WILDLIFE REPORT SINGITA KRUGER NATIONAL PARK, SOUTH AFRICA For the month of August, Two Thousand and Sixteen
|
|
- Allyson Cunningham
- 5 years ago
- Views:
Transcription
1 Photo by Barry Peiser WILDLIFE REPORT SINGITA KRUGER NATIONAL PARK, SOUTH AFRICA For the month of August, Two Thousand and Sixteen Temperature Rainfall Recorded Sunrise & Sunset Average minimum: 13.7 (56.7 F) For the period: 2.3 mm Sunrise: 06h05 Average maximum: 27.8 (82.0 F) For the year to date: mm Sunset: 17h40 Minimum recorded: 0.9 (48.2 F) Maximum recorded: 32.0 (89.6 F) There is a sense of change in the air now. August is generally considered the windy month and it s these winds that bring in the change in the seasons. Spring is almost upon us now. The sun is peaking over the Lebombos earlier in the morning and the animals and plant life are responding already. Many of the knobthorn trees are already in flower and even the carrot tree behind the offices is in full bloom. Some of the early migratory birds have already arrived. It is as if long lost friends have returned. The yellow-billed kites are once again swooping through the skies and even the pair of Wahlbergs eagles that live along the N wanetsi River have returned to the area and are starting to get ready for the nesting season. The concession is still very dry and there is very little grass left. Hopefully the change in seasons wi ll also herald the return of the clouds and some rain. This will probably only come in October and there are still a few weeks until then. The struggle for survival in this untamed wilderness will continue for a short while, but there is now just a glimmer of light at the end of the tunnel. Many of the herbivores have had a difficult time this last winter. We, however, have had some amazing sightings.
2 Our wildlife review for the month is as follows: Buffalos: Photo by Brian Rode The sightings have been few and far between over the last couple of weeks, with a total of just eleven sightings in August. The only real chance to see buffalo on the concession at the moment has been a small group of buffalo bulls feeding in the very northern parts of the concession. This small group of bulls is often seen in and amongst breeding herds of elephants, groups of zebra and wildebeest. With Gudzani windmill available and still holding water I m sure that is where they are moving for a drink whenever necessary. Leopards: With the dry conditions and serious lack of cover on the concession the sightings of these normally elusive cats have been fairly regular and consistent. In addition to that we ve witnessed some fantastic behaviour. The One-Eyed-Male in particular has made for some great viewing this month. Without a doubt the most intriguing sighting was the crocodile kill he made just to the north of Xinkwenyana crossing. At the time he was really looking in very poor physical condition and had clearly made the bizarre kill out of pure desperation, in saying this I believe you simply cannot deny the incredible adaptability of these amazing cats and this will always be the reason for them being so successful! I have come to the conclusion that nothing ever surprises me when it comes to leopards and their ability to survive. He was also see n a few days later stealing an impala kill from a leopardess in the area around Pony Pan, the poor leopardess was no match for the ambitious young male who seems to be suitably establishing himself in the central parts of the concession. Xinkelegane was also seen on at least eight occasions. Interestingly she seemed to be moving across quite a large area, which could possibly mean that she has either lost her territory or she is ready to mate. The timeline for her looking to have cubs would make a lot of sense and obviously we would be happiest with that. The Ndlovu male also made his fair share of appearances in the eastern half of the concession, and was most commonly seen in the late evening scent-marking his territory. Photo by Jacques Briam
3 Cheetahs: Cheetahs were recorded being seen on at least 15 occasions during August. At the beginning of the month we were lucky to see a large adult male on the H6 public road. A few days later we found a male cheetah near the sticky thorn (Vachellia borleae) thickets, who had managed to kill an adult male impala and we had great views of him feeding upon it. He stayed around the area for the next two days, and then headed out of the concession. Two or three days later we saw a male cheetah (possibly the same male) on the H6 public road. Towards the middle of the month Jacques managed to locate a female cheetah with four cubs in the far north of the concession. She looked very hungry and was seen hunting impalas, while the cubs looked on from a nearby termite heap. Unfortunately, she was not successful, but it was amazing watching her sprinting at full speed after the antelope. The impalas, however, had seen her from a distance and she was not able to catch up with them as they ran for their lives. Towards the end of the month we found a different female cheetah with three sub-adults near the Cassia Open Areas in the far north of the concession. This is probably the female that we were seeing regularly a few months ago. Unfortunately, she and her cubs were heading in a northerly direction out of our area. Photo by Brian Rode Elephants: The elephant sightings have been phenomenal this month, so much so that I really don t know where to begin other than the fact that you often get to the point on afternoon drive that you just stop calling in the sightings. With the heat starting to rise again in the middle of the day both breeding herds and large bulls have been congregating along the N wanetsi River on a daily basis. Photo by Barry Peiser
4 Lions: Photo by Brian Rode The most significant change, in August, has involved the smallest of the prides that we see at SKNP, known as the Xhirombe pride. There is a new coalition of four males (possibly the Southern Males) that have officially taken over. It was only a matter of time that this unaccompanied male was over-powered by a larger coalition. This small pride consists of a single adult lioness and her two adolescent cubs (one female and one young male). So far as we can tell the new males have come from the south and have been slowly pushing in over the last few weeks. The take-over was completed when we saw one of the males mating with the adult lioness on both sides of the Mozambique fence-line around the Poort. This would mean that she has accepted them as the new dominant coalition. The Shishangaan pride has been somewhat inconsistent, with them constantly crossing over our western concession boundary and on at least one occasion east into Mozambique. This is an incredibly large territory that they are controlling and with two smaller prides on either side it only seems to be getting larger. This pride, which is the largest pride in the area, is still split into two separate groups of ten and thirteen individuals. The larger of the groups have many young males that are of the age where they will soon be forced to move out of the area and are constantly pushing the patience of their mothers at every opportunity. The white male lion is one of these boisterous males that will probably soon be pushed out and we are presently making the most of any sighting of him. The Mountain pride looks to be doing well with the three lioness and seven cubs all still present, most of our sightings of the pride have been around the general vicinity of Pony Pan, either on a kill or looking very well fed which is great news for the cubs which are at a crucial stage. Spotted hyenas: We have had numerous sightings of hyenas this month. The five Nyokeng cubs are doing well and are growing quickly. They are moving further away from the den now and are exploring their surroundings more. They are very vulnerable at this age as they are very curious and have been moving a fair distance from the mouth of the cave. They have also become much more interested in the vehicles now and often come right up to the game-drive vehicles. We have also seen the hyenas at the H6 den a few times this month. They are denning in a culvert underneath the H6 tar road. At the beginning of the month there was a dead hippo lying near Sonop waterhole. The Shish pride came and fed upon it for a while and when the lions left the area the hyenas from this clan took over the carcass and made short work of it. We counted almost twenty hyenas at the carcass once the lions left it.
5 Other interesting sightings: One of our guides, Jacques Briam, describes an amazing sighting of a caracal as follows: Photo by Barry Peiser Caracals are definitely one of the most elusive and secretive animals of the Kruger National Park. In addition to their fairly small size and natural camouflage, caracals are usually extremely skittish and will often run away well before they are even seen by humans. With that in mind, you can imagine how special it is to see a caracal in its natural environment, even if only a glimpse. I consider myself to be fairly lucky, as I have enjoyed two very brief caracal sightings since starting my guiding career. Although I have always enjoyed the brief glimpses I have had of these small cats in the past, I have never been able to get a good photograph of a caracal. But that all changed the other day We left Singita Lebombo around 7:30 am, about an hour later than most of the other game drive vehicles, and drove north along the N wanetsi River. We were hoping that with the temperatures starting to rise, animals would be attracted to the last remaining water available. We were driving very slowly when my tracker, Glass, exclaimed, Caracal! Caracal! Caracal! Several metres away from the vehicle we saw a cloud of dust that was being kicked up. A caracal was in full chase behind a scrub hare. Within seconds the caracal had caught the scrub hare by the throat and began to suffocate it. The caracal then started to walk away from the road, with its prize in its mouth.
6 After dragging the scrub hare away, the caracal found a spot in the shade and laid next to its kill. We watched it for over 10 minutes before we decided to leave it so that it could enjoy its catch in peace. This sighting is definitely one that I will remember for the rest of my life. It is also a great reminder to always expect the unexpected, especially on safari at Singita KNP. Some sightings of smaller mammals: With the lack of leaves and grass in the bush the visibility has been great this month. We have, therefore, had quite a few sightings of some of the more elusive smaller mammals. These have included at least ten recorded sightings of honey badgers, a few sightings of side-striped and black-backed jackals, some sightings of thick-tailed bushbabies at night along the river, many sightings of African civets and both large and small-spotted genets, and even a single sighting of a serval! Photo by Jacques Briam The giraffe (Giraffa camelopardalis) The giraffe is one of the quintessential large African mammals. It is one of those creatures that many people travel right across the world hoping to see. It is a completely unique animal that is synonymous with the African savannas. The name giraffe supposedly comes from the Arabic word zarafah, which means to walk swiftly. The species name camelopardalis is derived from ancient Greek and refers to a combination of camel and leopard (i.e. a camel with leopard-like spots). Due to their strange shape, with long legs, necks and faces, giraffes cannot really be mistaken for any other animal. They are the tallest land mammals, reaching a maximum height of over 5 metres and a shoulder height of up to 3.5 metres. They are able to feed on plant matter that almost no other animals can get to and thus fill their own niche, with very little competition from other herbivores.
7 Giraffes are browsers and particularly like to feed on Acacia (now Vachellia or Senegalia) trees, as well as Combretums and Terminalias. Since Acacia trees in Africa generally have thorns, the tongue of the giraffe has been purposefully adapted to deal with this. A giraffe s purple-coloured tongue is exceptionally long (over 40 cm) and highly manoeuvrable. It also has a hard surface, covered with papillae and the saliva is thick and sticky. The upper palate is hard, in order to deal with the thorns. Photos by Brian Rode Giraffes fall under the Order Ruminantia and have a four-chambered stomach. They chew the cud, like cattle and antelope, and it is amazing to watch them as they fill their mouths up with leaf matter until their cheeks are bulging. They then chew the plant matter and one can see the food (in the form of a lump) going all the way down the long throat and neck towards the stomach. A few seconds later a bulge travels all the way up the neck and the cheeks puff out again as some of the less-processed plant matter is regurgitated back into the mouth for re-chewing. The family Giraffidae is comprised of two species, namely the giraffe and the okapi (Okapia johnstoni). The okapi is a smaller, darker, antelope-like giraffe with a dark chocolate-brown coat and white zebra-like stripes on the legs and rump. Their necks are not as long as those of giraffes and they are found in the dense jungles of the Democratic Republic of Congo and Uganda. They are exceptionally rare to see. There are three main groupings of true giraffes i.e. those that occur in central-western Africa, those that occur near the Horn of Africa and those that occur from the equator south to South Africa. There are nine sub-species of giraffes, namely: the West-African giraffe (subsp. peralta) the Kardofan giraffe (subsp. antiquorum) the Nubian giraffe (subsp. camelopardalis) the reticulated giraffe (subsp. reticulata) the Rothschild s giraffe (subsp. rothschildi) the Masai giraffe (subsp. tippelskirchi) the Cape / southern giraffe (subsp. giraffa) the Angolan giraffe (subsp. angolensis) the Luangwa / Thornicroft s giraffe (subsp. thornicrofti) The only subspecies that occurs in South Africa is the southern giraffe. The subspecies differ mainly in slight changes to the lattice patterning on the body. In the southern giraffe the older males often get darker and darker with age and some of the big bulls in our area have almost black patches interspersed with paler bands.
8 Photo by Brian Rode The main differences between male and female giraffes are in the size (males can get much taller and heavier up to kg, as opposed to 950 kg for females) and the shape of the horns (also known as ossicles). The horns of females are slightly thinner and are tufted on top, whereas the horns of the males get thicker and go bald on top. Giraffes are born with horns. Initially they are not attached to the skull and are composed of cartilage. They are neatly folded back on the head and only straighten out and calcify as the young giraffe grows. Male giraffes often get up to three other horns or bony lumps on their face. Th ese include a large bump on the forehead and two smaller bumps behind the head. Male giraffes use the horns when fighting and establishing a hierarchy amongst each other. Older bulls generally have much heavier heads and stronger horns than younger ones. When sparring the males tend to stand side to side and swing their heads at each other like battering rams. They are able to knock their opponent down with a good blow and can in fact kill the other with a well-timed accurate hit, particularly if one knocks the other to the ground, as a hard fall may break the neck of a giraffe. Giraffes do not have a set social structure and are considered to be non-territorial. One can see giraffes either alone or in groups. These herds / journeys / towers may consist of only one sex or both together. It is believed that giraffes evolved their long necks for various reasons. These include to eliminate competition for food from other browsers, to give them better visibility of potential predators and to get better power and leverage when fighting. This evolutionary growth of the long neck and long legs have meant that the entire body of the giraffe has had to adapt in order to function properly. The cervical vertebrae are much longer and thicker than most other animals (although there are still only seven neck vertebrae, as with most other mammals).
9 Photo by Brian Rode The circulatory system of the giraffe has several adaptations for its great height. Its heart is very large and can weigh more than 11 kg. As the blood must travel a long way from the heart to the head a giraffe s blood pressure is approximately double that required by humans. Giraffes, furthermore, have unusually high heart rates for their size, at 150 beats per minute. When the animal lowers its head the blood rushes down fairly unopposed and a rete mirabile (a complex system of arteries and veins lying very close to each other) in the upper neck prevents excess blood flow to the brain. When it raises again, the blood vessels constrict and direct the blood into the brain so the animal doesn't faint. Another problem that the giraffe faces, as a result of its long neck, is that it is very difficult to lower its head down to water to drink. In order to accomplish this a giraffe needs to spread its front legs wide open. They are very vulnerable when drinking, as they tend to rely on their eyesight to spot predators, and when their heads are down they cannot see very far around them. Because of their strange shape giraffes are unable to reach many areas of their bodies for grooming purposes and therefore are often infested with parasites such as ticks (particularly on the belly and under the tail) and are therefore quite reliant on oxpecker birds to help get rid of these pests. The growth of the long neck in giraffes has also affected the sounds that a giraffe makes. They are generally considered to be silent animals although they do sometimes make noises such as coughing and bleating noises. At night it is rumoured that giraffes appear to hum to each other above the infrasound range. The reason for this is still unclear.
10 Photo by Brian Rode Giraffes tend to have only two forms of locomotion / gaits i.e. walking and galloping. While walking giraffes move both legs on the left hand side at the same time, followed by the movement of both right-hand legs. The long neck sways from side to side in order to counter-balance the giraffe. This particular style of walking is known as parallel walking (as opposed to cross-waking, which is the style that most antelope use, where the left front foot moves at the same time as the right back foot and vice versa). When galloping giraffes are able to attain speeds up to 60 kilometres per hour. Giraffes do occasionally sit down with their legs tucked under their bodies. They tend to sleep in this position, although they are able to sleep standing up. They are, however, very vulnerable when sitting down (it takes a while to stand up from that position), and therefore do not sit down for long periods of time and usually only when there are other giraffes in the nearby vicinity. It is estimated that giraffes only sleep intermittently for a total of 4-5 hours per day / night. The life-span of a giraffe is generally in the region of 25 years, although a particular giraffe that was kept in a zoo managed to attain an age of 36 years. Males giraffes test the sexual readiness of females by tasting the hormones in their urine. Once an oestrous female is detected, the male will attempt to court her. When courting older, larger males will keep younger ones at bay. A courting male may lick a female's tail, rest his head and neck on her body or nudge her with his horns. During copulation, the male stands on his hind legs with his head held up and his front legs resting on the female's sides. This is quite a difficult position to maintain and there are many false starts before the male gets it right. Mating is very brief. The gestation (pregnancy) period of a giraffe is approximately 15 months and a single calf is usually born. Females give birth to their calves while standing. The calf then falls quite a distance to the ground (a rather rude awakening to the world). The young calf grows very quickly and within the first year it may even may double its height. Within a few hours of birth, the calf can run around. For the first 1 3 weeks, it spends most of its time hiding, where after it may join up in a nursery herd. They are generally weaned within a year. Females reach sexual maturity at the age of four years whereas males will generally only get to mate after seven years when they are better able to compete with other males.
11 The main predators of giraffes are lions and humans, although it has been recorded that crocodiles may also kill them on occasion. Giraffes are categorized by the IUCN as animals of least concern and it is estimated that there are at least giraffes living in the wild. The West-African giraffe and the Rothschild giraffes are both considered to be endangered and there are only a few hundred individuals of each of these sub-species left. It is very likely that these sub-species, as well as the Nubian giraffe and the Kardofan giraffe may go extinct in the near future. Just another interesting tit-bit of information about the giraffe is that one of the constellations of stars in the sky, described and named in the seventeenth century, is known as Camelopardalis and supposedly depicts a giraffe. August moments in time Photo by Barry Peiser Photo by Barry Peiser Photo by Brian Rode Photo by Brian Rode Photo by Jacques Briam
12 Photo by Brian Rode Photo by Jacques Briam Photo by Barry Peiser Photo by Barry Peiser Photo by Jacques Briam
13 Photo by Barry Peiser Articles by Nick du Plessis, Jacques Briam and Brian Rode Photos by Brian Rode, Barry Peiser and Jacques Briam Singita Kruger National Park, South Africa Thirty-first of August 2016
Game Ranging / Field Guiding Course. Giraffe
1 Module # 7 Component # 16 Classification Giraffe Giraffe are classified in the following manner: Kingdom - Animalia Phylum - Chordata Class - Mammalia Order - Ruminantia Family - Giraffidae Genus - Giraffa
More informationWILDLIFE REPORT SINGITA GRUMETI, TANZANIA For the month of May, Two Thousand and Sixteen
WILDLIFE REPORT SINGITA GRUMETI, TANZANIA For the month of May, Two Thousand and Sixteen May has been a wet month, with us having a thunderstorm almost every afternoon. As each day stretched out one could
More informationWILDLIFE REPORT SINGITA KRUGER NATIONAL PARK, SOUTH AFRICA For the month of November, Two Thousand and Seventeen
Photo by Brian Rode WILDLIFE REPORT SINGITA KRUGER NATIONAL PARK, SOUTH AFRICA For the month of November, Two Thousand and Seventeen Temperature Rainfall Recorded Sunrise & Sunset Average minimum: 19 C
More informationOkapi: Half Giraffe, Half Zerba By Mikki Sadil
Have you ever seen an animal that looked like it was made from parts of two other animals? That s not as creepy as it sounds! There really is a rainforest animal, known as the okapi (Oh-COP-ee), that looks
More informationAnimal Date & Time Location
Aardvark Eats termites with its 40cm sticky tongue Aardwolf Looks like a small striped hyena Bat-eared Fox Very large ears Has 48 teeth, more than any other carnivore Yellowish with black face. Bongo Brownish
More informationwild cats teacher s key
wild cats teacher s key ZSSD 2015 tiger jaguar cheetah leopard family ties grade 1 Draw a line from each young cat on the left to its parent on the right. mammal meet-up grade 1 Cats are mammals. Color
More informationOkapi: Half Giraffe, Half Zebra By Mikki Sadil
Have you ever seen an animal that looked like it was made from parts of two other animals? That s not as creepy as it sounds! There really is a rainforest animal, known as the okapi (Oh-COP-ee), that looks
More informationMALAMALA GAME RESERVE GAME REPORT AUGUST 2016 AREAS COVERED: MARTHLY / EYREFIELD / MALAMALA / FLOCKFIELD / CHARLESTON WEATHER SUMMARY AUGUST
MALAMALA GAME RESERVE GAME REPORT AUGUST 2016 AREAS COVERED: MARTHLY / EYREFIELD / MALAMALA / FLOCKFIELD / CHARLESTON WEATHER SUMMARY AUGUST AUGUST WEATHER SUMMARY TEMPERATURE Celsius ( C) Fahrenheit (
More informationMABULA GUIDES NEWS FOR MAY 2018 Written by: Isaiah Banda - Madjuma Lion Reserve Manager
MABULA GUIDES NEWS FOR MAY 2018 Written by: Isaiah Banda - Madjuma Lion Reserve Manager Misty mornings have begun to fill the valleys and low lying areas of Mabula; gone are the days of setting out on
More informationWildlife Journal For the month of January, Two Thousand and Fourteen
Singita Kruger National Park Lebombo & Sweni Lodges South Africa Wildlife Journal For the month of January, Two Thousand and Fourteen Temperature Rainfall Recorded Average Minimum: 19.7 C (67.46 F) For
More informationEndangered Species: The cheetah
Endangered Species: The cheetah By Gale, Cengage Learning, adapted by Newsela staff on 01.05.18 Word Count 626 Level MAX Image 1: Cheetahs are famous for their round, black spots, which help them to hide
More informationAfrica s Greatest Safari Adventure
Africa s Greatest Safari Adventure P.O.BOX 674, Alldays, 0909 South Africa Cell: +27632697927 Cell: +27824908936 E-mail: info@africasgreatestsafariadventures.co.za SPECIES LIST Name: Cape Buffalo Weight
More informationGiraffe. Touch Cart. Giraffe Feed Station Instructions
Giraffe Feed Station Instructions Giraffe Touch Cart 1. Charge for a leafy branch or lettuce leaf. Cost: $3.00 for Non-members and $2.00 for Members. Members are required to show a stamp on their hand
More informationNon-fiction: Special Delivery. The Bronx Zoo announces the birth of a unique African mammal.
Special Delivery By Stephen Fraser The Bronx Zoo announces the birth of a unique African mammal. The African unicorn. That s what European explorers called a mysterious creature said to inhabit Africa
More informationThe platypus lives in streams, ponds, and rivers in Australia. It closes its eyes under water and uses its bill to dig in the mud to find its food.
The platypus lives in streams, ponds, and rivers in Australia. It closes its eyes under water and uses its bill to dig in the mud to find its food. The hyena, found in Africa and parts of Asia, weighs
More informationMALAMALA GAME RESERVE GAME REPORT JULY 2015 AREAS COVERED: MARTHLY / EYREFIELD / MALAMALA / FLOCKFIELD / CHARLESTON WEATHER SUMMARY JULY
MALAMALA GAME RESERVE GAME REPORT JULY 2015 AREAS COVERED: MARTHLY / EYREFIELD / MALAMALA / FLOCKFIELD / CHARLESTON WEATHER SUMMARY JULY Celsius ( C) Fahrenheit ( F) Maximum temperature 32 90 Minimum temperature
More informationTable of Contents BIG CATS 3 SPORTS 15 AFRICA 51 INSECTS 27 HUMAN BODY 63 TOP FIVE 39 THE OCEAN 75 WEATHER 87
Table of Contents BIG CATS 3 Hunting for Endings Language Arts Activity 7 Count the Cats! Mathematics Activity 8 African Wonderland Geography Activity 9 Big Cat Continents Geography Activity 10 Big Cat
More informationWILDLIFE REPORT SINGITA SABI SAND, SOUTH AFRICA For the month of September, Two Thousand and Seventeen
WILDLIFE REPORT SINGITA SABI SAND, SOUTH AFRICA For the month of September, Two Thousand and Seventeen Temperature Rainfall Recorded Sunrise & Sunset Average minimum: 17 C ( F) For the month: 16 mm Sunrise:
More informationPainted Dog Conservation Inc. Written & illustrated by Esther Van der meer and Marnie Giroud. Project Book. Level 1-2
Painted Dog Conservation Inc. Written & illustrated by Esther Van der meer and Marnie Giroud Project Book Level 1-2 Painted Dog Conservation Inc. Project Book Level 1-2 Introduction Environmental issues
More informationKS3 Adaptation. KS3 Adaptation. Adaptation dominoes Trail
KS3 Adaptation KS3 Adaptation Adaptation dominoes Trail Adaptation Trail The Adaptation Trail is a journey of discovery through Marwell which allows students to develop and apply their knowledge and understanding
More informationYou are about to go on a journey of discovery around the zoo to find out more about how different animals are suited to their environment.
Name: Adaptation Trail Welcome to Marwell Zoo! You are about to go on a journey of discovery around the zoo to find out more about how different animals are suited to their environment. First, let s remind
More informationINSTRUCTIONS BOOK Follow these steps to construct your Cheetah Minibook.
LEFT LEFT C LEFT LEFT RIGHT INSTRUCTIONS COVER BOOK Follow these steps to construct your Cheetah Minibook. 2. 3. 1. Print this file. 2. Cut along the dotted lines around the pages. Do not cut out the shape
More informationOlare Motorogi Conservancy Wildlife Report May 2014
Olare Motorogi Conservancy Wildlife Report May 2014 Supai from the Olare Motorogi Conservancy which is currently hosting close to ten thousand wildebeest plus more zebra, topi and eland - all part of the
More informationYou are about to go on a journey of discovery around the park to find out more about how different animals are suited to their environment.
Name: Adaptation Trail Welcome to Marwell Wildlife! You are about to go on a journey of discovery around the park to find out more about how different animals are suited to their environment. First, let
More informationKS3 Adaptation. KS3 Adaptation. Adaptation dominoes Trail
KS3 Adaptation KS3 Adaptation Adaptation dominoes Trail Adaptation Trail The Adaptation Trail is a journey of discovery through Marwell which allows students to develop and apply their knowledge and understanding
More informationAll Kinds of Cats. What You Already Know
All Kinds of Cats What You Already Know Scientists classify organisms to make communication easier. Since each organism gets its own special name, scientists always know just which one they re talking
More informationWildlife Journal For the month of February, Two Thousand and Fourteen
Singita Kruger National Park Lebombo & Sweni Lodges South Africa Wildlife Journal For the month of February, Two Thousand and Fourteen Temperature Rainfall Recorded Average Minimum: 20 C (68 F) For the
More informationOrpheus. see how we live. First published in 2009 by Orpheus Books Ltd., 6 Church Green, Witney, Oxfordshire, OX28 4AW
First published in 2009 by Orpheus Books Ltd., 6 Church Green, Witney, Oxfordshire, OX28 4AW Copyright 2009 Orpheus Books Ltd. Created and produced by Julia Bruce, Rachel Coombs, Nicholas Harris, Sarah
More informationZooTrek : Adaptations. Grades 6 8
ZooTrek : Adaptations Grades 6 8 HOW TO USE THE ZOO TREK Use the animals and exhibits highlighted in this Zoo Trek to help guide you on your visit through The Maryland Zoo. 1. Find the highlighted species
More informationMABULA GUIDES NEWS FOR JANUARY 2018 Compiled by: Isaiah Banda - Head Guide
MABULA GUIDES NEWS FOR JANUARY 2018 Compiled by: Isaiah Banda - Head Guide A father and son sharing some ideas on how to go on an early morning safari in Madjuma I never knew of a morning in Africa when
More informationSample unit. At the Eco Zoo VISIT THE ANIMALS! UNIT Listen and number Read and match. Listen and check. 10 ten. lion. bear.
UNIT 1 At the Eco Zoo 1 11 Listen and number. lion VISIT THE ANIMALS! monkey bear tiger crocodile 2 12 Read and match. Listen and check. ECO ZOO lion crocodile monkey tiger 1 2 3 4............ 10 ten 1
More informationThreatened & Endangered Species Tour Post Visit Activity Packet
Threatened & Endangered Species Tour Post Visit Activity Packet We hope that you enjoyed your visit to the Mill Mountain Zoo. To enhance you and your students experience, we have put together a little
More informationMaasai Giraffe-Talking points
Maasai Giraffe-Talking points Giraffe General Info: There are 9 subspecies of giraffe, all found in Africa. They are listed as Least Concern by the IUCN, but overall there is a general decline in their
More informationMahlathini. Private Game Reserve. Manager s Newsletter. November Rainfall November 57 mm. Last November we recorded 7 mm
Mahlathini Private Game Reserve Manager s Newsletter. November 2015 Rainfall November 57 mm Last November we recorded 7 mm Season total to date recorded at office- 93 mm Extreme temperatures and drying
More informationIs It a Cheetah? By Stephanie S. Tolan Stephanie S. Tolan
Is It a Cheetah? By Stephanie S. Tolan 1996 Stephanie S. Tolan It's a tough time to raise, teach or be a highly gifted child. As the term "gifted" and the unusual intellectual capacity to which that term
More informationPanther Habitat. Welcome to the. Who Are Florida Panthers? Panther Classification
Welcome to the Panther Habitat Panther Classification Class: Mammalia Order: Carnivora Family: Felidae Genus: Puma Species: Concolor Subspecies (Southern U.S): P.c. coryi Who Are Florida Panthers? The
More informationMALAMALA GAME RESERVE GAME REPORT AUGUST 2015 AREAS COVERED: MARTHLY / EYREFIELD / MALAMALA / FLOCKFIELD / CHARLESTON WEATHER SUMMARY AUGUST
MALAMALA GAME RESERVE GAME REPORT AUGUST 2015 AREAS COVERED: MARTHLY / EYREFIELD / MALAMALA / FLOCKFIELD / CHARLESTON WEATHER SUMMARY AUGUST Celsius ( C) Fahrenheit ( F) Maximum temperature 41 106 Minimum
More informationWeather & Migration. to three weeks to wait for better conditions, they heavy rains. It is the rain that coaxes the growth of
UNIQUE SAFARIS M ARCH - A PRI L 2013 Weather & Migration By January, the wildebeest herds had arrived in the although females are able to stall their birthing for up southern Serengeti in preparation for
More informationC R H G E K. 1 Solve the puzzle. lion. parrot. crocodile. flamingo. snake. tortoise. horse. zebra. elephant. eagle duck. monkey. Classify the animals.
Wild animals 1 Solve the puzzle. Z E C R lion crocodile snake parrot H G 0 E L 0 E K flamingo tortoise D horse zebra elephant Classify the animals. monkey eagle duck Mammals Birds Reptiles 40 Unit 4 Wild
More informationZoo Exhibit Signs. fifth period
Zoo Exhibit Signs fifth period BENGAL TIGER Scientific Name: Panthera Tigris The Bengal tiger, or Royal Bengal tiger (Panthera tigris tigris or Panthera tigris bengalensis), is a subspecies of tiger primarily
More informationLife Cycle of a Leopard
Text Structures Life Cycle of a Leopard A Sequence and Order Text Contents For teachers' What is a Leopard?...4 What Does a Leopard Look Like?...6 What is a Life Cycle?...8 Mating and Reproduction... 10
More informationAshley ) Dominique. English February Day: 83. Caracals
Ashley (ashleyeickelman@gmail.com ) Dominique English 8 16 February 2018 Day: 83 Caracals Caracals are small carnivorous mammals found in the grasslands around the world. In the forests and savannas a
More informationAmerican Bison (Bison bison)
American Bison (Bison bison) The American Bison's recovery from near extinction parallels what happened to the European Bison, Bison bonasus. Once abundant and widespread in northern latitudes, their decline
More informationUse your Fact Files to circle the correct lion facts. Which food would the lion rather eat? About how many years does a lion live?
Use your Fact Files to circle the correct lion facts. Which food would the lion rather eat? About how many years does a lion live? 25 50 1 16 GRADE ONE ZOO ANIMALS SCIENCE 001 Which lion would typically
More informationPainted Dog (Lycaon pictus)
The Painted Dog Painted Dog (Lycaon pictus) ) The Species and their Conservation Issues The Painted Dog is a unique and beautiful animal. Its Latin name (Lycaon pictus) literally means painted wolf. The
More informationA guide to estimating the age of Masai giraffes (Giraffa camelopardalis tippelskirchi) Megan K.L. Strauss! University of Minnesota!
A guide to estimating the age of Masai giraffes (Giraffa camelopardalis tippelskirchi) Megan K.L. Strauss! University of Minnesota! Table of contents SECTION 1: Background! Aging giraffes 4 How to use
More informationRESERVE REPORT MAY 2013
RESERVE REPORT MAY Introduction The giraffe (Giraffa camelopardalis) is an animal that has always fascinated me, its shape and size unmistakable in the African savanna with its intriguing physiological
More informationBehaviour of cats and dogs
Behaviour of cats and dogs Unlike cats, dogs are social animals living in packs. Dogs normally live in a group with a well developed social hierarchy and communicate by sight, sound, smell and use of body
More informationBobcat Interpretive Guide
Interpretive Guide Exhibit Talking Point: Our job as interpreters is to link what the visitors are seeing to The Zoo's conservation education messages. Our goal is to spark curiosity, create emotional
More informationGoing on a Zoo Animal Hunt
Going on a Zoo Animal Hunt Directions: Print up the following pages onto white card stock. (This will make the sticker books more durable. Trim and put together using a circular key ring holder. Use when
More informationAngela Panzarella MY DRAMA BOOK 3. A performance through habitats. Name. Class. Scholastic year. Teacher
MY DRAMA BOOK 3 A performance through habitats Name Class Scholastic year Teacher A PERFORMANCE THROUGH HABITATS WALT: We are learning to recognize and discuss about some habitats. and we are going to
More informationPangolins: 13 facts about the world's most hunted animal by Guy Kelley
Pangolins: 13 facts about the world's most hunted animal by Guy Kelley The prehistoric pangolin, which walks on its hind legs due to the length and curvature of its impressive claws. CREDIT: JUDY HURD
More informationTHE PASSION ISSUE the power of passions
THE PASSION ISSUE the power of passions COVER STORY Dr Laurie Marker champions big-cat conservation through her passion for and work with cheetahs CULTURE Passionate collectors and the stories behind their
More informationEagle, Fly! An African Tale. retold by Christopher Gregorowski illustrated by Niki Daly
Fly, Eagle, Fly! An African Tale retold by Christopher Gregorowski illustrated by Niki Daly A farmer went out one day to search for a lost calf. The little herd boys had come back without it the evening
More informationGod s Amazing World. from apples to zebras. Sample. Illustrated by Kristi Davis. My Father s World. Used by Permission
God s Amazing World from apples to zebras Illustrated by Kristi Davis My Father s World Illustrations by Kristi Davis Text and Creative Design Team: Katerina Hazell, Kristi Davis, Judy Cureton, Marie Hazell
More informationBull was a difficult puppy to place its very different working with communities and we had to get the Chiefs permission and build a suitable kraal
We have had a very busy time as of late. We managed to place three new puppies as well as 4 alpacas, unfortunately one of the puppies has since passed away. This was very bad news as it was our first venture
More information468 TYRRELL, Nesting of Turkey Vulture
468 TYRRELL, Nesting of Turkey Vulture [Auk [July NESTING OF THE TURKEY VULTURE BY Y/. BRYANT TYRRELL Plates 16-17 ON the afternoon of January 16, 1932, while walking along the Patapsco River in the Patapsco
More informationPORTRAIT OF THE AMERICAN BALD EAGLE
PORTRAIT OF THE AMERICAN BALD EAGLE Objectives: To know the history of the bald eagle and the cause of it's decline. To understand what has been done to improve Bald Eagle habitat. To know the characteristics
More informationDIARY OF A COUGAR/MULE DEER ENCOUNTER
DIARY OF A COUGAR/MULE DEER ENCOUNTER September 7, 2006. Setting: west-facing slope at elevation 7000 feet in the foothills west of Denver, Colorado. Sunny day, warm. several mule deer browsing in Mahogany
More informationWrite Your Own Guidebook!
Write Your Own Guidebook! You ve read Maggie s guidebook featuring various African animals. Now it s your turn to write your own guidebook. Use the following phrases to write short information pieces for
More informationApples. Quiz Questions
Apples Apples grow on trees. The trees can grow on an apple farm. The trees can grow in a yard too. We pick apples off the trees. We pick apples when they are ripe. Some apples are green. Some apples are
More informationThis copy has been exclusively prepared for
Tell Me Why Giraffes Have Long Necks Katie Marsico Published in the United States of America by Cherry Lake Publishing Ann Arbor, Michigan www.cherrylakepublishing.com Content Adviser: Dr. Stephen S. Ditchkoff,
More informationReading Comprehension (English) ITEM BANK
Reading Comprehension (English) ITEM BANK SET B 1 Mark with an X the picture that matches the sentence. 1. He teaches the students. a) b) c) 2. A man is climbing a tree. a) b) c) 2 3. The horse is eating
More informationIdentifying Plant and Animal Adaptations Answer Key
Identifying Plant and Animal Adaptations Answer Key Instructions: Review the provided photos on the ipad. Try to identify as many adaptations for each plant or animal and determine how each adaptation
More information1. Super Senses. Has this ever happened to you? Why does it happen? Think and tell
1. Super Senses Has this ever happened to you? You were eating in the playground, an eagle flew down and took away your roti. You dropped something sweet on the ground and within minutes many ants collected
More informationThe Leisure Isle Spotted Eagle Owls
The Leisure Isle Spotted Eagle Owls The world bird species list is in the order of 10,000. The total species for South Africa is just over 700, this number comprises of residents and migrants. Probably
More informationLEVELED BOOK N. Extreme Animals. Written by Kathie Lester Illustrated by Signe Nordin.
LEVELED BOOK N Extreme Animals Written by Kathie Lester Illustrated by Signe Nordin www.readinga-z.com K N Q Extreme Animals A Reading A Z Level N Leveled Book Word Count: 728 Visit www.readinga-z.com
More information2015 Loon Survey - Madge Lake, Duck Mt. Provincial Park!
2015 Loon Survey - Madge Lake, Duck Mt. Provincial Park The Yellowhead Flyway Birding trail Association Loon Initiatives Committee (YFBTA LIC), comprised of myself and Rob Wilson, conducted its annual
More informationEYE TO EYE WITH BIG CATS TIGERS
EYE TO EYE WITH BIG CATS TIGERS TIGERS EYE TO EYE WITH BIG CATS Jason Cooper 2003 Rourke Publishing LLC All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or utilized in any form or by any means,
More informationThe Jackal and the Baboon
The Jackal and the Baboon A long time ago the Jackal and the Baboon were friends. It was at this time that all the animals of the forest loved to eat honey. The sweet, golden food was their favorite treat.
More informationThis Coloring Book has been adapted for the Wildlife of the Table Rocks
This Coloring Book has been adapted for the Wildlife of the Table Rocks All images and some writing belong to: Additional writing by: The Table Rocks Environmental Education Program I became the national
More informationJudging Beef. Parts of the Beef Animal. The objective of this unit is to:
Judging Beef Sec 2: Page 1 Judging Beef The aim of the beef industry is to efficiently produce carcasses of the type and quality demanded by the consumer. The ability to look at the live beef animal and
More informationPeace Lesson M1.14 BEING GRATEFUL
Peace Lesson M1.14 BEING GRATEFUL Objective: To consider feelings about the things we have - home, friends, possessions - and gifts that are given to us and whether we take them for granted, wish for something
More information3 4 The Egyptian plover is a type of bird that will eat parasites and bits of meat from the skin and teeth of the Nile crocodile. The bird can often b
1 2 A newly-hatched baby cuckoo is in the nest of a warbler bird. A mother cuckoo bird laid her egg in the warbler's nest, which also contained a warbler egg. The warbler egg has a longer incubation time
More informationZELLA. ZACK and ZODIAC. Bill Peet
ZELLA ZACK and ZODIAC Bill Peet It was simply rotten luck that the little ostrich chick Was born inside an eggshell that was just a bit too thick. By the time he pecked his way out into broad daylight,
More informationModule 2.4: Small Mammals Interpreting with Chinchillas
Module 2.4: Small Mammals Interpreting with Chinchillas Interpreting with Chinchillas: The theme of your conversations may differ from group to group depending on the program, and the age of your audience.
More informationDealing with the devil
If we get their numbers back up, the devils themselves will sort it out. They re a very capable animal. They ve been here 10,000 years. It s their island. Dr David Pemberton Dealing with the devil writer
More informationElly and Aargh! Emma Laybourn.
Elly and Aargh! Emma Laybourn www.megamousebooks.com 2 Elly and Aargh! Four young dinosaurs were having a race. It wasn t a running race. They were ankylosaurs, which meant that they were covered with
More informationWord Formulation. Visual: Spoken: Meaning: Spell the word first: d - o - o - r The trainer pronounces the whole word: door Then repeat the word: door
Spell the word first: d - o - o - r The trainer pronounces the whole word: door Then repeat the word: door a movable structure used to close off an entrance. Plural: doors He knocked on the door to our
More informationPlease initial and date as your child has completely mastered reading each column.
go the red don t help away three please look we big fast at see funny take run want its read me this but know here ride from she come in first let get will be how down for as all jump one blue make said
More informationMake sure you come down to the Zoo of the Wild. On Sundays everybody is HALF OFF!
By: Colton F. Make sure you come down to the Zoo of the Wild. On Sundays everybody is HALF OFF! Remember that there s the best food court for a zoo So Let s Eat 4 squares equal 1 acre Website: Pittsburgh
More informationBirds of Prey. Builders at Work. Eagles are birds of prey. Birds of prey eat live animals. such as squirrels, mice, and frogs. They catch these little
Birds of Prey Eagles are birds of prey. Birds of prey eat live animals such as squirrels, mice, and frogs. They catch these little animals with their feet. An eagle s toes are thick and very strong. All
More informationFollowing species are available in our model Savannah forest (made in 2014) as part of Project Biodiversity Park: Lion, Giraffe, Ostrich, Warthog,
Savannah Forest A savanna, or savannah, is a grassland ecosystem characterized by the trees being sufficiently widely spaced so that the canopy does not close. The open canopy allows sufficient light to
More informationBewfouvsft!pg!Cmbdljf!boe!Hjohfs!
Bewfouvsft!pg!Cmbdljf!boe!Hjohfs! The Story of two Little Bears On a day in summer two little bears were playing together on a hillside. What can we do, Blackie? Ginger asked her brother. There must be
More informationOpossum. Didelphis virginiana
Opossum Didelphis virginiana Other common names Virginia Opossum, possum Introduction The opossum is the only marsupial found in the United States. Like kangaroos, another wellknown marsupial, opossums
More informationIntroduction to the Cheetah
Lesson Plan 1 Introduction to the Cheetah CRITICAL OUTCOMES CO #1: Identify and solve problems and make decisions using critical and creative thinking. CO #2: Work effectively with others as members of
More informationThank you for purchasing House Train Any Dog! This guide will show you exactly how to housetrain any dog or puppy successfully.
Introduction Thank you for purchasing House Train Any Dog! This guide will show you exactly how to housetrain any dog or puppy successfully. We recommend reading through the entire guide before you start
More informationYellow With Black Stripes... Impossible! By Alan McMurtrie
Yellow With Black Stripes... Impossible! By Alan McMurtrie This year's biggest innovation was yellow with black stripes. Impossible you say! I would have thought so, but presto 05-GQ-4 opened for the first
More informationGame Ranging / Field Guiding Course. Kites and Buzzards
1 Module # 6 Component # 5 Kites and Buzzards Kites The species that are included in this group are pretty much a mixed bag, put together for convenience, and do not reflect any taxonomic affinity. Of
More information1 Time-line of giraffe
1 Time-line of giraffe This chapter has four parts. First, a discussion of the contentious topic of why giraffe evolved to have a long neck. Was it for food? Was it for sex? Next is a short section on
More informationSTEM Field Trip Scavenger Hunt
Directions: Explore the zoo and the listed animal exhibits below. At the exhibit you will be tasked with a STEM challenge for you and your group to solve! 1. Giraffe Exhibit: Every day we hold two, two-hour
More informationWILDLIFE REPORT SINGITA SABI SAND, SOUTH AFRICA For the month of February, Two Thousand and Eighteen
WILDLIFE REPORT SINGITA SABI SAND, SOUTH AFRICA For the month of February, Two Thousand and Eighteen Temperature Rainfall Recorded Sunrise & Sunset Average minimum: 19 C (66 F) For the month: 75 mm Sunrise:
More informationZoo Crew. A SmithSoniAn S national Zoo FAmily EduCAtion GuidE
Zoo Crew A SmithSoniAn S national Zoo FAmily EduCAtion GuidE join the Zoo CrEw! Are you ready to become a wildlife conservationist and part of the Zoo Crew? During your visit to the Smithsonian s National
More informationA Helping Hand. We all need a helping hand once in a while
A Helping Hand We all need a helping hand once in a while B.C. WILD PREDATOR LOSS CONTROL & COMPENSATION PROGRAM FOR CATTLE Overview Program and it s s objectives How to recognize and verify predator attacks
More informationPlants and Animals. What do living organisms need to survive? What can you see in the photos in 1? Unscramble the letters. I can see a lot of
Unit 1 1 Plants and Animals What do living organisms need to survive? What do the pictures show? Write the missing letters. 1 m 0 t h 4 u se 5 e p 3 pri ca cup l pe r t n What can you see in the photos
More informationThe Animal World. Corner. Read the fact sheet and complete the exercise.
Unit 1 The Animal World Reading Read the fact sheet and complete the exercise. The Roos & the Riches 5 10 The Roos Kangaroos hop around in Australian forests. They are the only large animals that jump
More informationEndangered Species: The gorilla
Endangered Species: The gorilla By Gale, Cengage Learning, adapted by Newsela staff on 04.03.18 Word Count 914 Level MAX Image 1. A male western lowland gorilla lost in thought. Photo from: Wikimedia Commons.
More informationAll about Rabies! Level 3
All about Rabies! Level 3 Rabies is caused by a virus. You can get rabies virus if an animal bites you, usually a dog. Rabies can also be passed from animal to animal. The rabies virus makes your body
More informationSongjoi and the Paper Animals
1 Songjoi and the Paper Animals Once upon a time there was a town called Huntington in a mountain country. The town was always busy with many hunters who were proud of being hunters. Ever since the forest
More informationBAD DAY BABY BUFFALO. Written by. Arty Whale
BAD DAY BABY BUFFALO Written by Arty Whale Copyright (c) 2012 This screenplay may not be used or reproduced without the express written permission of the author. FADE IN. EXT. KRUGER NATIONAL PARK - DAY
More information