Aardvark Dimensions: 2.8 x 0.8 x 1.0 inch. The Aardvark is at home in the African savannah and looks more like a rabbit with its long ears, but that’s where all the similarities end. Instead of carrots, it prefers to eat ants. With its long snout, it cleverly sniffs out insects living underground and digs them up in no time at all. It’s especially active at night. Who will stay awake long enough to keep the Aardvark company? 

African Elephant Calf Dimensions: 2.7 x 1.4 x 2.2 inch. Baby elephants are still quite clumsy after their birth and must first learn how to handle their trunks. They are still not able to feed themselves with it, so suckle from their mothers for the first year. In the process they gain a good kilo in weight each day. It is very important that they grow big quickly, because a lion or crocodile can hardly cause any harm to healthy, adult animals. If a predator does come dangerously close, the adults form a circle around the young. They are well protected in the middle.

African Elephant, Male Dimensions: 7.7 x 3.5 x 4.8 inch. Elephant bulls are considerably bigger than elephant cows. Reaching heights of almost four metres, they are the second largest land animals after giraffes. They also weigh five to six tonnes, which makes them the heaviest of all land animals. African elephant bulls usually leave their herd when they are about twelve years old. By then they are grown-up enough to find their own food and defend themselves, so they move through the country with other bulls or as a loner – in search of another herd. 

Armadillo Dimensions: 3.0 x 0.8 x 1.2 inch. The Armadillo is unmistakable and certainly has a very descriptive name. Its thick scaly armor is composed of several belts that run around its entire body. It looks kinda cute. Especially when it runs nimbly across the desert on its short legs. It has probably tracked down a tasty morsel with its sensitive nose. Most of all it loves to eat insects. When it’s digging them out of their underground hiding places, the armadillo can hold its breath for up to six minutes! After that, we have to admit, it has really earned its meal.

Caracal Baby Dimensions: 2.2 x 0.7 x 1.8 inch. I wonder what the cute Caracal cub with sand-colored fur wants? It must be hungry. Look how cute it is, you simply have to give it something to eat! Where is the mother? She must be out hunting in the African savannah, chasing mice or other small mammals to bring home for supper. Maybe the Caracal cub could share your sandwich in the meantime? 

Caracal Female Dimensions: 4.3 x 1.0 x 2.4 inch. The pretty female Caracal stalks through the steppe on her long legs. She is probably looking for food for herself and her young. She tracks down her prey quickly, because she can hear the slightest rustle in the bushes. No wonder: Her long brush ears work like fine antennae and she can feel even the slightest vibration! I wonder if she just heard something. She looks as if she’s about to pounce and take out a mouse with one powerful leap.

Crocodile Dimensions: 7.0 x 2.6 x 2.0 inch. The saltwater crocodile is the most dangerous of all crocodiles. It holds the record for the largest crocodile: It can weigh up to a ton, as much as a small car. While most crocodiles live in rivers and lakes, the saltwater crocodile is the only one that can deal with both fresh water and saltwater of the seas. In addition to the saltwater crocodile, there are many other kinds, a total of 25. These include, for example, the Nile crocodile, the armoured crocodile, alligators and caimans. 

Dromedary Dimensions: 5.5 x 1.3 x 3.9 inch. Dromedaries live in the deserts of Africa and Asia. They eat mostly leaves, dry grass and thorny plants. The hump of the mammal isn’t used to store water; it stores fat. If they can’t find any food in the desert they can live off it for weeks. The dromedary from schleich® WILD LIFE has eaten well recently and has an upright, well-filled hump. 

Flamingo Dimensions: 2.1 x 1.3 x 3.5 inch. Pink? Purple? No, definitely pink! That’s what color of the Flamingo from schleich® WILD LIFE. At first, before it is fully grown, the feathers are still gray. Then they turn this chewing gum pink from the shrimp that it loves eating. Preferably for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Even with a full belly, our exotic wild bird can fly well as long as it has a good run-up. It can also balance incredibly well on one leg. No gym lessons required! All the other birds always want to be photographed with it. What about you? 

Giraffe Calf Dimensions: 2.7 x 1.4 x 4.6 inch. Baby giraffes are reared together with other young animals in a kind of kindergarten. A female giraffe from the herd acts as the “nursery school teacher” and looks after the calves while the other mothers search for food. If predators approach, she immediately raises the alarm. Then the female giraffes stand protectively in front of their babies and kick at the attackers. At around four months, they start to pluck and eat the small leaves from trees, but they still suckle from their mothers until they are ninth months.

Giraffe, Female Dimensions: 3.5 x 1.7 x 6.8 inch. Despite the camouflage spots in their fur, giraffes do not always remain undetected by predators. But they know to defend themselves and can kick really hard with their front hooves. They mainly do this if they want to protect their young, because the adult animals are normally rarely attacked. Anyone who has the opportunity to look at giraffes from close up can easily distinguish the females from the males. They are somewhat smaller and have thin horns with a small tuft of fur on top. Giraffe bulls, in contrast, have thick horns with no fur on top. 

Giraffe, Male Dimensions: 5.0 x 1.7 x 6.7 inch. Giraffe bulls are so large, they can put their head through the window of the second floor of a building and say “hello”. Their tongue is up to 50 centimetres long, is desensitised to prickly leaves, and has an unusual colour: it is dark blue. This colour helps protect it from sunburn when giraffes use it to wrap around and pluck leaves. Even animals as large as giraffes need to sleep between meals. When there is no threat of danger, they lie down for a nap, but in the wilderness they mainly sleep standing up.

Lion Dimensions: 4.7 x 1.4 x 2.8 inch. In order to become the leader of the pack, lions must win a duel. The larger their mane, the more respect they are shown by their rival. But not only does it look breath-taking – it also protects the animals from serious injuries on their heads and necks.

Lion Cub Dimensions: 3.0 x 1.1 x 1.7 inch. After birth, lion babies have a sand-coloured fur coat with dark, circular spots. They are well camouflaged in the savannah. Within the first four to six weeks, they remain in a den. At the age of three months, they are strong enough to follow their mother wherever she goes.

Lion, Roaring Dimensions: 4.2 x 1.8 x 2.6 inch. The larger the mane of a lion, the more frightening it is for intruders of its territory, which it defends. Lions are the only ones who hunt together in prides – although this task is usually left to the lionesses. Since they are not very fast, unlike the cheetah, they use their strength as a pride. They prowl from different directions, circle their prey and use the element of surprise. That way they can kill large ungulates such as wildebeest and zebras and even buffalos and weak elephants.

Lioness Dimensions: 4.6 x 1.6 x 2.1 inch. With lions, it is almost exclusively the females that go hunting. Many of their prey are faster than they are, so these predators first creep up to a few meters from different sides and then sprint towards their prey. Even though the lionesses usually do the hunting, the males are always the first ones to eat. 

Thomson Gazelle Dimensions: 3.5 x 0.9 x 3.8 inch. Is that a rustling in the bushes? The pretty Thompson gazelle carefully observes its surroundings. There might be a cheetah hiding somewhere. The gazelle isn’t interested in ending up as that cat’s breakfast! Unfortunately, its long, twisted horns are of little use against the cheetah. The best mode of action is to run away, dodging left and right like a pro. Or to stays put, where the grass is low and it has a good overview. Actually, the living room carpet is a pretty safe bet, too! 

Zebra Female Dimensions: 4.7 x 1.3 x 3.3 inch. Zebras live in the African savannah and belong to the horse family. Each zebra has a unique fur coat pattern consisting of black and white stripes. Even its mane is striped. The pattern provides camouflage, confuses predators, protects against mosquitoes, makes the heat more bearable, and helps the animals to recognise each other. 

Zebra Foal Dimensions: 3.0 x 0.9 x 2.8 inch. Zebra foals can run with the herd just 20 minutes after birth. In the first days, however, the mare stays very close to her foal, so that it can acquaint itself with her scent, appearance, and voice. Zebra foals don’t just have a mane on their neck. Its continues along their entire back, up to their tail.