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SAVANNAH BABOONS - Life in the Troop
Baboons are large terrestrial monkeys confined to Africa. The number of species is disputed, with some authors lumping the Guinea, chacma, olive and yellow baboon as a single species - the 'savanna baboon' - while others regard them as four distinct species. Anatomically and behaviourally, the four are very similar, it is primarily the colour and length of the coat which distinguishes them. There is some overlap in their ranges where hybridisation occurs.
GIRAFFE
Of all Africa's wild animals, the giraffe is possibly the most distinctive, for there is no other animal at all similar on any other continent. It has only one living relative, the odd-looking okapi of the central African rain forest. The giraffe is the tallest member of the animal kingdom - males average 5.5 metres, females a little less.Their unique form is the result of some remarkable adaptations, and has enabled them to exploit a food niche not utilised by other herbivores - the leaves on the uppermost branches of trees.
GREATER KUDU - Spiral-horned High-jumper
The Greater Kudu belongs to a group of spiral-horned antelope known as the Tragelaphines. All are characterised by a deep body, striped coat, narrow head and very large ears. Except in the two largest members of the tribe (Eland and Bongo) only the males possess the impressive corkscrew horns. Bushbuck, Nyala, Sitatunga and Lesser Kudu are the other representatives.
STRIPES & SHADOWS
Few animals are as strongly synonymous with the African continent as zebras - the only wild members of the horse family south of the Sahara.
WARTHOGS - Africa's Jester
The warthog is frequently regarded as the most comical of African animals, due, no doubt to its bizarre, ugly face and its habit of running with an erect tail. Warthogs are entertaining animals to watch and their lifestyles are fascinating. The above incident took place in Kenya's Masai Mara, and will
probably be happening somewhere in an African savannah right now, although not normally with such a happy ending for the warthog!
HIPPOS - River Horse of Africa
Known as "river horses" to the ancient Greeks and "sea cows" (seekoi) to the Dutch settlers, the hippo is not related to either. It is, in fact, a distant relative of the pigs, although its ancestry is not well understood. Weighing up to 3 200kg, the hippo is the third heaviest African land mammal, after the elephant and white rhinoceros. With tiny eyes, ears and nostrils all placed on the very top of the head, they are superbly adapted for an amphibious lifestyle.
Nile Crocodile - fearsome reputation, loving parents
Rivalled by sharks, crocodiles are greatly feared yet held in awe by people - even those who have very little chance of coming into contact with them. The plethora of video films featuring the often brutal killing habits of these aquatic predators are clear testimony of man’s infatuation with drama and danger. All too often, these films - many compiled on small budgets - tend towards melodrama and do little to provide a balanced picture of these powerful carnivores.
JACKALS - United We Stand
Close relatives of the well-known red fox of Europe and the coyote of North America, three species of jackal occur in Africa. Like their northern cousins, jackals are adaptable and highly successful animals, able to survive in a variety of habitats and having a very broad diet. They can flourish in the face of human encroachment into wild habitats, thriving on farmlands and on the outskirts of cities.
“Honey Badger - Ferocity and Courage, with a Sweet Tooth”
The South Africans have a saying, “so taai soos a ratel,” meaning, “as tough as a Honey Badger.” Like a featherweight boxer who makes up for lack of size with speed and Napoleanic ferocity, the Honey Badger is well-equipped to live up to its fearsome reputation. It will attack any animal, no matter how big or dangerous its adversary. There appears to be no natural predators on adult ratels, which itself is evidence of how formidable this animal is, for it weighs scarcely more than a medium-sized dog. A Lion was recorded as having killed one, but there were signs of a terrific struggle; and according to naturalist and author, Jonathan Kingdon, three Ratels took a kill away from three sub-adult and four half-grown Lions.
SPOTTED HYENA
Few animals have attracted such hatred and disparagement from humans as the Spotted Hyena - long regarded as a cowardly scavenger dependent upon the left-overs from the Lion - regal 'King of Beasts'. But long-term research projects in Tanzania, Botswana and elsewhere in Africa have shown this perception to be quite false, and have revealed the Spotted Hyena to be a fascinating animal and a highly sociable
predator in its own right. Research has also revealed that female hyenas are dominant over males and are
responsible for defending group territories. Male dominance is almost universal among mammals,
but Spotted Hyena society is dominated by females, with the most senior male subordinate to the most junior female.
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