Archive for year: 2018

Penguins are adorable birds with a seemingly clumsy nature that has melted the hearts of both children and adults. These lovable creatures are loyal and family-oriented, which just adds to the growing list of reasons why people love them so much. Fall in love with penguins even more with these penguin facts!

1. There Are No Penguins At The North Pole

Photo Credit: pexels.com

Contrary to popular belief, penguins don’t live at the North Pole, and not all of them are found in Antartica. There are 18 different penguin species, but all of them are found almost exclusively in the Southern Hemisphere. Although, Galápagos penguins are sometimes spotted north of the equator.

2. Penguins Come In All Sizes

Little Blue Penguins (Photo Credit: kiwiclanger // Flickr)

Many people often think penguins are about the size of a toddler, but penguins come in many different sizes. The largest penguin species, the emperor penguin, stands about 4 feet tall. On the other hand, the smallest species is the blue penguin, coming in at 33cm – that’s about the size of a footlong Subway!

3. Penguins Are Aerodynamic

Photo Credit: nationalgeographic.com

Penguins are flightless birds that seem clumsy when they waddle on land, but they’re spectacular at swimming. Instead of wings, these seabirds have flippers, which propel them further below the water’s surface. The emperor penguin can dive as deep as 450 metres! Their aerodynamic shape also helps reduce drag and makes it easy for them to glide through the water effortlessly. They may not be able to soar through the skies, but they can definitely  “fly” through the water.

4. More Than Just Black & White

Photo Credit: wikipedia.com

A penguin’s contrasting black and white coat may stand out, but it actually helps them camouflage when they’re in the water. Their black backs blend into the depths of the ocean from the top, while their white underside is hidden against the bright surface from the bottom. However, not all penguins are completely black and white, the southern rockhopper penguin has striking yellow eyebrows!

5. Penguins Care For Their Young

Photo Credit: pexels.com

For many animals, the male often leaves the female after mating, but penguins are loyal family creatures. In some penguin species, the males are the ones that incubate the egg while the female goes off to hunt for food. Additionally, male and female penguins usually pair up exclusively for the rest of their lives – such lovebirds!

Most animals are adorable, others look terrifying… But some are just downright bizarre. Discover Earth’s strangest-looking creatures, some so unbelievably weird, they may as well be from another planet. Here are 7 weird animal species you have to see to believe.

1. The Pacu Fish

Photo Credit: usatoday.com

The pacu fish may look like any other ordinary fish at first sight, but if you look closer, you’ll notice their teeth bear an uncanny resemblance to human teeth. This fish is a relative of the piranha, but they are mostly harmless to humans. Many people believe that pacus bite human testicles, but this is completely untrue.

2. Star-Nosed Mole

Photo Credit: Epic Wildlife // YouTube

There is no denying that the star-nosed mole is a really weird animal species. The ‘star’ is actually their hairless nose, with a ring of 22 pink tentacle-like appendages surrounding it. These rays may look really bizarre, but it possesses remarkable sensory skills. With over 100,000 nerve endings packed in an area equal to a human’s fingertip, their rays are extremely sensitive organs. To put things into perspective, a human hand only contains approximately 17,000 nerve endings.

3. Irrawaddy Dolphin

Photo Credit: Naturepl.com – Roland Seitre

The Irrawaddy dolphin is known for its distinctive rounded head, which slightly resembles a beluga. Their lack of beak also makes their appearance different from a typical dolphin. In addition, their dorsal fin is blunt and much smaller compared to the usual dolphin. Sadly, Irrawaddy dolphins are a vulnerable species due to accidental capture and habitat degradation. Conservation efforts are challenging as well due to their proximity to developing communities.

4. Red-lipped Batfish

Photo Credit: theverge.com

If you’ve ever wondered what a fish looks like with red lipstick, look no further. The red-lipped batfish has a striking red pout that puts Miranda Sings to shame. Even though they’re aquatic creatures, these fish are not good swimmers. Instead of swimming, they “walk” on the ocean floor with their pectoral fins. The red-lipped batfish are usually found at depths of more than 100 feet around the Galapagos Islands.

5. Jerboa

Photo Credit: blog.nationalgeographic.org

Is it a mouse? A bird? Or maybe a kangaroo? The jerboa certainly looks like a mix of all these creatures. These tiny rodents behave similarly to a kangaroo too, and they get around by jumping on their hind limbs. Their unusually long hind limbs are almost four times longer than their forelimbs! A jerboa’s locomotion is very erratic, consisting of skips and jumps, often in a zigzag direction. As such, it takes them more energy to move around compared to other animals their size.

6. Blobfish

Photo Credit: uglyanimalsoc.com

If you’re on the Internet enough, you’ve probably seen the blobfish making its rounds as a meme. A deepsea creature, the blobfish’s features are a result of living in the depths of the ocean. The blobfish does not have bones or muscle, instead, it relies on the immense pressure for structural support. Hence, when they’re taken out of the water, their appearance looks almost jelly-like.

7. The Panda Ant

Photo Credit: amazing.zone

An ant with markings resembling a panda, the panda ant is more unique than anything. Although it looks adorable, looks and name are deceiving as this insect is actually a wasp! Its sting is also extremely painful, earning the nickname “cow killer”. But don’t worry, their stings don’t actually kill cows and they only sting in defence. In fact, the toxicity of their stings is lower than honey bees.

Birds are highly underrated creatures that don’t get enough appreciation for their beauty. But, there’s a reason why birdwatchers all around the world patiently wait just to get a glimpse of these elusive birds in the wild. Their striking and vivid colours are a beauty to behold, especially out in nature. Together with their ability to soar through the skies, it’s a spectacular sight like no other. Want to learn more about these creatures from the avian family? Here are a few of these beautiful and interesting bird species!

1. Turquoise-Browed Motmot

Photo Credit: macaulaylibrary.org

The motmots are a distinctively vibrant family of birds and the turquoise-browed motmot is no different. This beautifully coloured bird features two characteristic black-tipped rackets at the end of bare shafts. The bare shaft is not genetic but gradually develops from abrasions, as the middle portion of the shaft is weak.

2. Ribbon-Tailed Astrapia

Photo Credit: markaharper1 // Flickr

Another bird with a unique tail, the male ribbon-tailed astrapia boasts white ribbon-like tails that can grow up to 1 metre in length! The tails contrast their sleek black bodies, and with their mesmerising iridescent heads, they’re really an unusual sight to see.  Their extremely long tails can get in the way sometimes, so they have to spend time untangling them before flight – definitely not a survival advantage, but it helps them attract the females.

3. Kakapo

Photo Credit: jonniwalkerdatablog.com

Tha Kakapo is a bird native to New Zealand, and it’s believed to be the longest-living bird in the world. Unfortunately, it’s also listed as critically endangered, with an estimated adult population of 149 as of April 2018. Their yellowy moss-green feathers with specks of brown and black help them blend into the foliage, as they’re the only species of parrots that cannot fly – truly a one-of-a-kind bird species.

4. Blue Bird-of-Paradise

Photo Credit: kcet.org

The beautiful blue bird-of-paradise is regarded as the “loveliest of all birds” by many ornithologists (scientists who study birds). It’s easy to see why. With brilliant blue wings, they definitely stand out in nature, and it’s partly why they’re a vulnerable species. The male’s courtship display is equally as flamboyant and impressive as their bright blue wings. To attract females, they hang upside down from a tree branch, spreading their wings and displaying their plumage in full, all while vocalising a humming call.

5. Andean Cock-of-the-Rock

Photo Credit: zoochat.com

A vivid streak of colour amongst the lush greenery of nature, the male Andean Cock-of-the-Rock is a striking bird with an adorable pom-pom like plumage on top of their head. The males do not care for their offspring but instead devote their energy to performing elaborate mating rituals. The males challenge each other through confrontational displays which involves flapping their wings, jumping, and snapping their bills. This turns into an even more intense and frantic performance as the female approaches closer.

6. Malachite Kingfisher

Photo Credit: sourceofthenile.org

This stunning colourful bird is the Malachite Kingfisher. It has a remarkable metallic ultramarine-blue coat on their upper parts with a bright red-orange colour on their bill and legs. These birds are experts at catching fish, as their name suggests. Their excellent eyesight allows them to estimate depths accurately, so they can easily and effortlessly swoop down to catch their prey.

Interested in taking a look at some beautiful birds? Visit Zoo Negara’s Bird Aviary today!

Giraffes hail all the way from the open savannahs of Africa, and they’re also the tallest land animals on Earth. But other than that, not much is known about them. If these gentle mammals intrigue you, here’s five giraffe facts that might interest you!

1. Giraffes Only Drink Water Once Every Few Days

Photo Credit: imgur.com

As giraffes spend most of their time eating, they consume up to 45kg of leaves a day. This is where most of their water source comes from, so they don’t have to drink water very often. Additionally, a giraffe’s neck is too short to reach the ground. This means they have to awkwardly spread their legs to drink.

2. Giraffes Get By With Little Sleep

Photo Credit: vice.com

On average, giraffes only require about 30 minutes of sleep per night! They can even get by with just 5 minutes of sleep in a 24-hour period. Giraffes sleep standing up and they rarely lie on the ground as it’s such a vulnerable position for them. This is because their height makes it difficult for them to stand up quickly if there’s any immediate danger.

3. A Giraffe’s Gestation Period is 457 Days

Photo Credit: 39ishlife.com

That’s a whopping 15 months! Although the gestation period is long, typically only a single calf is born. Unfortunately, these vulnerable calves are the target of lions, leopards, and hyenas. Many of them are killed in their first few months and as many as 50% of them do not survive past their first year. 🙁

4. Female Giraffes Give Birth Standing Up

Photo Credit: San Diego Zoo Safari Park

Newborn giraffe calves are in for a rough welcome! As females give birth standing up, this means the calf will experience an approximately 1.5-meter fall. Talk about a rough landing. Despite that, these remarkable calves are seen up and walking just 30 minutes after their birth! Amazing, aren’t they?

5. Giraffes Have Hair-Covered Horns Called Ossicones

Photo Credit: youtube.com

Both male and female giraffes have two protruding horns covered in hair and skin called ossicones. In newborn giraffes, these horns are made of cartilage and not attached to the skull. As they grow older, this cartilage turns into bone and fuses with the skull in a process called ossification, hence the name ossicones. Male giraffes sometimes use their horns to fight with other males, this can often escalate into pushing and shoving each other with their muscular necks.

Zoo Negara is more than just a home for hundreds of animal species, it’s also a conservation centre for endangered and vulnerable wildlife. Contrary to popular belief, not all zoos are unethical and cruel. Zoos take part in conservations efforts to improve and preserve any vulnerable wildlife. Take the giant panda, for instance. They were once classified as an endangered species, but with the help of sophisticated captive breeding programs, their numbers are increasing and they’ve been downgraded to vulnerable status instead.

Zoos play an important role in preserving biodiversity, on top of educating the public about these threatened species. One of Zoo Negara’s missions is the conservation of Malaysian wildlife.

Here are some of the amazing creatures you’ll have the opportunity to see when you’re at Malaysia’s National Zoo!

1. Malayan Tapir (Tapirus indicus)

Malayan Tapir at Zoo Negara, 2006 (Photo Credit: zoochat.com)

The Malayan Tapir is classified as an endangered species by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), which means they’re at a high risk of extinction in the wild. Also known as the Asian or Malay Tapir, these Tapirs are threatened by habitat destruction in Thailand and Myanmar especially. However, the Malayan Tapir population in Malaysia and Southern Thailand are considered to be the largest and most resilient.

2. Orangutan (Sumatran – Pongo abelii & Borean – Pongo pygmaeus)

Orangutan at Zoo Negara, 2013 (Photo Credit: wikipedia.com)

Both species of orangutan at the zoo, the Bornean Orangutan and the Sumatran Orangutan, are classified as critically endangered animals. This means they’re facing an extremely high risk of extinction in the wild. Habitat degradation due to logging activities is one of the main reasons the orangutan population is declining. The IUCN reports that both these species are expected to suffer a population decline of more than 80% over a three-generation period, if the previously observed rate of decline continues.

3. Malaysian Giant Turtle (Orlitia borneensis)

Malaysian Giant Turtle (Photo Credit: wikipedia.com)

The Malaysian Giant Turtle is also called the Bornean River Turtle and they’re the largest freshwater turtle species in Southeast Asia. Large numbers of these turtles are being illegally traded in the East Asian food market for their meat despite official protection, leading to their decreasing population and endangered status.

4. Siamese Crocodile (Crocodylus siamensis)

Siamese Crocodile in Bangkok (Photo Credit: Ben Dupon, flickr.com)

Here’s another critically endangered entry on our list – the Siamese Crocodile. In 1992, these crocodiles were believed to be “virtually extinct”, with their status recorded as critically endangered and remaining unchanged since 1996. One of the most endangered crocodile species out there, these crocodiles are under threat because they’re being hunted for their skin and their eggs are being collected illegally as well. Due to their smaller size, the Siamese Crocodiles are also in danger of being accidentally captured in fishing gear.

5. Bengal Tiger (Panthera tigris tigris)

Bengal Tiger (Photo Credit: wikipedia.com)

Perhaps one of the more well-known endangered animals is the Bengal Tiger. Although it’s the most abundant tiger species in Asia, their numbers are dwindling with fewer than 2,500 individuals. These tigers are at risk because of poaching and habitat fragmentation. The IUCN states that the Bengal Tigers are facing a population area decline of 50%, and will continue to decline unless conservation efforts are increased.