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Wild Animals Word Search

A word search dedicated to wild animals, perfect for children who love the savannah and the jungle. Hidden in the grid are eight words to find: lion, tiger, elephant, giraffe, zebra, monkey, bear and wolf. Each animal opens the door to a small geography and science lesson, from habitats to diets. Print it for free or download it as a PDF: ideal for primary school classrooms, wildlife-themed lessons, or a rainy afternoon at home.

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✏️ Create your own word search

Created for free at creapuzzle.com

Wild Animals, one by one

This word search was designed with primary school and preschool children in mind. Here is a short note on each word, useful for talking about it after solving the grid.

Lion — Called the "king of the savannah", though it actually sleeps up to twenty hours a day; it's the lionesses who hunt in groups. Its roar can be heard up to eight kilometres away.

Tiger — The largest cat in the world, and unlike house cats, it loves water and swims willingly. Its stripes are unique, just like human fingerprints.

Elephant — The largest land animal, it communicates using sounds too low for human ears to hear and never forgets places or companions.

Giraffe — At five metres tall, it has the same number of neck vertebrae as a human: just seven, but enormous. Its tongue, up to 50 centimetres long, is bluish in colour.

Zebra — Each zebra has unique stripes, which help confuse predators when the herd runs together.

Monkey — Uses tools and solves complex problems; different species live in trees, on the ground, or both, depending on their habitat.

Bear — Despite looking slow, it can run at 50 km/h and spends the winter hibernating in its den.

Wolf — Lives in highly organised packs and communicates through howls that strengthen the group's bond.

How to use it in class

With younger children, it works well to tackle the puzzle in pairs: while one child searches, the other checks the word list. Reading the list aloud together before starting helps every child know exactly what to look for, even those who read more slowly.

Activities to try after

  • Run a "photo safari": every animal found gets a quick sketch, building a small savannah album.
  • Match each animal to its habitat: savannah, jungle, mountain, once the words are found.
  • Sort the animals into carnivores (lion, tiger, wolf) and herbivores (giraffe, zebra, elephant) to introduce food chains.

Easier or harder version

For younger children, stick to horizontal-only placement in a 10×10 grid so the words are quick to spot. For older students, add diagonals and backwards words, and extend the list with animals like hippo, rhino, cheetah or panda.

Fun facts about wild animals

Wild animals fascinate children like few other topics, and every word in this grid carries a discovery. The lion, called the "king of the savannah", actually sleeps up to twenty hours a day, and it is the lionesses who hunt in groups; its roar carries up to eight kilometres. The tiger is the largest cat in the world and, unlike house cats, loves water and swims willingly; its stripes are as unique as human fingerprints. The elephant is the largest land animal, communicates using sounds too low for the human ear, and never forgets places or companions.

The giraffe, at five metres tall, has the same number of neck vertebrae as a human: just seven, but enormous. Its tongue, up to 50 centimetres long, is bluish. The zebra has stripes unique to each individual, which confuse predators when the herd runs. The monkey uses tools and solves complex problems; the bear, despite looking slow, can run at 50 km/h and hibernates through winter. The wolf lives in highly organised packs and communicates through howls that strengthen the pack's bond.

Game variations and activities

A favourite variation is the "photo safari": every animal found is "photographed" with a quick sketch, creating a small savannah album. For older children, try "match the habitat": once the words are found, connect each animal to its natural environment — savannah, jungle, mountain. You can also play "who eats what", separating carnivores (lion, tiger, wolf) from herbivores (giraffe, zebra, elephant), gently introducing the concept of the food chain.