Real-Life Communication
Zookeepers have to know their animals. What kind of care do they
need? What type of food do they eat? Where do they like to sleep? What animals
do they get along with?
"You have to know all kinds of things, whether
you learn through experience or through studying sciences," says zookeeper
Grant MacFarlane. "In some areas of the zoo, people write more reports than
others."
Suzette, the keeper who looked after the big cats, is leaving
the zoo where you work. You will be taking over her position. You know a lot
about big cats, but Suzette wants to be absolutely sure that the animals will
be left in good hands.
Read the description of leopards below. Suzette
has questions for you at the end.
The leopard is known as
the panthera pardus. It can weigh between 55 and 99 pounds. Its head and body
is usually 39 to 55 inches long, and its tail is an additional 24 to 37 inches.
The
background coat color can vary from yellow to gray, and is covered in clusters
of black rosettes. The black panther is actually a leopard that has a black
background, but is still covered in faintly visible black rosettes.
The
cat is widespread in Africa, south mainland Asia, Sri Lanka, Singapore, Java
and Kangean Island. The leopard lives alone except during courtship and mating.
It is also nocturnal -- usually sleeping in a tree during the day.
It
feeds on medium-sized mammals, small rodents, birds and reptiles. Antelopes,
hogs and ground birds are among its favorite prey. Leopards live in rainforests
and in deciduous forests.
This is what Suzette asks:
- Where would you expect to find a leopard during the day?
- What color are leopards?
- What is a leopard's favorite prey?