Where wild animals live and how they hibernate: fascinating facts for kids.

The planet Earth has bestowed life upon countless organisms. A world of animals has developed, and humans have emerged. Some animals have been domesticated by people for their own purposes, while others continue to live independently.

Who are wild animals? These are creatures that exist in a state of natural freedom within the wild, which is why they are referred to as wild, meaning not domesticated. The American National Park Service (NPS) notes that these animals provide for themselves in terms of food, water, and shelter within their environment and raise their offspring independently. This sets them apart from domesticated animals, which largely depend on humans.

The science of zoology studies all terrestrial fauna. This world comprises animals, fish, birds, insects, mollusks, and worms, which together form a diverse wild ecosystem. Scientists have already described 1.6 million species of animals, including 42,000 species of vertebrates and 1.3 million other species.

In our perception of wild animals, we often conjure images of four-legged terrestrial creatures that nurse their young with maternal milk and are classified as mammals. Typical representatives include bears, foxes, moose, hedgehogs, elephants, giraffes, and many other rarer animals.

Where do wild animals live? They inhabit every corner of the Earth: on the surface, in the soil, and in surface waters. Mammals, which we label as wild animals, thrive in natural freedom in forests, meadows, mountains, and deserts. Even rare animals kept in zoos remain wild.

The research site Faunalytics states that the planet is home to 100 billion terrestrial mammals, including wild, domesticated, and humans as part of the living nature. Their population is categorized as follows:

The wild animals we know reside in various natural conditions:

All animals have adapted to survive in their natural environments. They find food and shelter in each habitat.

The fauna of each continent is unique. Even if local wild animals belong to the same species, they can significantly differ from their relatives.

A particularly distinctive world has developed in Australia, which has existed in isolation for a long time. Here, many animals are found nowhere else and are called endemics. The most notable among them are:

In Europe, the majority of wild animals are forest dwellers. However, only here can you find noble deer, bison, Iberian lynxes, and wolverines. The well-known large African animals inhabit the savanna, including African elephants, lions, hippos, rhinos, giraffes, antelopes, and gorillas.

Asia is home to unique Asian species of elephants, lions, and tigers. There are Indian and Javanese rhinos, Malayan tapirs, wild Asian buffalo, and rare red pandas. North and South America boast a rich variety of unique wild animals, including coyotes, the American corsac (dwarf fox), skunks, red wolves, and gray foxes. In the northern latitudes, marine mammals like sea otters, river otters, and seals reside.

The animal information bulletin Active Wild emphasizes that all organisms require nutrients to obtain energy and materials for building new cells (proteins, fats, carbohydrates, and vitamins).

In nature, there are organisms that produce food for themselves. These are plants and algae (autotrophs). Others feed on other organisms (heterotrophs). All animals are heterotrophs. Different species have their own sources of energy and nutrients, which is why they are divided into these broad groups:

All groups depend on autotrophs (plants). Food chains are established, where larger wild animals consume smaller ones, while smaller animals primarily feed on plants. These chains are capped by apex predators, which have no natural enemies in the wild (such as tigers, lions, and wolves).

How do wild animals survive the winter? Nature websites Reconnect with Nature and Science made Simple highlight the most well-known strategies animals use to endure winter:

Many birds and fish avoid the cold altogether by migrating to warmer regions. Some inhabitants of northern latitudes remain active in winter. They endure the cold thanks to new warm fur and pre-stored subcutaneous fat that serves as an energy source and protection against the cold.

Squirrels, beavers, mice, and chipmunks make significant food stores for winter. To escape the cold, they hide in burrows and other shelters, and during severe frosts, squirrels and mice may huddle together to conserve warmth.

Many wild animals find themselves without food sources in winter. To survive the cold and hungry season, they enter hibernation, during which they minimize heat and energy loss. The animal websites The Dodo and Tree Hugger list the most notable hibernators: bears, hedgehogs, raccoons, groundhogs, and skunks.

Wild animals are increasingly struggling to survive in modern conditions. To protect them, special organizations have been established, and many countries are taking steps to conserve rare animals and safeguard their habitats.