Wild animal vs wildlife definition?

[fadedoak]

what is the difference between the two. Trying to determine if wild horses are indeed wildlife, they are wild in the terms of untamed, but is that enough to deem them as wildlife? since they are maintaining life without the help of humans (in a way...)

 

[BWANA]

A wild animal is an animal that is NOT domesticated by man, and lives in the wild. Even though some have been made into pets occasionally it does not mean they are any less wild.

Wildlife refers to all wild "living things". Not only "all" types of wild animals, but plants too. The animals include ones like Mammals, Birds, Amphibians, Reptiles, Fish, Insects and other Arthropods, Mollusks, Worms, single-celled creatures, and bacteria and viruses. The plants include ones like Trees, Flowers, Shrubs, Cactus, Grasses, Fungus like Mushrooms, Lichen, and Molds.

"True" wild horses are wild animals AND wildlife. Most breeds have been domesticated over thousands of years, but there are a few species of wild horses living in Africa and Asia. Ones in the USA are usually those that have gone ferile from many years ago, and can therefore be determined as wild.

 

[nurnord]

'Wild animals' refers to all animals not domesticated and not feral. 'Wildlife' refers to all animals, plants, fungi and any other living organisms that are not domesticated or feral. In this sense, 'domesticated' means not only the animal Kingdom, but extends to the non-animal Kingdoms as well. 'Feral' animals are those that were formerly domesticated but now live in the wild - independent of humans.

So in solving your confusion about horses, domestic horses are exactly that. 'Wild' horses i.e. all non-domesticated species and subspecies may be referred to equally correctly as 'wild animals' or 'wildlife'. Feral horses are found in the wild and are not true wild horses.