6 Animals Found in African Safari Tours

Africa is known for its vast landscape and the animals that live in it. Some people are lucky enough to visit this beautiful place and see the animals in their natural habitat. Below are the most common animals you can find in the African safari.

Lion

Known to be the king of the jungle, they’re the main attractions of any safari. During the day, you’re likely to see these big cats lying around and sleeping than actively chasing prey since they usually spend 20 hours a day resting. Since they’re social animals and live along with others in a pride, they’re very easy to spot.

Elephant

 The biggest land mammal on the planet, you’ll definitely be awed when you see this majestic animal for the first time. They’re commonly found in the savanna, deserts, forests and woodlands, spreading across more than 30 countries in the sub-Sahara Africa. They’re peaceful animals, but it’s best if they’re left alone.

Giraffe

Another animal that’s easily spotted in any safari, the giraffe is known for their long, delicate necks. They’re the tallest animal in the planet, so you really can’t miss them when you’re out in the field. Because of their long necks, they actually have a special blood valve and veins that stops them from blacking out when they lower their heads to drink.

Leopards

One of the big cats that prowl the safari, there are actually more leopards than African rhinos. However, they are a bit difficult to find since they’re fur is designed to help it bend into the safari. They commonly climb trees and stay there, using them to stay safe as they observe the surrounding.

Rhino

Rhinos are divided into two species, the white and black rhino. The population of black rhinos has drastically declined over the past few decades, so it’s very rare to see these animals in the safari. White rhinos on the other hand are more common and can be seen in South Africa. They’re large animals and are best viewed from afar since they can have a bit of a bad temper.

Cheetahs

A beautiful and rare big cat, they’re one of the fastest animals on land. They’re very agile and flexible, making them a top predator in the safari. Human occupation is one of the biggest threats to these animals since they have a preference for wide, open areas that are being converted into cattle grazing zones. They’re seen in the eastern and southwestern areas of the African safari.

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7 of the Fastest Animals in the Planet

When it comes to speed, the animal kingdom also has its own version of supercars. These animals use their ability to be swift and agile to catch prey or get away from trouble. Below are 7 of the fastest animals on the earth.

Peregrine Falcon

Birds have a big advantage when we talk about speed. Peregrine falcons are particularly fast. Although not actually fast when they fly, they’re capable of diving at speeds reaching 200 mph. these birds basically act like they’re skydiving when they swoop down for dinner. Any prey that catches their eye usually doesn’t have enough time to run for cover.

Frigate Bird

Unlike the peregrine falcons that are only fast when they dive, the frigate bird actually flies fast. Reaching speeds of 95 miles per hour, they fly about as fast as cars on a highway. Their uncanny ability in flying is supported by their large wingspans. Some of these birds would even stay up in the air for over a week.

Sail Fish

The sail fish bags the award for fastest animal in the sea. They can reach speeds of 68 miles per hour. Sail fishes usually grow to about 4 feet long, but some specimen has reach lengths of 9 feet. They’re prized game fish and are known for their incredible jumps. They use their characteristic sails to make themselves look bigger when they’re frighten or intimidated by other animals. But normally, they keep their sails down.

Cheetah

The cheetah is the epitome of agility, grace and speed. The fastest animal on land, these African big cats can run as fast as 61 miles per hour. This predator stalks it prey and then sprints and chases it, tackling it down with a bite. Cheetahs are facing problems with humans taking over the wide open spaces that they hunt and live in. there are a few thousand cheetahs left in the wild.

Pronghorn

Since this animal is considered as prey to many predators in its natural habitat, pronghorns are built to be fast and easily out-sprint whatever predator is chasing them. With the ability to move at speeds of 60 miles per hour and keen senses, cautious pronghorns are able to see another day.

Blue Wildebeest

You might think that an animal that can reach an average weight of more than 200 pounds would have a hard time running fast, but blue wildebeest can pretty much sprint off and run from predators. Although they’re not as fast as pronghorns, they can still reach a good 50 miles per hour speed.

Lion

Another African big cat, these animals often prey on wildebeest and other smaller mammals in the African savanna. Unfortunately of wildebeests, lions can run as fast as they do. They can chase prey at speeds of around 50 miles per hour. It’s also not true that they can’t climb trees, because they easily can.

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10 of the Fastest animals on Earth

1 - Cheetah can accelerate from 0 to 96.6 km/h (60.0 mph) in under three seconds, though endurance is limited: most Cheetahs run for only 60 seconds at a time

2 - Free-Tailed Bat "in flight" can fly upto 60.0 mph.  Tail wind is what allows free-tailed bats to reach such high speeds.

3 - Pronghorn is the fastest animal over long distances; it can run 56 km/h for 6 km (35 mph for 4 mi), 67 km/h for 1.6 km (42 mph for 1 mi), and 88.5 km/h for .8 km (55 mph for .5 mi).

4 - Wildebeest are extremely fast runners, which allows them to flee from predators. They are better at endurance running than at sprinting. It can run 50.0 mph.

5 - Lionesses are faster than males and can reach maximum speeds of 35 mph (57 km/h) in short distances of approximately 90 meters, and a top speed of 50 mph (80 km/h) for about 20 meters. Lions are very agile and have fast reflexes.

6 - Greyhounds are the fastest dogs, and have primarily been bred for coursing game and racing. It can run 46.0 mph

7 - Jackrabbit's strong hind legs allow it to leap 3 m (9.8 ft) in one bound; some can even reach 6 m (20 ft). Jackrabbits use a combination of leaps and zig-zags to outrun predators. It can run 45.0 mph.

8 - African Wild Dog can sprint at 66 km/h (41 mph) in bursts, and they can maintain speeds of 56–60 km/h (35–37 mph) for up to 4.8 km (3 mi).

9 - Kangaroo's comfortable hopping speed  is about 21–26 km/h (13–16 mph), but speeds of up to 71 km/h (44 mph) can be attained over short distances, while it can sustain a speed of 40 km/h (25 mph) for nearly 2 km (1.2 mi).

10 - The fastest horse speed was achieved by a Quarter horse. It reached 70.76 km/h (43.97 mph).

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Top 10 Biggest Cats on the Planet

Although you’d never usually see these cats lying around a couch at home or chasing a laser pointer around, these massive wild cats are natural predators that top the food chain wherever they are seen.

Here are the top ten big wild cats and information about these majestic felines.

10. Caracal

They’re also called the desert lynx. These cats are commonly seen in areas around Southwest Asia, Central Asia, parts of India and Africa. Althoughthey are tagged as least concern, they are threatened in North Africa and are rarely seen in India and Central Asia. They commonly weigh in at 42 pounds.

9. Clouded Leopard

Clouded Leopards are seen along the Himalayan foothills, mainland Southeast Asia,Northeastern India and China. These cats are tagged asvulnerable back in 2008 as their total population is estimated to be less than 10,000 mature specimens. They are considered to link big cats and small cats. These leopards can reach a weight of 51 pounds.

8. Eurasian Lynx

These medium-sized cats are native to East Asia,Central Asia, Siberian forests and Europe. They’re also called the Russian or Siberianlynx, northern lynx,common lynx and European lynx. Lynx are slowly being reintroduced in Western Europe where their population almost despaired. They commonly get as heavy as 79 pounds.

7. Cheetah

Cheetahs are one of the fastest animals alive. They can accelerate from 0 to 100 km/h in just 3 seconds, making them the ideal predator. They’re commonly seen in Northern Iran and Sub-Saharan Africa, reaching 119 pounds.

6. Leopard

Commonly seen in parts of Asia andAfrica, these big cats can reach a weight of 143 pounds, which is the same as a full grown adult human. They’re known to have short legs, a long body and large heads. These cats are tagged as near threatened because of hunting.

5. Snow Leopard (Unciauncia)

Snow leopards are native to Tibet, South and Central Asia. These black and white cats have been tagged as endangered since 2003. Their global population is estimated to be around 4,080-6,590 adults with less than 2,500 individuals reproducing in the wild. They can reach a weight of 165 pounds.

4. Cougar

Also called Puma and Mountain Lion, these cats can grow to reach 264 pounds. They’re commonly found in the Americas, specifically around Southeastern Alaska, Chile and Southern Argentina. They’ll prey on ungulates likebighorn sheep, elk,deer, moose, and domestic cattle, sheep andhorses.

3. Jaguar

Another native to the Americas, they can be found in the Southwestern United States, Mexico, much of Central America,Paraguayand Argentina. Weighing in at 299 pounds, they are the 3rd biggest cats on the planet.

2. Lion

Reaching a weight of 598 pounds, lions are the most popular big cats around. About 10,000 years ago, these giant cats we hunting us a prey. Now, poachers and hunters threaten their population. They’re seen in Sub-Saharan Africa.

1. Siberian Tiger

Along with the Bengal tiger, these big cats are the biggest amongst all of them. Siberian Tigers can reach a whopping 931 pounds and are very powerful. They roam Northeastern China, Russia, some parts of India and the Himalayas.

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4 Heart-Warming Unusual Interspecies Friendships

We often see animals hunt each other in documentaries or nature shows, but a few of documented cases actually show a much softer side to wild animals, especially when a wild animal known to be a top predator develops an uncommon friendship towards an animal that they’d usually consider prey.

Here are of the most uncommon animal friendship that was documented.

Bella the Labrador and Bubbles the African Elephant

Bubbles might be ten times bigger than Bella, but these two have become an inseparable pair. Bubbles was flown to a reserve in the United Sates after being rescued from poachers. Bella was owned by one of the contractors who worked for the reserve. They like spending time together especially near the water, swimming and playing around.

Wilma the Ostrich and Bea the Giraffe

Besides their long necks, these two animals have absolutely nothing alike. Wilma and Bea have become good friends while staying at the Busch Gardens, a park that offers animal encounters with a huge enclosure that’s around 65 acres wide. Although they have all the space to run around alone or with others that are the same species as they are, they willingly spend time with each other.

Sniffer the Wild Fox and Tinni the Dog

Think of the movie the fox and the hound, but replace the hound with a dog that looks like a German Shepherd. Torgeir Berge, a photographer and Tinni’s owner, first met Sniffer when they were out of a walk in the woods. Since then, the two became best friends. Berge took photos of the unusual pair and complied a book called The Fox and the Dog which he hopes can help ban the fox-fur trade.

Bonedigger the Lion and Milo the Dog

Imagine a tiny dachshund taking care of a lion cub. This is how Milo and Bonedigger’s friendship started. The G.W. Exotic Animal Park found in Wynnewood, Oklahoma has been taking care of Bonedigger, a crippled lion that has a metabolic bone illness, since he was a cub. Milo has also been protecting the lion since then. Years later, Bonedigger is now a 500 pound, fully grown lion and Milo still stays by his side along with two other dachshunds, Angel and Bullet.

Shere Khan the Tiger, Leo the Lion and Baloo the Bear

The touching story behind these three animals starts with a rescue and even a surgery. These three were rescued from an abusive drug dealer who kept them as pets. Baloo even had to go through a surgery to take out a harness which grew into his skin, causing deformities. Because of the traumatic experience, Shere Khan, Leo and Baloo became inseparable. They’re now taken care of by the Noah’s Ark Animal Sanctuary.  

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Breakthrough DNA study could slow big cat extinction

New research comparing genes from living lions with ancient lion remains could help scientists boost dwindling populations.

A team of scientists has for the first time compared the genetic signatures from living and extinct lions to identify five distinct geographical groups within the lion species.

Their findings were reported in the BMC Evolutionary Biology journal last week.

Lion groups

The research team, led by the University of Durham and including Museum zoologists Prof Ian Barnes and Richard Sabin, has identified the five groups of lions as North African/Asian, West African, Central African, South African and East-South African.

Current conservation policies recognise only two distinct geographical groups.

Unique characteristics

The genetic information contained in lion DNA identifies the unique characteristics of each population, which, according to Mr Sabin, is vital in understanding how to protect lions from the increasing threat of extinction, using conservation programmes and repopulation both in the wild and in zoos.

'We need to understand how individual groups develop and adapt to their local environment,' Sabin said. 'You can't just repopulate an area with lions from anywhere, because they could be entirely unsuitable.'

Only one lion species (Panthera leo) exists today, with isolated populations living across Africa and in India. About 124,000 years ago during the Late Pleistocene, lions were one of the most successful land mammals on the planet, with many subgroups of Panthera leo existing across a huge geographical range from southern Africa to Eurasia and Central America.

Modern hunting and habitat destruction has left lions in India, and western and Central Africa critically endangered. In the past twenty years around 30 per cent of the total lion population in Africa has been lost.

The results of this study will help scientists understand the potential loss of genetic diversity that could arise from poor conservation or mismanagement of the remaining lion populations.

Source: Here

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Wild Life HD Wallpapers

 

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The 'King of Beasts' threatened by extinction in Western Africa

Plagued by underfunding, little governmental support, poaching and indiscriminate killing by cattle herders, many of the countries in Western Africa have little control or incentive to save the few remaining western African lions left in the wild.

Six years ago, the big cat conservation organization, Panthera, began an important surveythat would involve trekking through 17 African nations, in search of the elusive West African lion, historically considered a sub-species of Panthera leo senegalensis.

Source: Here

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'Wild' animals in travelling circuses benefit no one

The suggestion by a committee of MPs on Tuesday that zebras, camels and several other wild species are appropriate in travelling circuses will cause dismay, outrage and some measure of agreement.

Whether transportation causes animals unacceptable stress, or circuses represent an environment ripe for abuse, can be argued back and forth. But why does a debate about this even exist?

There is an eternal tension between humans and the rest of the animal world. Our existence relies on some measure of exploitation. Animals are routinely killed and enslaved to further the human purpose. And, apart from cases of inhumane treatment, much of this relationship has a necessary evil argument in its favour.

Source: Here

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Lions

Lions remain to be one of the most widely recognized creatures in the world, with countless symbols and symbolisms linked between lions and various cultures and sub-cultures.

The central subject in the 2004 released movie entitled Pride, the feature delved into the world of lions, focusing on the lives of two lion cubs growing up and dealing with the harsh realities of the wild. Combining actual lion cub footage with computer generated graphics, the movie featured the voice talents of Kate Winslet, Sean Bean, Martin Freeman, Rupert Graves and more.

The movie also utilized creative camouflaging techniques in capturing videos of lions, utilizing “Boulder-cams” which are pretty much cameras disguised as boulders.

As one of the world’s big cats, the lion is considered to be the second largest of the group, with Tigers being the biggest. With male lions defined by their manes, male lions are known to have weighed as much as 250 kilograms, with a number of these known to weigh even more.

Found in Africa and in parts of Asia, the lion is regarded to have been one of the most widespread mammals prior to the Pleistocene era. With lifespans known to range somewhere between 10 to 15 years (more when in captivity), lions are considered to be the most social of all the big cats, typically found in groups composed of females an alpha male and younger males.

As big cats, lions are mostly nocturnal, given the fact that they sleep most parts of the day. As large and as majestic as both male and female lions are, their populations are currently at risk of being endangered, one which countless initiatives and efforts are intent in putting to a halt, in repopulating the lion’s dwindling numbers.

 Lions Video

 

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