One of the rarest animals in North America, the Sierra Nevada red fox, has been captured by a camera trap in California's Yosemite National Park for the first time in nearly a century. One image was captured in December and another was taken in January. It is not known if it was the same animal or not.
There are only about 50 of these is incredibly rare red foxes (Vulpes vulpes necator) in North America. Red fox populations were devastated by hunting and trapping for their fur during the 19th and 20th centuries.
The fox, which historically ranged throughout the Sierra Nevada mountains, is now limited to two small populations in California: one around Lassen Volcanic National Park and another around Sonora Pass.
Saturday, 28 February 2015
Wednesday, 25 February 2015
Cape Vulture released back into the Wild
Vulture conservation history was made on 15 February 2015 with the release of ten captive bred Cape vultures at VulPro. These chicks took their first flight into the wild to join the Magaliesberg’s Cape vultures, marking the initiation of a population recovery plan which has taken years of preparation.
Seven captive bred Cape vultures from VulPro and three from the National Zoological Gardens were released into VulPro’s open-top enclosure, Moving birds to the open-top enclosure allowed them to ‘release’ themselves when they feel ready to leave.
Each vulture was fitted with a tracking device on to its back to monitor their movements with locality readings, altitude, speed, temperature and direction every 15 minutes.
Cape vultures are endemic to southern Africa and classified as regionally endangered and globally vulnerable with under 4 000 breeding pairs remaining.
- See more at: http://africageographic.com/blog/captive-bred-vultures-fly-free/#sthash.8iAqTZLO.dpuf
Seven captive bred Cape vultures from VulPro and three from the National Zoological Gardens were released into VulPro’s open-top enclosure, Moving birds to the open-top enclosure allowed them to ‘release’ themselves when they feel ready to leave.
Each vulture was fitted with a tracking device on to its back to monitor their movements with locality readings, altitude, speed, temperature and direction every 15 minutes.
Cape vultures are endemic to southern Africa and classified as regionally endangered and globally vulnerable with under 4 000 breeding pairs remaining.
- See more at: http://africageographic.com/blog/captive-bred-vultures-fly-free/#sthash.8iAqTZLO.dpuf
Elephant Numbers in Botswana
In July to October 2014, Elephants Without Borders (EWB) in collaboration with the Department of Wildlife and National Parks (DWNP) undertook an aerial survey counting elephants and other wildlife in the northern part of the country, he said. It was part of the Great Elephant Census (GEC) which was fully sponsored by Mr. Paul Allen and his sister, Jody.
For his part, EWB director, Dr Michael Chase said the total elephant estimate in the northern part of Botswana was over 129,000, the largest population in Africa. He said the elephant population in Chobe appeared to be decreasing while in Makgadikgadi and Nxai Pan national parks it grew at a rate of 15% per year. “Many of the changes in the local elephant population are due to movement of elephants between different parts of Botswana and surrounding countries,” he said.
Dr Chase said during the survey, they saw 18 elephant carcasses but that none appeared to have been killed by poachers. He said this showed improvement as the 2010 EWB survey showed that 20 per cent of the fresh elephant carcasses were attributed to poaching. The survey indicated that there were about 48,000 zebras, 26,000 buffaloes, 9,000 giraffes, 57,000 lechwe, 9,000 hippos and over 72,000 impalas. The survey showed a decline of between 7 to 10% for wildebeest, tsessebe and springbok. Ostrich are also declining by 9% annually in the northern part of Botswana.
For his part, EWB director, Dr Michael Chase said the total elephant estimate in the northern part of Botswana was over 129,000, the largest population in Africa. He said the elephant population in Chobe appeared to be decreasing while in Makgadikgadi and Nxai Pan national parks it grew at a rate of 15% per year. “Many of the changes in the local elephant population are due to movement of elephants between different parts of Botswana and surrounding countries,” he said.
Dr Chase said during the survey, they saw 18 elephant carcasses but that none appeared to have been killed by poachers. He said this showed improvement as the 2010 EWB survey showed that 20 per cent of the fresh elephant carcasses were attributed to poaching. The survey indicated that there were about 48,000 zebras, 26,000 buffaloes, 9,000 giraffes, 57,000 lechwe, 9,000 hippos and over 72,000 impalas. The survey showed a decline of between 7 to 10% for wildebeest, tsessebe and springbok. Ostrich are also declining by 9% annually in the northern part of Botswana.
Tuesday, 17 February 2015
South Africa's bearded Vulture in serious decline
Scientists have turned to outer space to explain the mysterious disappearing act of one of Africa’s most famous birds. Satellite trackers attached to 18 bearded vultures have confirmed conservationists’ worst fears: humans are largely to blame for the rapid demise of the species.
Bearded Vulture.
Once widespread throughout much of Southern Africa, the bearded vulture is now critically endangered in the sub-continent, with a nearly 50 percent reduction in nesting sites since the 1960s.
And the main reasons for their decline are collisions with power lines and poisoning, two major vulture hazards that killed half of the birds in the satellite tracking survey.
Once widespread across South Africa, the bearded vulture population is now restricted to the Drakensberg mountains in Lesotho and South Africa. But even in these isolated mountains the population continues to decline due to human encroachment on nesting sites and feeding territory.
- See more at: http://africageographic.com/blog/southern-african-bearded-vulture-decline/#sthash.qS9WVDHM.dpuf
Bearded Vulture.
Once widespread throughout much of Southern Africa, the bearded vulture is now critically endangered in the sub-continent, with a nearly 50 percent reduction in nesting sites since the 1960s.
And the main reasons for their decline are collisions with power lines and poisoning, two major vulture hazards that killed half of the birds in the satellite tracking survey.
Once widespread across South Africa, the bearded vulture population is now restricted to the Drakensberg mountains in Lesotho and South Africa. But even in these isolated mountains the population continues to decline due to human encroachment on nesting sites and feeding territory.
- See more at: http://africageographic.com/blog/southern-african-bearded-vulture-decline/#sthash.qS9WVDHM.dpuf
Scientists
have turned to outer space to explain the mysterious disappearing act
of one of Africa’s most famous birds. Satellite trackers attached to 18
bearded vultures have confirmed conservationists’ worst fears: humans
are largely to blame for the rapid demise of the species.
Once widespread throughout much of Southern Africa, the bearded
vulture is now critically endangered in the sub-continent, with a nearly
50 percent reduction in nesting sites since the 1960s.
And the main reasons for their decline are collisions with power lines and poisoning, two major vulture hazards that killed half of the birds in the satellite tracking survey.
Once widespread across South Africa, the bearded vulture population is now restricted to the Drakensberg mountains in Lesotho and South Africa. But even in these isolated mountains the population continues to decline due to human encroachment on nesting sites and feeding territory.
- See more at: http://africageographic.com/blog/southern-african-bearded-vulture-decline/#sthash.qS9WVDHM.dpuf
© Sonja Krueger
And the main reasons for their decline are collisions with power lines and poisoning, two major vulture hazards that killed half of the birds in the satellite tracking survey.
Once widespread across South Africa, the bearded vulture population is now restricted to the Drakensberg mountains in Lesotho and South Africa. But even in these isolated mountains the population continues to decline due to human encroachment on nesting sites and feeding territory.
- See more at: http://africageographic.com/blog/southern-african-bearded-vulture-decline/#sthash.qS9WVDHM.dpuf
Why do Pigs love looking for truffles?
Pigs and dogs used by truffle hunters can get very excited when they are close to making a find. Their behaviour may best be described as animated. Or possibly even frantic. So why so truffles get them so worked up?
Italian scientists may have found the answer. Tthe black truffle (Tuber melanosporum) contains a “bliss molecule” similar to the substance that gives cannabis its psychoactive properties.
Italian scientists may have found the answer. Tthe black truffle (Tuber melanosporum) contains a “bliss molecule” similar to the substance that gives cannabis its psychoactive properties.
Steamy sex in nature, and more
Male sticklebacks are turned on by steamy sex scenes. A team from the University of Fribourg, in Switzerland, showed male three-spined sticklebacks two films featuring computer-animated fish showing flity and brood caring behaviour. One showed flirty behaviour and the other brood-caring. After a few minutes a female was introduced to the male’s tank to spawn. In each case the male ejaculated more sperm over the eggs if it had seen the 'sexy' film.
The male Shaw’s Jird, a small North African desert rodent, can mate an impressive 224 times in just two hours. He possibly deserves the title of nature's most highly sexed animal and definitely puts us men in our place. (And I thought Lions were good - mating three times an hour for four days).
Several mammals are known to practice oral sex, with short-nosed fruit bats even shown to benefit from increased durations of fellatio. The female licks the male's penis during sex and this surprisingly increases the duration of the copulation.
Chimps are also known to use leaves in an 'enticing' manner to attract females, and some male birds impersonate females to sneak up on real females.
It all goes on out there.....
The male Shaw’s Jird, a small North African desert rodent, can mate an impressive 224 times in just two hours. He possibly deserves the title of nature's most highly sexed animal and definitely puts us men in our place. (And I thought Lions were good - mating three times an hour for four days).
Several mammals are known to practice oral sex, with short-nosed fruit bats even shown to benefit from increased durations of fellatio. The female licks the male's penis during sex and this surprisingly increases the duration of the copulation.
Chimps are also known to use leaves in an 'enticing' manner to attract females, and some male birds impersonate females to sneak up on real females.
It all goes on out there.....
Tuesday, 10 February 2015
White Elelphant seen in the Kruger NP
A baby albino/leucistic elephant has recently been seen in Kruger National Park. David Johnson spotted the baby elephant while travelling between Tshokwane and Satara in January 2015.
Copyright David Johnson
There have been instances before:
In 2005 a baby white elelphant was spotted in the Kruger National park by Odette Joubert. She said the baby had pink eyes and white eyelashes.
In 2006 George and Iris van Rensburg saw a pink elephant hear Olifants camp in the Kruger.
Accoring to elephant experts, the recessive genes for non-pigmented elephants occur naturally in the elephant population and as the population grows more pale animals will be born. The growing number of tourists in Kruger also increases the chances of someone spotting a pink elephant.
Copyright David Johnson
There have been instances before:
In 2005 a baby white elelphant was spotted in the Kruger National park by Odette Joubert. She said the baby had pink eyes and white eyelashes.
In 2006 George and Iris van Rensburg saw a pink elephant hear Olifants camp in the Kruger.
Accoring to elephant experts, the recessive genes for non-pigmented elephants occur naturally in the elephant population and as the population grows more pale animals will be born. The growing number of tourists in Kruger also increases the chances of someone spotting a pink elephant.
Wild Card Magazine recently posted a photo on their Facebook page of what could possibly be an albino/leucistic elephant in Kruger National Park.
According to the post David Johnson spotted the baby elephant while
travelling between Tshokwane and Satara in January 2015. Professor Rudi
van Aarde of Pretoria University says he has never encountered an albino
elephant and wonders if the colouration may be due to a sand and mud
bath. - See more at:
http://africageographic.com/blog/white-elephant-in-kruger/#sthash.w2PPTKaU.dpuf
Wild Card Magazine recently posted a photo on their Facebook page of what could possibly be an albino/leucistic elephant in Kruger National Park.
According to the post David Johnson spotted the baby elephant while
travelling between Tshokwane and Satara in January 2015. Professor Rudi
van Aarde of Pretoria University says he has never encountered an albino
elephant and wonders if the colouration may be due to a sand and mud
bath. - See more at:
http://africageographic.com/blog/white-elephant-in-kruger/#sthash.5Z6AhidE.dpuf
Wild Card Magazine recently posted a photo on their Facebook page of what could possibly be an albino/leucistic elephant in Kruger National Park.
According to the post David Johnson spotted the baby elephant while
travelling between Tshokwane and Satara in January 2015. Professor Rudi
van Aarde of Pretoria University says he has never encountered an albino
elephant and wonders if the colouration may be due to a sand and mud
bath. - See more at:
http://africageographic.com/blog/white-elephant-in-kruger/#sthash.5Z6AhidE.dpuf
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