These 2 White Rhino sub adults came for an evening mud wallow and drink. We watched from the far side of the pan, the calm conditions providing the perfect opportunity to reflect.
Sunday, August 22, 2010
Rhino Reflections
These 2 White Rhino sub adults came for an evening mud wallow and drink. We watched from the far side of the pan, the calm conditions providing the perfect opportunity to reflect.
Saturday, August 21, 2010
Mother & cub continued
This female Leopard made another Impala killl the other day and her 17 month old sub adult cub was there again to share the spoils. Mom's growls and snarls are getting more intese every time, she is losing patience with her offspring, time to catch your own food!
Killer's eye
3 of the Mapogo male Lions spotted a Lioness and stole the leftovers of her Impala kill the other day. All that was left was the Ram's head which provided a tasty snack.
Monday, August 16, 2010
Side by Side
We were treated to a truly rare sighting of 2 Side Striped Jackals in the final stages of mating yesterday morning, we stumbled upon them looking rather frustrated at being stuck together!
After 5 minutes of snarling at each other they suddenly broke away and ran in opposite directions.
When the dog family mate, the male's penis base (Bulbus glandis) swells during intromission. The female vulval entrance also swells, effectively locking the animals together.
The male will cock a leg over the female's back and they stand back to back until swelling subsides (usually 1 to 2 minutes). We witnessed this for at least 5 minutes, so these 2 were locked for an unusually long time.
This apparently ensures that sperm is transferred effectively in a single mating session! The animals stand back to back to look for danger while they are in this vulnerable position.
After 5 minutes of snarling at each other they suddenly broke away and ran in opposite directions.
When the dog family mate, the male's penis base (Bulbus glandis) swells during intromission. The female vulval entrance also swells, effectively locking the animals together.
The male will cock a leg over the female's back and they stand back to back until swelling subsides (usually 1 to 2 minutes). We witnessed this for at least 5 minutes, so these 2 were locked for an unusually long time.
This apparently ensures that sperm is transferred effectively in a single mating session! The animals stand back to back to look for danger while they are in this vulnerable position.
Friday, August 6, 2010
Open Ocean birding
We headed out in a ski boat on a late July morning off the Umhlanga coast to try and catch some Pelagics following the end of the sardine run. The ocean was like glass and these 2 birds were remarkably relaxed with the boat providing us with some great photo opportunities.
This Sub Antarctic Skua was following our boat hoping for some fish while the Indian Yellow Nosed Albatross made an appearance right at the end of the boat trip and took a rest right next to us!
This Sub Antarctic Skua was following our boat hoping for some fish while the Indian Yellow Nosed Albatross made an appearance right at the end of the boat trip and took a rest right next to us!
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