Archive for April, 2008
Pandas live in humid bamboo forests or forests with a mix of coniferous and deciduous trees, at altitudes of 1300 to 3600 meters. Both males and females live alone most of the year, and do not hibernate like bears do. Pandas sleep for 10 to 16 hours per day, and spend most of their waking hours eating bamboo shoots and leaves. Occasionally a Panda will eat insects or small animals. The Panda has a protrusion on its wrist, which the Panda can use like a thumb. This “sixth finger” is perfect for grasping bamboo stalks. Pandas are excellent tree climbers, and often climb trees to avoid enemies. However, they are not very good at climbing down from trees, and often fall in the process. Pandas have black fur around their eyes and on their ears, nose, shoulders, arms, and legs. Other areas of their bodies are covered by white or cream-colored fur. Their tails are white as well.
Pandas are an endangered species. It is estimated that only about 1000 Pandas are living in the wild.
This adorable giant panda is sitting with a bamboo branch in his paw. You can also make a giant panda posed walking as he gazes up from the ground. Choose whichever one you like!
Source: Panda
The cheetah is the fastest of all land animals, capable of running at speeds up to 75 miles per hour (120 kph). Cheetahs have slim bodies, long legs, long tails, and high shoulders. A cheetah cannot retract its claws, so they are always out to grip the earth like spikes on a runner’s shoes. The cheetah’s broad chest holds a large heart and lungs. All these different features of a cheetah’s body work together to help it run. Clearly, cheetahs were born to run fast. However, cheetahs can only maintain their top speed for a distance of about 1600 feet (500 meters), and in fact often fail to catch their prey.
Source: Cheetah
The Emperor Penguin is the largest penguin in the world. Emperor Penguins grow to be approximately 100 to 130 cm tall, and weigh about 30 kg. Emperor Penguins are good at diving, and are said to be able to reach depths greater than 250 m. They can stay submerged for around 20 minutes, longer than any other kind of penguin.
To avoid losing body heat and strength while living on the ice, penguins keep their bodies rounded, pulling in their feet and necks. Penguins walk slowly and awkwardly,but in the water they seem to fly, swimming with the greatest of ease.
Penguins form large colonies for breeding on the thick ice layers surrounding Antarctica.Females lay one egg in early May, then leave the egg in the care of the male. The females head for the ocean to search for food to replenish the energy expended in laying the eggs, and for the chicks which will soon hatch. The male carries the egg on top of its feet to keep it from touching the cold ice, and covers the egg with the skin of its belly.
The male remains standing like this for about two months, protecting the egg without taking a break even to eat or drink. The female returns to feed the chick by the time the egg hatches. The parents protect the chick from the cold by carrying it on their feet.
Source: Emperor Penguin
The Timber Wolf (also: Grey Wolf) most closely fits the common image of a wolf. The wolf’s size and coloring may vary according to its habitat. Once found in many regions throughout the world, hunting, etc., has caused wolf numbers to dwindle and wolves have disappeared completely from many areas of the world.
Timber wolves hunt small animals, such as hares and mice, etc., and also deer, etc. They will also eat plants such as berries, etc. They range widely, traveling at around 8km per hour as they hunt for food. In a single day, they may travel dozens of kilometers, sometimes 100 or more. They hunt in packs, some of which can be very large, and use cries, scent and other gestures to communicate with each other. The wolf’s howling is believed to be a means of locating other wolves and of announcing the wolf’s own location. The wolf is said to be the ancestor of man’s best friend, the dog.
Source: Timber Wolf
The snowy owl is covered in snow-white feathers. This large species of owl is mainly found in Arctic tundra areas. The snowy owl can rotate its head up to 270 degrees giving it an extremely wide range of vision.While the male is almost purely white, the female’s feathers are streaked with shades of black or brown. The female is also bigger than the male meaning that, unlike other owls, the snowy owl’s sex can be easily distinguished. Unlike most other owls, the snowy owl is active during daylight hours.
Summer in the Arctic circle features nights of “midnight sun” , and the snowy owl, living in open areas such as tundras, grasslands, wetlands, or rocky areas, must hunt for prey from an elevated point with maximum vision of the area. For this reason, snowy owls are often very active during the day, even though hunting is commonly done in the mornings or evening. Their prey consists mostly of small rodents, but they occasionally feed on other birds too.
This papercraft is about one half the size of a real snowy owl.
Source: Snowy Owl (Female)
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The bald eagle is one of the larger types of eagle, its body measuring between 76 and 92cm, and its wingspan can reach more than two meters. Its dark brown body and white head and shoulders are the bald eagle’s most distinguishing features. The bald eagle is also the national bird of the United States of America. This, along with its striking appearance, makes it a very well-known bird in the United States. Bald eagles can be found mostly in coastal areas of the North American continent, along the shores, rivers, and lakes. The bald eagle is protected under the Migratory Bird Treaty Act, and the Bald Eagle Protection Act, enacted in 1918 and 1940 respectively. Many North American indigenous people regard the bald eagle as a sacred creature, and the birds or their feathers feature in many rituals and traditional costumes. In addition, the bald eagle is also regarded as a symbol of wisdom, power, and strength, and a sign of peace and friendship.
This papercraft is about one half the size of a real bald eagle.
Source: Bald Eagle
Along with the brown bear, the polar bear is one of the largest of the bear species. The white fur that covers polar bears’ bodies means that they are sometimes referred to as “white bears.” Polar bears are strong swimmers, and it is said that they can swim for distances of up to 65km, at a speed of 6.5km/h. They also have acute senses of smell and hearing, useful when hunting as this allows them to detect the scent of seals swimming beneath the ice. Polar bears are able to endure a lean diet or periods of fasting, and can survive up to six months on only one seal. Except for during mating season or when females are bringing up young, polar bears are solitary animals. Male bears and female bears who are not pregnant do not hibernate.
Source : Polar Bear
The lion is a large carnivore from the cat family. Its current habitat is limited to some areas of Africa and India, but there was a time when lions could be found all over Africa, Asia, and southern Europe. The lion’s dignified appearance and demeanor, along with its ranking among the strongest animals in the world, make it known as the “king of beasts.” Lions usually travel in groups known as “prides, ” usually consisting of one or two males, three to six females and several children. They feed on many different things, their prey including everything from beetles and reptiles, to large herbivorous animals.
Source: Lion
The African elephant is the largest land mammal in the world. Its tusks become curved as they grow, and in males they can reach lengths of up to 350cm. Its large, triangular ears are not only perfect for collecting sound, but they are also used for releasing body heat, and elephants spread them out to intimidate other animals. African elephants usually move in herds of around 10, with the oldest female as leader. Male elephants often leave the herd around the age of 10 years, and lead solitary lives. Elephants are herbivorous and feed on leaves, branches, tree bark and fruit.
Source: African Elephant
The whooper swan is a large type of waterfowl, whose adults reach lengths of up to 140cm, with wings as long as 60cm each. While their bodies are predominantly white, some feature yellowish markings on the head and neck. There are no color differences distinguishing males and females, but cygnets younger than one year old are gray with brownish streaks, the area around the top of the beak a pinkish white. Also, adults can weigh more than 10kg, which is quite heavy for a flying animal. Take-off requires the assistance of a run-up. Whooper swans feed mostly on the stems and roots of aquatic plants, and their main breeding ground is northern Eurasia, Iceland, etc.
This papercraft is about one half the size of a real Whooper Swan.
Source: Whooper Swan
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