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Strike

Herons are carnivorous. The members of this family are mostly associated with wetlands and water and feed on a variety of live aquatic prey. Their diet includes a wide variety of aquatic animals, including fish, reptiles, amphibians, crustaceans, molluscs, and aquatic insects. Individual species may be generalists or specialise in certain prey types, such as the yellow-crowned night heron, which specialises in crustaceans, particularly crabs. Many species also opportunistically take larger prey, including birds and bird eggs, rodents, and more rarely carrion. Even more rarely, herons eating acorns, peas, and grains have been reported, but most vegetable matter consumed is accidental.

21 August 2018Picture of the day, Wildlife

Delicate

Having a drink of water tends to be somewhat challenging when you are over four meters tall. In order to get to the water, a giraffe has to spread its front legs at awkward angles, leaving it in a rather vulnerable position to predators such as lions. Giraffes have learnt to deal with this difficulty in various ways. Their need for water is reduced by the fact that they are able to obtain almost all they need from the plants they eat. An adult giraffe will only need to drink water once a day, whereas the more vulnerable younger giraffes are even more efficient at getting the water they need from their diet and often do not need to drink water at all. A giraffe does not sweat or pant like many other mammals, their body temperature fluctuates according to the surrounding temperatures and this allows them to conserve water.

17 August 2018Picture of the day, Wildlife

Proud

Waterbuck is rather sedentary in nature. A gregarious animal, the waterbuck may form herds consisting of six to 30 individuals. These groups are either nursery herds with females and their offspring or bachelor herds. Males start showing territorial behaviour from the age of five years but are most dominant from the age of six to nine. The waterbuck cannot tolerate dehydration in hot weather, and thus inhabits areas close to sources of water. Cows are smaller than bulls. Waterbucks have a brownish-grey shaggy coat. The eyes and nose are patched with white, and there is a white collar under the throat. The rump has a characteristic white ring. The large rounded ears are a prominent feature. Only the bulls have long, forward curved horns. Both sexes emit a not unpleasant musky smell which normally lingers at resting sites.

16 August 2018Picture of the day, Wildlife