black Archives - Page 18 of 51

Amigos

All 17 species of penguins are found exclusively in the Southern Hemisphere. Emperor Penguins are the tallest species, standing nearly 4 feet tall. The smallest is the Little Blue Penguin, which is only about 16 inches. The fastest species is the Gentoo Penguin, which can reach swimming speeds up to 22 mph. A penguin’s striking colouring is a matter of camouflage; from above, its black back blends into the murky depths of the ocean. From below, its white belly is hidden against the bright surface. Penguins ingest a lot of seawater while hunting for fish, but a special gland behind their eyes—the supraorbital gland—filters out the saltwater from their bloodstream. Penguins excrete it through their beaks, or by sneezing.

12 September 2018Picture of the day, Wildlife

Patrol

The alpha is the dominant male in the baboon troop. He can weigh up to 40 kg and has earned his position by aggressively fending off other male contenders for the crown. He displays his long, sharp canines, longer than a lion’s, in a “yawn” and a loud “wahoo!” bark to communicate his social position. He is a gentle and caring father and will watch over and fiercely protect the females and infants in his troop. He jealously guards his right to mate with receptive females. He keeps strict discipline in the troop – when alpha males are killed in the mistaken belief that it will stop a troop raiding, it causes chaos within the troop and can result in smaller, less manageable splinter troops forming raiding parties. Troops are more stable and less stressed if the turn-over of males is less frequent, with long-standing alpha males.

10 September 2018Picture of the day, Wildlife

Content

Bushveld is a rather loose term and refers to the areas of mixed woodland between 1 000m and 1 500m above sea level. It is the main vegetation type in Mpumalanga and extends into Gauteng, the Northwest Province, Limpopo, parts of KwaZulu-Natal and the Eastern Cape. It is the biome, or vegetation type, most commonly associated with wildlife and where you will find most of the game viewing destinations. It is this area that South Africans have in mind when they dream of heading off ‘into the bush’.

6 September 2018Landscape, Picture of the day