eye Archives - Page 16 of 80

Annoyed

Hippotamus, plural Hippopotami or commonly named Hippos in South Africa are found mainly in protected areas, private game reserves and the Kruger National Park. They also occur outside of these areas especially in rivers in the northwestern, northern, northeastern as well as in the eastern parts (northern KwaZulu-Natal). Hippos need permanent open water like rivers, dams, or pools in rivers where they can submerge, with sandbanks where they can bask in the sun for periods of time. They also need enough grazing grass in the area. Hippos are semi-aquatic and gregarious animals. They gather or form pods of up to 30 animals or more depending on the water level and time of the season. Hippo pods consist mainly of cows and young hippos with a matriarch and a dominant (territorial) bull in control of the territory. Single bulls are also often found. Cows with very young calves often stay on their own for a few months before rejoining the pod. Hippos spend their days resting mainly in the water although in winter and on cool days might be resting on sandbanks and basking in the sun especially in winter months. They feed mainly at night.

Info source: http://www.wildlifesouthafrica.com/blog/mammals-of-south-africa/hippopotamus-hippo-fact-file

The photo was taken during January 2014 Mabula Private Game Reserve, Rooiberg, Limpopo, South Africa.

10 July 2019Picture of the day, Wildlife

Scruffy

The hyena is a shaggy, untidy and opportunistic carnivore with a distinctive, sloping back. It weighs around 60 kg (males can be heavier) and stands about 80 cm at the shoulder. Almost all hyena in Kruger is the spotted hyena. They are found throughout Kruger and the best places to see them are south-west Okavango, Savuti and Linyanti. The brown hyena found in southern Africa’s more arid environments. The spotted hyena hunts and scavenges by night and is closely connected in African folklore with the supernatural world. Anyone who has heard the sound of hyenas in full cry around midnight would understand the animal’s association with the dark arts. Unlike the honest, authoritarian roar of the lion which resonates with purity and strength, the “laughing” hyena’s utterances are hysterical and mocking, an eerie human-like giggling shriek that would not be out of place in a mental asylum. It’s body parts command a premium price on the local muti market, particularly the tail, ears, whiskers, lips and genitals.
Info source: http://www.krugerpark.co.za/Kruger_National_Park_Wildlife-travel/kruger-park-wildlife-hyenas.html
=========
The photo was taken during September 2017 near Afsaal Picnic Spot, Kruger National Park, Mpumalanga, South Africa.

5 July 2019Picture of the day, Wildlife

Curvature

The nyala is also a very unique species with regards to its extreme sexual dimorphism (i.e. the differences between males and females). The male is dark brown in colour while the female is a bright orange colour. Males are born the same colour as females, but as they mature they will gradually change from orange to a dark brown. In the larger antelope species, the male is known as a bull and the female is known as a cow. With smaller antelope, the male is known as a ram and the female is known as a ewe. The nyala is used as a marker to distinguish between the names given to the males and females of other antelope species. This is because of the drastic difference in size between the male and female nyala. The male nyala is classified as a bull, while the female is classified as a ewe. Any male antelope smaller than the nyala bull is classified as a ram, and any female antelope bigger than the nyala female is classified as a cow. The species is also unique in the way males compete for females. The males will display what is called a lateral display. This is when the fringe fur on the backs and bellies of the males will become rigid and stand up straight, giving them a bigger and bolder appearance. This display of size can settle a dominance dispute the majority of the time, but on rare occasions when two bull nyala are well matched, they will lock horns and fight for breeding and dominance rights. The displays are spectacular to see.
Info source: https://arathusa.co.za/a-unique-antelope-species/
=========
The photo was taken during September 2017 near Nkuhlu Picnic Spot, Kruger National Park, Mpumalanga, South Africa.

4 July 2019Picture of the day, Wildlife