Book · Yaman's Zoo
Animal Among Animals
An illustrated animal book, from the savanna to the poles, from the ocean to Anatolia
Told by Yaman, animal scientist
7 chapters · 28 animals · 45 pages
Swipe or use the arrow keys to turn the page.
Before we begin
Hello! I'm Yaman. I love animals, and I have a notebook where I write down every animal I meet.
In this book I'll share my notebook with you. Together we'll visit hot savannas, icy poles, deep blue oceans and the mountains of Türkiye.
What's the best way to get to know an animal? Try being one for a little while! Every page has a "Try it!" box: roar like a lion, stand on one leg like a flamingo. Let's be animals among animals!
If you're ready, turn the page. Our journey begins! 🐾
1. A morning on the savanna
The sun is rising and I'm on the African savanna. Golden grass stretches everywhere, with a tree here and there.
The savanna is home to the biggest herds of large animals on Earth. I open my notebook — who will I see first?
1. A morning on the savanna
Lion
In the shade of a tree, a pride of lions is dozing. Lions are the only cats that live in groups.
The females do most of the hunting. Lions can rest for up to 20 hours a day — but when a lion roars, you can hear it 8 kilometres away!
- Weight
- 120–250 kg
- Shoulder height
- 1.2 m
- Speed
- 80 km/h
- IUCN
- Vulnerable
1. A morning on the savanna
African elephant
I can feel the ground gently shaking: a herd of elephants is coming! The African elephant is the largest animal on land.
Its trunk has more than 40,000 muscles — it can pick up a peanut or push over a tree. The herd is led by the oldest, wisest female.
- Weight
- 3–6 tonnes
- Shoulder height
- 3.2 m
- Speed
- 40 km/h
- IUCN
- Endangered
1. A morning on the savanna
Giraffe
I look up, and up, and up… and meet the eyes of a giraffe! It is the tallest animal in the world, reaching 5 metres.
Here's something amazing: a giraffe's long neck has only 7 bones, just like ours. And its tongue is 45 centimetres long — and purple!
- Weight
- 800–1,200 kg
- Height
- 5 m
- Speed
- 60 km/h
- IUCN
- Vulnerable
1. A morning on the savanna
Zebra
Next to the giraffes, a herd of zebras is grazing. Zebras are close relatives of horses.
Every zebra's stripes are different, just like our fingerprints. Scientists think the stripes confuse biting flies.
- Weight
- 175–385 kg
- Shoulder height
- 1.3 m
- Speed
- 65 km/h
- IUCN
- Near threatened
1. A morning on the savanna
Cheetah
Suddenly a golden flash shoots past me: a cheetah! It is the fastest animal on land and can run up to 120 kilometres an hour.
It goes from 0 to 100 km/h in about three seconds. The black lines under its eyes cut down the glare of the sun.
- Weight
- 21–72 kg
- Shoulder height
- 80 cm
- Speed
- 120 km/h
- IUCN
- Vulnerable
1. A morning on the savanna
Do you remember?
Which savanna animal is the only cat that lives in groups?
Show the answer
Lion. Lions live in prides; cheetahs usually live alone.
2. In the rainforest
Now I'm in a warm, wet forest where it rains almost every day. The trees are so thick I can hardly see the sky.
More than half of all kinds of animals and plants live in rainforests. I listen closely — there are sounds everywhere!
2. In the rainforest
Orangutan
High in the branches, someone with orange fur is watching me: an orangutan! Its name means "person of the forest" in Malay.
Every night, orangutans build a fresh nest of branches. When it rains, they use big leaves as umbrellas.
- Weight
- 30–90 kg
- Height
- 1.4 m
- IUCN
- Critically endangered
2. In the rainforest
Toco toucan
I spot a huge, colourful beak: it's a toucan! Its beak looks heavy, but inside it's spongy and very light.
Toucans eat fruit and spread the seeds around the forest, helping new trees grow. Toucans are the forest's gardeners!
- Weight
- 500–860 g
- Length
- 60 cm
- IUCN
- Least concern
2. In the rainforest
Red-eyed tree frog
Under a leaf, a tiny bright green frog is hiding. Suddenly it flashes its big red eyes!
The red-eyed tree frog uses this trick to startle predators — then hop, it jumps away. Sticky pads on its toes let it hang upside down from a leaf.
- Weight
- 6–15 g
- Length
- 6 cm
- IUCN
- Least concern
2. In the rainforest
Jaguar
By the river, a strong spotted cat is swimming: a jaguar! It is the biggest cat in the Americas.
Unlike most cats, it loves water. Its rosettes have little spots inside — that's how you tell a jaguar from a leopard.
- Weight
- 56–96 kg
- Shoulder height
- 70 cm
- Speed
- 80 km/h
- IUCN
- Near threatened
2. In the rainforest
Do you remember?
Which animal is the rainforest's "gardener"?
Show the answer
Toucan. The toucan spreads the seeds of the fruit it eats.
3. In the land of ice
Brrr! I've put on my thickest coat, because I'm at the poles. Ice and snow everywhere. Here, night or day can last for months!
Polar animals keep warm with thick fur, fat and dense feathers. Let's meet them.
3. In the land of ice
Polar bear
In the distance, a snow-white giant is walking: a polar bear! It is the largest meat-eater on land.
Its fur looks white, but each hair is actually see-through, and its skin is black. Polar bears hunt seals on the sea ice — but as the world warms, the ice is melting, so they need our help.
- Weight
- 150–700 kg
- Shoulder height
- 1.5 m
- Speed
- 40 km/h
- IUCN
- Vulnerable
3. In the land of ice
Emperor penguin
At the other end of the world, in Antarctica, thousands of emperor penguins huddle together, taking turns in the warm middle.
In winter, at minus 40 degrees, the father penguin keeps the egg on his feet for two months without eating at all. What a devoted dad!
- Weight
- 22–45 kg
- Height
- 1.2 m
- Speed
- 9 km/h
- IUCN
- Near threatened
3. In the land of ice
Arctic fox
Two little eyes shine in the snow: an Arctic fox! It is snow-white in winter and brown-grey in summer, so it can hide all year.
Even the soles of its feet are furry, and it can survive minus 50 degrees. When it sleeps, it wraps its fluffy tail around its face like a scarf.
- Weight
- 3–8 kg
- Shoulder height
- 30 cm
- Speed
- 50 km/h
- IUCN
- Least concern
3. In the land of ice
Do you remember?
What colour is a polar bear's skin?
Show the answer
Black. Its hairs are see-through, and its skin is black.
4. Deep in the ocean
I've put on my diving mask and jumped in! Three quarters of our planet is covered by water.
Oceans hold everything from tiny creatures to the biggest animal in the world. I take a deep breath…
4. Deep in the ocean
Blue whale
A giant shadow glides beneath me: a blue whale! It is the largest animal that has ever lived — bigger than any dinosaur.
Its heart weighs about 180 kilograms. Yet this giant eats almost nothing but tiny shrimp called krill — more than 3,500 kilograms a day!
- Weight
- 100–150 tonnes
- Length
- 27 m
- Speed
- 30 km/h
- IUCN
- Endangered
4. Deep in the ocean
Bottlenose dolphin
A group of dolphins is playing around me! Dolphins talk with whistles and clicks, and each has its own whistle — like a name.
When they sleep, only half of their brain rests; the other half keeps them breathing. And did you know? Dolphins live in the seas around Türkiye too.
- Weight
- 150–300 kg
- Length
- 2.5 m
- Speed
- 35 km/h
- IUCN
- Least concern
4. Deep in the ocean
Common octopus
A rock suddenly changes colour… it was an octopus all along! Octopuses can change colour in seconds to hide.
An octopus has three hearts and blue blood. It has no bones, so it can squeeze through any hole its beak fits through.
- Weight
- 3–10 kg
- Length
- 1 m
- IUCN
- Least concern
4. Deep in the ocean
Green sea turtle
A green sea turtle swims calmly beside me, munching seagrass and algae.
These turtles swim thousands of kilometres, but return to the beach where they hatched to lay their eggs. In Türkiye they nest on the coasts of Hatay and Adana.
- Weight
- 68–190 kg
- Length
- 1 m
- IUCN
- Endangered
4. Deep in the ocean
Do you remember?
How many hearts does an octopus have?
Show the answer
Three. An octopus has three hearts and blue blood.
5. A day in the desert
Sand dunes, scorching sun and almost no rain… I'm in the desert! Days are very hot and nights are very cold.
Desert animals are experts at finding water and staying cool. I put on my hat and bring my water bottle.
5. A day in the desert
Dromedary camel
A camel caravan approaches. Camels are called "ships of the desert".
Many people think the hump holds water, but it actually stores fat. When thirsty, a camel can drink more than 100 litres in a few minutes. Double rows of eyelashes protect it from sandstorms.
- Weight
- 400–600 kg
- Shoulder height
- 2 m
- Speed
- 40 km/h
- IUCN
- Domesticated
5. A day in the desert
Fennec fox
A tiny face with huge ears pops out of the sand: a fennec fox! It is the smallest fox in the world.
Its ears grow up to 15 centimetres. They let heat escape from its body and help it hear insects moving under the sand.
- Weight
- 0.7–1.6 kg
- Shoulder height
- 20 cm
- Speed
- 40 km/h
- IUCN
- Least concern
5. A day in the desert
Meerkat
On top of a dune, a meerkat stands on its back legs, looking around. It's the family's lookout!
Meerkats live in families of up to 50. The lookout makes different alarm calls for different dangers, and the dark rings around its eyes work like sunglasses.
- Weight
- 0.6–1 kg
- Height
- 30 cm
- Speed
- 30 km/h
- IUCN
- Least concern
5. A day in the desert
Do you remember?
What is stored in a camel's hump?
Show the answer
Fat. The hump stores fat, not water.
6. Forests and mountains
Now I'm in forests where the seasons change, with snowy mountains in the distance.
Some of the animals here also live in Türkiye. I tie my boots — let the climb begin!
6. Forests and mountains
Brown bear
Among the trees, a big brown bear is gathering berries. It is the forest's biggest predator, but most of what it eats is plants, berries and insects.
It sleeps through the winter in a den, and its cubs are born while their mother hibernates. In Türkiye it lives in the forests of the Black Sea region and Eastern Anatolia.
- Weight
- 80–600 kg
- Shoulder height
- 1.1 m
- Speed
- 50 km/h
- IUCN
- Least concern
6. Forests and mountains
Grey wolf
As evening falls, I hear a howl in the distance. A wolf's howl can be heard more than 10 kilometres away.
Wolves live in packs, like a family. All the dogs in our homes today come from wolves.
- Weight
- 30–60 kg
- Shoulder height
- 80 cm
- Speed
- 60 km/h
- IUCN
- Least concern
6. Forests and mountains
Giant panda
In China's mountain forests, a giant panda is eating bamboo… and eating… and eating! Pandas eat 12 to 38 kilograms of bamboo a day.
A "sixth finger" made from a wrist bone helps it grip bamboo. Thanks to conservation work, pandas became safer in 2016.
- Weight
- 70–125 kg
- Shoulder height
- 70 cm
- Speed
- 30 km/h
- IUCN
- Vulnerable
6. Forests and mountains
Snow leopard
Something moves on the snowy rocks… and then it's gone! The snow leopard hides so well that it's called "the ghost of the mountains".
Its tail, almost as long as its body, helps it balance and works as a scarf in the cold. Its wide, furry paws act like snowshoes.
- Weight
- 22–55 kg
- Shoulder height
- 60 cm
- IUCN
- Vulnerable
6. Forests and mountains
Do you remember?
Which animal is the ancestor of our pet dogs?
Show the answer
Wolf. All dogs come from wolves that were tamed thousands of years ago.
7. Wildlife of Türkiye
The last stop of my journey is my favourite place: Türkiye! Where three continents meet, there are mountains, steppes, lakes and seas.
That's why Türkiye's wildlife is so rich. Let's meet the animals of our own country!
7. Wildlife of Türkiye
Loggerhead sea turtle
It's a summer night on İztuzu Beach in Muğla. A loggerhead sea turtle — Caretta caretta — digs the sand and lays about 100 eggs.
The hatchlings come out at night and head for the glow of the sea. We must never shine torches on the beach, because the lights confuse them.
- Weight
- 80–200 kg
- Length
- 90 cm
- IUCN
- Vulnerable
7. Wildlife of Türkiye
Mediterranean monk seal
On a rocky Aegean shore, a Mediterranean monk seal is resting. It is one of the rarest seals in the world.
It gives birth in sea caves with underwater entrances. If we ever see one, we should watch from far away without getting close.
- Weight
- 240–300 kg
- Length
- 2.4 m
- IUCN
- Vulnerable
7. Wildlife of Türkiye
Northern bald ibis
In Birecik, Şanlıurfa, on the cliffs by the Euphrates, I see birds with bald red faces: northern bald ibises!
They are among the rarest birds in the world, and every year people in Birecik work to protect them. They find insects in the soil with their long, curved beaks.
- Weight
- 1–1.5 kg
- Wingspan
- 1.3 m
- IUCN
- Endangered
7. Wildlife of Türkiye
Greater flamingo
Lake Tuz looks painted pink: thousands of flamingos! It is their biggest nesting site in Türkiye.
Flamingos get their pink colour from the tiny shrimp and algae they eat, and they often rest standing on one leg.
- Weight
- 2–4 kg
- Height
- 1.3 m
- IUCN
- Least concern
7. Wildlife of Türkiye
Anatolian ground squirrel
On the Anatolian steppe, a little animal stands on its back legs and whistles: an Anatolian ground squirrel! Local people call it "gelengi".
It lives almost nowhere but Anatolia. When it spots danger it whistles to warn the others, and it can spend more than half the year hibernating.
- Weight
- 200–500 g
- Length
- 22 cm
- IUCN
- Near threatened
7. Wildlife of Türkiye
Do you remember?
In which town in Türkiye are bald ibises protected?
Show the answer
Birecik. Bald ibises are protected in Birecik, Şanlıurfa.
The end of the journey
My notebook is full! We met lions on the savanna, penguins at the poles, whales in the ocean and bald ibises in Türkiye.
Many of these animals need our help. Putting out water for birds on hot days, never leaving rubbish in nature and not disturbing nests are small but precious acts of kindness.
In this book you roared like a lion, waddled like a penguin and kept watch like a meerkat. Being an animal among animals is the best way to understand them. Now you are an animal scientist too. Watch every animal with curiosity and tell your friends what you've learned. Our journey ends here — but exploring never does! 🐾