The March 2003 questions at a glance:
• How long do elephants carry babies? How much do they weigh?
• Can you tell me a little something about cougars?
• Can people visit The Wilds in Ohio? How do I find more information?
• How do you do all these films and still have time to work in the zoo?
• What is Kathaleen's favorite animal and her favorite adventure?
• Do you have any information on bobcats?
• Are wallaroos and okapis real?
• What is your favorite type of lizard?
• What can you tell me about beavers?
• Do you know about emperor penguins?

Susan, age 41-60, asks:
Hi Jack,
I would like to know how long an elephant carries her baby and how much does it weigh at birth. Thank you Jack.
From, Susan

Jack says:
Dear Susan,
The African elephant, which is the one with the big ears, has the longest gestation period of any mammal. The African elephant can carry her baby for as long as 18-22 months before it is born! Elephants rarely have twins, which is probably good news for expectant elephant mothers. A baby elephant can weigh between 165-255 pounds! On average, a female elephant who lives to be 60-70 years old will give birth to about 7 offspring throughout her life. Thanks for your question.
-- Jungle Jack

Connor, under 10 years old, asks:
Dear Jungle Jack,
Can you tell me a little something about cougars?
Thanks, Connor

Jack says:
Dear Connor,
The cougar is also known as the puma, mountain lion and American lion. It probably has so many different names because it has the most extensive range of any land mammal in the western hemisphere. Cougars can be found in Canada, North America, Mexico, Central and South America, and can live in habitats up to 14,500 feet. Despite the tremendous strength and large size of a cougar, they are generally shy and retiring. Their favorite food is deer, but they will also eat other small mammals and birds. I hope this helps to answer some of your questions about cougars.
-- Jungle Jack

Mike, age 41-60, asks:
Dear Jack,
I saw your show about The Wilds in Ohio. Can regular people go and tour the area? What is the web site for The Wilds so I can get more info? I love your show.
Thanks, Mike

Jack says:
Dear Mike,
The Wilds in Ohio is open to the public. The website is www.thewilds.org and the telephone number is 740-638-2285. It is a remarkable place for wildlife and I thoroughly enjoy my visits whenever I go there. I hope you can make a trip soon to see it for yourself. Thanks for watching Jack Hanna's Animal Adventures. We are so glad you enjoy the show.
-- Jungle Jack

Tyler, age 10-15, asks:
Dear Jack,
How do you do all these films and still have enough time to work in the ZOO?
Your friend, Tyler Woodward

Jack says:
Dear Tyler,
That's a very good question! I love my work and I have always thrived with a busy schedule. I have been working with animals for about 40 years and I have been filming with animals for about 22 years. My first passion is for the wildlife and the help I can provide at the Columbus Zoo as Director Emeritus. Luckily my filming schedule allows me to spend a few weeks each month working at my office at the zoo in Columbus, Ohio. I usually work 7 days a week. This is combined with filming for Jack Hanna's Animal Adventures, giving lectures, appearing on television shows, working at the zoo and donating time to charity. I also try to see my 4 grandchildren and my 3 daughters when I can. I take some time off in the summer to spend several weeks in Montana. When I am in Montana my favorite thing to do is to hike with my two dogs in the mountains. I am travelling to Africa in April to film for a few weeks, but then I will be back at my office in Columbus, Ohio for most of May. Thanks for your question.
-- Jungle Jack

Alicia, under 10 years old, asks:
Dear Jack,
What is Kathaleen's favorite animal and her favorite adventure?
From, Alicia

Jack says:
Dear Alicia,
Kathaleen's favorite animal is the rhino. She particularly likes the black rhino from Africa, as she used to be involved in raising funds to protect them. She worked for a charity called Friends of Conservation and she also raised money to support wildlife education programs in Kenya. Whenever we see a rhino while we are filming in Africa, Kathaleen makes me stop the Land Rover so she can watch them for as long as possible. It is frustrating and sad that the rhino is endangered because people kill it for its wonderful horn, but luckily many charities are working hard to conserve rhinos throughout the world. Kathaleen has many favorite adventures, but I think one that would be high on her list would probably be the time she spent with me in the Galapagos Islands off the coast of Ecuador. Kathaleen was mesmerized by the wonderful wildlife of the Galapagos Islands, and I think her favorite adventure there was swimming with sea turtles and watching marine iguanas on the lava rocks. The iguanas are very comical to watch as they sun themselves and sneeze up salt water out of the nostrils. We had to pull Kathaleen away from the iguanas, as I think she would have wanted to watch them all night!
-- Jungle Jack

Jamie, age 10-15, asks:
Dear Jungle Jack,
Do you have any information on Bobcats? I would really like to know.
Thank you for your help.
Sincerely, Jamie

Jack says:
The bobcat is one of five species within the lynx genus and it is also the smallest. It is only about twice the size of a domestic cat. Bobcats have short fur and a short stubby tail. They are usually solitary animals and spend most of their time on the ground, however, they are able to climb trees in order to escape from predators and have even been known to swim across wide rivers. They like to live in forests from as far north as Canada all the way down to central Mexico. Rabbits and hares are the bobcat's favorite meal, but they will also eat rodents, birds, snakes and deer. Hope that helps.
-- Jungle Jack

Serah, under 10 years old, asks:
Dear Jack,
Are Wallaroos and Okapis real?
Serah

Jack says:
Dear Serah,
Yes, wallaroos and okapis are real animals. I know their names sound funny, and the okapi actually looks rather bizarre, but they are both mammals which still exist in the wild. The wallaroo is considered a marsupial because it keeps its young in a pouch. It is called a wallaroo because it is half way between the size of a WALLaby and a kangAROO. They are distinguished from other members of the kangaroo family by their black hairless snout. Wallaroos are born about the size of a peanut and can stay in their mother's pouch for up to a year. Luckily they are currently not endangered. Okapis are a crazy-looking animal and are often referred to as forest giraffe. Many scientists used to think that the okapi was related to the zebra because of its stripes, but it is actually part of the same family as the giraffe. They weigh about 500 pounds and like to eat leaves and fruit. Like the giraffe, the okapi has a very long black tongue. The tongue is so long that it can be used to clean the okapi's eyes and eyelids! They were only discovered in 1901 by a British explorer and today their only natural habitat is the rainforests of Zaire. Thanks for your question.
-- Jungle Jack

Jay, age 41-60, asks:
Jack,
What is your favorite type of lizard?
Jay

Jack says:
Dear Jay,
All lizards are fascinating animals and it is difficult to pick just one. In the wild, the lizard I enjoy watching the most is the marine iguana. I filmed these in the Galapagos Islands and they were amazing. Kathaleen and I even got a chance to swim with them, but it was difficult to keep up! They are the only truly marine lizards in the world and they are excellent swimmers. They hold their legs against their bodies and use their long flat tails to propel them swiftly through the water. They can even dive down to a depth of 30 feet in order to feed on algae. The males have large raised scales on the top of their heads and they use these when fighting each other. They often get into exciting battles over territory. Thanks for your question.
-- Jungle Jack

Mounir Jr, under 10 years old, asks:
Dear Jack,
I would like to know everything you know and can tell me about the beaver because I have a project for school.
Thanks, Mounir Jr

Jack says:
Dear Mounir Jr,
Beavers are excellent builders and use their large teeth to bring down trees for food and for building dams. They build dams in order to create ponds, which is where they build their lodges. Beavers enter the living chamber in their lodges through an underwater tunnel. The American beaver is closely related to the European beaver. American beavers can be found from Alaska to Mexico and have even been introduced in Argentina. The females have one litter a year and usually give birth to no more than 8 kits (young beavers). Beavers are herbivores and like to eat tender bark, ferns, grasses and other plant material. They store their food for the winter months and may grow as big as 4 feet and weigh as much as 60 pounds. Good luck on your school project!
-- Jungle Jack

Madelin, under 10 years old, asks:
Dear Jack,
Do you know about emperor penguins?
Thanks, Madelin

Jack says:
Dear Madelin,
Emperor penguins are found in Antarctica and they are the world's largest penguins. They can be as tall as 42 inches and weigh as much as 84 pounds. They can dive deeper than any other bird and have been known to swim down to 870 feet in search of food. They breed on the sea-ice in the most extreme conditions of any other bird. After the female lays her egg, the male will incubate it by carrying it between his feet. He incubates the egg for about 65 days and keeps it warm by covering it with a fold of skin on his abdomen. The male emperor penguin will usually lose about 45% of his bodyweight before the female returns from feeding. Emperors are beautiful birds and I love getting a chance to watch them whenever I can.
-- Jungle Jack