Wildthings

The crocodile rocks: A crocodile dozing off next to the water might look like a slow and clumsy animal, but in actual fact his anatomy is rather complex. We take a look at how he is well designed to thrive in his habitat.

1.Superman of the ocean The mantis shrimp has a very strong punch. Two very powerful front claws are used to punch prey with vicious force.

My parrot enjoys spending time in the garden (I place his cage in a nice shady spot), but I’m worried about diseases he could pick up from wild birds. Can parrots be infected by viruses, bacteria or parasites affecting wild birds and is there anything I can do to protect him?

1.Mighty height The giraffe is the tallest mammal in the world – even newborn babies are taller than most humans. His long legs and neck do make drinking difficult though.

Hefty pirate. At 18m in length and weighing a mammoth 50,000kg, the sperm whale is the planet’s largest predator. This big-bodied ocean resident hunts in deep waters

1.Solitary animals Moose are the largest members of the deer family. The males have huge antlers that they shed each winter. Unlike deer, moose are solitary and don't form herds. Generally slow-moving and easy-going, moose can become aggressive and move surprisingly fast if angered or startled.

1. Sweet as honey The honey badger is part of the weasel family and is related to skunks, otters and ferrets.

One of the smallest wild cats on earth. Geoffroy's cat is also very tough and can survive in the harshest of environments. In fact, this feline is believed to be the most adaptable of all cats and can live in very hot as well as cold areas

Related to guinea pigs, chinchillas are rodents who proudly sport the softest and densest fur of all the world’s animals. They hail from South America, where they have lived in the Andes mountain range since antiquity.

With 40 subspecies, the grey wolf boasts a relatively stable population and a widespread range (North America and Eurasia).

Also known as the sand dune cat, the sand cat is widely distributed in North Africa's Sahara Desert, the Arabian desert and deserts in Pakistan and Iran

Q. What size cage is best for your rat? A. The ideal rat cage should be made of powder-coated wire and should measure at least 760 x 450 x 470mm (this size will accommodate five adult male rats or six ...