World of Animals Annual

The animal kingdom is as beautiful as it is dangerous, and features incredible creatures beyond our comprehension. With the majority of the ocean still undiscovered, and between 16,000 to 18,000 new species identified every year, perhaps we’ll never come to understand all of them. However, we can keep trying, by exploring nature and conserving endangered species. This World of Animals Annual collates the magazine’s best content over the past year, combining in-depth features on animals’ biological makeup, behaviour and habitats with wildlife travel, conservation efforts, expert commentary and beautiful photography. It celebrates the weird and wonderful of the planet Earth, and reevaluates our place among these amazing creatures.…

A brave little sunbird is toying with death in this sleepy saltwater crocodile’s jaws Saltwater crocodiles are the largest of all living reptiles. They are quite a lethargic species, and prefer to bask in the sunshine on land during the day, and hunt under the cover of night. A family of grey wolves huddle together in the snow, licking each other affectionately Grey wolves live in packs of about six to eight family members, usually led by a dominant alpha male and female. They hunt and travel together and form close ties within the pack. In an accurate portrayal of just how cruel nature can be, two of the world’s cutest animals face off in their fight to survive This Eurasian otter in the Shetland Islands, Scotland, saw his chance…

AT THE LAST CENSUS, THERE WERE 1,865 PANDAS LEFT IN THE WILD 1. Panda With its adorable face and rolypoly demeanor, this black and white species has become the poster bear of worldwide conservation We have a long-standing love affair with pandas, whether it’s celebrating their babies, watching them munch bamboo or turning to YouTube every time we need to smile. Since 1961, the panda has been recognisable as the symbol on the logo of WWF, the global conservation charity that works tirelessly to preserve vulnerable species and habitats the world over. This particular bear was chosen as the charity needed a logo featuring an endearing and enigmatic endangered animal, and what better mascot than the monochrome marvel that is the giant panda (it also saved money on colour printing)!…

Several small species of fish, including flying fish, Asian carp and salmon, are able to jump out of the water to escape predators or travel to spawning sites. But it’s quite surprising to learn that some of the largest fish in our oceans can do this too. Several species of shark are known to breach the water, and some are so fast that they can throw their entire body up into the air. There are lots of theories about why they do this, including as part of hunting techniques, to remove parasitic fish, for courtship or possibly even just for fun. Whatever the reason, a shark in mid-air is an incredible sight. Did you know? Another species of shark, the stingray, is also a projectile predator, in particular the mobula…

Grazers of the oceans Relax and ease into the slow-paced life in the shallows The manatee, often called the sea cow, is an odd looking animal. It is a marine mammal with a very large, round, grey-skinned body, a small head covered with sensitive bristles, tiny eyes, two small flippers and a large, flattened, paddlelike tail. There are three species worldwide, and all can be found swimming in shallow, warm coastal waters or in river and mangrove systems where life is slow and relaxed. At a top speed of around eight kilometres per hour (five miles per hour), manatees need to surface every few minutes to take a breath of air. Their top swimming speed can reach bursts of 24 kilometres per hour (15 miles per hour), and these animals…

Dugong A fellow member of the order Sirenia, this unusual creature is also a marine mammal. Its body shape very much resembles that of the manatee, but instead of a rounded tailfin the dugong has a fluked tail similar to that of a whale or dolphin. Elephant Elephants and manatees both evolved from a common ancestor that roamed the planet over 50 million years ago. The similarities that these giants of land and sea share include slow growth rates, tough grey skin and ‘fingernails’. Hyrax Amazingly, this small rodent-like animal (found living on rocky habitats throughout Africa) is the closest living relative of the elephant, as well as the manatee and dugong. It shares the same evolutionary ancestor as the other three species.…