Caracals are creatures that cultivate anonymity. A sleek and mysterious wild cat, is known for its striking appearance and agile hunting skills. What is a caracal? A caracal is a medium-sized beautiful wild cat with a sandy coat and some freckling (often faint) on the belly and the insides of the legs. It has large, […]
Tag: eagles
“Long, curved talons can crush the skull and break the spine of large prey – and carcasses too heavy to carry are dismembered where they fall”
The crowned eagle is considered Africa’s most powerful raptor. Built for ambushing prey among the trees, it kills monkeys and antelopes almost four times its own weight, crushing their skulls in its enormous talons. Its prowess may even have made it a hunter of our distant ancestors. Yet its strength offers little protection against the disappearance of […]
There are green birds, reptiles and fish – so why are there no green mammals? The strange reason almost all mammals are brown
Look around you and you’ll see many green animals. There are green insects, green fish, green reptiles, and green birds, but there are no green mammals – why is that? In a predominantly green world, being green seems like it would have its perks, especially if you’re trying to avoid the gaze of a hungry […]
Call to ban marmot hunting in France as campaigners say they are ‘killed for fun’
Animal rights campaigners are gearing up for protests and petitions aimed at persuading the French government to ban the hunting of Alpine marmots. Open season on the rodents, members of the squirrel and groundhog family, begins in September, a few weeks before they go into a long winter hibernation. Although the marmot is not a […]
It’s the size of Ireland and home to a whopping 400 million individuals – making it one of the most densely populated places on Earth
Earth is full of incredible wildlife spectacles, with thousands of animals gathering in one place – often putting on an awe-inspiring display. But if you want to find out the largest colony of mammals, you’ll have to turn to the history books. According to the Guinness World Records, zoologist and ecologist C H Merriam discovered […]
Its legs are as thick as wrists and it’s able to rip monkeys from branches with its deadly talons: Meet the world’s most powerful bird
Harpy eagles are iconic, almost prehistoric-looking birds of prey that regularly feature near the top of ‘birds-to-see-before-you-die’ lists. Seeing one of these majestic eagles in the wild is a truly special moment for birders. What are harpy eagles? The harpy eagle is one of the world’s biggest and most impressive birds of prey. How big are […]
What’s the biggest, heaviest eagle in the world? Meet the contenders – including a giant with a monster 3-metre wingspan
Today the biggest eagle in the world is often claimed to be the Steller’s sea eagle, a fish-eating species from North-East Asia. Steller’s sea eagles are one of the rarest raptors in the world. Birdlife International estimate there’s 3600-4670 mature individuals in the wild and say”it is suspected that it will decline at a rate of 20-30% […]
“Its iridescent green head and wings, spiky crest, blood-red breast, and flamboyant twin tail plumes, is like a carnival dancer.” In the forests of Guatemala lives an elusive creature few will ever see
The sneeze began as a tickle in my right nostril. It was almost imperceptible, like a mosquito landing lightly on my arm, ready to strike. Or a lone butterfly flapping its wings, producing a breeze that would unfurl into a tornado; a tidal wave of latent energy that demanded to be unleashed. Some people can […]