Urban Horticulture
Kangaroos – Australia’s best-known animals
Preface
The Council of Nature Conservation Ministers (CONCOM) is composed of all Commonwealth, State and Territory Ministers having responsibility for national parks and wildlife. CONCOM is advised by a Standing Committee consisting of the Heads of Commonwealth, State and Territory Authorities responsible for national parks and wildlife matters.This ‘Code of Practice for the Humane Shooting of Kangaroos’ has been prepared by the CONCOM Special Working Group on Cruelty Aspects of the Taking and Holding of Native Fauna. During the course of its preparation, drafts of the Code were circulated widely for public comment.The Code sets an achievable standard of humane conduct and is the minimum required of persons shooting kangaroos. Read the rest of this entry »
Scientific name: Proteles cristatus
It looks like a miniature striped hyena, but it’s not. The aardwolf (the name means “earth-wolf” in Afrikaans) is so highly adapted to eating termites that its teeth, except for its canines, have dwindled to mere pegs incapable of chewing meat. Its fangs are still well-developed, and it uses them to defend its territory from other aardwolves.Aardwolves live entirely on two species of termites. One of these species goes dormant during the cooler winter, so they then switch to the other species for sustenance. This very restricted diet means that the species has a very retricted range — it can only live where these two species of termites do.An aardwolf doesn’t have powerful claws or forelegs like an anteater or aardvark, so it can’t dig out the termites. It has to stand beside or on top of the mound to lick up what it can. Read the rest of this entry »
Spotted Hyenas
Spotted hyenas now live only in Africa in savannahs and deserts, but during the Ice Ages a giant-sized version roamed Europe and Asia and left bones in caves.Spotted hyena cubs are born almost black. It’s a few months before they take on the adult coloration.The litters are small compared to most other carnivores — usually one or two.Spotted hyenas run down their prey like wolves. They rarely stalk it or set up ambushes like lions. But, like most carnivores, they’re flexible: they can adapt their hunting techniques to the prey and the situation, and can pass on what they’ve learned to their young. Read the rest of this entry »
Scientific name:Hyaena brunnea
Brown hyenas really are brown with whitish manes and very long, shaggy hair — particularly compared to spotted hyenas. They were once thought to be quite closely related to striped hyenas, but may be more closely related to spotted hyenas instead.
Differences between brown and spotted hyenas:
Brown hyenas are smaller than spotted hyenas, have pointed ears and very different coats and coloring.
Brown hyenas can live in much drier areas than spotted hyenas, such as Deception Valley in the Kalahari desert. Read the rest of this entry »
THE POACHING PROBLEM
Between 1979 and 1989, the worldwide demand for ivory caused elephant populations to decline to dangerously low levels. During this time period, poachings fueled by ivory sales cut Africa’s elephant population in half. Since they were big targets and sported the largest tusks, savannah elephants took the worst hit. But as soon as these elephants began to vanish, hunters moved into the forests in search of the elephants’ smaller kin. In 1977, 1.3 million elephants lived in Africa; by 1997, only 600,000 remained. Read the rest of this entry »
TALE OF THE TRUNK
With the two finger-like points on the end of its trunk, an African elephant can pick up fruit the size of a marble — or a branch a foot thick. This elongated proboscis is an incredibly versatile tool: it provides a means for smelling, breathing, and touching, not to mention drinking and eating. Mothers caress their young with their trunks; infants use theirs to investigate everything from plants to playmates.The trunk also acts as a hose, whether for a drink or a dust bath. (A coating of dust, like mud, repels sun and insects). To drink, an elephant sucks water into its trunk, pokes the open end in its mouth, and releases the water to let it drain down its gullet. Read the rest of this entry »
LIFE OF AN ELEPHANT
Africa. Sprawled across this continent are vast savannahs, seemingly endless deserts, and impenetrable rain forests. Each region is dotted with a unique array of wild animals, from elusive leopards to the delicate, gazelle-like bongo. However, roaming throughout every African ecosystem is one constant: the elephant, which makes its home in every type of landscape. As filmmaker and elephant expert Cynthia Moss shows in THE ELEPHANTS OF AFRICA, elephants are all over the continent. While the celebrated savannah elephants of Kenya and other parts of East Africa draw thousands of tourists to the local parks, this group makes up only a portion of Africa’s elephants. Read the rest of this entry »
DOUG’S VISION LETTER OF ELEPHANT
Accompanying Jabu, Thembi and Morula on their daily foraging expeditions has given me plenty of time to ruminate. Watching them play, feed, mud-bath and interact – I wished all elephants could be as secure and happy.Reflecting on the unusually harmonious relationship we have with our elephants, it concerned me how differently from myself most rural dwellers living in elephant range experience elephants.Knowing that the majority of Africa’s elephants live outside of protected wildlife areas, the enormous importance of the relationship between people and elephants became obvious to me. Having seen how effective the trio are in creating an understanding of elephants with international visitors, I felt there must be a way we and our elephants could help relieve tension between villagers and elephants. Read the rest of this entry »
Rocky is a dolphin
On one of the next days I managed to finish clearing that trail I started on day three. It’s been hard work, but it felt good after it was done. This was also the first time I saw where this trail actually goes to. It leads to a beautiful small sand beach in the south of the island.Just when I was about to jump in the water we got a message from the other team on the water that they found dolphins. We quickly got our things together jumped into the boat and went there. When we arrived, we found a single dolphin chasing fish into the rocks of the shore. Read the rest of this entry »
the reef of dolphin
On our way back home we anchored at a reef and everyone went snorkeling. This reef is probably one of the most beautiful things I’ve ever seen. I don’t think I’ve ever seen so many and different fish so close together (I have to admit that I’m not really an experienced snorkler or diver, though). Those strange shapes. The colors look almost unreal, so intense. I took as many pictures as I could with my small water prooved camera. Just when my last film was full I finally saw a small sea turtle. I tried to follow it, but it’s very hard to keep up with their speed.
Back on the island Ken drove to Marsh Harbour to do some shopping (we were out of some basic food). On his way he found some dolphins and called us on the radio. Even though it’s quite a long way I decided to go there with the canoe. The way seemed to be never ending. I was rowing as fast as I could. I really didn’t want to get there when the dolphins were already gone, but I arrived in time. This time we saw five dolphins. One was a baby that always stayed close to it’s mother. They always surface at the same time to breath. Since the five didn’t always stay together I sometimes didn’t know where to go, but again I got very close to them. I really recommend anyone who has the choice between a moter boat and a canoe to use the hand powered version when following dolphins. It’s just not the same on a big boat. It’s almost like being part of the water. On a motor boat I always feel a little like an alien, an intruder in the sea. Rowing back to the island was hard, but nothing can be really hard after those moments.