The Hippopotamus

   The hippopotamus (Hippopotamus amphibius) is a large, powerfully thick-skinned and enormously heavy animal, confined to the African continent. The neck is short and the head large and rectangular. The strong incisors and canines continue to grow throughout life, and enable the animal to dig up the plants growing on the banks of rivers. The animal grows to an incredible length of about fourteen feet. The limbs and tail are short. It is mostly aquatic in its habits, and when it reaches the surface of the water after prolonged immersion, it spouts like a whale. The hippopotamus not only swims but it can walk along the bottom of a river with great rapidity. Sometimes it secretes a "bloody sweat" a carmine coloured secretion containing crystals, but of course, it has nothing to do with blood.

The Lion

   In India, the lion is at present, confined to the Gir Forest of Kathiawar, but formerly it had a much wider range of distribution extending over Northern and Central India. The habitat of the lion is among the teak trees, bamboo and thorny shrubs, which abound in the Gir Forest. It rests during the day and goes out in search of its prey at dusk. It's prey consists mainly of cattle and game animals of the forest. An entire mounted specimen of a male African lion is on display.

  The cat bear or panda (Ailurus fulgens) is distinguished by its rounded head, large, erect, pointed ears and short, stumpy snout. Its coat is bright chestnut brown in colour, and its tail is encircled by a series of black ring-like markings. The distribution of the Panda ranges over the Himalayas from Nepal and Sikkim eastwards to Upper Burma and Southern China. Within Indian limits, the Panda lives in the temperate forests of the Himalayas at altitudes above 5000 feet . It spends the day resting among the higher branches of the trees where it lies curled up with its bushy tail wrapped up over its head. The strong, semi retractile claws enable it to get a firm grip while climbing trees. In the evening it descends to the ground in search of its food, which consists mostly of roots, succulent grasses, fallen fruits, eggs, insects and their larvae. In captivity it prefers food sweetened with sugar. Usually two young are born during spring.