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A close up of one of the new White Rhino Calves only a few weeks old at Kwandwe. Starting its new life, learning, exploring and facing the challenges that lie ahead...
The female rhino is pregnant for about 18 months, after which only one calf is born. At birth, this calf will weigh between 25 and 45 kilograms (or between 55 and 100 pounds). It is born fairly weak but is able to stand up and begin walking within minutes of the birth, an incredible feat for one so young.
Soon, it will be able to keep up with its mother’s pace. Within the first few hours of its life, it will begin to suckle milk from its mother, which it will continue to do until about 18 months of age. The mother will allow her calf to drink milk exclusive for the first week or two. After that, she will take it to areas with soft grass and teach it to eat the young, juicy vegetation of the area.
The rhino calf is born without a horn. Its only protection comes from its mother, who seems to delight in caring for her new addition. This is notable because rhinos are generally solitary animals, preferring to be alone than to move and live in a herd. However, this does not stop the female from being a loving and attentive mother to her calves.
Male rhinos leave the female as soon as mating has occurred. They do not play any role in the raising of the young. The calf stays with its mother for about two to three years. Male calves tend to leave their mother sooner than their female counterparts. Once they leave, they will go and find a territory of their own. This is not always easy, since rhinos do not share their territory with others. Therefore, the young rhino needs to be able to look after itself as it searches for territory, and to defend itself against other rhinos that want to compete for space.
Took a soil sample and this is what came out until now...
I also had some fun with Photoshop, with layers and text on paths. :-)
We followed and watched these two males for about 45 minutes. It is unusual to find two males together in the same area. A check on their spots and markings showed they were brothers Iko and Katu. Both showed old and recent damage from encounters hunting food.
The tracks belong to the former Transandine Railway, connecting Argentina (Mendoza) with Chile (Santiago de Chile). The line operated from 1910 until 1984.
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To read your comments is a pleasure. Thank you for your visit, comments, invitations and faves!
Populations of the Ljip or Northern Lapwing, Vanellus vanellus, has declined steadily in the 21st century, even though It Fryske Gea maintains there are 200.000-300.000 breeding pairs in the country, with the province of Friesland claiming the majority of those birds.
The hunting of lapwing eggs has been severely curtailed as a cultural practice, with aaisykjers (egg hunters) now required to get a permit and to send an sms message on their cellphones when they find eggs to the registering agency since 2015. It remains to be seen how well this is working out and whether aaisykjers are harvesting the eggs they do find or not.
Two tarantulas battling at Zion National Park. Came across these on the side of the path as we were hiking.
Photo by Russell Eck
Family: Cottidae
When disturbed with light, this cryptic fish partially buried itself in mud on the bottom of a small stream near Bath. At around 8cm, this is a mature fish.
A note on photographing fish from above in shallow water, in low ambient light conditions, for those who are interested: polarising filters are not always useful if you are able to use off camera flash. Here, two of Nikon's R1 units were used, mounted to the end of the lens and angled in towards the animal. The built-in flash (used to trigger the other strobes) was blocked with the IR panel, as this would have caused reflections visible on the surface.
Dead Horse Point State Park
Moab, UT
Shooting conditions were not the best on this day, but I loved this park.
According to one legend, around the turn of the century the point was used as a corral for wild mustangs roaming the mesa top. Cowboys rounded up these horses, herded them across the narrow neck of land and onto the point. The neck, which is only 30-yards-wide, was then fenced off with branches and brush.
This created a natural corral surrounded by precipitous cliffs straight down on all sides, affording no escape. Cowboys then chose the horses they wanted and let the culls or broomtails go free. One time, for some unknown reason, horses were left corralled on the waterless point where they died of thirst within view of the Colorado River, 2,000 feet below.