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The white-tailed deer, also known as the whitetail or Virginia deer, is a medium-sized deer native to North America, Central America, and South America as far south as Peru and Bolivia. Wikipedia
Gestation period: 201 days
Scientific name: Odocoileus virginianus
Mass: 150 lbs (Male, Adult, In Summer), 100 lbs
Thanks to everyone that views and comments on my images - very much appreciated.
© ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. On all my images, Use without permission is illegal.
Harbour or Common Seal - Phoca vitulina
Norfolk.....
The smaller of our two UK seal species, Common Seals are also known as Harbour Seals. Despite being called "Common", they are actually less common than Grey Seals!
The harbor (or harbour) seal (Phoca vitulina), also known as the common seal, is a true seal found along temperate and Arctic marine coastlines of the Northern Hemisphere. The most widely distributed species of pinniped (walruses, eared seals, and true seals), they are found in coastal waters of the northern Atlantic and Pacific Oceans and the Baltic and North Seas.
Harbor seals are brown, silvery white, tan, or gray, with distinctive V-shaped nostrils. An adult can attain a length of 1.85 m (6.1 ft) and a mass of 132 kg (290 lb). Blubber under the seal's skin helps to maintain body temperature. Females outlive males (30–35 years versus 20–25 years). Harbor seals stick to familiar resting spots or haulout sites, generally rocky areas (although ice, sand, and mud may also be used) where they are protected from adverse weather conditions and predation, near a foraging area. Males may fight over mates under water and on land. Females bear a single pup after a nine-month gestation, which they care for alone. Pups can weigh up to 16 kg (35 lb) and are able to swim and dive within hours of birth. They develop quickly on their mothers' fat-rich milk, and are weaned after four to six weeks.
The global population of harbor seals is 350,000–500,000, but subspecies in certain habitats are threatened. Once a common practice, sealing is now illegal in many nations within the animal's range.
This species is typically always on the hunt for prey when out and about and dart surprisingly quickly while searching.
They are extremely agile and very strong swimmers so hunt quite successfully on land and in the water.
Other than during the mating season they are quite solitary but both genders will mate with a number of individuals throughout the breeding season. The female then is left to raise the young herself which averages 4 per litter but can vary from 2 to 8. Her gestation period lasts about 51 days but can vary because she can delay the implantation of the fertilized eggs up to 14 days.
This adult is hugging the shoreline in its search for hidden prey in one of the holes or crevices it discovers as it scampers around.
Harbour or Common Seal - Phoca vitulina
Norfolk.....Friendly banter!
The smaller of our two UK seal species, Common Seals are also known as Harbour Seals. Despite being called "Common", they are actually less common than Grey Seals!
The harbor (or harbour) seal (Phoca vitulina), also known as the common seal, is a true seal found along temperate and Arctic marine coastlines of the Northern Hemisphere. The most widely distributed species of pinniped (walruses, eared seals, and true seals), they are found in coastal waters of the northern Atlantic and Pacific Oceans and the Baltic and North Seas.
Harbor seals are brown, silvery white, tan, or gray, with distinctive V-shaped nostrils. An adult can attain a length of 1.85 m (6.1 ft) and a mass of 132 kg (290 lb). Blubber under the seal's skin helps to maintain body temperature. Females outlive males (30–35 years versus 20–25 years). Harbor seals stick to familiar resting spots or haulout sites, generally rocky areas (although ice, sand, and mud may also be used) where they are protected from adverse weather conditions and predation, near a foraging area. Males may fight over mates under water and on land. Females bear a single pup after a nine-month gestation, which they care for alone. Pups can weigh up to 16 kg (35 lb) and are able to swim and dive within hours of birth. They develop quickly on their mothers' fat-rich milk, and are weaned after four to six weeks.
The global population of harbor seals is 350,000–500,000, but subspecies in certain habitats are threatened. Once a common practice, sealing is now illegal in many nations within the animal's range.
The white-tailed deer, also known as the whitetail or Virginia deer, is a medium-sized deer native to North America, Central America, Ecuador, and South America as far south as Peru and Bolivia. Wikipedia
Gestation period: 201 days
Speed: 30 mph (Maximum, Adult, Running)
Scientific name: Odocoileus virginianus
Height: 1.7 – 3.9 ft. (Adult, At Shoulder)
Family: Cervidae
Three exotic flowers also captured at the Botanic Garden.
Couroupita guianensis
Known as Abricó de macaco (Monkey apricot) is a very ornamental tree, originating from the Amazon rainforest.
The flowers curiously emerge from the trunk, exude an intense scent and are attractive to bees and wasps , who are in charge of pollination. Flowering can last throughout the year, but is most intense in spring and summer.
Etlingera elatior
The Bastão do Imperador (Emperor's staff) is a species of ginger, with very flashy and showy flowers, originating from Southeast Asia.
The flowers are attractive to hummingbirds and some insects. Its bracts are edible and are on the list of ingredients of typical Thai cuisine.
A beautiful bromeliad flower still in gestation. Unfortunately I don't know the ID.
Amazing color contrast between buds and the plant stem.
Mom of the little guy you discovered two weeks ago!...
Snow leopard (Panthera uncia or Uncia uncia), also called ounce, is a carnivore that inhabits the mountainous regions of central Asia and the Indian subcontinent.
Its litters of two to four young are born after a gestation period of approximately 93 days.
Snow leopards have pretty long tails. About 80 – 100 cm in length as against its body length of 48 – 60 cm.
The snow leopard uses its bushy tail to keep balance when it jumps.
The tail allows the leopard to maneuver rather quickly.
The leopard uses its tail as a blanket when it is asleep, it wraps the tail around their body.
The snow leopard population is estimated to be only a few thousand animals, and the species is thus considered endangered.
Snow leopard (Panthera uncia or Uncia uncia), also called ounce, is a carnivore that inhabits the mountainous regions of central Asia and the Indian subcontinent.
Its litters of two to four young are born after a gestation period of approximately 93 days.
Snow leopards have pretty long tails. About 80 – 100 cm in length as against its body length of 48 – 60 cm.
The snow leopard uses its bushy tail to keep balance when it jumps.
The tail allows the leopard to maneuver rather quickly.
The leopard uses its tail as a blanket when it is asleep, it wraps the tail around their body.
The snow leopard population is estimated to be only a few thousand animals, and the species is thus considered endangered.
Island of Madagascar
Off The East Coast Of Africa
Akanin'ny Nofy
Palmarium Reserve
The black-and-white ruffed lemur (Varecia variegata) is a Critically Endangered species of ruffed lemur, the more endangered one of two which are endemic to the island of Madagascar. Despite having a larger range than the red ruffed lemur, it has a much smaller population that is spread out, living in lower population densities and reproductively isolated. It also has less coverage and protection in large national parks than the red ruffed lemur. Three subspecies of black-and-white ruffed lemur have been recognized since the red ruffed lemur was elevated to species status in 2001.
Together with the red ruffed lemur, they are the largest extant members of the family Lemuridae, ranging in length from 100 to 120 cm (3.3 to 3.9 ft) and weighing between 3.1 and 4.1 kg (6.8 and 9.0 lb). They are arboreal, spending most of their time in the high canopy of the seasonal rainforests on the eastern side of the island. They are also diurnal, active exclusively in daylight hours.
Quadrupedal locomotion is preferred in the trees and on the ground, and suspensory behavior is seen during feeding. As the most frugivorous of lemurs, the diet consists mainly of fruit, although nectar and flowers are also favored, followed by leaves and some seeds.
The black-and-white ruffed lemur has a complex social structure and is known for its loud, raucous calls. It is unusual in that it exhibits several reproductive traits typically found in small, nocturnal lemurs, such as a short gestation period, large litters and rapid maturation. – Wikipedia
The white-tailed deer, also known as the whitetail or Virginia deer, is a medium-sized deer native to North America, Central America, Ecuador, and South America as far south as Peru and Bolivia. Wikipedia
Gestation period: 201 days
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... Unless you’re an Elk
Came across this Cutie while on a 2017 road trip through Oregon. She noticed the California License Plate and expressed her opinion of this tourist messing around in her state : )
As one of the largest mammals in North America, elk are noticeably larger than deer. Female elk, called cows, weigh around 500 pounds; males can weigh over 700 pounds. Males generally lose weight during the intense breeding season, weighing less in the winter than during other times of the year.
The Shawnee name for elk is Wapiti, meaning "white rump" because of the characteristic patch of lighter beige hair on an otherwise copper brown colored body. Their legs and neck are often darker than the rest of their body.
Male elk, or bulls, are the only ones that have antlers. They begin growing in the spring and fall off, or shed, each winter. While growing, the antlers are covered with a soft layer of skin called "velvet," which is shed in the summer. Bull elk can sometimes be seen lowering their heads and knocking antlers, an activity that allows them to compete for the attentions of cows and build strength. This behavior usually occurs during the mating season, or rut, which takes place in the fall. During the rut, bulls experience a dramatic increase in testosterone, making the more aggressive and likely to exhibit dominant behavior.
Cows generally give birth to one calf, though they may upon rare occasions produce twins. Calves are born between May and June each year after a gestation period of roughly 8.5 months. Calves average 35 pounds and birth and stay with their mother until the following spring, when the next cycles of calves are born. They are born both spotted and scentless in order to protect them from predators.
- Wikipedia
(Nikon D7200, 80-400/5.6 @ 400mm, 1/640 @ f/5.6, ISO 320)
The white-tailed deer, also known as the whitetail or Virginia deer, is a medium-sized deer native to North America, Central America, and South America as far south as Peru and Bolivia. Wikipedia
Gestation period: 201 days
Scientific name: Odocoileus virginianus
Mass: 150 lbs (Male, Adult, In Summer), 100 lbs
Thanks to everyone that views and comments on my images - very much appreciated.
© ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. On all my images, Use without permission is illegal.
The eastern gray squirrel is found in wooded, suburban, and urban areas everywhere in Florida. Basically, they live anywhere there are large, deciduous trees (trees whose leaves die in the Fall). It is usually light to dark grayish brown with a white or buff underside but may also be all white or blonde with a white underside. It has small, rounded ears. Its long tail is flattened and bushy. The tips of the hairs on eastern gray squirrel's tail are white or gray and it is 16-20" long. Eastern gray squirrels breeds in late winter or early spring and again in late spring or summer. The gestation period is about 45 days and litters contain 2-6 young. When the summer litter is due, the female selects a new nest site, leaving the den to the juveniles. These squirrels live in trees year-round, either in cavities or nests they build out of leaves. Cavities are often old woodpecker holes. Nests are usually high up in tree crotches. Nests are hard to see in the Summer, because they are made with green leaves, and are hidden by foliage (leaves on the trees). They are easy to see in the Winter, when the nest leaves have turned brown and tree leaves fall to the ground. The eastern gray squirrel chatters when disturbed.
Found this one in Polk County, Florida.
Adult male hippo yawns wildly in front of another, Upper Shire valley, Liwonde National Park, Malawi, Africa
The common hippopotamus (Hippopotamus amphibius), or hippo is semiaquatic, inhabiting rivers, lakes and mangrove swamps, where territorial bulls preside over a stretch of river and groups of five to thirty females, their young, and a few young adult males.
During the day, they remain cool by staying in the water or mud; reproduction and childbirth both occur in water. They emerge at dusk to graze on grasses.
Female hippos reach sexual maturity at five to six years and have a gestation period of eight months.
"Yawning" serves as a threat display. When fighting, male hippos use their incisors to block each other's attacks and their large canines to inflict injuries.
Art- Texture added to photo image
What is the bald eagle population by state? There are an estimated 316,700 bald eagles in the lower 48 states, according to the Migratory Bird Program of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS). This is excellent news for a bird that was once endangered.
The bald eagle is a bird of prey found in North America. A sea eagle, it has two known subspecies and forms a species pair with the white-tailed eagle, which occupies the same niche as the bald eagle in the Palearctic. Wikipedia
Conservation status: Least Concern (Population increasing) Encyclopedia of Life
Wingspan: 5.9 – 7.5 ft. (Adult)
Lifespan: 20 – 30 years (In the wild)
Mass: 6.6 – 14 lbs
Scientific name: Haliaeetus leucocephalus
Speed: 75 – 99 mph (Diving)
Gestation period: 34 – 36 days
Thanks to everyone that views and comments on my images - very much appreciated.
© ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. On all my images, Use without permission is illegal.
P1480834 - Citrine Wagtail - Breeding plumage - Size - 19 cm
# 326 - 30 Sep 2018 - 19:35 (14:05 GMT)
Citrine Wagtail {Motacilla citreola (Calcarata - subspecies)}
At - Sapi La or Sapi Valley - Ladakh - Jammu and Kashmir - Trans-Himalayas - India - 4370m (14337 ft) Altitude.
I was looking for some rare species @ this altitude .. And finally spotted him .. initially he was very shy and keep away from me .. So I was behind him almost for a km up-hill .. imagine running up Hill at this Altitude 4400m (14500 ft) .. I was breathing high .. But finely he gave me time .. And I really enjoyed the moments .. Thanks to him for allowing me to capture and enjoy his presence with me .. Happy Birding 🍀
Also Know as - Yellow-headed Wagtail, Yellow-hooded Wagtail.
WONDERFUL FACTS - The longest gestation period...
The largest of all land animals have the longest gestation period of all living mammals.
Yes, the gestation period of Elephants lasts for 18 to 22 months. That’s nearly two years. Among the two main species of elephants – African and Asian, it changes by a few months.
For an African Elephant, the gestation period is 22 months where the Asian Elephant’s is between 18 and 22 months 🐾
Happy birding 🐧
This little momma was caught red handed. She is not just eating for herself now.
Red squirrels have a fixed breeding season which lasts for 105 days, either once or twice each year. The females mate for only one day in each of the two possible breeding seasons, with between 4 to 16 males. The gestation period lasts 33-35 days, and the female gives birth in her drey to a litter of between one and eight young, usually between two and five. For 70 days the mother provides milk for the young, and then they are cast out of the drey to seek their own territory. The young squirrels develop rapidly and are weaned at 7 to 8 weeks.
Kruger National Park
South Africa
Impala Facts -
Swahili Name: Swala Pala
Scientific Name: Aepyceros elampus
Size: 28 to 36 inches tall
Weight: 100 to 135 pounds
Lifespan: 12 years
Habitat: Savanna and light woodland
Diet: Grazer/browser
Gestation: Between 6 and 7 months
Predators: Lions, leopards, cheetahs, hyenas, hunting dogs
A 4.00 am start and a walk in the dark to this spot, which was tricky, as we couldn't really work out the position of the sunrise and how the foreground would work out.
We had done a recce on the previous day so we settled on this spot close to the arch, knowing that other togs would appear out of the gloom and stand in the way!
The sun rose to the right of the La Sal mountains, with the rock formation of "The Washerwoman" just in front. This spot needs the sun to light up the arch above the gap, adding the warm glow to the moment.
I hope we did a tricky shot justice. Some tricky processing too. Not convinced I got the sun-star right, but may re-do it when I have the patience!...I'm looking forward to Brad's interpretation...but then he's on holiday again so it may be some time in the gestation.
P1440788 - Himalayan Blue Pine Cones
# 269 - 04 Jun '18 - 18:35 (13:05 GMT)
Flowering: April-June.
Common name: Himalayan Blue Pine, Himalayan White Pine, Bhutan Pine
Botanical name: Pinus wallichiana
Family: Pinaceae (Pine family)
At - Kuti - on our way to Om Parvat - Uttarakhand - Western Himalayas ~3600m (11800 ft) Altitude.
We came across some excellent high altitude and rare wildlife 🐾
Himalayan Blue Pine - is a dense evergreen tree, found in the Himalayas, from Afghanistan to Tibet, and forms forests at altitudes of 1800-4300m.
The tree is distinguished by its clusters of long cylindrical hanging cones, and it needle-like blue-green leaves. The tree grows up to 50m tall, symmetric and pyramidal in shape.
WONDERFUL FACTS - Elephants have the longest gestation period of all mammals. These gentle giants' pregnancies last for more than a year and a half. The average gestation period of an elephant is about 640 to 660 days or roughly 95 weeks.
Happy birding 🍁
Serengeti National Park
Tanzania
East Africa
The next images were taken on a trip to Masai Mara National Park in Kenya and Serengeti National Park in Tanzania with Tauck Tours sponsored by the Naples Zoo.
Swahili Name: Swala Pala
Scientific Name: Aepyceros elampus
Size: 28 to 36 inches tall
Weight: 100 to 135 pounds
Lifespan: 12 years
Habitat: Savanna and light woodland
Diet: Grazer/browser
Gestation: Between 6 and 7 months
Predators: Lions, leopards, cheetahs, hyenas, hunting dogs
Otter - Lutra Lutra
Otters are carnivorous mammals in the subfamily Lutrinae. The 13 extant otter species are all semiaquatic, aquatic or marine, with diets based on fish and invertebrates. Lutrinae is a branch of the weasel family Mustelidae, which also includes badgers, honey badgers, martens, minks, polecats, and wolverines.
The word otter derives from the Old English word otor or oter.
An otter's den is called a holt or couch. Male otters are called dogs or boars, females are called bitches or sows, and their offspring are called pups. The collective nouns for otters are bevy, family, lodge, romp (being descriptive of their often playful nature) or, when in water, raft.
The feces of otters are typically identified by their distinctive aroma, the smell of which has been described as ranging from freshly mown hay to putrefied fish; these are known as spraints.
The gestation period in otters is about 60 to 86 days. The newborn pup is cared for by the bitch, dog and older offspring. Bitch otters reach sexual maturity at approximately two years of age and males at approximately three years. The holt is built under tree roots or a rocky cairn, more common in Scotland. It is lined with moss and grass.
After one month, the pup can leave the holt and after two months, it is able to swim. The pup lives with its family for approximately one year. Otters live up to 16 years; they are by nature playful, and frolic in the water with their pups. Its usual source of food is fish, and further downriver, eels, but it may sample frogs and birds.
The Eurasian otter is the most widely distributed otter species, its range including parts of Asia and Africa, as well as being spread across Europe, south to Israel. Though currently believed to be extinct in Liechtenstein and Switzerland, they are now very common in Latvia, along the coast of Norway, in the western regions of Spain and Portugal and across Great Britain, especially Shetland, where 12% of the UK breeding population exists.
I spotted a family of Ground Squirrels frolicking at one of my favorite roadside pull-offs earlier today, and it was an absolute delight to watch the youngsters boldly exploring the world just a few tail-lengths away from the safety of their burrows.
I managed to capture one particular youngster locked in a tense standoff with a parent, leaving me to wonder if Junior here was pleading for permission or begging for forgiveness. The scene immediately triggered a wave of nostalgia, bringing to mind those childhood moments when my own mother would deliver a legendary, silent stare-down over whatever silly rule I had inevitably just broken. Some things, it seems, are universal across all species.
______________________
The California ground squirrel is a common and easily observed fixture of the western United States and the Baja California Peninsula. True to their name, these industrious rodents live in complex underground burrows that they excavate themselves, maintaining a strict "stay local" policy; they spend the vast majority of their lives within eighty feet of their front door and rarely venture further than a hundred and sixty feet from home base.
When spring arrives, their social lives get considerably more chaotic during a brief, highly active mating season that lasts only a few weeks. The females are famously promiscuous, frequently resulting in a single litter of five to eleven pups sharing multiple fathers. After a gestation period of about a month, the youngsters are born, eventually opening their eyes at around five weeks. They will reach sexual maturity by the time they hit their first birthday, embarking on a life that can span up to six years in the wild.
(Nikon Z8, Nikon 600/6.3, 1/1250 @ f/6.3, ISO 400, edited to taste)
Every year around the 15th of January, like clockwork, the famous Humpback whales of Samana arrive, having traveled all the way from the North Atlantic to relax and frolic in the warm waters of the Caribbean, a bit like you and me!
Of course it’s not just vacation time for them, they are also here to mate and give birth to their 1.5 ton calves which can often be seen next to their mothers, consuming up to 50 gallons of rich milk (50-60% fat) daily. Calves born here were likely conceived here the year before, as the gestation period is 11.5 months.
Humpbacks feed almost exclusively in the summer months when they can be found in the northernmost and southernmost cold arctic waters, rich in krill, plankton and small fish. Krill, tiny crustaceans found in abundance in the world’s cold waters, and plankton are filtered through an array of balene plates found in the whale’s upper mouth. Humpbacks are ‘Balene’ whales, which feed by taking in huge gulps of sea water and pushing the water back out through the balene filter system in a process called ‘filter feeding’. The krill and other food is trapped by the filtration system consisting of bristles between the plates. Balene was once more commonly called ‘whalebone’, famously used in corset stays and petticoats when these were fashionable. Humpback whales rarely feed at all during the winter months, generally surviving on their fat reserves during the time they can be found in the Bay of Samana.
The Sydney Opera House is a multi-venue performing arts centre at Sydney Harbour in Sydney, New South Wales, Australia. It is one of the 20th century's most famous and distinctive buildings. Designed by Danish architect Jørn Utzon, but completed by an Australian architectural team headed up by Peter Hall, the building was formally opened on 20 October 1973 after a gestation beginning with Utzon's 1957 selection as winner of an international design competition. As one of the most popular visitor attractions in Australia, the site is visited by more than eight million people annually, and approximately 350,000 visitors take a guided tour of the building each year. On 28 June 2007, the Sydney Opera House became a UNESCO World Heritage Site. 18726
Lewa Wildlife Conservancy
Kenya
East Africa
Swahili Name: Swala Pala
Scientific Name: Aepyceros elampus
Size: 28 to 36 inches tall
Weight: 100 to 135 pounds
Lifespan: 12 years
Habitat: Savanna and light woodland
Diet: Grazer/browser
Gestation: Between 6 and 7 months
Predators: Lions, leopards, cheetahs, hyenas, hunting dogs
The Sydney Harbour Bridge is a heritage-listed steel through arch bridge across Sydney Harbour that carries rail, vehicular, bicycle, and pedestrian traffic between the Sydney central business district (CBD) and the North Shore. The view of the bridge, the harbour, and the nearby Sydney Opera House is widely regarded as an iconic image of Sydney, and of Australia itself. The bridge is nicknamed The Coathanger because of its arch-based design. Under the direction of Dr John Bradfield of the NSW Department of Public Works, the bridge was designed and built by British firm Dorman Long and Co Ltd of Middlesbrough and opened in 1932. The bridge's design was influenced by the Hell Gate Bridge in New York City. It is the sixth longest spanning-arch bridge in the world and the tallest steel arch bridge, measuring 134 m from top to water level.
The Sydney Opera House is a multi-venue performing arts centre at Sydney Harbour in Sydney, New South Wales, Australia. It is one of the 20th century's most famous and distinctive buildings. Designed by Danish architect Jørn Utzon, but completed by an Australian architectural team headed up by Peter Hall, the building was formally opened on 20 October 1973 after a gestation beginning with Utzon's 1957 selection as winner of an international design competition. As one of the most popular visitor attractions in Australia, the site is visited by more than eight million people annually, and approximately 350,000 visitors take a guided tour of the building each year. On 28 June 2007, the Sydney Opera House became a UNESCO World Heritage Site. 7826
The Indian pangolin, thick-tailed pangolin, or scaly anteater (Manis crassicaudata) is a pangolin found on the Indian subcontinent. It is not common anywhere in its range. Like other pangolins, it has large, overlapping scales on its body which act as armour. It can also curl itself into a ball as self-defence against predators such as the tiger. The colour of its scales varies depending on the colour of the earth in its surroundings.
It is an insectivore, feeding on ants and termites, digging them out of mounds and logs using its long claws, which are as long as its fore limbs. It is nocturnal and rests in deep burrows during the day.
The Indian pangolin is threatened by hunting for its meat and for various body parts used in traditional medicine.
The Indian pangolin is a solitary, shy, slow-moving, nocturnal mammal. It is about 84–122 centimetres (33–48 in) long from head to tail, the tail usually being 33–47 cm long, and weighs 10–16 kg. Females are generally smaller than the males and have one pair of mammae. The pangolin possesses a cone-shaped head with small, dark eyes, and a long muzzle with a nose pad similar in color, or darker than, its pinkish-brown skin. It has powerful limbs, tipped with sharp, clawed digits. It is an almost exclusive insectivore and principally subsists on ants and termites, which it catches with a specially adapted long, sticky tongue.The pangolin has no teeth, but has strong stomach muscles to aid in digestion. The most noticeable characteristic of the pangolin is its massive, scaled armour, which covers its upper face and its whole body with the exception of the belly and the inside of the legs. These protective scales are rigid and made of keratin. It has 160–200 scales in total, about 40–46% of which are located on the tail. Scales can be 6.5–7 cm long, 8.5 cm wide, and weigh 7–10 grams. The skin and scales make up about one-fourth to one-third of the total body mass of this species.
The Indian pangolin has been recorded from various forest types, including Sri Lankan rainforest and plains to middle hill levels. The animal can be found in grasslands and secondary forests, and is well adapted to desert regions as it is believed to have a tolerance to dry areas, but prefers more barren, hilly regions. This pangolin species may also sometimes reach high elevations, and has been sighted in Sri Lanka at 1100 meters and in the Nilgiri mountains in India at 2300 meters. It prefers soft and semi-sandy soil conditions suitable for digging burrows.
Pangolin burrows fall into one of two categories: feeding and living burrows. Feeding burrows are smaller than living burrows (though their sizes vary depending on the abundance of prey) and are created more frequently during the spring, when there is a greater availability of prey. Living burrows are wider, deeper, and more circular, and are occupied for a longer time than feeding burrows, as they are mainly used to sleep and rest during the day. After a few months, the pangolin abandons the burrow and digs a new one close to a food source. However, it is not uncommon for the pangolin to shift back to an old burrow.
Unlike its African counterpart, the Indian pangolin does not climb trees, but it does value the presence of trees, herbs, and shrubs in its habitat because it is easier to dig burrows around them. Features that promote an abundance of ants and termites (grasses, bare grounds, bases of trees, shrubs, roots, leaf litter, fallen logs and elephant feces) are often present in pangolin habitats.
Few details are known about the breeding behaviour of the Indian pangolin. During the animal's mating period, females and males may share the same burrow and show some diurnal activities. Males have testes in a fold of the skin located in their groin areas. The female's embryo develops in one of the uterine horns. The gestation period lasts 65–70 days; the placenta is diffuse and not deciduate. Usually, a single young is born, but twins have been reported in this species. The young weigh 235–400 g at birth and measure roughly 30 cm. The newborn animals have open eyes, and soft scales with protruding hairs between them. The mother pangolin carries her young on her tail. When the mother and young are disturbed, the young pangolin is held against its mother's belly and protected by the mother's tail.
The Irish hare is one of our most widespread wild mammals, present from sea shore to mountain top and familiar on bogs as well as on farmland. It is Ireland’s only native lagomorph (a group which includes all hare and rabbit species) The Irish hare is a sub-species of Lepus timidus. This species has a widespread distribution across the northern hemisphere, from Ireland to the Pacific Ocean.
One of the main differences between the Irish hare and other sub-species of Lepus timidus is that the former does not turn white in winter.
Hares live above ground and have developed particular strategies to cope with such a life style. Leverets (young hares) are born fully furred with open eyes and are capable of moving about soon after birth. The gestation period of the Irish hare is about 50 days.
Hares have highly developed senses of hearing and smell and their vision is good, particularly for moving objects. They are therefore well adapted for predator detection. Once discovered, the hare has two main strategies for avoiding predators – fight and concealment. Their long powerful hind limbs allow them to outrun most predators.
The grey squirrel can be found in a wide range of habitats, including deciduous, mixed deciduous/coniferous woodland, suburban parks and domestic gardens. It is active during the day, spending most of its time in the trees, but often coming down to the ground to search for food. It is a superb climber, moving rapidly through the trees and leaping between them with ease. It is one of the few mammals which can climb head fi rst down a tree.
Grey squirrels do not hibernate, so may be seen at all times of the year. However, in winter they are far less active, sleeping for long periods, sometimes several days at a time, and they are less frequently spotted during this season.
Grey squirrels are mainly herbivorous, eating acorns, hazel nuts, berries, fungi, buds and shoots, and even bark. However, on rare occasions when plant food is very scarce they will eat insects, smaller rodents, bird eggs and nestlings.
Grey squirrels breed twice a year, December to February and May to June. The fi rst litter of 2-6 pups is born in February to March, the second in June to July. The gestation period is about 44 days. The young are weaned at 7 weeks and leave the nest after 10 weeks.
Grey squirrels build a large, untidy looking nest (drey), in the treetops or hollow tree trunks. The drey is usually lined with moss, thistledown, dried grass, and feathers.
Squirrels collect nuts and seeds in the autumn and bury them in many scattered hiding places or caches around the wood. They have a highly-developed spatial memory and acute sense of smell, which aid them in finding the caches even weeks or months later. Even so, many caches remain uneaten each year allowing the seeds and nuts to grow, so helping to disperse the tree’s seeds through the woodland.
The introduced grey squirrel has been so successful in displacing its native cousin partly because it is bigger and stronger, able to find more food and store more fat in its body for winter. This allows it to out-compete the red squirrel, which has lower survival and breeding rates. A second reason is the Para-poxvirus, which causes a fatal infection in red squirrels. Grey squirrels are not affected, but act as carriers, spreading the virus to red squirrels in the vicinity.
Art
The white-tailed deer, also known as the whitetail or Virginia deer, is a medium-sized deer native to North America, Central America, Ecuador, and South America as far south as Peru and Bolivia. Wikipedia
Gestation period: 201 days
Speed: 30 mph (Maximum, Adult, Running)
Scientific name: Odocoileus virginianus
Atèle noir de Colombie.
For Smile on Saturday !
Theme:On top of the fence.
ATÈLE NOIR DE COLOMBIE
Ateles fusciceps rufiventris
Sa queue est préhensile !
Grâce à elle, il est l’un des meilleurs acrobates de la forêt tropicale.
POIDS : 8 kg
ALIMENTATION : Fruits
MENACES : Braconnage. Déforestation.
ECO-GESTE : Privilégions l’achat de produits (comme le café) issus du commerce Equitable, solidaire et respectueux de l’Homme et de la Nature.
POUR EN SAVOIR PLUS :
Famille : Atélidés
Gestation : 230 jours
Moeurs : grégaires
Portée : 1 petit
Longévité : 25 ans
Colombian Black Spider Monkey
Ateles fusciceps rufiventris
Its tail is prehensile!
Thanks to this, it is one of the best acrobats in the rainforest.
WEIGHT: 8 kg
DIET: Fruit
THREATS: Poaching. Deforestation.
ECO-FRIENDLY TIP: Let's prioritize buying products (like coffee) from Fair Trade, which is ethical and respectful of people and nature.
TO LEARN MORE:
Family: Atelidae
Gestation: 230 days
Behavior: Gregarious
Litter size: 1 offspring
Lifespan: 25 years
Un grand merci pour vos favoris, commentaires et encouragements toujours très appréciés.
Many thanks for your much appreciated favorites and comments.
Island of Madagascar
Off The East Coast Of Africa
Akanin'ny Nofy
Palmarium Reserve
Fifth in my series of lemur images.
The black-and-white ruffed lemur (Varecia variegata) is a Critically Endangered species of ruffed lemur, the more endangered one of two which are endemic to the island of Madagascar. Despite having a larger range than the red ruffed lemur, it has a much smaller population that is spread out, living in lower population densities and reproductively isolated. It also has less coverage and protection in large national parks than the red ruffed lemur.
Three subspecies of black-and-white ruffed lemur have been recognized since the red ruffed lemur was elevated to species status in 2001.
Together with the red ruffed lemur, they are the largest extant members of the family Lemuridae, ranging in length from 100 to 120 cm (3.3 to 3.9 ft) and weighing between 3.1 and 4.1 kg (6.8 and 9.0 lb). They are arboreal, spending most of their time in the high canopy of the seasonal rainforests on the eastern side of the island. They are also diurnal, active exclusively in daylight hours.
Quadrupedal locomotion is preferred in the trees and on the ground, and suspensory behavior is seen during feeding. As the most frugivorous of lemurs, the diet consists mainly of fruit, although nectar and flowers are also favored, followed by leaves and some seeds.
The black-and-white ruffed lemur has a complex social structure and is known for its loud, raucous calls. It is unusual in that it exhibits several reproductive traits typically found in small, nocturnal lemurs, such as a short gestation period, large litters and rapid maturation. – Wikipedia
We made a pit stop during our journey into the Serengeti National Park. As I was looking for the facilities, I spotted some activity atop a Termite Mound across the road. Grabbing my camera, I got a bit closer and discovered this Mongoose on “watch duty” while his family scurried around gathering food. Not an Elephant, but still brought a smile : )
Ps. Had to get low down in the dirt and dung to get the clean background, but looking back on the shot, it was worth getting grungy 😅
The Common Dwarf Mongoose is the smallest of the mongoose family, and both males and females weigh only 350-400gr. Total length is 250mm and the tail is about the same length as the body.
They reach adulthood in the second year of life. Their coat color is uniform all over and can be light brown to a dark chestnut.
Mongooses are primarily found in Africa, their range covering most of the continent. Some species occupy parts of southern Asia and the Iberian Peninsula. They are generally terrestrial mammals, but some are semi-aquatic, and others are at home in the treetops.
Mongooses live in burrows and are nondiscriminatory predators, feeding on small animals such as rodents, birds, reptiles, frogs, insects, and worms.
Some species supplement their diet with fruits, nuts, and seeds. Creative hunters are known to break open bird eggs by throwing them with their forepaws toward a solid object.
After a gestation period of 63 days, females give birth to a litter of two to three. An alpha female can have two to three litters per year. They breed mainly in the rainy season. Only the dominant pair breeds in each pack; the rest of the group members assist in rearing and fending for the young.
(Nikon, 100-400/5.6 @ 400 mm, 1/800 @ f/6.3, ISO 560, processed to taste)
Kamtschatkabären aus der Familie der Braunbären.,
Schulterhöhe 90 bis 150 cm; Kopf-Rumpflänge 170 - 250 cm,
Gewicht: 420 bis 600 kg,
Höchstalter in der Natur 25 Jahre, im Zoo bis zu 40 Jahre,
Allesfresser: vorwiegend Pflanzenkost, auch Aas, Nager, Jungvögel, Fische, Honig,
Verbreitung: westliche Küstenbereiche des Ochotskischen Meeres sowie auf der Halbinsel Kamtschatka im Osten Russlands,
Lebensraum: Tundra- oder Waldgebiete,
Paarungszeit Mai bis Juni; Tragzeit 7 bis 8 Monate mit verzögerter Einnistung des Keims im Uterus, sogenannte Keimruhe; Wurfgröße: 1 bis 3,
Kamchatka bears from the brown bear family.,
shoulder height 90 to 150 cm; head-torso length 170 - 250 cm,
Weight: 420 to 600 kg,
maximum age in nature 25 years, in the zoo up to 40 years,
Omnivore: mainly vegetable food, also carrion, rodents, young birds, fish, honey,
Distribution: western coastal areas of the Sea of Okhotsk and on the Kamchatka Peninsula in eastern Russia,
Habitat: tundra or forest areas,
mating season May to June; Gestation period 7 to 8 months with delayed implantation of the germ in the uterus, so-called dormancy; Litter size: 1 to 3,
Masai Mara National Reserve
Kenya
East Africa
Happy Caturday!!
The cheetah (Acinonyx jubatus) is a large cat of the subfamily Felinae that occurs in Southern, North and East Africa, and a few localities in Iran. The species is IUCN Red Listed as vulnerable, as it suffered a substantial decline in its historic range in the 20th century due to habitat loss, poaching, illegal pet trade, and conflict with humans.
By 2016, the global cheetah population has been estimated at approximately 7,100 individuals in the wild. Several African countries have taken steps to improve cheetah conservation measures. It is the fastest land animal.
Cheetahs are active mainly during the day, with hunting their major activity. Adult males are sociable despite their territoriality, forming groups called coalitions. Females are not territorial; they may be solitary or live with their offspring in home ranges.
Carnivores, cheetah mainly prey upon antelopes and gazelles. They will stalk their prey to within 100–300 m (330–980 ft), charge towards it and kill it by tripping it during the chase and biting its throat to suffocate it to death. Cheetahs can reach speeds of 112 km/h (70 mph) in short bursts, but this is disputed by more recent measurements. The average speed of cheetahs is about 64 km/h (40 mph).
Cheetahs are induced ovulators, breeding throughout the year. Gestation is nearly three months long, resulting in a litter of typically three to five cubs (the number can vary from one to eight). Weaning occurs at six months; siblings tend to stay together for some time. Cheetah cubs face higher mortality than most other mammals, especially in the Serengeti region. Cheetahs inhabit a variety of habitats – dry forests, scrub forests and savannahs. -Wikipedia
Serengeti National Park
Tanzania
East Africa
Happy Caturday !!!
The cheetah (Acinonyx jubatus) is a large cat of the subfamily Felinae that occurs in North, Southern and East Africa, and a few localities in Iran. It inhabits a variety of mostly arid habitats like dry forests, scrub forests, and savannahs.
The species is IUCN Red Listed as Vulnerable, as it suffered a substantial decline in its historic range in the 20th century due to habitat loss, poaching for the illegal pet trade, and conflict with humans. By 2016, the global cheetah population has been estimated at approximately 7,100 individuals in the wild. Several African countries have taken steps to improve cheetah conservation measures.
African cheetahs may achieve successful hunts only running up to a speed of 64 km/h (40 mph) while hunting due to their exceptional ability to accelerate; but are capable of accelerating up to 112 km/h (70 mph) on short distances of 100 m (330 ft). It is therefore the fastest land animal. - Wikipedia
The crater floor at 1,700 m.
With sidewalls 400 / 600 m, so the crater rim is at 2,300 m.
Diameter 21 km
The African elephant grows up to 4 m high and weighs 6,000 kg. Its skin alone weighs 10 hundredweight, the brain 5 to 6 kg, the heart 25 kg. Per day, it drinks about 350 liters of water and eats 500 kg of "green stuff".
It can live 70 years.
The gestation period for elephants is about 22 months. The young is about 90 cm high and weighs 90 kg. It can join the herd soon after birth (after two days).
The Indian pangolin, thick-tailed pangolin, or scaly anteater (Manis crassicaudata) is a pangolin found on the Indian subcontinent. It is not common anywhere in its range. Like other pangolins, it has large, overlapping scales on its body which act as armour. It can also curl itself into a ball as self-defence against predators such as the tiger. The colour of its scales varies depending on the colour of the earth in its surroundings.
It is an insectivore, feeding on ants and termites, digging them out of mounds and logs using its long claws, which are as long as its fore limbs. It is nocturnal and rests in deep burrows during the day.
The Indian pangolin is threatened by hunting for its meat and for various body parts used in traditional medicine.
The Indian pangolin is a solitary, shy, slow-moving, nocturnal mammal. It is about 84–122 centimetres (33–48 in) long from head to tail, the tail usually being 33–47 cm long, and weighs 10–16 kg. Females are generally smaller than the males and have one pair of mammae. The pangolin possesses a cone-shaped head with small, dark eyes, and a long muzzle with a nose pad similar in color, or darker than, its pinkish-brown skin. It has powerful limbs, tipped with sharp, clawed digits. It is an almost exclusive insectivore and principally subsists on ants and termites, which it catches with a specially adapted long, sticky tongue.The pangolin has no teeth, but has strong stomach muscles to aid in digestion. The most noticeable characteristic of the pangolin is its massive, scaled armour, which covers its upper face and its whole body with the exception of the belly and the inside of the legs. These protective scales are rigid and made of keratin. It has 160–200 scales in total, about 40–46% of which are located on the tail. Scales can be 6.5–7 cm long, 8.5 cm wide, and weigh 7–10 grams. The skin and scales make up about one-fourth to one-third of the total body mass of this species.
The Indian pangolin has been recorded from various forest types, including Sri Lankan rainforest and plains to middle hill levels. The animal can be found in grasslands and secondary forests, and is well adapted to desert regions as it is believed to have a tolerance to dry areas, but prefers more barren, hilly regions. This pangolin species may also sometimes reach high elevations, and has been sighted in Sri Lanka at 1100 meters and in the Nilgiri mountains in India at 2300 meters. It prefers soft and semi-sandy soil conditions suitable for digging burrows.
Pangolin burrows fall into one of two categories: feeding and living burrows. Feeding burrows are smaller than living burrows (though their sizes vary depending on the abundance of prey) and are created more frequently during the spring, when there is a greater availability of prey. Living burrows are wider, deeper, and more circular, and are occupied for a longer time than feeding burrows, as they are mainly used to sleep and rest during the day. After a few months, the pangolin abandons the burrow and digs a new one close to a food source. However, it is not uncommon for the pangolin to shift back to an old burrow.
Unlike its African counterpart, the Indian pangolin does not climb trees, but it does value the presence of trees, herbs, and shrubs in its habitat because it is easier to dig burrows around them. Features that promote an abundance of ants and termites (grasses, bare grounds, bases of trees, shrubs, roots, leaf litter, fallen logs and elephant feces) are often present in pangolin habitats.
Few details are known about the breeding behaviour of the Indian pangolin. During the animal's mating period, females and males may share the same burrow and show some diurnal activities. Males have testes in a fold of the skin located in their groin areas. The female's embryo develops in one of the uterine horns. The gestation period lasts 65–70 days; the placenta is diffuse and not deciduate. Usually, a single young is born, but twins have been reported in this species. The young weigh 235–400 g at birth and measure roughly 30 cm. The newborn animals have open eyes, and soft scales with protruding hairs between them. The mother pangolin carries her young on her tail. When the mother and young are disturbed, the young pangolin is held against its mother's belly and protected by the mother's tail.
Geboren am 16.Juni 2017
Ca. 400 Tage Geduld waren gefragt, denn so lange dauert die Tragzeit bei den Flachlandtapiren.
born 2017-06-16
About 400 days of patience were in demand, for so long the gestation time for the lowland tapirs.
Flachlandtapir
(Südamerikanischer Tapir)
Tapirus terrestris
Jaderpark, Jaderberg, Deutschland
I spotted this African Serval Cat in Tanzania as it was creeping through the bush looking for breakfast. The Cat was not in the mood for photographs or photographers, so it remained hidden behind thick brush except for a brief moment when I got off this quick shot.
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The African Serval Cat
The serval is a wild cat native to Africa. It is widespread in sub-Saharan countries, except rainforest regions. It is a slender, medium-sized cat that stands 54–62 cm (21–24 in) at the shoulder and weighs 9–18 kg (20–40 lb.). It is characterized by a small head, large ears, a golden-yellow to buff coat spotted and striped with black, and a short, black-tipped tail. The serval has the longest legs of any cat relative to its body size.
The Serval is a solitary carnivore and active both by day and at night. It preys on rodents, particularly rats, small birds, frogs, insects, and reptiles, using its sense of hearing to locate prey. It leaps over 2 m (6 ft 7 in) above the ground to land on the prey on its forefeet, and finally kills it with a bite on the neck or the head.
Both sexes establish highly overlapping home ranges of 10 to 32 km2 (4 to 12 sq mi), and mark them with feces and saliva. Mating takes place at different times of the year in different parts of their range, but typically once or twice a year in an area. After a gestation period of two to three months, a litter of one to four is born. The kittens are weaned at the age of one month and begin hunting on their own at six months of age. They leave their mother at the age of around 12 months.-
(Nikon, 100-400/5.6 @ 400 mm, 1/1250 @ f/11, ISO 450, processed to taste)
Key deer (odocoileus virginianus clavium), the smallest of all white-tailed deer, is a subspecies of the Virginia white-tailed deer. These deer inhabit Big Pine Key and various surrounding keys. They are not found anywhere else in the world.
Due to uncontrolled hunting and habitat destruction, their numbers were estimated less than 50 animals in 1940's. With the establishment of National Key Deer Refuge in 1957 and intensive law enforcement efforts, the population has since increased and has now stabilized. The estimated population is approximately 600 deer on Big Pine Key and No Name Key (this does not include other keys in the deer's range).Highway mortality is the greatest known source of deer loss.
The shoulder height of Key deer is between 24-28 inches. Does weigh 45-65 pounds while bucks weigh 55-75 pounds.
Rutting season activities begin in September, peaking in early October and decreasing gradually through November and December. Some breeding may occur as late as February. The gestation period is 204 days with fawns born April through June. At birth fawns weigh 2-4 pounds.
Antlers are dropped February through March, and re-growth begins almost immediately so that by June, bucks with 2-inch stubs are seen. Antler growth is completed by August, and velvet is rubbed and kicked off in early September.
Key deer feed on native plants such as red, black and white mangroves, thatch palm berries and over 150 other species of plants. Key deer can tolerate small amounts of salt in their water and they will also drink brackish water, but fresh water is essential for their survival. They must also have suitable habitat to ensure their future existence.
No records exist documenting the origin of the deer in the keys. It is believed the deer migrated to the keys from the mainland many thousands of years ago, across a long land bridge. As the Wisconsin Glacier melted, the sea rose dividing the land bridge into small islands known as the Florida Keys.
The earliest mention of Key deer is found in the memoirs of Fontaneda, a shipwrecked Spaniard held captive by the local Indians. Records suggest that the deer were found around Key West and were used for food by residents and ship crews alike. Although early records indicated sporadic wider distribution of Key deer throughout the lower keys, current data indicates they occupy a range from Johnson Keys to Saddlebunch Keys.
The waterbuck is a large antelope found widely in sub-Saharan Africa. It is placed in the genus Kobus of the family Bovidae.
Waterbucks are rather sedentary in nature. As gregarious animals, they may form herds consisting of six to 30 individuals. These groups are either nursery herds with females and their offspring or bachelor herds. Males start showing territorial behaviour from the age of 5 years, but are most dominant from the six to nine. The Waterbuck cannot tolerate dehydration in hot weather, thus it inhabits areas close to sources of water. Predominantly a grazer, the Waterbuck is mostly found on grassland. In equatorial regions, breeding takes place throughout the year, but births are at their peak in the rainy season. The gestational period lasts 7-8 months, followed by the birth of a single calf.
Waterbucks inhabit scrub and savanna areas along rivers, lakes, and valleys. Due to their requirement for grasslands and water, waterbucks have a sparse ecotone distribution. The IUCN lists the waterbuck as being of least concern. More specifically, the Common Waterbuck is listed as of least concern. while the Defassa Waterbuck is near threatened. The population trend for both is downwards, especially that of the Defassa, with large populations being eliminated from certain habitats because of poaching and human disturbance.
Queen Elizabeth II National Park, Uganda. February 2017.
Island of Madagascar
Off The East Coast Of Africa
Akanin'ny Nofy
Palmarium Reserve
The black-and-white ruffed lemur (Varecia variegata) is a Critically Endangered species of ruffed lemur, the more endangered one of two which are endemic to the island of Madagascar. Despite having a larger range than the red ruffed lemur, it has a much smaller population that is spread out, living in lower population densities and reproductively isolated. It also has less coverage and protection in large national parks than the red ruffed lemur.
Three subspecies of black-and-white ruffed lemur have been recognized since the red ruffed lemur was elevated to species status in 2001.
Together with the red ruffed lemur, they are the largest extant members of the family Lemuridae, ranging in length from 100 to 120 cm (3.3 to 3.9 ft) and weighing between 3.1 and 4.1 kg (6.8 and 9.0 lb). They are arboreal, spending most of their time in the high canopy of the seasonal rainforests on the eastern side of the island. They are also diurnal, active exclusively in daylight hours.
Quadrupedal locomotion is preferred in the trees and on the ground, and suspensory behavior is seen during feeding. As the most frugivorous of lemurs, the diet consists mainly of fruit, although nectar and flowers are also favored, followed by leaves and some seeds.
The black-and-white ruffed lemur has a complex social structure and is known for its loud, raucous calls. It is unusual in that it exhibits several reproductive traits typically found in small, nocturnal lemurs, such as a short gestation period, large litters and rapid maturation. – Wikipedia
Lewa Wildlife Conservancy
Kenya
East Africa
Waterbuck in tall dried out grass.
Defassa waterbuck stand 120 to 136 cm at the shoulder. Head-and-body length ranges from 140 to 240 cm and tail length from 10 to 45 cm. Males weigh 200–300 kg and females 160–200 kg.
They are gregarious occurring in small herds of numbering from 5 to 10 individuals but some to 30.
A gestation period of about 280 days results to birth of a single calf weighing approximately 13 kg but there appears to be a higher incident of twins than in any other antelope species.
Defassa Waterbucks are diurnal inhabiting in scrub and savanna areas near water, where they graze for grasses but browse on occasions. Despite their name, waterbuck do not spend much time in the water, but will take refuge there to escape predators. - Wikipedia
Rothschild Giraffe portrait
The Rothschild’s giraffe, also known as the Baringo or Ugandan giraffe is a subspecies of the Northern giraffe. It was named after the London zoologist Lionel Water Rothschild who first described the subspecies in the early 1900s.
The giraffe is the world’s tallest land mammal and the Rothschild’s giraffe is one of the tallest subspecies, growing up to 6m tall. Its colouring is unique compared to other giraffes as their markings stop half way down their legs.
Giraffes live in small herds with males and females living separately outside of the breeding season. Females give birth to a single calf after a gestation period of around 15 months.
Londolozi Game Reserve
South Africa
In Kruger National Park
The waterbuck (Kobus ellipsiprymnus) is a large antelope found widely in sub-Saharan Africa. It is placed in the genus Kobus of the family Bovidae.
Waterbucks are rather sedentary in nature. A gregarious animal, the waterbuck may form herds consisting of six to 30 individuals. These groups are either nursery herds with females and their offspring or bachelor herds. Males start showing territorial behavior from the age of five years but are most dominant from the age of six to nine. The waterbuck cannot tolerate dehydration in hot weather and thus inhabits areas close to sources of water.
Predominantly a grazer, the waterbuck is mostly found on grassland. In equatorial regions, breeding takes place throughout the year, but births are at their peak in the rainy season. The gestational period lasts for seven to eight months, followed by the birth of a single calf.
Waterbucks inhabit scrub and savanna areas along rivers, lakes and valleys. Due to their requirement for grasslands as well as water, the waterbuck has a sparse ecotone distribution.
The IUCN lists the waterbuck as being of Least Concern. More specifically, the common waterbuck is listed as of Least Concern while the defassa waterbuck is Near Threatened. The population trend for both the common and defassa waterbuck is downwards being eliminated from certain habitats because of hunting and human disturbance. – Wikipedia
Visiting Yellowstone in late May/early June is considered a bit risky as the possibility of road closure due to snow fall still exists. We chose the off season because the hordes of tourists are simply smaller.
It is however one of the best times if you like to see all the babies, in this case Bison. When it is time to give birth, the female departs the herd and goes out on her own to deliver her calf. With a 285-day gestation period and a 99% chance of a single calf being born, herd repopulation is slow. They remain away from the herd for the first few weeks then make the trek to rejoin the herd together.
In this shot, from the archives and taken on June 1st, 2015, three cows and calves follow the river back to the herd. The best part is always seeing the calves meet each other for the first time and truly jump for joy!
A Scottish Wildcat on the prowl at the British Wildlife Centre. Females have a litter of 3 - 4 kittens in May after a 68-day gestation period. They are born with hair but are blind and deaf. Eyes open after 9 days and they emerge from the den at 4 - 5 weeks old. Latest estimates suggest fewer than 100 survive and extinction is considered likely.