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Worn

Worn
A cheetah’s paws are less rounded and harder than other cats’ and help the cheetah make quick turns. Cheetah claws are actually semi-retractable and aid in acceleration. Naturally, over time they become blunted from wear. The “thumb” claw or dew claw (at right bottom) is positioned back of the other 4 and higher. This claw is used to hook prey during the chase. Researchers now monitor cheetah populations in the wild by using the footprint identification technique call FIT. This is an international collaboration involving conservation organizations like Wildtrack and AfriCat. The technique assumes that every paw print is unique to a particular cheetah and can be identified similar to a human fingerprint. Local people in Namibia have identified animals from their tracks for many years. As each human fingerprint has a unique pattern of ridges and whorls, each cheetah produces a paw print of unique size, shape and character. Prints are photographed and stored in a computer database.
Info source: http://www.cheetahspot.com/claws.php

22 March 2019Picture of the day, Wildlife

Comical

Neither graceful nor beautiful, warthogs are, however, remarkable animals. They are the only pigs able to live in areas without water for several months of the year. Warthogs are found in most of Africa south of the Sahara and are widely distributed in East Africa. They are the only pigs able to live in areas without water for several months of the year. By tolerating a higher-than-normal body temperature, the warthog is perhaps able to conserve moisture inside its body that might otherwise be used for cooling. The face is fairly flat and the snout elongated. Eyes set high on the head enables the warthog to keep a lookout for predators even when it lowers its head to feed on short grass. The warthog’s large tusks are unusual: The two upper ones emerge from the sides of the snout to form a semicircle; the lower tusks at the base of the uppers are worn to a sharp cutting edge.

20 March 201920 March 2019Picture of the day, Wildlife

Iconic

Beacon Island Resort, in the heart of the picturesque Garden Route region, is one of the Western Cape’s premier holiday destinations. This award-winning Plettenberg Bay hotel and resort offers natural forests, mountains, sun-kissed beaches, and the vastness of the ocean – the ideal relaxing getaway for the entire family. Perfectly suited to extended breaks, romantic escapes, or even teambuilding and conferences, Beacon Island Resort offers guests a choice of 200 rooms, each with amenities like DStv, tea and coffee stations, electronic safes, fridges, 500mb free WiFi per room per day, and en-suite bathrooms. The nautically-themed rooms create an atmosphere of comfort and relaxation, with 8 sea-facing suites featuring sea-view showers and extended facilities. Guests at our Garden Route resort can also enjoy the use of a fitness centre, hotel spa, heated indoor pool, outdoor pool, conference facilities, and more. Delicious dining options include the Coral Reef, Café Estoril, Gazebo Lounge, and The Playa Bar. Beacon Island Resort in Plettenberg Bay – your home away from home on the Garden Route.

12 March 2019Picture of the day, Travel