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The Heart of the Savannah Comic Book

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ANIMAL FACTS Cheetah (Acinonyx jubatus): AGE RANGE: 10-14 years in wild. IUCN RED LIST: Vulnerable. FEATURES: Small, rounded head on a long neck; a flexible spine, deep chest, special feet pads for traction, and a Top speeds of up to 80 miles long tail for balance. per hour. DIET: Gazelle, impala, antelope, hares, The only feline with non- and small birds. retractable claws, which helps PREDATORS: Humans, leopard, eagle, with traction. hyena, and lion. The black "tear tracks" running from the inside corner of each eye to the mouth serves to protect the eyes Lion (Panthera leo): from sunlight. AGE RANGE: 10-18 years in the wild. IUCN RED LIST: Vulnerable. FEATURES: Mane around the head and neck, deep chest, strong legs and canines, and special feet pads for traction. Second largest living big cat DIET: Wilderbeest, zebra, antelope, after the tiger. and impala. Manes on male lions darken PREDATORS: Humans, hyena, leopard, with age- a thicker and darker and jackal. mane signifies a healthy feline. Lionesses do not have manes. Its roar can be heard from over 5 miles away. Thomson's Gazelle (Gazella thomsonii): AGE RANGE: 10-11 years in the wild. IUCN RED LIST: Least concern. FEATURES: Light coat with dark stripes, white patch on the rump underneath tail, and males have ridged horns that curve backwards. Fourth fastest land animal DIET: Leaves, stems, herbs, short with top speeds of up to 55 grasses, and shoots. miles per hour. PREDATORS: Humans, cheetah, hyena, Females can have shorter lion, and leopard. horns or none at all. Most common gazelle species in East Africa. Honey Badger (Mellivora capensis): AGE RANGE: 7 years in the wild. IUCN RED LIST: Least concern. FEATURES: Gray hair from their eyes to base of the tail and black underparts, tiny ears, stout legs, and large claws. Their name comes from their DIET: Snake, frog, small rodents and fondness for feeding on honey birds. and honeybee larvae. PREDATORS: Humans, leopard, lion, Also known as ratels, and are and hyena. related to skunks, otters, ferrets, and other badgers. Their claws are used to dig burrows, break into termite mounds and tree trunks, and to help capture prey. Black Mamba (Dendroaspis polylepis): AGE RANGE: 10-11 years in the wild. IUCN RED LIST: Least concern. FEATURES: Gray to dark brown scales, lightly colored underside, inside of mouth is black, fangs, and an extendable hood around neck. DIET: Small mammals and birds. PREDATORS: Humans, brown snake eagle, tawny agle, martial eagle, One of the fastest snakes in mongoose, jackal, and hyena. the world, with top speeds of over 12 miles per hour. One of the deadliest snakes in the world. Its toxic venom attacks the nervous system and heart- two drops can kill the average human. Anatolian Shepherd (Canis lupus familiaris): AGE RANGE: 12-15 years in the wild. IUCN RED LIST: Least concern. FEATURES: Darn fawn to light red fur, muscled body, and thick paws. Can take care of themselves DIET: None- high quality dog food. and the flock they are PREDATORS: Humans, coyote, and wild guarding without instruction, dogs. showing independence. Anatolian shepherds have been aiding Namibia's cheetah conservation efforts since 1994. They are an ancient breed that have descended from their ancestors dating back to 2000 B.C. Hippopotamus (Hippopotamus amphibius): AGE RANGE: 50 years in the wild. IUCN RED LIST: Vulnerable. FEATURES: Four webbed toes, short legs, purple-gray or slate colored skin, thick skin, powerful and large incisors, and a flat paddle-like tail. DIET: Grass and fruit. Third largest living land PREDATORS: Humans, lion, crocodile, mammal after elephants and and hyena. rhinos. Often weigh only 120 pounds when born. Jaws can open up to 150 degrees to reveal their enormous incisors. Crocodile (Crocodylinae): AGE RANGE: 50-75 years in the wild. IUCN RED LIST: Least concern. FEATURES: Long snout, thick scales; clawed, webbed toes; short legs, and conical sharp teeth. DIET: Fish, bird, frog, and crustaceans. PREDATORS: Humans, lion, and leopard. Biggest reptile species in the world. Nearest living relative to dinosaurs and birds. Crocodiles can go through 4,000 teeth over a lifetime. SOURCES Anatolian Shepherd Dog. (n.d.). American Kennel Club. Retrieved February 22, 2021, from https://www.akc.org/dog-breeds/anatolian- shepherd-dog/ Cheetah. (n.d.). African Wildlife Foundation. Retrieved February 20, 2021, from https://www.awf.org/wildlife-conservation/cheetah Daryona, W. (2020, September 15). File: Thomson's Gazelle in Lake Nakuru National Park.JPG [Digital image]. Retrieved March 26, 2021, from https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File: Thomson's_Gazelle_in_Lake_Nakuru_National_Park.JPG Hippopotamus. (n.d.). African Wildlife Foundation. Retrieved February 21, 2021, from https://www.awf.org/wildlife- conservation/hippopotamus Honey Badger. (n.d.). National Geographic. Retrieved February 21, 2021, from https://www.nationalgeographic.com/animals/mammals/facts/honey- badger Lion. (n.d.). African Wildlife Foundation. Retrieved February 21, 2021, from https://www.awf.org/wildlife-conservation/lion Ross, J. P., & Wermuth, H. F. (n.d.). Crocodile. Encyclopaedia Britannica. Retrieved February 21, 2021, from https://www.britannica.com/animal/crocodile-order#ref38415 Sartore J. (2021). A black mamba (Dendroaspis polylepsis) at reptile gardens. [Photograph]. Joel Sartore. https://www.joelsartore.com/anio27-00283/? context=black+mamba&index=2 Sartore J. (2021). An Anatolian shepherd (Canis lupus familiaris). [Photograph]. Joel Sartore. https://www.joelsartore.com/anio34- 00233/?context=anatolian+shepherd&index=1 The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica. (ED). (2021). Black Mamba. Encyclopaedia Britannica. Retrieved February 21, 2021, from https://www.britannica.com/animal/black-mamba Sartore J. (2021). Honey badger (Mellivora capensis) at the Fort Wayne Zoo. [Photograph]. Joel Sartore. https://www.joelsartore.com/anio56-00017/? context=honey+badger&index=1 Thomson's Gazelle. (n.d.). (2021). African Wildlife Foundation. Retrieved February 21, 2021, from https://www.awf.org/wildlife- conservation/thomsons-gazelle PURPOSE AND DONATIONS Cheetah populations have drastically The purpose of "The Heart of decreased over time due to numerous the Savannah" is to educate factors, including habitat destruction, readers about cheetahs, the hunting by humans, and climate change. savannah ecosystem, and the A significant factor is their lack of other animals that coexist in genetic diversity, which makes it the African habitat. difficult to reproduce because many Our mission is to advocate for cheetah cubs die from the inbreeding the felines and support their that occurs due to the limited population survival by gaining populations. community support and raising funds for the Cheetah If you would like to help, Breeding Facility at the you can donate on the Wildlife Safari Park in the Omaha Henry Doorly Zoo and Omaha Henry Doorly Aquarium. Zoo and Aquarium By raising funds, we can help the facility better understand website or you can and improve upon the support the Cheetah husbandry, training, housing, Conservation Fund. research, and overall management of the species to increase their breeding Character Information success. Main cheetah cub: Suka (fast in Inuit), Honey Badger: Mkali (fierce in male. Swahili), male. Cheetah mother: Asha (lively, life, or Black Mamba: Sumu (poisonous woman in Sanskrit), female. in Swahili), female. Cheetah cub brother: Kaka (brother in Anatolian Shepherd: Jua (sun Swahili), male. in Swahili), female. Cheetah cub sister: Tulia (calm in Hippopotamus: Kiboko (hippo in Swahili), female. Swahili), male. .
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