Includes bibliographical references and index

There's no place like home -- What's new with zoos? -- How animals behave: a primer -- The world's most watchable animals. African jungles, plains, and waterways. Gorillas -- Lion -- African elephant -- Plains zebra -- Black rhinoceros -- Giraffe -- Ostrich -- Greater flamingo -- Nile crocodile -- Asian forests. Giant panda -- Peacock -- Komodo monitor -- Warm oceans. Bottlenose dolphins -- California sea lions -- North America. Gray wolf -- Bald eagle -- Sandhill crane -- The poles. Beluga whale -- Polar bear -- Adèlie penguin -- Zoo critique.

Humans have always pondered what makes us different from animals. After all, many species exhibit behaviors that resemble our own (or is it the other way around?). This informative volume covers 20 of the world's most well-known animals, including African elephants, flamingos, giant pandas, Nile crocodiles, and polar bears. Divided by geographical regions (African Jungles, Plains, and Waterways; Asian Forests; Warm Oceans; North America; and The Poles), the chapters cover some of the basic habits and behaviors of a particular animal, such as elimination, self-grooming, and sleeping. Social behaviors, from friendly to threatening, are discussed, as are sexual and parental interactions. Numerous sidebars showcase vital stats on each animal, quirky facts, and trivia. Each chapter ends with a list of behaviors for readers to look for at the zoo or in the wild. Plentiful introductory material highlights zoo conditions and habitat simulation and includes a lengthy overview of how animals behave in general.--