Bring on the Big Cats! No tame tabbies, these four big predators, the lion, leopard, jaguar, and tiger, are known for their powerful roars. Kids can prowl through the lion's to-do list and the tiger's steak dinner to learn all about the big 4, then move beyond the big cats to see how they stock up against the pretty kitties. Elizabeth Carney shares real-life wildlife tips, so kids can become big eat experts themselves.
National Geographic supports K-12 educators with ELA Common Core Resources. Visit www.natgeoed.org/commoncore for more information.
ALONE ON THE PROWL
Most cats prefer the single life. Usually, big cats only tolerate company in order to mate or to raise their cubs. Big cats communicate with scent marks or roars to let their neighbors know, “This is my space. Keep out!”
But there’s one big exception: lions. Lions are the only cats that live in social groups, called prides. Within a pride, nearly every female is related. Moms, sisters, aunts, and cousins all work together to raise cubs and hunt for enough food to support the pride. A dominant male or two will guard the pride’s territory. He also babysits the cubs while their mothers are off hunting.
Young males are forced to leave the pride once they are old enough to hunt for themselves. These lions sometimes form small, all-boy gangs, called bachelor groups. The youngsters stay together until they’re big enough to challenge a dominant male for control of a pride.
Elizabeth Carney is a writer and editor based in Brooklyn, New York. She specializes in nonfiction children's books and science, math, and STEM-related magazines. Her author credits include Everything Big Cats; Everything Dolphins; Great Migrations: Whales, Wildebeests, Butterflies, Elephants, and Other Amazing Animals on the Move; and several titles in the National Geographic Face to Face and Readers series.
Bring on the Big Cats! No tame tabbies, these four big predators, the lion, leopard, jaguar, and tiger, are known for their powerful roars. Kids can prowl through the lion's to-do list and the tiger's steak dinner to learn all about the big 4, then move beyond the big cats to see how they stock up against the pretty kitties. Elizabeth Carney shares real-life wildlife tips, so kids can become big eat experts themselves.
National Geographic supports K-12 educators with ELA Common Core Resources. Visit www.natgeoed.org/commoncore for more information.
Excerpt
ALONE ON THE PROWL
Most cats prefer the single life. Usually, big cats only tolerate company in order to mate or to raise their cubs. Big cats communicate with scent marks or roars to let their neighbors know, “This is my space. Keep out!”
But there’s one big exception: lions. Lions are the only cats that live in social groups, called prides. Within a pride, nearly every female is related. Moms, sisters, aunts, and cousins all work together to raise cubs and hunt for enough food to support the pride. A dominant male or two will guard the pride’s territory. He also babysits the cubs while their mothers are off hunting.
Young males are forced to leave the pride once they are old enough to hunt for themselves. These lions sometimes form small, all-boy gangs, called bachelor groups. The youngsters stay together until they’re big enough to challenge a dominant male for control of a pride.
Elizabeth Carney is a writer and editor based in Brooklyn, New York. She specializes in nonfiction children's books and science, math, and STEM-related magazines. Her author credits include Everything Big Cats; Everything Dolphins; Great Migrations: Whales, Wildebeests, Butterflies, Elephants, and Other Amazing Animals on the Move; and several titles in the National Geographic Face to Face and Readers series.
