An elephant’s
permanent tusks can
be seen from the age of
two to three years.fun factsWILDTHINGS10 LONG-LIVING
ANIMALS
- African elephant
LIFE EXPECTANCY: 60-70 years
NATURAL PREDATOR: Lions (occasionally)
PLACE OF ORIGIN: Africa
Not only do elephants live long, they also have a very good memory. They can remember
incidents and they can identify humans they have interacted with before. Although lions
are the elephant’s natural predator, humans hunting for ivory are their biggest enemies.
9. Tuatara
LIFE EXPECTANCY: 60-100 years
NATURAL PREDATOR: Large birds of prey
PLACE OF ORIGIN: New Zealand
Except for two of the tuatara species, the other
tuatara family members went extinct about 60
million years ago. The tuatara is not a lizard, but
the only survivor of the order Rhynchocephalia
who roamed the earth 200 million years ago. - Koi fish
LIFE EXPECTANCY: Up to 100 years
NATURAL PREDATOR: Cats and other carnivores
PLACE OF ORIGIN: Japan
Their history is as colourful as the variations of
colour that they are available in. Around 200BC
the Chinese took black carp, or Magoi, into Japan.
The Japanese then bred the koi according to the naturally
occurring mutation, resulting in the lovely colours we see today.
Counting down
- Macaw parrot
LIFE EXPECTANCY: 70-80 YEARS
NATURAL PREDATOR: Large cats, eagles and hawks
PLACE OF ORIGIN: Central and Southern America
There are about 20 different species of macaw parrots
and some of these birds are critically endangered.
Originally from rainforests, these big birds are well sought
after as pets, as they are both beautiful and intelligent.
6. Greenland shark
LIFE EXPECTANCY: Over 100 years
NATURAL PREDATOR: None, he is an
apex predator
PLACE OF ORIGIN: Arctic and North Atlantic
This one tonne fish eats just about anything that
crosses his path in the icy waters. Whether dead
or alive, the Greenland shark might eat it. At
6.4m, he has a huge appetite. His defence is that
his flesh is poisonous to other living beings.