Carnivores

What is the fastest land animal, and how fast are they? Cheetahs are the fastest animal on land. They can reach speeds up to 70 mph in short bursts only.

What is the largest carnivore in world? This is a close call between the Polar Bear and the Brown Bear of Alaska, and depends on how you define 'largest'. A large male Polar Bear weighs 900-1500 lbs, while the Brown weighs 500-900 lbs. However, the heaviest Brown bear ever recorded weighed in at 2500 lbs, while the record for a Polar is 2210 lbs. Polar bears are 8-9 ft long, and the Brown is 7-10 ft.

What is the smallest carnivore in world? The honor here goes to the Least Weasel (Mustela nivalis) of North America and northern Asia. They weigh about 1.4 ounces (45 grams), and are about 8" (20 cm) long with a 1.3" (3.5 cm) tail. 

Why do bears hibernate? Bears in northern temperate climates hibernate when winter temperatures freeze the succulent vegetation they eat. Female bears also hibernate to give birth to cubs in the den. Male polar bears do not hibernate, as they don't rely on vegetation. Bears in zoos don't need to hibernate as they receive a steady supply of food, and have shelter provided.

Is it true polar bears have webbed feet? Yes polar bears have toes joined over half their length by webbing to aid in their aquatic lifestyle.

How much food does a giant panda eat each day? Pandas need to eat about 33 pounds of leaves and stems each day to meet their energy requirements. They feed 16-24 hours per day, with breaks for short naps.

How long do bears live? Longevity for bears in the wild is 20-32 years, depending a bit on the species.

How fast can grizzly bears run? In a charge, grizzlies can reach speeds of 30 mph, or 50 km/hr

Why aren't black panthers listed in the Cat Family? Black panthers are not a separate species. Jaguars, leopards and many small cat species can produce black, or melanistic, kittens in the same litter with spotted ones. The dark color is the result of a recessive gene, and if you look closely you can still see brown spots on the black coat.

Why don't polar bears ears freeze? Their short, heavily furred ears contain a large network of blood vessels, which circulates the blood throughout the ear to keep them warm.

How big is a wolf's stomach? Their stomachs can stretch to hold up to 20 pounds, or 9 kg of food at one sitting.

How big is a newborn grizzly? About the size of a small kitten, about 500 grams.

How fast can polar bears swim? They've been clocked swimming up to 10 mph.