Who's Who: Joburg Zoo Trivia Quiz

Answer: Secretes hipposudoric acid

The Joburg Zoo has a successful captive-bred pygmy hippo breeding project; Phitlhelelo, named in a contest held by the zoo, is a second generation pygmy hippo born as the result of the zoo's program and lives in a bachelor enclosure next to his grandparents.

His name means "Achieved" in Setswana. One of his keepers, Alice, has said that he likes to eat different kinds of vegetables and loves to have his back scratched! Pygmy hippos are about half the size of a hippopotamus; like their larger relative they secrete hipposudoric acid, which is believed to provide sunscreen for their sensitive skin. Because their skin quickly dries out and then cracks, they spend much of their time in the water.

Answer: Shares 98.8% DNA with humans

Charles was born at the Joburg Zoo and lives in a troop that includes his siblings and parents, as well as Lilly, a rescue chimp. The youngest member of the troop, Charles is also said to be the most active. Having a great strength in comparison to its size, it has been estimated that a chimp is seven times stronger than humans! I can remember seeing Cinder at the St. Louis Zoo, a female chimp who suffered from "alopecia universalis" - she had no hair at all! It was amazing to see how muscular chimps are under their hair! Modern scientists believe that chimpanzees are the closest living relative to humans, sharing 98.8% of the same DNA. Percentages do vary slightly according from site to site.

Answer: Called a silverback

Makoko is the only western lowland gorilla at the Joburg Zoo at the present time. While that might seem like a sad existence for him, it is typical that male gorillas of his species live solitary lives. As a male western lowland gorillas ages, the color of the hair on his back and rump turns gray and also thins, earning him the name "silverback".

The western lowland gorilla is currently on the Top 5 Endangered List on the Joburg Zoo website. The other animals on the list are the scimitar oryx, wattled crane, black and white ruffed lemur, and white rhino. Western lowland gorillas, the largest living ape species, are killed in the wild for their meat; some view having the meat as a status symbol.

Answer: Longest birth interval for mammals

Although not discussed on the zoo's website, Duma, who came to live at the Joburg Zoo in 1998, died of a heart attack in 2015. According to the zoo website, he was the only Sumatran Orangutan at the zoo. An article found on "travel.iafrica.com" revealed that Duma was being examined at the time of his death because he hadn't been eating. He had been placed under general anesthetic for the checkup.

Sumatran orangutans are a very vulnerable species in the wild due to habitat loss, however, what makes their situation even more critical is that they have a long inter-birth interval. In other words, they only breed about every eight years.

Answer: Gray with pointed upper lip

Phila was brought to the Joburg Zoo after being shot nine times by poachers who had killed her mother. Both Phila and the white rhinos at the zoo are actually gray in color. Phila has a pointed upper lip, while the white rhinos, Zimbi and Peter, have a squared lip.

This difference is due to the different types of food that are preferred. While black rhinos enjoy plucking foliage from bushes and trees, white rhinos are mostly grass eaters.

Answer: Two fused fingers on each hand

Tristan lives with his mother, Glastenberry, at the Joburg Zoo. Siamang gibbons, also known as greater gibbons, are called "syndactylus", which comes from Greek for "united" and "two fingers". Two fingers on each hand are joined by a membrane or webbing.

Their fingers are used as a hook, and they have long arms which enable them to swing from trees. Siamang gibbons are also considered to be the noisiest of the species: Tristan and Glastenberry are said to begin every morning at the Joburg Zoo by singing.

Their vocals can be heard up to 2 km away!

Answer: White coat and mane

Lions are one of the Big Five animals at the Joburg Zoo. The list, which also includes leopards, rhinos, elephants, and water buffalo, was made by hunters who believed these were the five most difficult and dangerous animals to hunt on foot.

The Joburg Zoo is home to some white lions, who have a rare genetic mutation. They are not albinos; the gene that causes the mutation, however, comes from the same gene that causes albinism. In early 2017, an article was written in "The Citizen", which expressed concern when two visitors to the zoo noticed that the white lion named Letaba seemed to be underfed. The article explained that sometimes when white lions are bred to other white lions more genetic defects become apparent. Letaba suffers from a spinal problem that is closely studied by the zoo. In addition, he eats about 1.5 times more food that other male lions his same age and is given daily joint supplements.

Answer: Largest ears

Lammie lives at the Joburg Zoo with her mate, Kinkel, in an area that has been made to look like their natural habitat as much as possible. They made the zoo's list of Top 5 Record Holders with their large ears, which help to keep them cool in the hot sun.

When the ears are flapped the heat can be released. In addition, some scientists believe that the large ears are also used to help an elephant hear better; they can help move sounds to their inner ear. It is also said that the ears are used as a threatening mechanism by African elephants.

When they are angry, they spread them out. This makes them look even larger, and creates a threatening appearance.

Answer: Rosettes on coat

Forest, an African leopard, came to live at the Joburg Zoo when he was fifteen months old and lives there in an area in Baboon End. His arrival allowed the zoo to boast that all of the Big Five animals could be viewed there. Leopards do have spots, but they are arranged in a pattern, which is called a rosette. Rosettes aid in the camouflaging of the leopard while hunting or being hunted; as apex predators in the animal kingdom, leopards do have to worry about being hunted by humans! King cheetahs, ocelots, and jaguars also have rosettes.

Answer: Tallest mammal

Thato, named as the result of a contest, was born at the Joburg Zoo in 2011; his name means "will" in Sesotho. The tallest mammal on earth, male giraffes can grow to be as tall as 18 feet! Thato was probably around six feet tall when he was born. Why are giraffes so tall? It has been estimated that about half of a giraffe's height is its neck.

Although other theories exist between scientists, many believe that such a long neck enables the giraffe to reach the acacia leaves in trees that are among their favorite foods.