This special edition of Critter Card Cutouts brings you three African critters—right out of the book!

Rhinoceros
The rhino's horn is used to fight off predators and in battles with other rhinos. But the rhino's horn has also been its worst enemy—illegal hunters or "poachers" will kill rhinos just for their horns. The poacher often sells the horn to people who believe that crushed rhino horn is a powerful medicine.

 

Elephant
Even though full-grown elephants weigh five tons or more, elephants share many traits with humans. Elephants are known to live to a ripe old age of 60 years or more. As with humans, the members of a herd communicate with each other regularly through low rumbling sounds, loud growls, trumpeting and squeals that express many different emotions. At the death of a member of the herd, elephants are clearly disturbed, showing feelings that closely resemble sadness in humans.

Lion
A single group of lions, called a "pride," has been known to lose 50 cubs to starvation, disease or killing before even a single cub survives! After a few months, cubs need to eat more than just their mother's milk. The mother must bring back fresh meat from her hunting every few days if the cubs are to grow strong enough to survive on their own.  

Photos and text reprinted with permission of the National Geographic Society from the book African Critters By Robert B. Haas. Copyright ©2008 Robert B. Haas. Available where all books are sold.