The Elephant

Elephants, the largest land animals in the world, have a huge heart. Their heart weighs between 26 and 47 pounds! They actually have a life expectancy similar to humans - over 70 years. Also like humans they can laugh and have a pretty good memory although they can't jump. They are also very sociable and are very sensitive animals - they know when other elephants are sad or happy. As a 'hello' they wrap their trunks together as a display of affection. In total, their trunks have around 40,000 muscles! Elephants have particularly crafty ears. They have large, thin ears - they're made up of a complex network of blood vessels which work to regulate the elephant's temperature. The Elephants circulate blood around their ears to cool them down.

Meerkat Family | #PictureoftheMonth

Showcasing just what I LOVE about Meerkats, all in one picture!

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Meerkats!

Aside from being a popular feature across many of our zoos and the Compare the Meerkat adverts, they often reside in the dry regions of Southern Africa, from Botswana to Zimbabwe. They're one of the tiniest, yet most sociable animals in the world. They can be found in colonies of up to 30 meerkats. They also look out for each other, the adult meerkats act as guards whilst the others forage for food. The meerkats are also incredibly well adapted for their role in the wild, their long claws help them dig their burrows and forage for food. Meerkats are even able to kill and eat venomous snakes and scorpions without being hurt as they are immune to the venom. It's safe to say that these cute creatures lead incredible lives!