Morning field notes:
1. Steenbok
2. Leopard (same as last night)
·
Birds sound alarm call at it
3. 2 male rhinos grazing
·
Become big enough to challenge a new male in
their late 20’s
·
The reserve injects poison into the rhinos’
horns to deter poachers from hunting them and selling their horns on the
black-market.
o
Horns sell for about $80,000 per kg and about ½
a million for 1 horn.
o
Rhinos’ only predators are humans
o
Their eye sight is bad; this contributes to them
charging blindly at foes and being very aggressive.
4. 3 female giraffes
·
An ox pecker tried to get in one’s ear and the
giraffe shook it off.
5. Harem herd of impala (30-40)
*Olifants River—means “elephant river” in Afrikaans.
6. 6 Wilderbeast with impala
Afternoon game drive
1. Adult female giraffe
2. 2 hippo (1 male and 1 female)
·
One lifted out of the water and opened its mouth
(threatening behavior)
·
Harem structure
·
Skin is sensitive so they secrete a sun
screen-like chemical while out of the water.
·
Can hold breath for 5-6 minutes
·
One was grunting at us (threatening behavior)
3. Little crocidile
4. 4 waterbuck (3 males and 1 young female)
5. Tawny eagle roosting in tree
6. Guinea fowls
No comments:
Post a Comment