in groups to isolate weak or young animals. Their powerful jaws can crush bone, allowing them to extract marrow and nutrients other predators leave. Hyenas compete with lions — sometimes losing kills to larger prides, sometimes stealing lion kills through mobbing behaviour. As both predator and scavenger, hyenas clean carcasses and reduce disease spread, playing an essential ecological role.


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

## Conservation and persecution
The IUCN lists the spotted hyena as Least Concern with an estimated 47,000–87,000 mature individuals and a stable or slightly decreasing trend. Persecution remains significant: farmers shoot and poison hyenas suspected of killing livestock, though hyenas more often scavenge dead animals than kill healthy cattle. Habitat loss and depletion of wild prey from bushmeat hunting reduce hyena numbers in West and Central Africa. CITES Appendix II regulates international trade. Education correcting the 'cowardly scavenger' stereotype helps build public support for hyena conservation.

## Related WARN guides
Spotted hyenas share African savanna with lions and cheetahs — read WARN's lion and cheetah guides for predator context, wildebeest, impala and gazelle pages for prey species, and antelope guide for the wider ungulate guild.

Meerkat and warthog guides cover other savanna mammals.

Correcting the scavenger stereotype builds support for hyena conservation.

## WARN work
WARN publishes this hyena guide as free public education. African savanna carnivores face the same habitat and prey depletion pressures that drive our work against bushmeat hunting and illegal wildlife trade in partner countries.

## 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/hyena): Hyena — wildlife guide.

## Are hyenas dogs or cats?
Neither. Hyenas belong to the family Hyaenidae, a distinct carnivore lineage more closely related to mongooses and civets than to dogs or cats. Their dog-like appearance is convergent evolution.

## Do hyenas only scavenge?
No. Spotted hyenas kill most of their own food — studies show 60–95% of their diet comes from their own hunts. They are skilled cooperative predators of zebra, wildebeest and antelope.

## Why do hyenas laugh?
The 'giggle' is a stress or submission signal, usually heard during feeding competition when hyenas squabble over a carcass. Each hyena has a unique giggle, allowing identification by voice.

## Are hyenas dangerous to humans?
Hyena attacks on people are rare but documented, particularly around camps and settlements where hyenas scavenge. Healthy wild hyenas generally avoid humans. Rabid hyenas pose a separate risk.

## How many hyena species are there?
Four: spotted hyena, striped hyena, brown hyena and aardwolf. The spotted hyena is the largest and most social, living in clans across sub-Saharan Africa.

## What do hyenas eat?
Hyenas eat Carnivorous — hunts and scavenges. The spotted hyena (Crocuta crocuta) is Africa's most common large carnivore, living in matriarchal clans on the savanna; listed as Least Concern, it is a skilled hunter — not merely a scavenger — facing persecution and habitat loss.

## Where do hyenas live?
Hyenas live in Sub-Saharan Africa. The spotted hyena (Crocuta crocuta) is Africa's most common large carnivore, living in matriarchal clans on the savanna; listed as Least Concern, it is a skilled hunter — not merely a scavenger — facing persecution and habitat loss.

## How long do hyenas live?
A precise wild lifespan for hyenas is not firmly established in the sources cited on this guide. The spotted hyena (Crocuta crocuta) is Africa's most common large carnivore, living in matriarchal clans on the savanna; listed as Least Concern, it is a skilled hunter — not merely a scavenger — facing persecution and habitat loss. Where longevity figures appear in the literature they vary by region, sex and whether animals are wild or captive.

## How big is a hyena?
A Hyena is about 40–90 kg (females larger than males). The spotted hyena (Crocuta crocuta) is Africa's most common large carnivore, living in matriarchal clans on the savanna; listed as Least Concern, it is a skilled hunter — not merely a scavenger — facing persecution and habitat loss.


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

## One-line answer
The blue wildebeest (Connochaetes taurinus) is a gregarious grazing antelope of African savanna, central to the Great Migration of over a million animals between Serengeti and Maasai Mara; listed as Least Concern but declining outside protected areas.

## Introduction
The blue wildebeest — also called the brindled gnu — is one of Africa's most iconic grazing antelopes and the dominant species in the Great Migration of the Serengeti–Mara ecosystem. More than a million wildebeest, together with zebra and gazelle, circulate annually between Tanzania's Serengeti and Kenya's Maasai Mara in the largest terrestrial mammal migration on Earth. Wildebeest are gregarious, forming herds of thousands, and are a keystone prey species for lions, hyenas, crocodiles and wild dogs. Listed as Least Concern globally, wildebeest numbers remain substantial in protected areas but have declined where fencing, agriculture and poaching fragment their range.

## Takeaway
Blue wildebeest drive the Great Migration — the largest terrestrial mammal migration on Earth.

## Takeaway
More than 1.5 million wildebeest circulate between Serengeti and Maasai Mara annually.

## Takeaway
Calving season sees roughly 500,000 calves born in a few weeks on the southern Serengeti plains.

## Takeaway
Wildebeest are keystone prey for lions, hyenas, crocodiles and wild dogs.

## Takeaway
Black wildebeest of southern Africa is a separate, smaller species.

## Takeaway
Fencing, agriculture and poaching threaten populations outside major reserves.

## Two wildebeest species
Two wildebeest species exist in the genus Connochaetes.

The blue wildebeest (C. taurinus) — also called the brindled or common wildebeest — ranges across East and southern Africa and forms the mega-herds of the Great Migration. Five subspecies are recognised, including the western white-bearded wildebeest of Tanzania and Kenya. The black wildebeest (C. gnou) is smaller, darker and confined to southern Africa, where it was hunted nearly to extinction before recovering through conservation. Both species have a heavy front end, slender hindquarters, a shaggy mane and curved horns — the Afrikaans name 'wildebeest' means 'wild cattle'.

## The Great Migration
The Serengeti–Mara wildebeest migration is driven by rainfall and grass quality. Roughly 1.5 million blue wildebeest, accompanied by hundreds of thousands of zebra and Thomson's gazelle, follow a circular route of about 800 km. Calving occurs on the short-grass plains of the southern Serengeti in February, when up to 500,000 calves are born within a few weeks — a strategy that overwhelms predators.

The herds then move northward, crossing the Grumeti and Mara rivers where crocodiles take a toll. This migration is the defining ecological event of East African savanna and supports an entire predator community.


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

## Ecology and behaviour
Wildebeest are selective bulk grazers, preferring short green grass. Their large herds offer safety in numbers against predators, though lions and hyenas still take significant numbers — particularly calves and weak adults during river crossings. Wildebeest communicate through grunts, snorts and scent marking. Rutting males defend temporary territories on leks during the breeding season. They require access to water and cannot survive in arid zones without regular drinking. As a keystone prey species, wildebeest abundance directly affects predator populations across the ecosystem.

## Conservation challenges
The IUCN lists the blue wildebeest as Least Concern with an estimated 1.55 million individuals and a stable trend in protected areas. However, populations outside major reserves have declined due to agricultural expansion, fencing that blocks migration routes, poaching for bushmeat and competition with livestock. The black wildebeest recovered from near extinction to Least Concern through reintroduction in South Africa. Maintaining open migration corridors between Serengeti and Maasai Mara is critical — border fencing or land conversion could collapse the migration. CITES Appendix II regulates international trade.

## Related WARN guides
Wildebeest drive the Great Migration — read WARN's impala and gazelle guides for fellow grazers, antelope page for the wider family, and lion, cheetah and hyena pages for predators that depend on herds.

Zebra guide covers migration companions.

Open corridors between Serengeti and Maasai Mara are essential.

## WARN work
WARN publishes this wildebeest guide as free public education. The Great Migration depends on connected savanna habitat — the same landscape-scale protection that benefits all African wildlife.

## 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/wildebeest): Wildebeest — wildlife guide.

## What is the Great Migration?
The Great Migration is the annual circular movement of roughly 1.5 million blue wildebeest, plus zebra and gazelle, between Tanzania's Serengeti and Kenya's Maasai Mara — the largest terrestrial mammal migration on Earth.

## What is the difference between blue and black wildebeest?
Blue wildebeest (Connochaetes taurinus) are larger, brindled grey-brown and range across East and southern Africa. Black wildebeest (C. gnou) are smaller, dark brown to black and confined to southern Africa.

## Why do wildebeest cross rivers?
Wildebeest follow rainfall and fresh grass. River crossings — notably the Mara River — are dangerous bottlenecks where Nile crocodiles kill many animals, but the herds must cross to reach better grazing.

## Are wildebeest endangered?
Blue wildebeest are Least Concern globally with over 1.5 million in the Serengeti–Mara alone. Populations decline outside protected areas due to habitat loss, fencing and poaching.

## What do wildebeests eat?
Wildebeests eat Grazer — short green grass. The blue wildebeest (Connochaetes taurinus) is a gregarious grazing antelope of African savanna, central to the Great Migration of over a million animals between Serengeti and Maasai Mara; listed as Least Concern but declining outside protected areas.

## Where do wildebeests live?
Wildebeests live in East Africa, Southern Africa. The blue wildebeest (Connochaetes taurinus) is a gregarious grazing antelope of African savanna, central to the Great Migration of over a million animals between Serengeti and Maasai Mara; listed as Least Concern but declining outside protected areas.

## Are wildebeests dangerous?
Wildebeests are not generally dangerous to people. The blue wildebeest (Connochaetes taurinus) is a gregarious grazing antelope of African savanna, central to the Great Migration of over a million animals between Serengeti and Maasai Mara; listed as Least Concern but declining outside protected areas. Give wild individuals space and do not corner or handle them.

## How long do wildebeests live?
A precise wild lifespan for wildebeests is not firmly established in the sources cited on this guide. The blue wildebeest (Connochaetes taurinus) is a gregarious grazing antelope of African savanna, central to the Great Migration of over a million animals between Serengeti and Maasai Mara; listed as Least Concern but declining outside protected areas. Where longevity figures appear in the literature they vary by region, sex and whether animals are wild or captive.

## How big is a wildebeest?
A Wildebeest is about 118–270 kg. The blue wildebeest (Connochaetes taurinus) is a gregarious grazing antelope of African savanna, central to the Great Migration of over a million animals between Serengeti and Maasai Mara; listed as Least Concern but declining outside protected areas.


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

## One-line answer
The impala (Aepyceros melampus) is Africa's most widespread medium-sized antelope, listed as Least Concern; it inhabits savanna woodland across eastern and southern Africa and is a keystone prey species for major predators.

## Introduction
The impala is one of Africa's most common and widespread antelopes, found in woodlands, savanna and grassland from Kenya to South Africa. Recognisable by its sleek reddish coat, white underparts and the male's lyre-shaped horns, the impala is a medium-sized antelope weighing 40–76 kg. It is extraordinarily athletic — capable of leaps exceeding three metres high and ten metres long — and forms herds of hundreds during the dry season. Impala are a staple prey species for lions, leopards, cheetahs, wild dogs and hyenas. Listed as Least Concern, they remain abundant in protected areas but decline where bushmeat hunting and habitat loss intensify.

## Takeaway
Impala are Africa's most abundant medium-sized antelope, numbering around two million.

## Takeaway
Males carry lyre-shaped horns; females are hornless and slightly smaller.

## Takeaway
Impala leap up to 3 m high and 10 m long — among the most athletic antelopes.

## Takeaway
They are mixed feeders, grazing in the wet season and browsing in the dry season.

## Takeaway
Impala are a primary prey species for lions, leopards, cheetahs and wild dogs.

## Takeaway
Bushmeat hunting and habitat loss threaten populations outside protected areas.

## Two subspecies
Two impala subspecies are recognised. The common impala (A. m. melampus) ranges across eastern and southern Africa — from Kenya and Tanzania through Zambia, Zimbabwe and Mozambique to South Africa. The black-faced impala (A. m. petersii) is restricted to north-western Namibia and south-western Angola and is Vulnerable due to its small, isolated population.

Both share the characteristic impala profile: slender body, reddish-brown coat with a black stripe along the flank, white belly and rump, and black tufts above the hooves. Males weigh 53–76 kg and carry S-shaped horns up to 90 cm long.

## Herds, rutting and calving
Impala form three types of social group: territorial males with harems of females, bachelor herds of non-territorial males, and female herds with young. During the rut — triggered by rainfall in some regions — males defend territories through horn clashes and loud snorts.

Calving often occurs in a synchronised burst, flooding predators with more calves than they can eat. Females hide newborn calves in thick cover for the first few weeks. Impala herds can merge into aggregations of hundreds during the dry season, gathering near permanent water.

## Feeding and predator avoidance
Impala are adaptable mixed feeders. In the wet season they graze on fresh grass; in the dry season they browse leaves, shoots and fruit. This flexibility helps them survive in varied habitats from moist woodland to drier acacia savanna. When alarmed, impala perform a distinctive stiff-legged leap — the 'pronking' display — that may confuse predators or signal fitness to pursuers. They are vigilant, with sentinels scanning for lions, leopards and cheetahs. Despite these defences, impala are the most commonly killed prey in many African ecosystems.


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

## Conservation status
The IUCN lists the common impala as Least Concern with an estimated two million individuals and a stable population trend. The black-faced impala subspecies is Vulnerable, with fewer than 3,000 individuals in a restricted range in Namibia and Angola. Bushmeat snaring affects impala across Central and East Africa, where wire snares kill indiscriminately. Habitat conversion to agriculture removes woodland edge habitat impala prefer. In well-managed protected areas, impala populations remain robust and serve as indicators of ecosystem health.

## Related WARN guides
Impala are savanna antelope — read WARN's wildebeest and gazelle guides for fellow grazers, antelope page for the family overview, and lion, cheetah and hyena pages for predators.

Warthog and meerkat guides cover other common savanna mammals.

Protected areas and anti-poaching work maintain impala prey bases for apex predators.

## WARN work
WARN publishes this impala guide as free public education. Impala abundance reflects the health of African savanna ecosystems — the same landscapes threatened by bushmeat hunting and habitat loss.

## 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/impala): Impala — wildlife guide.

## What is an impala?
The impala (Aepyceros melampus) is a medium-sized African antelope weighing 40–76 kg, with a reddish coat, white underparts and lyre-shaped horns in males. It is one of the most common antelopes in eastern and southern Africa.

## Why do impala jump when they run?
Impala perform stiff-legged leaps called pronking when alarmed. This may confuse predators, signal the impala's fitness, or help the herd keep visual contact during flight.

## What eats impala?
Lions, leopards, cheetahs, African wild dogs, spotted hyenas and crocodiles all prey on impala. Impala are among the most commonly hunted prey species in African savanna.

## Are impala endangered?
Common impala are Least Concern with around two million individuals. The black-faced impala subspecies of Namibia is Vulnerable with fewer than 3,000 animals.

## What do impala eat?
Impala are mixed feeders — grazing on grass in the wet season and browsing leaves, shoots and fruit in the dry season. This flexibility helps them survive across varied habitats.

## Where do impala live?
Impala inhabit savanna woodland, grassland and acacia scrub across Kenya, Tanzania, Zambia, Zimbabwe, Mozambique, Botswana, Namibia and South Africa.

## Are impalas dangerous?
Impalas are not generally dangerous to people. The impala (Aepyceros melampus) is Africa's most widespread medium-sized antelope, listed as Least Concern; it inhabits savanna woodland across eastern and southern Africa and is a keystone prey species for major predators. Give wild individuals space and do not corner or handle them.

## How long do impalas live?
A precise wild lifespan for impalas is not firmly established in the sources cited on this guide. The impala (Aepyceros melampus) is Africa's most widespread medium-sized antelope, listed as Least Concern; it inhabits savanna woodland across eastern and southern Africa and is a keystone prey species for major predators. Where longevity figures appear in the literature they vary by region, sex and whether animals are wild or captive.

## How big is an impala?
An Impala is about 40–76 kg (males larger, with horns). The impala (Aepyceros melampus) is Africa's most widespread medium-sized antelope, listed as Least Concern; it inhabits savanna woodland across eastern and southern Africa and is a keystone prey species for major predators.


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

## One-line answer
The common warthog (Phacochoerus africanus) is a grazing wild pig of African savanna, listed as Least Concern; recognisable by facial warts and tusks, it kneels to graze and shelters in burrows when threatened.

## Introduction
The common warthog is a wild pig of African savanna and woodland, instantly recognisable by the facial 'warts' — thick skin pads — and the upward-curving tusks that protrude from its mouth. Warthogs kneel on their front wrists to graze close-cropped grass, a posture unique among African ungulates. They are fast runners, reaching 50 km/h, and retreat to burrows — often abandoned aardvark holes — when threatened. Made famous by the character Pumbaa in The Lion King, warthogs are ecologically important grazers and a prey species for lions, leopards and hyenas. Listed as Least Concern, they remain widespread but are hunted for bushmeat across much of their range.

## Takeaway
Warthogs kneel on their front wrists to graze — a distinctive feeding posture.

## Takeaway
Facial 'warts' are thick skin pads, not tumours — larger in males.

## Takeaway
They shelter in burrows, usually abandoned aardvark holes, entering tail-first.

## Takeaway
Warthogs can run at 50 km/h and are faster than they appear.

## Takeaway
Desert warthog of the Horn of Africa is a separate, less-known species.

## Takeaway
Bushmeat hunting is the main threat across much of their range.

## Two warthog species
Two warthog species exist in the genus Phacochoerus.

The common warthog (P. africanus) ranges across sub-Saharan Africa in savanna, woodland and grassland. The desert warthog (P. aethiopicus) is restricted to the Horn of Africa — Somalia, Ethiopia and Kenya — and is less well studied. Both have the characteristic warthog profile: large head with facial warts, upward-curving lower tusks and downward-curving upper tusks, a sparse mane along the spine and a tufted tail held erect when running. Common warthogs weigh 50–150 kg; males carry larger warts and tusks.

## Grazing, burrows and behaviour
Warthogs are primarily grazers, eating short grass, roots and occasionally fruit or carrion. They kneel on calloused front wrists to reach grass close to the ground — a behaviour that makes them efficient competitors in grazed savanna.

At night and during heat, warthogs retreat to burrows, entering backwards so tusks face the entrance. They often use burrows dug by aardvarks, though they can excavate their own. Family groups consist of a female and her offspring; males are usually solitary. Warthogs allow oxpeckers and mongooses to remove parasites from their skin — a mutualistic relationship.

## Predators and defence
Lions, leopards, cheetahs, wild dogs and hyenas prey on warthogs, particularly piglets and subadults. Adult warthogs defend themselves with sharp lower tusks — males clash during the rut. Their speed — up to 50 km/h — and habit of retreating to burrows provide effective escape. Piglets are vulnerable during the first months; females give birth in burrows and the litter stays underground for several weeks. Warthog alarm calls — grunts and snorts — alert group members to danger.


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

## Conservation status
The IUCN lists the common warthog as Least Concern with a stable or increasing population trend across most of its range. Warthogs are not listed under CITES. Bushmeat hunting with snares and guns reduces populations in Central and West Africa, where warthog is a valued food source. Habitat loss to agriculture affects local abundance. In southern and East African protected areas, warthog populations remain healthy. The desert warthog has a restricted range and may warrant separate assessment as data improve.

## Related WARN guides
Warthogs are savanna pigs — read WARN's wildebeest and impala guides for grazing neighbours, hyena and lion pages for predators, and meerkat guide for shared African grassland.

Antelope and gazelle pages cover ungulate guild context.

Burrow-sharing with aardvarks links warthogs to other ecosystem engineers.

## WARN work
WARN publishes this warthog guide as free public education. Bushmeat hunting that threatens warthog populations also devastates the predators and ecosystems of African savanna.

## 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/warthog): Warthog — wildlife guide.

## Why do warthogs have warts?
The 'warts' are thick skin pads — not tumours — that protect the face during fights between males. Warts are larger in males and sit above the eyes and on the cheeks.

## Why do warthogs kneel to eat?
Warthogs kneel on their front wrists to graze short grass close to the ground. Calloused wrist joints support this posture, which is unique among African grazing mammals.

## What is the difference between a warthog and a wild boar?
Warthogs (Phacochoerus) are African suids with facial warts and upward tusks. Wild boars (Sus scrofa) are Eurasian pigs without warts. They belong to different genera and continents.

## Do warthogs live in burrows?
Yes. Warthogs use burrows — usually abandoned aardvark holes — for shelter and raising young. They enter backwards so their tusks face the entrance.

## Are warthogs dangerous?
Warthogs generally flee from humans but will defend themselves with tusks if cornered. Male warthogs clash with each other during the rut. Unprovoked attacks on people are rare.

## What do warthogs eat?
Warthogs eat Grazer — short grass, roots, occasional fruit. The common warthog (Phacochoerus africanus) is a grazing wild pig of African savanna, listed as Least Concern; recognisable by facial warts and tusks, it kneels to graze and shelters in burrows when threatened.

## Where do warthogs live?
Warthogs live in Sub-Saharan Africa. The common warthog (Phacochoerus africanus) is a grazing wild pig of African savanna, listed as Least Concern; recognisable by facial warts and tusks, it kneels to graze and shelters in burrows when threatened.

## How long do warthogs live?
A precise wild lifespan for warthogs is not firmly established in the sources cited on this guide. The common warthog (Phacochoerus africanus) is a grazing wild pig of African savanna, listed as Least Concern; recognisable by facial warts and tusks, it kneels to graze and shelters in burrows when threatened. Where longevity figures appear in the literature they vary by region, sex and whether animals are wild or captive.

## How big is a warthog?
A Warthog is about 50–150 kg. The common warthog (Phacochoerus africanus) is a grazing wild pig of African savanna, listed as Least Concern; recognisable by facial warts and tusks, it kneels to graze and shelters in burrows when threatened.


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

## One-line answer
Gazelles are small swift antelopes of Africa and Asia; Thomson's gazelle (Eudorcas thomsonii) of East Africa is Least Concern with roughly 500,000 individuals and is the cheetah's primary prey.

## Introduction
Gazelles are small to medium-sized antelopes of the subfamily Antilopinae, found across Africa and Asia. The Thomson's gazelle — named after explorer Joseph Thomson — is the best-known East African species, inhabiting the short-grass plains of Kenya and Tanzania alongside wildebeest and zebra. Weighing just 12–26 kg, Thomson's gazelles are among the smallest antelopes on the savanna, yet they survive through speed — reaching 80 km/h — and agility. Roughly 500,000 remain, making them one of the most abundant wild ungulates in East Africa. They are a primary prey species for cheetahs, which specialise in hunting small gazelles.

## Takeaway
Roughly 19 gazelle species exist across Africa and Asia.

## Takeaway
Thomson's gazelle is the cheetah's primary prey on East African plains.

## Takeaway
Gazelles reach speeds of 80 km/h — among the fastest antelopes.

## Takeaway
Thomson's gazelles perform stotting — stiff-legged bouncing — to signal fitness to predators.

## Takeaway
Grant's gazelle is larger and shares the same plains but browses more.

## Takeaway
Habitat loss and poaching threaten Asian gazelle species more than African ones.

## Gazelles of Africa and Asia
The term 'gazelle' covers roughly 19 species in the genera Gazella, Eudorcas, Nanger and Procapra. African gazelles include Thomson's gazelle (Eudorcas thomsonii), Grant's gazelle (Nanger granti), dama gazelle (Nanger dama — Critically Endangered) and springbok (Antidorcas marsupialis) of southern Africa. Asian gazelles include the goitered gazelle (Gazella subgutturosa) and the Critically Endangered Arabian sand gazelle.

Gazelles share a graceful build, large eyes, lyre-shaped horns in males and often a dark side stripe. They inhabit open grassland, steppe and desert edge — habitats where speed and vigilance are essential.

## Thomson's gazelle on the plains
Thomson's gazelle is the archetypal East African plains antelope. It weighs 12–26 kg — small enough for cheetahs to kill — and feeds on short grass too low for wildebeest and zebra.

Both sexes carry horns, though male horns are thicker. During the Great Migration, Thomson's gazelles follow wildebeest herds, benefiting from the larger animals' grazing that keeps grass short. They are extraordinarily fast and manoeuvrable, making them challenging prey even for cheetahs, which succeed in roughly half of hunts. Stotting — a stiff-legged bounce — may signal to predators that pursuit is futile.

## Predators and survival strategies
Cheetahs specialise in hunting Thomson's and Grant's gazelles, relying on acceleration rather than endurance. Lions, leopards, hyenas and wild dogs also take gazelles, particularly fawns and sick adults. Gazelles compensate for small size with speed, vigilance and herd behaviour — many eyes scanning for danger. Calving often occurs in synchronised bursts to overwhelm predators. Thomson's gazelles require daily access to water, limiting their range to areas within roughly 10 km of permanent sources.


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

## Conservation across species
Thomson's gazelle is Least Concern with roughly 500,000 individuals and a stable trend in Tanzania's Serengeti. However, the dama gazelle of the Sahara is Critically Endangered with fewer than 100 mature individuals. The Arabian sand gazelle and several Asian species face similar crises from hunting and habitat loss. African savanna gazelles benefit from protected areas and tourism revenue, but snaring and poaching reduce populations outside reserves. CITES Appendix II regulates trade in some populations. This guide focuses on Thomson's gazelle as the most searched African species; see species-specific assessments for dama and Arabian gazelles.

## Related WARN guides
Gazelles are lightweight antelope — read WARN's impala and wildebeest guides for fellow grazers, antelope page for family overview, and cheetah and lion pages for primary predators.

Thomson's gazelle migration companions appear in wildebeest guide context.

Saiga and scimitar-horned oryx show how quickly antelope populations can crash.

## WARN work
WARN publishes this gazelle guide as free public education. Gazelles are indicators of savanna health — their abundance supports cheetahs, wild dogs and the entire predator community.

## 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/gazelle): Gazelle — wildlife guide.

## How many gazelle species are there?
Roughly 19 species across Africa and Asia, in genera including Gazella, Eudorcas, Nanger and Procapra. Thomson's gazelle and Grant's gazelle are the best-known East African species.

## What is the difference between Thomson's and Grant's gazelle?
Thomson's gazelle (Eudorcas thomsonii) is smaller (12–26 kg) and a grazer of short grass. Grant's gazelle (Nanger granti) is larger (35–80 kg), browses more, and can survive without daily water.

## Why do gazelles stot?
Stotting — stiff-legged bouncing while fleeing — may signal to predators that the gazelle is fit and pursuit is unlikely to succeed. It may also warn herd members or confuse attackers.

## Are gazelles endangered?
Thomson's gazelle is Least Concern with roughly 500,000 remaining. The dama gazelle of the Sahara is Critically Endangered with fewer than 100 mature individuals.

## What do gazelles eat?
Gazelles eat Grazer — short grass. Gazelles are small swift antelopes of Africa and Asia; Thomson's gazelle (Eudorcas thomsonii) of East Africa is Least Concern with roughly 500,000 individuals and is the cheetah's primary prey.

## Where do gazelles live?
Gazelles live in Kenya, Tanzania. Gazelles are small swift antelopes of Africa and Asia; Thomson's gazelle (Eudorcas thomsonii) of East Africa is Least Concern with roughly 500,000 individuals and is the cheetah's primary prey.

## Are gazelles dangerous?
Gazelles are not generally dangerous to people. Gazelles are small swift antelopes of Africa and Asia; Thomson's gazelle (Eudorcas thomsonii) of East Africa is Least Concern with roughly 500,000 individuals and is the cheetah's primary prey. Give wild individuals space and do not corner or handle them.

## How long do gazelles live?
A precise wild lifespan for gazelles is not firmly established in the sources cited on this guide. Gazelles are small swift antelopes of Africa and Asia; Thomson's gazelle (Eudorcas thomsonii) of East Africa is Least Concern with roughly 500,000 individuals and is the cheetah's primary prey. Where longevity figures appear in the literature they vary by region, sex and whether animals are wild or captive.

## How big is a gazelle?
A Gazelle is about 12–26 kg (Thomson's gazelle). Gazelles are small swift antelopes of Africa and Asia; Thomson's gazelle (Eudorcas thomsonii) of East Africa is Least Concern with roughly 500,000 individuals and is the cheetah's primary prey.


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

## One-line answer
Antelope are horned ruminants of the family Bovidae — roughly 90 species across Africa and Asia; African savanna antelope form the prey base for the continent's great predators, with conservation status ranging from abundant to Critically Endangered.

## Introduction
Antelope is the common name for roughly 90 species of ruminant mammals in the family Bovidae, found across Africa and Eurasia. Unlike deer, antelope have permanent horns — not antlers — and belong to a separate evolutionary lineage. African savanna antelope include wildebeest, impala, gazelles, eland, kudu, hartebeest and sable, forming the prey base that sustains lions, cheetahs, leopards and wild dogs. Conservation status varies enormously: springbok and impala remain abundant, while the scimitar-horned oryx is Extinct in the Wild and the saiga antelope has faced catastrophic declines. This guide introduces the antelope family as a whole, with focus on African savanna species.

## Takeaway
Antelope are horned bovids — not deer — with permanent horns, not antlers.

## Takeaway
Africa holds the greatest antelope diversity, especially on savanna and in rainforest.

## Takeaway
Savanna antelope — wildebeest, impala, gazelle — sustain Africa's predator communities.

## Takeaway
The scimitar-horned oryx is Extinct in the Wild; saiga antelope has crashed repeatedly.

## Takeaway
Snaring and bushmeat hunting threaten antelope across Central and West Africa.

## Takeaway
Springbok, impala and blue wildebeest remain among the most abundant wild ungulates.

## What makes an antelope?
Antelope is a functional term, not a strict taxonomic group. It covers roughly 90 species in the family Bovidae — the same family that includes cattle, sheep and goats — spread across subfamilies Antilopinae, Alcelaphinae, Hippotraginae, Cephalophinae and others.

All antelope are cud-chewing ruminants with even-toed hooves and permanent horns (unlike deer, which shed antlers annually). African antelope range from the tiny royal antelope (2 kg) to the giant eland (900 kg). Asian antelope include blackbuck, nilgai and the critically threatened saiga of the steppes.

## Savanna antelope and the predator web
African savanna antelope form the foundation of the continent's predator ecosystems. Wildebeest, zebra and gazelle drive the Great Migration; impala are the most commonly killed prey in many reserves; eland and buffalo test the strength of lion prides. Cheetahs specialise in small gazelles; wild dogs pursue medium-sized antelope in endurance chases; leopards ambush whatever they can catch. Antelope compensate through speed, vigilance, herd behaviour and synchronised calving. The health of antelope populations directly reflects the health of the savanna ecosystem.


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

## Threats across the family
No single conservation status applies to all antelope. Generalist species such as impala, springbok and blue wildebeest remain Least Concern with large populations. At the other extreme, the scimitar-horned oryx (Oryx dammah) is Extinct in the Wild, surviving only in captive breeding programmes. The saiga antelope (Saiga tatarica) crashed from more than a million to fewer than 50,000 in the 1990s and again in 2015 from disease. Dama gazelle, addax and Arabian oryx are Critically Endangered. Snaring, bushmeat hunting, habitat loss and competition with livestock are the main threats.

## Conservation successes and priorities
Antelope conservation has notable successes. The Arabian oryx was reintroduced to the wild after captive breeding saved it from extinction. Black rhino range overlaps with antelope habitat in many reserves. Community conservancies in Kenya and Namibia generate tourism revenue that protects antelope and predators together.

Priorities include maintaining migration corridors, reducing snaring in Central Africa, and supporting captive breeding for the most endangered species. WARN's educational guides help searchers understand individual antelope species — wildebeest, impala, gazelle — and the family they belong to.

## Related WARN savanna guides
This page introduces the antelope family — but most readers want a particular species. Read WARN's wildebeest, impala and gazelle guides for Great Migration prey species, plus lion, cheetah and leopard pages for the predators that depend on antelope herds.

The scimitar-horned oryx and saiga antelope illustrate how quickly abundant ungulates can crash — and how captive breeding and anti-poaching can reverse decline.

Protecting savanna habitat in WARN partner countries supports the entire prey–predator web.

## WARN work
WARN publishes this antelope guide as free public education. African savanna antelope are the prey base for the continent's predators — protecting them means protecting the entire ecosystem.

## 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/antelope): Antelope — wildlife guide.

## How many antelope species are there?
Roughly 90 species worldwide, mostly in Africa. Africa holds the greatest diversity, from the tiny royal antelope to the giant eland.

## What is the difference between antelope and deer?
Antelope belong to the family Bovidae and have permanent horns. Deer belong to Cervidae and grow antlers that are shed annually. Antelope are native to Africa and Eurasia; deer to the Americas, Europe and Asia.

## Which antelope is most endangered?
The scimitar-horned oryx is Extinct in the Wild. The dama gazelle, addax and Arabian sand gazelle are Critically Endangered with fewer than 100–250 mature individuals each.

## What antelope are in the Great Migration?
Blue wildebeest dominate the migration, accompanied by common eland, Thomson's gazelle and Grant's gazelle. Plains zebra migrate alongside them.

## What do antelope eat?
Most antelope are grazers or browsers of grass, leaves and shoots. Some, like impala, switch between grazing and browsing seasonally. Diets vary with habitat and body size.

## Where do antelopes live?
Antelopes live in Africa and Eurasia. Antelope are horned ruminants of the family Bovidae — roughly 90 species across Africa and Asia; African savanna antelope form the prey base for the continent's great predators, with conservation status ranging from abundant to Critically Endangered.

## Are antelopes dangerous?
Antelopes are not generally dangerous to people. Antelope are horned ruminants of the family Bovidae — roughly 90 species across Africa and Asia; African savanna antelope form the prey base for the continent's great predators, with conservation status ranging from abundant to Critically Endangered. Give wild individuals space and do not corner or handle them.

## How long do antelopes live?
A precise wild lifespan for antelopes is not firmly established in the sources cited on this guide. Antelope are horned ruminants of the family Bovidae — roughly 90 species across Africa and Asia; African savanna antelope form the prey base for the continent's great predators, with conservation status ranging from abundant to Critically Endangered. Where longevity figures appear in the literature they vary by region, sex and whether animals are wild or captive.

## How big is an antelope?
An Antelope is about 2 kg (royal antelope) to 900 kg (giant eland). Antelope are horned ruminants of the family Bovidae — roughly 90 species across Africa and Asia; African savanna antelope form the prey base for the continent's great predators, with conservation status ranging from abundant to Critically Endangered.


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

## One-line answer
The binturong (Arctictis binturong) is a Vulnerable tree-dwelling viverrid of South-east Asian rainforest, the only Old World mammal with a fully prehensile tail; it is threatened by deforestation and the illegal pet trade.

## Introduction
The binturong is a large viverrid — related to civets — of South-east Asian rainforest, named 'bearcat' for its stocky body, shaggy black fur and cat-like face. It is the only Old World mammal with a fully prehensile tail, which it uses to anchor itself in the canopy. Binturongs smell of buttered popcorn due to a glandular secretion. Listed as Vulnerable by the IUCN, populations are declining from deforestation, the pet trade and hunting for bushmeat and traditional medicine. Binturongs are slow breeders — typically one or two young per litter — making recovery difficult once populations are depleted.

## Takeaway
Binturongs smell of buttered popcorn — a scent from a glandular secretion.

## Takeaway
They are the only Old World mammal with a fully prehensile tail.

## Takeaway
Despite the nickname 'bearcat', binturongs are viverrids related to civets.

## Takeaway
Deforestation for palm oil, logging and agriculture is the primary threat.

## Takeaway
Binturongs are slow breeders — one to two young per litter.

## Takeaway
The pet trade removes individuals from the wild with high mortality in transit.

## A tree-dwelling viverrid
The binturong belongs to the family Viverridae alongside civets, genets and linsangs. It is the largest living viverrid, with a stocky body, coarse black fur often tipped with grey, stiff white whiskers and small rounded ears. The muscular prehensile tail — as long as the body — grips branches and acts as a fifth limb.

Binturongs are mainly nocturnal and arboreal, though they descend to the ground more than many rainforest mammals. Six subspecies are recognised across South-east Asia, from India and Nepal through Myanmar, Thailand, Malaysia, Indonesia and the Philippines to southern China.

## Diet and ecological role
Binturongs are omnivorous frugivores, eating figs and other fruit as a staple and supplementing with small vertebrates, insects, eggs and carrion. They are important seed dispersers — fig seeds pass through the gut and germinate in new locations, linking binturong survival to the health of fig tree communities.

In captivity, binturongs live over 25 years; wild lifespans are shorter. They communicate through scent marking, vocalisations including chuckles and howls, and the distinctive popcorn-scented secretion from a gland beneath the tail.

## Threats and the pet trade
Habitat loss is the primary driver of decline. South-east Asia has lost vast areas of lowland rainforest to oil palm, rubber, logging and dam construction. Binturongs cannot survive in plantations or heavily logged forest. Hunting for bushmeat and traditional medicine persists, and the illegal pet trade removes individuals — often young — from the wild. Binturongs are poor pets: they need large arboreal enclosures, specialist diets and nocturnal routines. Most confiscated animals cannot be released and require lifetime sanctuary care.


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

## Conservation outlook
The IUCN lists the binturong as Vulnerable with an estimated 30% population decline over three generations. It occurs in numerous protected areas but enforcement against hunting and trapping is weak in many range countries. CITES Appendix III in India requires export permits. Protecting connected primary forest, enforcing anti-trafficking law and reducing demand for exotic pets are the most effective measures. WARN's orangutan and slow loris work in Indonesia and Malaysia overlaps binturong range, where shared habitat protection benefits all rainforest mammals.

## Related WARN guides
Binturongs are viverrids — read WARN's civet guide for close relatives, red panda page for other arboreal mammals, and orangutan and slow loris guides for shared South-east Asian rainforest.

WARN works in Indonesia and Malaysia — core binturong range.

Never buy binturongs as pets; deforestation is the primary threat.

## WARN work
WARN funds rainforest habitat protection in Indonesia and Malaysia — range countries where binturongs share threatened forest with orangutans and slow lorises. This guide is free public education about a lesser-known species facing the same deforestation crisis.

## 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/binturong): Binturong — wildlife guide.

## Why do binturongs smell like popcorn?
A gland beneath the binturong's tail produces a compound called 2-acetyl-1-pyrroline — the same chemical that gives popcorn and bread its distinctive aroma. The scent is used in scent marking.

## Is a binturong a bear or a cat?
Neither. Despite the nickname 'bearcat', binturongs are viverrids — related to civets and genets. The name reflects their stocky build and facial appearance.

## Are binturongs endangered?
Binturongs are Vulnerable with an estimated 30% population decline over three generations. Habitat loss and the pet trade are the main threats.

## Where do binturongs live?
Binturongs inhabit tropical and subtropical rainforest from India and Nepal through South-east Asia to Indonesia and the Philippines. They are arboreal and need intact forest canopy.

## Can you keep a binturong as a pet?
No. Binturongs need large arboreal enclosures, specialist diets and nocturnal care. The pet trade threatens wild populations. Private ownership is restricted in most countries.

## What do binturongs eat?
Binturongs are mainly frugivorous, eating figs and other fruit. They also take small vertebrates, insects, eggs and carrion. They are important seed dispersers for fig trees.

## Are binturongs dangerous?
Binturongs are not aggressive toward people and pose little direct threat, but they are poor pets with demanding needs. They require large arboreal enclosures, specialist diets and nocturnal care, and the illegal pet trade removes individuals from the wild with high mortality in transit.

## How long do binturongs live?
In captivity binturongs can live over 25 years, though wild lifespans are shorter. They are slow breeders, typically producing only one or two young per litter, which makes population recovery difficult once numbers fall.

## How big is a binturong?
Adult binturongs typically weigh 9–20 kg, making them the largest living viverrid. Their muscular prehensile tail is about as long as the body — the only fully prehensile tail among Old World mammals.


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

## One-line answer
Civets are nocturnal viverrids of Africa and Asia; the African civet (Civettictis civetta) is Least Concern and widespread across sub-Saharan Africa, though Asian species face habitat loss and civet musk farming raises welfare concerns.

## Introduction
Civets are cat-like carnivorans of the family Viverridae, found in Africa and Asia. The African civet is the largest civet species, weighing up to 20 kg, with a distinctive black-and-white masked face, spotted coat and erect dorsal crest. Civets are mainly nocturnal and solitary, foraging for fruit, insects and small vertebrates. The species is best known historically for civet musk — a secretion used in perfumery — which led to civet farming. Listed as Least Concern, African civets remain widespread but face habitat loss and hunting. Asian civet species, including the small Indian civet and masked palm civet, face similar pressures; kopi luwak coffee production from caged palm civets remains a welfare concern.

## Takeaway
Civets are viverrids — related to binturongs and genets, not cats.

## Takeaway
The African civet is the largest civet species, with a distinctive masked face.

## Takeaway
Civet musk from perineal glands was historically farmed for perfumery.

## Takeaway
Kopi luwak coffee from caged Asian palm civets raises serious welfare concerns.

## Takeaway
Most civet species are nocturnal, solitary and omnivorous.

## Takeaway
Habitat loss and hunting threaten Asian civet species more than the African civet.

## Civets across two continents
Roughly 35 civet species occupy the family Viverridae across Africa and Asia. The African civet (Civettictis civetta) is the largest, ranging across sub-Saharan Africa in woodland, savanna and rainforest. Asian civets include the small Indian civet (Viverricula indica), the masked palm civet (Paguma larvata) and the Malay civet (Viverra tangalunga).

All share a general body plan: elongated body, short legs, long tail and anal scent glands used for marking territory. Civets are not cats — they belong to a separate carnivore lineage that also includes binturongs and genets.

## Civet musk and kopi luwak
Civet musk — a thick, oily secretion from perineal glands — has been used in perfumery for centuries. Historically, African and Asian civets were kept in cages and the secretion scraped from glands, a practice that continues in some regions. Synthetic alternatives now exist for most perfumery applications.

Kopi luwak — coffee made from beans passed through the digestive tract of Asian palm civets — drives demand for caged civets in Indonesia. Civets are confined in small cages and force-fed coffee cherries, causing severe welfare problems. Ethical coffee certification excludes caged-sourced kopi luwak.

## Ecology and behaviour
African civets are mainly nocturnal and solitary, patrolling home ranges of roughly 1–4 km². They are omnivorous, eating fruit, insects, rodents, birds, eggs and carrion. An erectile dorsal crest runs along the spine, raised during aggression or alarm. Civets communicate through scent marking — the musk secretion is deposited on rocks, logs and vegetation. Females give birth to one to four young in dense cover. Civets are adaptable and persist in secondary forest and near human settlement, though primary forest supports higher densities.


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

## Conservation across species
The African civet is Least Concern with a stable population across most of sub-Saharan Africa. Several Asian civet species face greater pressure from deforestation and hunting. The Malabar civet (Viverra civettina) of India is Critically Endangered and may be extinct. CITES Appendix III in Botswana regulates African civet exports. Reducing demand for wild-sourced musk and caged kopi luwak, protecting forest habitat and enforcing anti-trafficking law benefit all civet species. WARN's work in Indonesia overlaps palm civet range, where kopi luwak farming remains a welfare and conservation concern.

## Related WARN guides
Civets are viverrids — read WARN's binturong guide for the prehensile-tailed rainforest relative, raccoon page for procyonid comparison, and orangutan guide for shared habitat in WARN partner countries.

Kopi luwak farming drives civet welfare crises — avoid civet coffee products.

Forest protection in Malaysia and Indonesia benefits civets alongside orangutans.

## WARN work
WARN funds anti-trafficking and habitat work in Indonesia, where palm civets are caged for kopi luwak production. This civet guide is free public education about a family of mammals caught between forest loss and exploitative trade.

## 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/civet): Civet — wildlife guide.

## What is civet musk used for?
Civet musk — a glandular secretion — was historically used in perfumery as a fixative. Synthetic alternatives now exist for most applications. Some traditional perfumers still use small quantities of farmed musk.

## Is kopi luwak made from civets?
Yes. Kopi luwak coffee is made from beans that have passed through the digestive tract of Asian palm civets. Most commercial kopi luwak now comes from caged civets force-fed coffee cherries — a serious welfare concern.

## Are civets cats?
No. Civets belong to the family Viverridae, a separate branch of carnivorans that also includes binturongs and genets. They resemble cats superficially but are not closely related.

## Where do civets live?
Civets inhabit Africa and Asia — woodland, savanna, rainforest and secondary forest. The African civet ranges across sub-Saharan Africa; Asian species occur from India to Indonesia and southern China.

## Are civets endangered?
The African civet is Least Concern. Several Asian species are more threatened — the Malabar civet of India is Critically Endangered and may be extinct.

## What do civets eat?
Civets are omnivorous, eating fruit, insects, rodents, birds, eggs and carrion. Diet varies by species and habitat. Frugivory is important for seed dispersal in rainforest.

## Are civets dangerous?
Civets are not usually dangerous to humans. The African civet weighs 7–20 kg and is mainly nocturnal and solitary, foraging for fruit, insects and small vertebrates. Like most wild carnivorans, it may bite if cornered, but it typically avoids people. Asian civet species face greater pressure from habitat loss and civet musk farming.

## How big is a civet?
The African civet — the largest civet species — weighs up to about 20 kg, with a distinctive black-and-white masked face, spotted coat and erect dorsal crest. Roughly 35 civet species occur across Africa and Asia, with smaller Asian species generally lighter than the African civet.

## How long do civets live?
A precise wild lifespan for civets is not firmly established in the sources cited on this guide. Civets are nocturnal viverrids of Africa and Asia; the African civet (Civettictis civetta) is Least Concern and widespread across sub-Saharan Africa, though Asian species face habitat loss and civet musk farming raises welfare concerns. Where longevity figures appear in the literature they vary by region, sex and whether animals are wild or captive.


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

## One-line answer
The aardvark (Orycteropus afer) is the only living species of its order, a nocturnal insectivore of sub-Saharan Africa listed as Least Concern; it digs for termites and its burrows shelter dozens of other species.

## Introduction
The aardvark is the sole living species of the order Tubulidentata — one of Africa's most evolutionary distinctive mammals. With a pig-like snout, rabbit-like ears and a kangaroo-like tail, it is adapted for eating ants and termites, which it locates by smell and excavates with powerful claws. Aardvarks are strictly nocturnal and solitary, roaming territories of up to 4 km². Listed as Least Concern, they remain widespread but are hunted for bushmeat and threatened by pesticide use that reduces insect prey. Their abandoned burrows provide shelter for warthogs, hyenas, pythons and many other species.

## Takeaway
Aardvarks are the only living species of the order Tubulidentata.

## Takeaway
They eat up to 50,000 termites in a single night using a 30 cm tongue.

## Takeaway
Abandoned aardvark burrows shelter warthogs, hyenas, pythons and wild dogs.

## Takeaway
Aardvarks are strictly nocturnal and solitary.

## Takeaway
Pesticide use on termites and bushmeat hunting are the main threats.

## Takeaway
Their name means 'earth pig' in Afrikaans — a reference to their digging habit.

## An evolutionary oddity
The aardvark occupies its own order, Tubulidentata, with no close living relatives. Genetic studies suggest affinity with elephants, hyraxes and sirenians — the superorder Afrotheria. Its teeth are unique: hexagonal prisms of dentine without enamel, which grow continuously and are worn down by ingested soil. The body combines features that confuse casual observers: a long tubular snout, elongated ears, a thick tail and powerful digging claws.

Aardvarks range across sub-Saharan Africa wherever termites and ants are abundant, from open savanna to woodland.

## Termite hunting by night
Aardvarks leave their burrows after dark to forage, covering several kilometres per night. They detect termite and ant colonies by smell, then rip open mounds and runways with chisel-like claws. A sticky tongue up to 30 cm long laps up insects — an adult may consume 50,000 in one night.

Aardvarks also eat the aardvark cucumber (Cucumis humifructus), the only fruit whose seeds are dispersed exclusively by aardvarks. During the day they sleep in self-dug burrows up to 13 m long, entering tail-first.

## Burrows and ecosystem services
Aardvark burrows are a critical resource for other species. Warthogs, porcupines, hyenas, wild dogs and pythons use abandoned or shared burrows for shelter and denning. In arid areas, burrows provide the only shade and refuge for smaller animals. Aardvarks therefore act as ecosystem engineers — their digging aerates soil, recycles nutrients and creates habitat. Declining aardvark populations may cascade to dependent species.


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

## Conservation status
The IUCN lists the aardvark as Least Concern with a stable population across most of its range. Local declines occur from bushmeat hunting, road mortality and pesticide use that reduces termite prey. Aardvarks are not listed under CITES. Because they are solitary and nocturnal, population trends are hard to monitor. Protecting insect-rich habitat and reducing indiscriminate pesticide application benefit aardvarks and the species that depend on their burrows.

## Related WARN guides
Aardvarks are African ecosystem engineers — read WARN's hyena guide for aardwolf relatives, elephant page for other African oddities, and armadillo guide for burrowing mammals elsewhere.

Beaver and warthog pages cover other species whose burrows shelter neighbours.

Termite mound landscapes depend on aardvark digging.

## WARN work
WARN publishes this aardvark guide as free public education. Ecosystem engineers like aardvarks illustrate how losing one species can affect many others — a principle central 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/aardvark): Aardvark — wildlife guide.

## What does an aardvark eat?
Aardvarks eat ants and termites almost exclusively, consuming up to 50,000 insects per night. They also eat the aardvark cucumber, a fruit whose seeds they alone disperse.

## Is an aardvark related to an anteater?
No. Despite similar diets, aardvarks (Africa) and anteaters (South America) evolved independently — convergent evolution. Aardvarks belong to Afrotheria; anteaters to Xenarthra.

## Why are aardvark burrows important?
Abandoned aardvark burrows provide shelter for warthogs, hyenas, pythons, porcupines and wild dogs. In arid regions, burrows are often the only refuge from heat and predators.

## Are aardvarks endangered?
Aardvarks are Least Concern globally. Local declines occur from bushmeat hunting and pesticide use, but the species remains widespread across sub-Saharan Africa.

## Are aardvarks active during the day?
No. Aardvarks are strictly nocturnal, leaving burrows after dark to forage for termites and ants. They sleep underground during the day.

## Where does an aardvark live?
Aardvarks range across sub-Saharan Africa wherever termites and ants are abundant, from open savanna to woodland. They roam solitary territories of up to 4 km² and sleep by day in self-dug burrows up to 13 m long. Listed Least Concern, they remain widespread though local declines occur from bushmeat hunting and pesticide use that reduces insect prey.

## Are aardvarks dangerous?
Aardvarks are not considered dangerous to people. They are strictly nocturnal, solitary insect-eaters that avoid contact, leaving burrows after dark to forage for termites and ants. Their powerful claws excavate mounds rather than being used to attack. Local bushmeat hunting is a threat to aardvarks, not the reverse.

## How heavy is an aardvark?
Adult aardvarks typically weigh 40–65 kg according to this guide's quickFacts and IUCN stats. They are the sole living Tubulidentata species — a nocturnal digger built for termite hunting with a sticky tongue up to 30 cm long that can consume up to 50,000 insects in one night.

## How long do aardvarks live?
A precise wild lifespan for aardvarks is not firmly established in the sources cited on this guide. The aardvark (Orycteropus afer) is the only living species of its order, a nocturnal insectivore of sub-Saharan Africa listed as Least Concern; it digs for termites and its burrows shelter dozens of other species. Where longevity figures appear in the literature they vary by region, sex and whether animals are wild or captive.


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

## One-line answer
The gharial (Gavialis gangeticus) is a Critically Endangered fish-eating crocodilian of India and Nepal with fewer than 900 mature individuals remaining; river damming, sand mining and pollution are the primary threats.

## Introduction
The gharial is one of the most distinctive crocodilians on Earth, with an extraordinarily long, thin snout packed with interlocking teeth — adapted exclusively for catching fish. Males develop a bulbous nasal growth called a ghara at sexual maturity. Once widespread across the river systems of the Indian subcontinent, gharials now cling to a handful of rivers in India and Nepal. Listed as Critically Endangered, fewer than 900 mature individuals remain. Dam construction, sand mining, fishing nets and river pollution have destroyed the clean, deep, fast-flowing water gharials require.

## Takeaway
Gharials have the longest, thinnest snout of any crocodilian — built for catching fish.

## Takeaway
Males develop a bulbous 'ghara' on the snout tip used in vocalisation and display.

## Takeaway
Fewer than 900 mature gharials remain in the wild.

## Takeaway
They require clean, deep, fast-flowing rivers with sandbanks for nesting.

## Takeaway
Dam construction and sand mining have destroyed most historic gharial habitat.

## Takeaway
Captive breeding and head-starting programmes release juveniles into protected rivers.

## A crocodilian built for fish
The gharial belongs to the family Gavialidae, separate from true crocodiles and alligators. Its snout is exceptionally long and narrow, with 110–130 interlocking teeth — the most of any crocodilian. This morphology generates minimal water disturbance when snapping at fish. Gharials are not built for land; adults rarely leave the water except to bask and nest. Males reach 4–4.5 m; females are smaller.

The ghara — a cartilaginous nasal bulb — amplifies hissing and buzzing vocalisations during the breeding season and may serve as a visual signal.

## River life and breeding
Gharials inhabit deep, clear, fast-flowing rivers with high oxygen levels and abundant fish. They bask communally on sandbanks, often in groups of dozens. Breeding occurs during the dry season; females dig nest holes in sandbars and lay 30–60 eggs. Incubation takes roughly 70 days.

Hatchlings measure about 37 cm and receive no parental care, though females guard nests. Head-starting programmes — rearing hatchlings in captivity for two to three years before release — have boosted wild populations in the Chambal and Girwa rivers.

## Collapse and remnant rivers
Gharial populations collapsed from an estimated 5,000–10,000 in the 1940s to fewer than 200 by the 1970s. The Chambal River — straddling Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh and Uttar Pradesh — now holds the largest wild population. Smaller groups survive in the Girwa (Katarniaghat), Son, Gandak and Narayani rivers. Dam construction fragments rivers and alters flow; sand mining destroys nesting banks; fishing nets entangle and drown gharials; pollution reduces fish stocks. The species cannot survive in reservoirs or sluggish, polluted water.


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

## Conservation and recovery efforts
India and Nepal protect gharials under national law. Captive breeding at facilities in India and Nepal produces hundreds of juveniles annually for release. The IUCN Crocodile Specialist Group coordinates monitoring. Community engagement along the Chambal reduces sand mining and net fishing. Despite these efforts, the 2022 IUCN assessment recorded fewer than 900 mature individuals with a continuing decline. CITES Appendix I bans commercial trade. Saving gharials requires free-flowing rivers — a challenge that benefits all freshwater biodiversity.

## Related WARN guides
Gharials are fish-eating crocodilians — read WARN's alligator guide for American wetland relatives, saltwater crocodile page for Indo-Pacific giants, and crocodilian hub for the wider group.

WARN works in Pakistan — within gharial historical range on the Indus system.

River restoration and sandbank protection underpin gharial recovery.

## WARN work
WARN publishes this gharial guide as free public education. River conservation in India and Nepal — gharial range — aligns with the freshwater habitat protection that sustains biodiversity across South Asia.

## 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/gharial): Gharial — wildlife guide.

## Are gharials dangerous to humans?
Gharials are not man-eaters. Their narrow snouts and fish-specialist teeth cannot take large prey. No confirmed fatal gharial attack on a human has been documented. They are shy and retreat from disturbance.

## What is the ghara?
The ghara is a bulbous growth on the tip of the adult male gharial's snout, named after an Indian pot. It amplifies vocalisations during breeding and may serve as a visual signal to females and rival males.

## How many gharials are left?
The 2022 IUCN assessment estimated fewer than 900 mature individuals in India and Nepal. The Chambal River holds the largest remaining population.

## What do gharials eat?
Gharials eat fish almost exclusively. Juveniles also take insects and small crustaceans. Their long, narrow snouts are specialised for fast sideways snapping at fish in water.

## Why are gharials Critically Endangered?
Dam construction, sand mining, fishing net entanglement and river pollution have destroyed the clean, flowing rivers and sandbank nesting sites gharials require.

## Where can you see gharials?
Wild gharials can be viewed on the Chambal River (India), Katarniaghat Wildlife Sanctuary and in Nepal's Narayani River system. Boat safaris on the Chambal offer reliable sightings.

## Where do gharials live?
Gharials live in deep, fast-flowing rivers with sandbanks in India and Nepal, including the Chambal River which holds the largest remaining wild population. They cannot survive in reservoirs or sluggish, polluted water. Listed Critically Endangered with fewer than 900 mature individuals, they once ranged widely across the Indian subcontinent. Dam construction, sand mining, fishing nets and river pollution have destroyed the clean flowing habitat this fish-eating crocodilian requires.

## How big is a gharial?
Male gharials reach 3.5–4.5 m in length, with large males up to 4.5 m — among the longest of all crocodilians. Females are smaller. The extraordinarily long, thin snout packed with interlocking teeth is adapted exclusively for catching fish. Males develop a bulbous nasal growth called a ghara at sexual maturity. Fewer than 900 mature individuals remain in India and Nepal, listed Critically Endangered on the IUCN Red List.

## How long do gharials live?
A precise wild lifespan for gharials is not firmly established in the sources cited on this guide. The gharial (Gavialis gangeticus) is a Critically Endangered fish-eating crocodilian of India and Nepal with fewer than 900 mature individuals remaining; river damming, sand mining and pollution are the primary threats. Where longevity figures appear in the literature they vary by region, sex and whether animals are wild or captive.


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

## One-line answer
Ibex are wild mountain goats of the genus Capra; the Alpine ibex (Capra ibex) is Least Concern after recovery from near extinction, with males carrying curved horns up to a metre long on cliffs across Europe and Asia.

## Introduction
Ibex are wild goats of the genus Capra, adapted to life on steep mountain cliffs from the Alps to the Himalayas, Atlas Mountains and Ethiopian highlands. The Alpine ibex — restored from near extinction in the nineteenth century — is the best-known species, with males carrying horns up to a metre long that curve backwards. Ibex graze alpine meadows and descend to salt licks; their split hooves grip rock faces that deter most predators. Several ibex species are Least Concern after recovery programmes, but the Walia ibex of Ethiopia and the Spanish ibex subspecies face ongoing threats from hunting and habitat competition with livestock.

## Takeaway
Ibex are wild goats of the genus Capra, adapted to steep mountain terrain.

## Takeaway
Alpine ibex males carry horns up to a metre long, curved backwards.

## Takeaway
The Alpine ibex was hunted to near extinction before nineteenth-century protection.

## Takeaway
Nubian ibex, Siberian ibex and Walia ibex are separate species with different ranges.

## Takeaway
Ibex graze alpine meadows and visit salt licks; split hooves grip cliff faces.

## Takeaway
Competition with livestock and hunting threaten ibex in parts of Africa and Asia.

## Ibex species across three continents
The genus Capra includes ibex and related wild goats across Europe, Asia and Africa. The Alpine ibex (C. ibex) inhabits the Alps and reintroduced populations in Slovenia, Austria and Bulgaria. The Nubian ibex (C. nubiana) ranges across the Middle East; the Siberian ibex (C. sibirica) across Central Asia; the Walia ibex (C. walie) is endemic to Ethiopia's Simien Mountains and is Endangered. The Spanish ibex (C. pyrenaica) includes several subspecies, one of which — the Pyrenean ibex — was the first animal to go extinct twice.

All ibex share muscular bodies, short legs, split hooves with rubbery pads and horns that grow throughout life.

## Life on the cliff edge
Ibex exploit terrain too steep for most predators. They graze grasses, herbs, mosses and lichens on alpine meadows, moving to cliff ledges to rest and escape wolves, leopards and eagles.

Males and females form separate herds for much of the year, joining during the rut when males clash horns in spectacular fights. Horns are used for display and combat, not defence against predators. Salt licks draw ibex to predictable locations, where they have been hunted historically. In winter, ibex descend to lower slopes where snow is less deep.

## Recovery and reintroduction
The Alpine ibex was reduced to a single valley — Italy's Gran Paradiso — by the 1820s before hunting bans and protected areas allowed recovery to over 50,000 individuals. Reintroduction programmes spread ibex across the Alps and into Slovenia and Austria. Similar efforts helped the Spanish ibex and Nubian ibex in some areas. The Walia ibex of Ethiopia recovered from roughly 250 to over 1,200 after Simien Mountains National Park protection, but remains Endangered. These recoveries demonstrate that mountain ungulates can rebound when hunting stops and habitat is secured.


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

## Current threats
Most ibex species are Least Concern or Near Threatened after recovery. Persistent threats include competition with domestic goats and sheep for grazing, habitat fragmentation from roads and ski development, and illegal hunting in Central Asia and the Middle East. Climate change may shift alpine vegetation zones, altering ibex forage. The Walia ibex remains Endangered with a small, isolated population. CITES regulates trade in some Capra species. Maintaining protected areas and managing livestock grazing are essential for long-term ibex persistence.

## Related WARN guides
Ibex are mountain goats — read WARN's markhor guide for Asian wild caprids, deer page for other hoofed mammals, and snow leopard guide for alpine predators.

Lynx and wolf pages cover carnivores in ibex range.

Reintroduction success in the Alps shows ibex can recover with protection.

## WARN work
WARN publishes this ibex guide as free public education. Mountain wildlife recovery stories like the Alpine ibex show what legal protection and habitat stewardship can achieve.

## 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/ibex): Ibex — wildlife guide.

## What is the difference between an ibex and a goat?
Ibex are wild goats of the genus Capra. Domestic goats (Capra hircus) descend from the wild bezoar ibex (C. aegagrus). Ibex retain wild behaviour, larger horns and adaptation to cliff terrain.

## How long are ibex horns?
Alpine ibex males carry horns up to about a metre long, curved backwards. Horns grow throughout life and are used in rutting fights. Female ibex have smaller horns or none, depending on species.

## Are ibex endangered?
The Alpine ibex is Least Concern with over 50,000 individuals after recovery. The Walia ibex of Ethiopia is Endangered. Status varies by species.

## Where do ibex live?
Ibex inhabit mountain ranges across Europe (Alps), Asia (Himalayas, Central Asia), the Middle East, North Africa (Barbary sheep) and Ethiopia (Walia ibex).

## What do ibex eat?
Ibex graze grasses, herbs, mosses, lichens and shrubs on alpine meadows and cliff ledges. They visit mineral licks for salt and minerals.

## Can ibex climb cliffs?
Yes. Ibex are among the most sure-footed mammals, using split hooves with rubbery pads to grip near-vertical rock faces that exclude most predators.

## Are ibexs dangerous?
Ibexs are domesticated animals and are not dangerous to people in the wild-predator sense. Ibex are wild mountain goats of the genus Capra; the Alpine ibex (Capra ibex) is Least Concern after recovery from near extinction, with males carrying curved horns up to a metre long on cliffs across Europe and Asia. Usual risks are husbandry and handling, not unprovoked attacks.

## How long do ibexs live?
A precise wild lifespan for ibexs is not firmly established in the sources cited on this guide. Ibex are wild mountain goats of the genus Capra; the Alpine ibex (Capra ibex) is Least Concern after recovery from near extinction, with males carrying curved horns up to a metre long on cliffs across Europe and Asia. Where longevity figures appear in the literature they vary by region, sex and whether animals are wild or captive.

## How big is an ibex?
An Ibex is about 35–100 kg (varies by species and sex). Ibex are wild mountain goats of the genus Capra; the Alpine ibex (Capra ibex) is Least Concern after recovery from near extinction, with males carrying curved horns up to a metre long on cliffs across Europe and Asia.


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

## One-line answer
The alpaca (Vicugna pacos) is a domesticated Andean camelid kept for its fine fleece; descended from the vicuña, it has been farmed for over 6,000 years in Peru, Bolivia and neighbouring countries.

## Introduction
The alpaca is a domesticated South American camelid descended from the wild vicuña, kept for its fine fleece for more than 6,000 years in the Andean highlands. Alpacas graze at 3,500–5,000 m elevation in Peru, Bolivia, Chile and Ecuador, where roughly 3.7 million animals support rural livelihoods. Two breed types exist: Huacaya with dense crimped fleece and Suri with silky dreadlock-like locks. Alpacas are social herd animals, communicating through hums, clicks and body posture. While domesticated alpacas are not wild conservation targets, their wild ancestor the vicuña was hunted to near extinction before recovering through community-based management.

## Takeaway
Alpacas are domesticated camelids descended from the wild vicuña.

## Takeaway
Peru holds roughly 3.7 million alpacas — the world's largest population.

## Takeaway
Two fleece types: Huacaya (crimped) and Suri (silky locks).

## Takeaway
Alpaca fleece is lanolin-free, hypoallergenic and thermally efficient.

## Takeaway
Wild vicuñas were hunted to near extinction before community recovery programmes.

## Takeaway
Alpacas are social herd animals that hum, click and spit when agitated.

## Domestication and Andean heritage
Alpacas were domesticated in the Andean highlands more than 6,000 years ago, alongside llamas — which descend from the guanaco. Genetic studies confirm the alpaca's primary ancestor is the vicuña (Vicugna vicugna), the smallest and finest-fleeced wild camelid.

Inca civilisation managed alpaca herds on a vast scale, weaving fleece into textiles reserved for royalty. Spanish colonisation disrupted traditional management, but indigenous communities maintained alpaca husbandry. Today Peru produces roughly 80% of the world's alpaca fibre, supporting an estimated 120,000 farming families.

## Huacaya and Suri breeds
Two breed types dominate commercial alpaca farming. Huacaya alpacas — roughly 90% of the global population — have dense, crimped fleece giving a fluffy appearance.

Suri alpacas have silky, pencil-thin locks that hang in dreadlock-like strands and command premium prices. Both breeds come in 22 natural fleece colours from white through fawn, brown, grey and black. Shearing occurs annually, yielding 1.5–3 kg of fleece per animal. Alpaca fibre is lanolin-free, making it hypoallergenic and suitable for sensitive skin.

## Husbandry and behaviour
Alpacas are social herd animals that become stressed in isolation. They communicate through soft hums, alarm calls, clucking and body posture — ears back and tail raised signal irritation. Alpacas spit regurgitated stomach contents at each other during hierarchy disputes; they rarely spit at humans unless mishandled. They graze grasses and hay at high altitude, using a three-compartment stomach efficient at extracting nutrients from coarse forage. Dung piles in communal latrines reduce parasite spread.


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

## Wild vicuña conservation
While alpacas themselves are domesticated, their wild ancestor the vicuña was hunted to fewer than 10,000 individuals by the 1960s for fine fleece. CITES Appendix I protection and community-based chaku round-ups — shearing wild vicuñas and releasing them — recovered populations to over 350,000. This model of sustainable wild fibre harvesting is a conservation success story. Alpaca farming reduces pressure on wild vicuñas by meeting commercial demand through domestic stock.

## Related WARN guides
Alpacas are domesticated camelids — read WARN's llama guide for the larger pack camelid, camel page for Old World relatives, and horse guide for other working animals WARN supports.

Wild vicuña conservation underpins alpaca fibre heritage.

Working animal welfare principles apply wherever alpacas carry loads or trek with tourists.

## WARN work
WARN publishes this alpaca guide as free public education. The vicuña recovery story — wild ancestor of the alpaca — illustrates how community-based conservation can reverse extinction trajectories.

## 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/alpaca): Alpaca — wildlife guide.

## What is the difference between an alpaca and a llama?
Alpacas are smaller (55–65 kg), with finer fleece and shorter faces, bred for fibre. Llamas are larger (130–200 kg), with coarser fleece, bred as pack animals. Alpacas descend from vicuñas; llamas from guanacos.

## Where do alpacas live?
Alpacas are domesticated and kept on high-altitude pastures in Peru, Bolivia, Chile and Ecuador, typically at 3,500–5,000 m elevation. Small populations exist on farms worldwide.

## Are alpacas wild animals?
No. Alpacas have been domesticated for over 6,000 years. Their wild ancestor is the vicuña, which survives in the Andes and has recovered from near extinction through conservation programmes.

## Why is alpaca fleece valuable?
Alpaca fleece is fine, lanolin-free, hypoallergenic and thermally efficient — warmer than sheep wool by weight. Suri fleece in particular commands premium prices in luxury textiles.

## Do alpacas spit?
Yes. Alpacas spit regurgitated stomach contents at each other during hierarchy disputes. They rarely spit at humans unless frightened or mishandled.

## Are alpacas dangerous?
Alpacas are domesticated animals and are not dangerous to people in the wild-predator sense. The alpaca (Vicugna pacos) is a domesticated Andean camelid kept for its fine fleece; descended from the vicuña, it has been farmed for over 6,000 years in Peru, Bolivia and neighbouring countries. Usual risks are husbandry and handling, not unprovoked attacks.

## How long do alpacas live?
Alpacas typically live 000 years. The alpaca (Vicugna pacos) is a domesticated Andean camelid kept for its fine fleece; descended from the vicuña, it has been farmed for over 6,000 years in Peru, Bolivia and neighbouring countries. Wild and captive figures can differ; use the sources listed on the guide for the underlying studies.

## How big is an alpaca?
An Alpaca is about 55–65 kg. The alpaca (Vicugna pacos) is a domesticated Andean camelid kept for its fine fleece; descended from the vicuña, it has been farmed for over 6,000 years in Peru, Bolivia and neighbouring countries.

## What do alpacas eat?
They graze grasses and hay at high altitude, using a three-compartment stomach efficient at extracting nutrients from coarse forage. The alpaca (Vicugna pacos) is a domesticated Andean camelid kept for its fine fleece; descended from the vicuña, it has been farmed for over 6,000 years in Peru, Bolivia and neighbouring countries.


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

## One-line answer
The llama (Lama glama) is a domesticated Andean camelid bred for 5,000+ years as a pack animal and fibre source; descended from the guanaco, roughly seven million llamas support highland communities in Peru and Bolivia.

## Introduction
The llama is a domesticated South American camelid descended from the wild guanaco, bred for over 5,000 years as a pack animal, fibre source and cultural symbol of the Andean highlands. Llamas carry loads of 25–30% of their body weight across mountain trails above 4,000 m, where wheeled transport cannot reach. Roughly seven million llamas survive in Bolivia and Peru alone. They are intelligent, social herd animals with a reputation for spitting, though well-handled llamas are calm and cooperative. Like alpacas, llamas are domesticated — but their wild ancestor the guanaco faces habitat loss and hunting across Patagonia.

## Takeaway
Llamas are domesticated camelids descended from the wild guanaco.

## Takeaway
They have been used as pack animals in the Andes for over 5,000 years.

## Takeaway
Llamas carry 25–30% of body weight across high-altitude mountain trails.

## Takeaway
Bolivia and Peru hold roughly seven million llamas between them.

## Takeaway
Llamas are intelligent, social and communicate through hums and body posture.

## Takeaway
Wild guanacos face habitat loss and hunting in Patagonia.

## Domestication and Andean culture
Llamas were domesticated from the guanaco (Lama guanicoe) in the Andean highlands more than 5,000 years ago — before alpacas, which descend from vicuñas. Inca civilisation relied on llama caravans to transport goods along the Qhapaq Ñan road network spanning 30,000 km.

Llama fibre was woven into textiles; dung fuelled fires at altitude where wood is scarce; meat provided protein. Spanish colonisation devastated traditional herd management, but indigenous communities preserved llama husbandry. Today llamas remain essential to highland economies in Peru, Bolivia, Chile, Argentina and Ecuador.

## Pack animals and fibre
Llamas are the largest Andean camelid and the primary pack animal. A healthy adult carries 25–30% of its body weight — roughly 40–60 kg — for 15–20 km daily at elevations above 4,000 m. Their soft-padded feet cause minimal trail erosion compared with horses or mules.

Llama fleece is coarser than alpaca but still valuable; annual shearing yields 2–3 kg. Guard llamas are used on farms worldwide to protect sheep from foxes and coyotes — llamas bond with sheep herds and chase off predators.

## Behaviour and communication
Llamas are social herd animals that become anxious in isolation. They communicate through soft hums, alarm calls, ear position and tail posture. Spitting — regurgitated stomach contents — is directed at other llamas during hierarchy disputes, not typically at humans unless provoked. Llamas are intelligent and learn quickly; they can be trained to accept halters, loads and basic commands. They graze grasses and hay, using a three-compartment stomach efficient at processing coarse high-altitude forage.


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

## Wild guanaco conservation
Domestic llamas are not conservation targets, but their wild ancestor the guanaco persists across Patagonia and the Andes. Guanacos are Least Concern globally but face habitat loss from ranching, fencing that blocks migration, and hunting. Roughly 600,000 guanacos remain — a fraction of historic numbers. CITES Appendix II regulates guanaco trade. Sustainable guanaco fibre harvesting in Argentina mirrors the vicuña chaku model. Llama farming reduces pressure on wild guanacos by meeting commercial demand through domestic stock.

## Related WARN guides
Llamas are Andean pack camelids — read WARN's alpaca guide for the smaller fibre specialist, camel page for Old World relatives, and working donkey and horse guides for other load-bearing animals WARN supports.

Wild guanaco conservation underpins llama domestication heritage.

Fair load limits and heat-stress awareness protect working llamas worldwide.

## WARN work
WARN publishes this llama guide as free public education. The guanaco — wild ancestor of the llama — faces habitat pressures in Patagonia that mirror the challenges facing wildlife across our partner countries.

## 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.