Game of Zoos: A Wild Day at the Zoo Quiz

Answer: apes peas

Apes are a branch of Old World tailless primates, closely related to humans. While gorillas are mostly vegetarian, peas might not be very high on their list of priorities in terms of food, as they are not exactly common in their natural habitat. In botanical terms, pea pods are fruits, since they develop from a flower; the small green rounds we normally eat as vegetables are the seeds.

Answer: parrot raptor

Parrots are birds that mostly live in tropical regions, and come in a variety of sizes. Though a few species occasionally eat meat, they certainly do not qualify as birds of prey - a definition that includes eagles, hawks, falcons and vultures. Parrots are popular pets, though they require a lot of care and attention; they are generally long-lived, and many of them can imitate human speech.

Answer: gnus guns

Though I am not sure what interest gnus (or any other animals for that matter) might have in guns, remember that this is a completely wacky scenario! The name "wildebeest" comes from Afrikaans, and means "wild beast" or "wild cattle". Found mostly in eastern and southern Africa, they are large antelopes that live in herds, and often group with other herbivores (such as zebras) as a strategy against predators. Maybe firearms would be more effective?

Answer: goat toga

Caprids include domestic and wild goats. Many zoos have various species of wild goats - often noted for their large, showy horns - on display, while domestic goats are often found in petting zoos. The toga was the outer garment worn by Roman male citizens on formal occasions; it was generally made of wool, though probably not of mohair or cashmere wool - which both come from goats. Toga parties, quite popular in US colleges (as anyone familiar with the movie "Animal House" will know), generally entail wearing a bedsheet.

Answer: swine wines

The word "swine" comes from the Latin "sus" (pig) and "suinus" (relative to pigs). All pigs, domestic and wild, belong to the family Suidae, and are native to the Old World (Africa and Eurasia). Wild swine, such as warthogs, babirusa and bushpigs, are often displayed in zoos.

They are omnivores, but I somehow think it would not be a good idea to give them wine - or any other kind of alcohol - to drink.

Answer: leopard paroled

Though zoos may look like prisons, especially in modern times they have proved invaluable for the conservation of many animal species otherwise doomed to extinction. However, it is not common for zoo animals to be released, on parole or otherwise. Leopards, native to both Africa and Asia, are classified as Vulnerable because they are often hunted illegally - both for their beautiful fur and for body parts used in traditional medicine.

Answer: wolf fowl

Though I am sure wolves would not turn up their noses at chickens and other kinds of fowl, they generally hunt larger prey - such as sheep or cattle. Domestic dogs are closely related to wolves, and the two species can interbreed. On the other hand, fowl belong to two large groups of birds, the landfowl or gamefowl (chickens, turkey, peacocks, pheasants) and the waterfowl (ducks and geese).

Answer: bear bare

Bears have a shaggy coat of long guard hairs that helps them to keep their body heat during the winter, when the animals go into hibernation. This protective coat is shed in the spring, leaving a shorter summer coat - though, in normal circumstances, bears will hardly ever look completely naked. Unlike the hairs of most other mammals, bear hairs are generally a single colour from root to tip.

Answer: caiman maniac

Caimans are large crocodilians closely related to alligators. They live in Central and South America; the largest member of the family, the black caiman, is found all around the Amazon basin, where it is greatly feared for its aggressive nature. However, as in the past the species was hunted nearly to extinction for leather and meat, maybe caimans should be afraid of humans rather than the other way round!

Answer: owl low

As the symbol of the Greek goddess Athena, owls are often associated with wisdom. They are found on all continents except Antarctica, and come in a wide range of sizes. Though most owls are nocturnal, and adapted for hunting at night, some species are active during the day. Unlike other birds, they are able to fly without making a sound, though this ability is not associated with feelings of depression. We cannot blame the owl for feeling low, though, with all the shenanigans other animals seem to be engaged in!