This is the largest living land animal weighing up to 5 tonnes (ten big cows) at maturity and above 10 feet high comparatively, the biggest elephant is about the weight of the tongue of the Bluck Whale that is 130 tonnes. The head is large with very large ears used mainly for cooling. The eyes are small and the nose has been modified and elongated into a think or proboscis used for breathing, drinking, smiling, food gathering and defense. An Elephant trunk has 60,000 muscles and is so sensitive that it can pick up small objects as small as buttons. Scent and hearing very good and sight moderate though better at dusk than full daylight. Usually inhabit open Savannah areas in Nigeria while the forest species Laxodonta a Cydotis is found in the Southern part of the country. Feeds on vegetation. Gestation period is 22 months (630 - 660 days). They become sexually mature between 8 - 12 years. Gives birth to one young, and can live up to 60 - 70 years. In the zoo, they were capture straying at Karu and brought to Jos in 1988.

This is a large carnivorous (meat eating) mammal with powerful muscles, short ears, long tail while length, height, colour vary according to habitat. Males are usually manned and larger than females. Inhabit open country from semi-deserts to dry and moist Savannah. Has good sense of sight and scent.

Gestation period is within 2 -113 days. Females are on heat every 3 months for 4 - 8 days. Gives birth to up to four cubs with the strength gradient from the first to the last and are weaned after six months. Sexually mature at 18 months and fully-grown at 5-6 years. Longevity up to I 5 years in the wild but, can reach 30 years under good captive management.

In the zoo, they were brought under and animal exchange programme in 1994 from Audu Bako Zoo, Kano and called Shonekan and Mariam.

Leopards are usually secretive, nocturnal, and solitary and only pair during breading season. It is a carnivore (meat eating). Females come to heat after 20 - 50 days which last for 6 - 7 days. Gestation period of 90 - 120 days and gives birth to I - 4 cubs. Sexually mature at 2 1/2- 3 years and can live up to 21 years in captivity.

In the zoo, female was born in there but male brought under an animal exchange programme with the University of lbadan, Zoo in 1989.

This is a giant antelope the size of a Cow with Spiral horns in both sexes, long dewlap in males with a rufous colour and distinct small white vertical stripes. Usually inhabits dry Sahel to derived Savannah regions south of the Sahara. Mainly feed on vegetation (herbivorous) by browsing on young shoots of shrubs and found in large herds.

Females are sexually mature after 2 years and gestation period is 8 - 9 months and gives birth to only one young rarely two. It was introduced to Zoo from Kyarimi Park Maiduguri in 1979 and has been breeding well.

An animal with the closest resemblance and intelligence to the human being but probably much stronger. Used to be distributed in the tropical forests from Senegal to Zaire but now greatly threatened and restricted to the high forests of Mambilia nets and Calabar in Nigeria. Usually found in family groups and sleeps in nests on trees. Sight, scent and hearing very well. Gestation period is 201 - 266 days and gives birth to 1 young. Mature at 8 - 9 years and can live up to 50 years in captivity. In the zoo, Charlie was purchased from an animal vendor from Baissa, Taraba State, Nigeria, while Moda was introduced in 1979 from the Jos Zoo. Very entertaining animal in the zoo.

Is a horse like animal with distinct vertical black and white stripes and a tasseled tail reaching below hocks. Fights by biting and kicking

Traditionally found in East and South Africa. Feeds on grasses and found in great herds. Mating last only a few seconds and a gestation period of about 1 year giving birth to only one young. Can live up to 40 years. In the zoo, the animal was imported from East Africa through Europe.

Is the largest bird on earth.. They are flightless, adult males have black and white plumage while females and unmature birds are grayish brown. Legs are long with only two toes with which it can run up to 60 miles per hour at short distances. Inhabit dry open country and can still be found around the Lake Chad/Maiduguri area in Nigeria and many parts of Niger Republic.