Believe it or not, leopards can run up to

64 kilometers per hour / 40 miles per hour!

Despite their speed, their main hunting tactic is to ambush prey by jumping from trees. Though they have an impressive ability to adapt to different environments, they still fall victim to habitat conversion and even the overcrowding of minibuses and jeeps from tourist groups, which can interrupt their hunts. We can help protect leopard populations by restoring land that has been degraded and is not being used for purposes that benefit human communities, like former farmland that now has unusable soil.

Let’s go see what other species we can find! 

These beautiful birds can only be found in Northern Australia. 

If the savannah land in Northern Australia suffers or is wiped out, the finches will face the same fate. 

Protecting savannahs and other ecosystems means protecting the unique species that are endemic to the region and cannot be found anywhere else in the world. And restoring degraded landscapes means we provide more space for species like the Gouldian finch to thrive.

Related to both horses and rhinoceroses, 

it is believed that these animals have hardly changed over tens of millions of years. Tapirs are nocturnal mammals who feed on leaves, fruit, twigs, and grass. They help maintain biodiversity in the Cerrado by dispersing the seeds of plants as they eat them, leaving them well-fertilized and providing food for other animals. 

Unfortunately, tapirs are endangered in the Cerrado region due to trophy hunting and land conversion for agriculture. Tapirs’ ecosystem roles and unique ancient history are irreplaceable—that's why we must protect them and restore degraded habitat so they can stick around even longer!

Look, I think I spot a wolf in the distance! 

Tusks are actually modified incisor teeth!

They help dig and scrape for food but can also be used for fighting. Sadly, the elephant’s tusk is also what puts it at risk of poaching. The decline in elephant populations is impacting the entire ecosystem: elephants maintain the health of the soil through their dung, they maintain the grassy plains by eating young tress and also help spread and germinate tree seeds across their long journeys. 

But we can join the many organizations, governments, and individuals working to reverse their population decline. As with the other species we’ve met, one way to do this is by restoring elephant habitat so that, as we work to reduce poaching, existing populations have space to live and thrive.

Short-beaked Echidnas are some of the only mammals who lay eggs. 

They also thrive in a variety of climates, which puts them at an impressive advantage in the face of human-induced climate change; however, what truly allows them to persist is legal protection in Australia.  

The short-beaked Echidna is the perfect example of how conservation efforts can draw attention to lawmakers who can make tangible change in the protection of animals and ecosystems. Without this law in place, echidnas would have much less protection and likely be in danger of extinction. 

The maned wolf sticks to

fruits and smaller mammals

for their diet. 

You might have also noticed their long legs, lifting them above the grass. These are what gives them the name of the “fox on stilts.” 

Like the lion to the Serengeti, the maned wolf is one of the Cerrado region’s apex predators, meaning it has no natural predators. However, human activity surrounding the region has made an impact on the ecosystem and put maned wolves in danger. Not only is land conversion and deforestation a harmful practice, but also the occurrence of retaliatory killings is an issue. Stopping poaching, slowing land conversion, and restoring degraded areas are critical to the wolf’s survival.

As you can see, the Eastern black rhinoceros is a massive animal.They typically weigh up to 

1.4 tonnes, or 3,000 pounds! 

Although they might look intimidating, they play a nurturing role in the ecosystem. Rhinos feed on the leaves from bushes and trees, helping to shape and maintain the savannah’s landscape. Local communities benefit from them as well through what we’re doing right now—sustainable ecotourism! 

Despite the benefits that they provide, poachers often illegally hunt them to sell their horns on the black market. Although they have made a significant comeback, their numbers dropped by 98% between 1960 and 1995. And as we’ve learned, a decrease in population doesn’t just affect the rhinos; it threatens the entire food chain. Restoring their habitat is one way we can help rhino populations recover from their devastating loss.

These little wallabies can jump up to a shocking

30 meters/10 feet. 

Although wallabies are primarily found in Northern Australia, they are dependent on the specific traits of the ecosystem that are shared by every savannah around the world. Sparsely populated trees and ample room for shrubs with access to sunlight are characteristics wallabies could not thrive without. As eaters of shrubs and grasses, they also help to manage the populations of these plants. 

Looks like there is a lizard up ahead. Should we pay her a visit? 

The cigana-do-Cerrado typically grows to be

2 to 2.5 meters / 6 to 8 feet.

While this shrub stands out for its physical beauty, it is also of great value to the many grazers of the savannah ecosystem. What’s more, the cigana-do-Cerrado is able to thrive thanks to the specific spacing of the trees in the savannah ecosystem that allow light to reach the ground. 

Human-induced climate change has the potential to reshape the landscape and, in turn, wipe out the cigana-do-Cerrado.  

The Serengeti holds the largest population of lions in Africa, with around

3,000 of them! 

These magnificent big cats hunt and eat gazelles, buffalo, zebras, and other mammals, so disturbances that hurt prey populations jeopardize lions as well. Lion populations across Africa are in decline as their habitat is reduced, which is another reason restoring savannahs is so important. Humans sometimes hunt lions for sport, and commercial safaris that do not promote sustainability and eco-friendliness have a bad habit of disturbing the wildlife. 

Eco-friendly tourism that acknowledges the fragile nature of the Serengeti’s lion populations can help everyone in the long run! 

Goannas use their tongue before prey ever reaches their mouth!

They’re impressive eaters, but food is also related to their scary reputation. When commercial tourist companies encourage guests to feed Goannas, the lizards can harm humans. 

Thankfully you’ve opted for an animal-friendly tour of the savannah! 

Sadly, there are only between

2,500 and 5,000 birds

remaining in the wild. The story of the hyacinth macaw decline is one that, like many others, is rooted in poaching.

The parrot species was almost poached into extinction due to illegal pet trade, and it was thanks to concentrated conservation efforts that turned traffickers into protectors and saved the species. It is stories like this from which we can learn that if a concentrated effort is put forth, change is possible. 

Acacias are native to Africa 

and have evolved to withstand this harsh ecosystem’s fires and droughts. Their sparse population allows light to reach the ground so shrubs and grasses can thrive. Acacias can emit ethylene gas as a distress signal, prompting browsing animals to move on; neighboring acacias will then pump tannins into their leaves to encourage further migration from the area.

Increased temperatures and rainfall due to climate change can cause more frequent fires or excessive tree growth, preventing grass and shrubs from thriving and, in turn, harming the animals who eat them. 

Speaking of animals, I see one ahead! What could it be? 

Eucalyptus trees are unique not only in their physical characteristics and abilities to thrive in dry climates, but also in their

medicinal benefits

to humans. Humans have long relied on eucalyptus to treat a variety of topical ailments like inflammation! 

As you can see, the health of savannahs is directly related to our own health. 

Giant Armadillos are nocturnal,

and do spend a decent amount of time underground. These creatures are known as “ecosystem engineers”, burrowing into the ground in search of both creatures to eat and places to sleep. When other animals see these burrows, they use them as refuge from potential predators and other threats. 

Although its actions protect dozens of other species, the Giant Armadillo faces danger every day. Different human activities such as hunting,  busy roads, agricultural pesticides, and fires pose a serious threat to the well-being of these animals. It’s important to protect them so the entire ecosystem remains balanced.