tusks Archives - Page 3 of 12

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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

Greetings!

1. An elephant trunk contains 40 000 different muscles.
The human body only contains 639! This gives us an idea of the immense complexity of this amazing appendage.
2. The elephant trunk is by far the most versatile appendage on the planet
It is used to breathe, drink, eat, smell, snorkel, communicate – as well as being used as a ‘hand’ to touch, feel, hold, grab, pull etc.
3. The trunk is both extremely delicate and extremely strong.
The African elephant has two finger-like tips at the end of its trunk that it uses to clasp smaller objects. The trunk is so delicate it is at times used to wipe or clean their eyes. On the other hand, the trunk is an extremely powerful tool that can pull out trees and lift up to 350 kg (770 lb).
4. Elephants are either left or right-handed.
Baby elephants are born not knowing how to use their trunks, much like baby humans are unable to use their arms and hands. They often stumble over their trunks for the first couple of days, but soon their trunks grow considerably and they gain control. Interestingly, elephants show a preference between grasping objects to the left or right, in the same way, that children are left or right-handed.
5. The elephant’s sense of smell is estimated to be four times that of a bloodhound and they can smell water from miles away.
Info source: https://www.kariega.co.za/blog/elephant-trunks-close-up-photo-and-5-interesting-facts
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The photo was taken during September 2017 near Transport Dam, Kruger National Park, Mpumalanga, South Africa.

2 July 2019Picture of the day, Wildlife

Criss-cross

Identifying elephants isn’t difficult, but it requires using powers of observation and it takes a bit of practice. There are many different characteristics that you can use to identify an elephant: sex; body size; shape; length and configuration of the tusks; size and shape of the ears; ear venation patterns; notches, tears, holes in the ears. An elephant’s tail can also be used to distinguish an individual.
What to look for when using the tail to identify African elephants:
1. Some elephants have what we call a “kinky tail”
2. Others have an unusually “short tail”
3. A few have “half tails” having been bitten by hyenas when they were calves.
4. Still, others have been bitten and left with “no tail” at all.
Info source: https://www.elephantvoices.org/features-guide.html?id=819
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The photo was taken during February 2017 at Mabula Private Game Reserve, Bela-Bela, Limpopo, South Africa.

21 June 2019Picture of the day, Wildlife