Survival stories
Forests, deserts, mountains, glaciers, plains, oceans … Earth’s surface comprises a variety of habitats. Though each supports different life forms, some are among toughest places to live in. How do these animals survive in harsh conditions with very little food? Let us take a look:
Sea-going Iguana: These live on Fernandina, an island in the Pacific. The sea surrounding it is particularly rich in life. On this island live the sea-going, which are vegetarians. Since there’s little food on land, they graze on the sea floor. A big male can dive up to 30 meters and hold his breath for half an hour. These animals lay their eggs in sand. The hatchlings emerge in June and are preyed upon by Racer Snakes. So, from the moment of birth, the hatchlings face a hostile and demanding environment.
Golden Eagle: Food on Europe’s highest peaks is always desperately short. So the Golden Eagle spends its time flying high above the peaks searching for food. Its two-metre wingspan allows it to glide easily for up to 100km a day. Eagles are carnivorous, so they eat only meat. And they have to fight off other raptors when they do find food. Golden Eagles use their sharp hooked beaks and talons to fight off their enemies. Only the most competitive and the strongest survive the harsh winters of these mountains.
Spider Monkey: The tropical rainforests of Central and South America are complex places filled with lush vegetation. Many of the animals here spend much of their lives in an arboreal world. Like the Spider Monkeys. These creatures live 30m above ground level and travel in family groups. But did you know that one-third of the Spider Monkeys never make it adulthood? At higher levels, the branches are thinner and a fall will mean certain death if they are unable to catch hold of another branch and save themselves.
Lion: Imagine a world where temperatures rise to 50°C with no food or water and one has to fight the sun, wind, and dust to live. Such deserts require extraordinary survival strategies. The lions in the oldest desert in the world, in southwest Africa, are among the hardiest of animals. Hunting here presents special problems. A herd of Oryx is the only prey within 30 km and even these have to be chased. Every failed hunt brings the lions closer to starvation. On the edge of their territory is a dry riverbed that is home giraffes that could kill these starving lions with a single kick. The pride must work together as a team if they are to live in this area.
Wild Yak:The wild yak is found in altitudes ranging from 10,500 feet to 18,000 feet and lives in the high areas with permanent snow and grazes on grasses, herbs and lichens. They gather in groups of between 10 and 30. The herd travels on snow in single file, with the followers stepping carefully on the footprints of the yak in front. Its dense undercoat of soft closely matted hair is covered by an outer fur of dark brown or black. This, along with its amazing lung capacity and ability to climb over rough terrain, help it live in the difficult mountains of South Asia. Its two-layer thick coat helps conserve heat. Did you know that yaks have a very low number of sweat glands? This also helps it save body heat. In winters, wild yaks can survive temperatures as low as -40°C.
Reindeer: Svalbard is a group of islands beyond northern Norway, lying almost at the top of the world. Here winter lasts for seven months, of which at least four are spent in complete darkness. The reindeer that live here are the world’s most northerly herbivore. The icy winters can prevent the reindeer from reaching the little plant life available. They survive partly off their summer fat reserves, losing up to half their body weight during winters. This tends to wear out their teeth start and many die during the winter months.
Polar Bear: Despite winter temperatures reaching below -40°C and ferocious winds blowing in Svalbard, the polar bear manages to survive here. Its coat reflects heat back into the body and works like a blanket. During stormy times, polar bears sleep and live off their body fat. When the winds drop, the bears hunt the animals that create breathing holes in the ice. The bears wait at the openings for it to stick its head out; a wait that might last for hours or even days.
Now that you’ve read about these animals, see if you can answer these questions.