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WILDLIFE


THE OSTRICH (STRUTIO CAMELUS)

The Ostrich is a bird that cannot fly. Its habitat is the same as the one of mammals, sharing the same pastures as Zebras, Gnus, Antelopes. It is an omnivorous, its diet being a mixture of everything; insects, reptiles, rodents, roots, herbs, eggs and even stones! Two metres tall, it may be elected the sentinel of the savannah. From the top of its neck, its large eyes are always scanning the horizon for predators. Good eyesight and speed (it is considered the third champion runner among animals after the Cheetah and Springbok Gazelle) are two very important forms of protection for this animal "intruder" in other mammals territory. Being a bird, of course it lays eggs. The size of these is equivalent to 25 chicken eggs. Both male - recognisable for its black and white plumage - and female - greydark in colour - take care of the eggs. The female sits on them during the day and the male takes over the responsibility during the night. They may hatch up to 20-30 eggs. Ostriches generally live in small troops consisting of several males and quite a good number of females. It is very interesting to observe these birds engaged in their extraordinary courtship ritual. The male drops on folded legs in front of its partner, then extends his wings, flapping them, with tail lowered, the head rhythmically moving from side to side, a curious ceremony lasting about ten minutes. The female watches, pretending to be completely bored. Then the male approaches the female with wings outstretched. A kind of dance that inspired some white settlers to tame some of these birds and to teach them a real dance, perfectly matching the music of a Strauss waltzer!!

THE CROWNED CRANE (Balearica pavonina)

The Crowned crane may well be considered one of the most attractive African birds. Even the Latin name reminds one of the peacock, the "king of beauty". Uganda has it as a national bird, having it carved or painted on its coat-of-arms. The ritual ceremony performed by the crowned cranes as the mating season approaches, is amazing. Like two demoiselles they bow to each other, then leap two or three times up in the air, coming down to run around each other, again and again, in an amusing and beautiful dance

THE MARABOU (Leptoptilos crumeniferus)

To say that the Marabou Stork is handsome is far from the truth! It is the most common stork in Africa. You may find it everywhere, near towns and villages, scavenging, and associated with vultures at carrions or lion kills. It is an important destroyer of locusts. It may reach one metre and a half in height and a wingspan of 3 metres. Like many other African birds it makes use of rising thermal currents of air to gain altitude, making minimal use of the wings.

THE FLAMINGO (The Lesser; Phoeniconaias minor: The Greater; Phoenicopterua ruber)

There are two species of flamingos: the Lesser and the Greater. Both birds are living in alkaline water, where, by means of a process called photosynthesis, the solar energy makes a kind of alga grow to full size within only four hours: this alga is the main diet of the Lesser Flamingo; while the Greater Flamingo's diet is completed by crustaceans, invertebrates etc... The algae are filtered through the very peculiar beak of the birds. The tongue works like a piston: it draws water and algae and other matter and strains out the edible things for swallowing. They are unable to catch fish. Another breathtaking vision may be the place where flamingos lay eggs: little mud towers with one egg on the top, thousands and thousands together, for kilometres! It has to be seen to be believed. A visit to Lake Nakuru in the Rift Valley may give a better idea of what a poet described "the most beautiful spectacle in the world"! It is a really spellbinding picture when you see flocks of thousands upon thousands of stately flamingos, numbering up to one and a half million! .

THE SECRETARY BIRD (Sagittarius serpentarius)

The distinctive crest of feathers - each of them like the kind of quill pen once used for writing - explains the derivation of its English name. This bird, one metre high, is a hunter of snakes, lizards, Grasshoppers and even small mammals. Its habitat includes steppe, savannah and bare ground. The long legs and sharp talons are quite capable of dealing with the largest and most venomous snakes. Closing round the slippery body like a pair of pincers. Seen in flight, the bird looks like an enormous toy kite.


 

 THE HORNBILLS (Tockus flavirostris)

The Hornbills belong to the family of the Bucerotidae. Their enormously large beaks are sometimes additionally furnished with horny growths of casques, which give the birds an even more grotesque appearance. Despite the big casque, beak and casque together are fairly lightweight for they are usually hollow or spongy. In most cases the hornbill's nest is a hole in the tree. The female enters this hole and barricades herself inside, plugging the entrance with dung or mud, brought by the male, until there is only a narrow slit, through which food can be introduced. The female will stay inside laying her eggs (2 to 4). The nest will be kept perfectly clean, the female defecating precisely and at high velocity through the entrance slit and rejecting also all scraps of uneaten food. The bird will stay in prison for 14 weeks in all! Then the female will break the entrance with her beak, come out and then the small birds will themselves close the entrance again and stay inside for another long period until they are ready to accompany their mother.

THE GREEN MAMBA (Dendroaspis viridis)

If you see the Mamba from far away, you may say it is a "beautiful creature". But, please keep clear of it! The Mambas are the deadliest of all African snakes. Some of them may reach 3 metres (9 feet) in length. There are green, brown, black mambas. Renowned for their agility and aggressive temperament, they are also amazingly fast moving reptiles; 30 kms per hour! They eat rodents, but also chameleons, lizards, eggs. The poison they inject is really powerful. Not only can it kill instantly a small rodent, but it makes the prey putrefy within a few hours. The poison is very dangerous for humans. You may only be saved - if bitten - by an antidote injected as quickly as possible.

THE IMPALA (Aepyceros melampus)

The Impala is called the "high jumper of the bush" each jump may cover as much as ten metres and take the animal up to three metres into the air. The males has a pair of ringed, lyrate horns, up to one metre in length.

The reddish coat becomes lighter on the flanks and almost white on the belly. The white hindquarters are bordered on either side by a black line and a dark line also runs centrally down the tail which terminates in a white tuft. The female has no horn at all. Impala are gregarious and normally make up herds of two distinct types: one more organised and compact containing up to 100 individuals, consisting of females with their young and single dominant male.

The other comprises bachelor males only, less than a year old. The diet is vegetarian, mainly leaves and seeds of acacias, and grass. We may thank the Impala for its providentially good help in maintaining the ecological equilibrium of the savannah: the seeds of the Acacia moistened through the animals digestive tract, are deposited on the ground in excreta and soon germinate providing more Acacia trees which provide nourishment for many other animals of the savannah, such as Giraffes etc... If you observe the surroundings of the savannah you will notice very few trees and among these, the precious Acacia Tortilis (called by Africans "the Giraffes's tree").

THE WATERBUCK (Kobus ellipsiprymnus)

The waterbuck weighs 300kg and is over 2 metres in length. The males carry long ringed horns, curving slightly forward, with black tips. They may measure up to one metre or over. The females have no horns.

All animals living in cold regions have one common characteristic: a coat of long, stiff hairs. Inhabitants of warm, dry zones tend to have instead a short coat. It is therefore surprising to find alongside Impala and Gazelle grazing near lakes and rivers, an equatorial species of antelope which has thick fur. The Waterbuck is almost always found in wet areas.

If it is sighted in a habitat which appears to be arid, the chances are then there will be a river or a stream not far away. Mating takes place preferable towards the end of the rainy season. In due time the females disperse each one seeking a convenient spot for giving birth to her single baby. Later she will bring it back to rejoin her original herd.

Hyenas and leopards are the most feared predators: sometimes half of the newly born babies are killed in a single season. Life for the Waterbucks is not too strenuous: they spend seven hours a day feeding, two hours ruminating and the remaining time resting and playing.

THE WART HOG (Phacochoerus aethiopicus)

The Wart Hog is an animal related to the swine. There are several species. The most common one is a native of Northern Africa and it is so named from the warts which cover the face.

The canine teeth project from both jaws like two big tusks, giving not only a grotesque appearance but a ferocious look as well. Like the wild boar, to which it is related, the Wart Hog is fierce and courageous.

Should a Cheetah, for instance, launch an attack on a baby Wart Hog, the adult will charge in fury, the menace of its sharp tusks being enough to put the predator to flight. It is also a surprisingly fast runner. You will see the Wart Hog sometimes kneeling while feeding on the grass. A very odd position indeed!

THE BABOONS (Papio anubis)

The Baboon belong to the order of Primates. They are large, powerful monkeys with a characteristic doglike face. Their daily life is predominantly spent on the ground, while nocturnal rest is on the trees or in very well hidden cavities. They are highly intelligent and extremely watchful.

Their sight is also very good. Their formidable teeth can tear out chunks of flesh from animals like dogs and even leopards when attacked. Usual diet varies from roots to wild fruits, insects, spiders, eggs and even scorpions.......from which they snatch the venomous sting! Although dog faced the baboons do not use their mouths to eat as the dogs do. They "politely" take the food with their "hands" and put it in their mouth.

They are also very fond of sweets and they may snatch them from your pocket or purse and after unwrapping them, they may offer a bit to their young. The baboons, like other primates, give birth normally to only one young at a time. Maternal care is given during the first weeks of their life. The baby clings to the hair of it's mother's chest, day and night. The life of baboons is very interesting and amusing as well.

Experienced males make all the communal decisions and monopolise portions of territory where a sort of hierarchy is observed and when danger is in sight each male comes to the aid of any other in trouble. The dominant male instils in young baboons a sense of respect and discipline and even of tolerance. Very great care is observed for cleanliness both of babies and grown up females as well. Observing the behaviour of this creature one may be tempted to compare it with that of humans: there are so many similarities!

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