ears Archives - Page 18 of 59

Grooming

The Impala is a gregarious antelope species encountered in large numbers. Impalas have developed a number of adaptations that allow them to thrive. Grooming and tick removal are high on the list of survival skills. The Impala is the only hoofed animal that does allogrooming – mutual grooming from one animal to another – as well as grooming itself. A herbivorous species, the Impala has adapted to graze and browse, thereby maximising the availability of food. Impala will feed on grasses and herbs, as well as the leaves of bushes and shrubs. The impala makes guttural grunts which are audible for a great distance. An alert impala will bark out an alarm that puts the entire herd to flight – and a fleeing impala is hard to catch. Impalas are very fast runners able to leap distances of up to 10 meters. They use this technique to escape predators and sometimes, it seems, simply to amuse themselves.
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The photo was taken during February 2019 at Bushtime at Mabula, Bela-Bela, Limpopo, South Africa.
Info source: https://www.sabisabi.com/wildfacts/impala/

24 April 2019Picture of the day, Wildlife

Hidden

The coat of the klipspringer, yellowish grey to reddish brown, acts as an efficient camouflage in its rocky habitat; the underbelly is white. Unlike most other antelopes, the klipspringer has a thick and coarse coat with hollow, brittle hairs. The incisors might even get damaged by the hairs while grooming. However, the coat is a significant adaptation that saves the animal during steep falls and provides effective insulation in the extreme climates characteristic of its mountain habitat. A study showed that ticks occur in larger numbers on the underbelly, where the hair is less coarse. The hair often turns erect, especially if the animal is ill or if its temperature increases.
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The photo was taken during January 2014 at Mabula Private Game Reserve, Bela-Bela, Limpopo, South Africa.
Info source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Klipspringer

23 April 2019Picture of the day, Wildlife

Dainty

Usually most active during early morning and part of the night, Bushbucks become almost entirely nocturnal in areas where they are apt to be disturbed frequently during the day. When alarmed, individuals react in a variety of ways. Sometimes they will sink to the ground and lie flat, or they may bound away, making a series of hoarse barks. When surprised in the open, they sometimes stand still or slowly walk to the nearest cover. The Bushbuck is primarily nocturnal, but it is also fairly active during the day. Half of a Bushbuck’s day is spent standing and grazing. The Bushbuck is also the only non-territorial and solitary African antelope with neither males nor females defending any part of their home range. Though Bushbuck have small home ranges which may overlap with those of other bushbuck, they are solitary animals with even females preferring to keep social interactions with their young to not more than a few hours a day. Mature males usually go out of their way to avoid contact with each other.
Info source: http://www.krugerpark.co.za/africa_bushbuck.html

16 April 2019Picture of the day, Wildlife