TSWALU KALAHARI RESERVE, South Africa — From high on a promontory in the Korannaberg Mountains, a mountain zebra (Equus zebra hartmannae) peers down to the west across the green-dappled plain below, the sun rising behind. In the distance, wild dogs (Lycaon pictus) hunt in the veld, verdant after early rains. And nearby, white rhinos (Ceratotherium […]
Tag: giraffes
“Staring menacingly, the buffaloes encircled our vehicle.” My close encounter with a mega-stampede
We’re parked up in our Land Cruiser on the golden grasslands of Botswana’s Mababe Depression, surrounded by Cape buffaloes caked in mud. “There must be 3,000 of them here,” our guide Jonah Seboko says quietly, scanning the scene with his binoculars. “Beautiful, just beautiful.” That’s not a word I’d ever really associated with the notoriously […]
“It has huge back legs armed with dagger-like claws that can reach 12cm long.” 10 bonkers birds that break the rules of nature
While there are plenty of weird birds to be found in the natural world, this avian selection is particularly extraordinary. From the only bird that hibernates, to the bird that can kick a human to death, here are 10 birds that defy the norms of nature. Birds that break nature’s rules Livingstone’s turaco The bird with metal […]
Giraffes have ridiculously high blood pressure – much higher than humans. So why doesn’t it kill them?
Giraffes are best known for their very long necks, but we shouldn’t overlook the elongated limbs of the tallest animal in the world. They’re famed for the adaptation that allows them to reach succulent leaves in the acacia canopy that shorter animals can’t access. But this extreme feature comes at a cost: namely the energy required […]
These 8 astonishing, brutal hyena photos reveal the raw chaos, power and intelligence of these top predators
While many think of hyenas as scavengers – as they steal most of their food from lions, they are also extremely adept hunters, chasing down prey across the savannah at impressive speeds. Hyenas can work together to bring down surprisingly large animals, such as zebras, buffaloes and giraffes – and have even been known to […]
Kingdom review – David Attenborough never fails to make nature awe-inspiring
As I watch a leopard hunt in Kingdom, the BBC’s latest David Attenborough-narrated documentary, I find myself thinking about a YouGov survey from a few years ago that found that half of Britons wouldn’t take a free trip to the moon, with 11% turning it down because “there isn’t enough to see and do”. As […]
Study busts big bad myth that wolves are growing fearless of humans
After years of being hunting to near-extinction, wolves are making a comeback in some of their historical ranges in Europe and North America. With their return comes a growing concern that the predators are moving too close to human settlements, becoming bolder and less fearful of people. Researchers set out to see if that’s true, […]
Wildlife Advocates Condemn Proposed ‘Barbaric’ Florida Black Bear Hunt
Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) officials are moving forward with plans for a black bear hunt in the state in December. The proposed 23-day hunt could result in the slaughter of nearly 200 bears — almost five percent of the state’s estimated total. Opponents are calling it a bloodlust-driven trophy hunt with no […]