WILDLIFE REPORT SINGITA KRUGER NATIONAL PARK…469uj5355hpj1cwksq2n1n1a-wpengine.netdna-ssl.com/wp-content/... · WILDLIFE REPORT SINGITA KRUGER NATIONAL PARK, ... Two Thousand and

Photo by Brian Rode

WILDLIFE REPORT SINGITA KRUGER NATIONAL PARK, SOUTH AFRICA For the month of April, Two Thousand and Seventeen

Temperature Rainfall Recorded Sunrise & Sunset Average minimum: 19°C (67°F) For the period: 104 mm Sunrise: 06h13 Average maximum: 30°C (87°F) For the year to date: 315 mm Sunset: 17h25 Minimum recorded: 14°C (57°F) Maximum recorded: 36°C (97°F)

Autumn is in full swing now and the grass has turned to gold. The temperatures in the mornings have started dropping and the sun is rising later. Right at the end of the month we were still receiving rain (very unusual for this time of the year). Most of the migrant birds have now left on their return migrations, back to Europe or north Africa. As a result of the good rains that we received this summer the grass layer grew well and this led to a bumper crop of young francolins, quails and buttonquails. So much so that some of the adults even managed to raise more than one clutch. We have also been fortunate to have large flocks of queleas nesting in the concession. By the end of April, most of the eggs had hatched and the adults were frantically trying to find seeds and insects to feed the chicks. Now that the temperatures have started dropping many of the insects and other invertebrates will begin disappearing. We will also start seeing fewer snakes around as they will start to hide in preparation for aestivation. With all the grass in the area

we have had great general game sightings and there have been quite a few zebras and wildebeest in the area. The grass layer will hopefully continue to attract grazers into the area for the rest of the year. We are expecting to have really good game-viewing this winter as hopefully, there will be enough grass to tide the animals over during the drier months. There is also still a fair bit of standing water in the concession. Most of the pans are full and the river still has large pools. This will also help to attract animals into the area as winter approaches. Our wildlife review for the month of April is as follows: Buffalos: There have been 37 different buffalo sightings this month. After the harsh drought that led to most buffalos either moving away or dying off, we are now happy to be able to see large herds of buffalo almost daily. These herds have moved onto our concession due to the abundance of food that is available for them. In fact, most of the herds that we have seen this month were found in the northern grasslands of the Singita concession. The current favourable conditions have helped the buffalos to regain condition, and they are now looking very healthy and strong. As such, we have not recorded any of the lions in our area hunting buffalos, possibly because the risk of injury while hunting buffalo is a lot higher now that they are strong again. Another aspect that is interesting to note with regards to the lions not hunting buffalo is that the herds are actually mostly void of young calves, as most of them didn’t survive the harsh drought conditions that we experienced last year. As such, the task of hunting buffalo is even more difficult as there are very few vulnerable calves to pick from.

Photo by Brian Rode

Elephants:

There have been a whopping 153 elephant sightings recorded this month. We have had sightings of many breeding herds as well as lone elephant bulls. Elephants do not hold territories and will travel grand distances in search of food. At the moment, there is an abundance of resources thanks to the recent rains that we have received. These resources have attracted many elephants (as well as other non-territorial species) onto our concession. The grasses and leaves are plentiful, and there is water scattered almost everywhere. We have seen multiple elephant bulls in musth following some of the larger herds of females as they try to secure a mating opportunity. This has obviously been something that we have been watchful for, as elephant bulls in musth are known to be somewhat ill-tempered. We have watched elephants in the south bathe in the N’wanetsi River, and we have watched elephants in the north feed on the abundant grasses. Just about every spot on the concession provides the elephants with some sort of resource that they can enjoy. As the winter begins to settle in, the grasses will start to die off and the water will begin drying up which may lead to some elephants venturing further into the Kruger National Park in search of food and water. It will be interesting to see how the change of seasons will affect our elephant sightings. Photo by Nick du Plessis

Spotted hyenas: Most of the sightings that we enjoyed were of spotted hyenas either on the move, resting, or feeding. We have not been seeing spotted hyenas at their usual den-sites. The summer rains that transformed the landscape with full pans and drainage lines, as well as very long grasses have made finding the spotted hyenas’ new den-sites somewhat challenging. Furthermore, it seems that they may have changed their den-site several times! Although we have only had a limited amount of spotted hyena sightings this month, we do see their tracks almost daily, and we know that they are still in the area.

Photo by Brian Rode

Lions: The lion sightings were of a very good quality right the way through the month of April, with sightings of all three prides ranging all over the concession. There has been interesting dynamics between the Shishangaan males and the pressure being applied on them by the new Southern males. What we are hoping for is that the Shishangaan males can fend off the challenge from this new coalition simply because all the females in the pride are at the point where they should all be looking to mate and fall pregnant. We are all extremely excited by the proposition of new cubs, especially the idea of potentially new white lion cubs that could be born. Up until this point we have not seen any interaction but the vocalizations and tracks running both north and south are clear indications that a “coming to blows” is not far away! What is definitely in the Shishangaan males’ favour is their group size - the Southern males are a coalition of just two mature males, whereas the Shishangaan males are at least four strong. The Shishangaan males are starting to show signs of aging though, and the male with the limp (often called the ‘’grumpy’’ male) is seldom seen with the rest of the coalition. All this interaction and noise is not only effecting the males but also the movement of the pride as well, who are trying to stay clear of any potential conflict. As a result, we are finding them further and further North and West, pushing in almost an exact straight line away from where these new males are coming.

Photo by Nick du Plessis

Speaking about the white lion earlier, we should also mention that the young male is doing very well and every time we see him his physical condition is looking better and better. We are, however, still surprised to be seeing him with the pride, especially considering that he is at least three years old already. Once again, every time we see him, we think it’s the last time along with the other young males. The Mountain pride have also made more of an appearance this month compared to last, and it appears as if they are moving more into the central parts of the concession again. The best sighting of them this month was undoubtedly the wildebeest kill they made right in the middle of the depression area and where they were seen for four consecutive days, feeding and interacting with hyenas, black-backed jackals and vultures. It is also great to report that the cub is doing very well, and is definitely the healthiest we’ve seen her in a long time. Photo by Nick du Plessis

Photo by Nick du Plessis

The Xhirombe pride was seen only on a few occasions, but we found many of their tracks in and around the lodge, especially during the middle of the month. Cheetahs: Cheetah sightings have been a little quieter this month, but we think it has got a lot to do with all the lion movement recently, as well as the length of the grass. The grass not only makes it very difficult to spot cheetahs, but also makes what was great habitat for them, suddenly a dangerous habitat. Adding to that, all the cheetah we were seeing had cubs and these long grassy areas are now places that could be dangerous for them, and therefore areas that the mother cheetahs would tend to avoid. Most of the cheetah sights have, interestingly, been seen on the transfers to and from the airstrip, which makes for either a great beginning or end to the trip at Singita Kruger National Park.

Photo by Brian Rode

Leopards: What is exciting for us at the moment is that most of our sighting are of new leopards that we have not even named yet. The ones who’ve been most prolific are the young female and cub that have established themselves in the area between Green Apple Hill, Ostrich Link and the N’wanetsi River. Both individuals are very comfortable around vehicles and are only getting more relaxed with every sighting. We have been lucky enough to see both of them at a few kills this month, all adult impalas that were caught by the female. The cub is a young male of around eight months old. Another individual that we have been seeing this last month is a young male who is trying to form his territory along the Xinkelengane drainage, in the area around Warthog Pan. He is at this point, very skittish around vehicles and only viewed by one car at a time. We hope, with a bit of time and effort, he’ll slowly get more habituated with our presence. The Mhlangulene female has been seen more frequently this month. Most of the sightings have been in the eastern parts of the concession towards Mozambique, and this is proving to be a great place for her to raise her cub away from any lion activity. She was also seen with a kill for a couple of days that she hid on Sisal Line. The Xinkelengane female was also seen on a few occasions this month. She has been moving in the area near Schotia Pan. There is a large leadwood tree that overlooks this particular pan and this leopardess seems to have taken a liking to lying up on its large branches, watching for whatever might come down to drink. This is possibly one of our most relaxed leopards and is very easy to recognise because of the distinctive scar on her lip.

Photo by Nick du Plessis

Other interesting sightings (Written by Sean Harris and Callan Neilson): Over the last month there have been various special sightings of animals that are not commonly found. This includes a variety of mammals including the incredibly elusive African wild cat, porcupines, honey badgers, and even three wild dogs. It has been really amazing to have these visitors as they are not an everyday occurrence. African wild cats are quite rare to see due to their solitary behaviour and their small size. They are more often nocturnal that makes it harder to see them. These cats are believed to be the ancestors of today’s domestic house cats.

Photo by Brian Rode

Porcupines have been seen on four different occasions, including a male, a female and a youngster. There was a sighting of two honey badgers in the Western area of the concession, and of one spotted on running along Leadwood Road. Wild dogs, also known as the ‘painted wolves’, are highly endangered and not at all common to see, even around the Kruger National Park, but we were lucky enough to have had a pack visit our concession.

We have had a number of special bird sightings this month too! Including a kori bustard, an African crake, Cape vultures, white-headed vultures, lappet-faced vultures, corn crakes, dusky larks plus the incredible sighting of a martial eagle on a monitor kill. Others included bronze-winged coursers which are amazingly now a regular nocturnal sighting, great-spotted cuckoos being fed by the very bird it parasitizes, the Burchell’s starling, and a visitor that we have become very used to seeing, the red-billed queleas whose nesting period is rapidly coming to an end. It has been incredible to have all of these visitors with us, and we hope that they decide to stick around for much longer!

Photo by Jacques Briam

Spiders (Article and photos by Brian Rode)

Banded-legged Golden Orb-web Spider

Summer has now come to a close and autumn has arrived! The last rains of the season have probably fallen now and the temperatures are starting to drop again. With the lower temperatures and shorter daylight hours many of the insects and “goggas” start disappearing. We do not generally see a lot of invertebrates and arthropods during our winter months. As a result of the reduced presence of bugs we also see fewer spiders. This is not a bad thing as many people have a serious, irrational fear of these misunderstood creatures. The fear of spiders is known as “arachnophobia”. This is one of the more common phobias that may affect people (it is estimated that 50% of women and 10% of men show signs of arachnophobia). Other common phobias include the fear of heights (acrophobia), the fear of the dark (nyctophobia), the fear of enclosed spaces (claustrophobia), the fear of open spaces (agoraphobia), the fear of snakes (ophidiophobia), and recently one the more common phobias, 'nomophobia' - the fear of being without your mobile phone. Another amusing one is “hippopotomonstrosesquippedaliophobia” – the fear of long words. The fear of spiders is generally, however, an irrational fear (there have been no known deaths from spider bites in South Africa in the past 60 years) and is most likely fuelled by the fact that people are afraid of the unknown and because spiders are so foreign-looking. The majority of spider-bites reported to hospitals are not even spider-related at all (many supposed spider bites are in fact in-grown hairs or infection from other small wounds).

Wall crab spider Horned baboon spider Garden orb-web spider (photo by Tams Bissett)

In South Africa it is estimated that there are just over 2000 species (from approximately 70 families) of spiders. All these families, except those from the Uloboridae family (the feather-legged spiders or hackled orb-weavers), possess venom glands. However, in the whole of South Africa there are only six known groups/species of spiders that are thought to be considered of medical importance and can therefore be said to be harmful to humans. These six are:

• black widow / black button spider

• brown widow / geometric button spider / rhodesian button spider

• the violin spider

• the long-legged sac spider (there is a big debate at the moment among southern African spider enthusiasts / specialists as to whether the long-legged sac spider is in fact dangerous at all)

• the six-eyed sand spider / the six-eyed crab spider

• Lightfoot’s lesser baboon spider / cape baboon spider

• (Out of these species / groups only the violin spider is common in the Lebombo area. This spider is very shy and is usually only seen if one picks up rocks and logs. They generally do not go into buildings and very few people even notice that they are around).

The button spiders, the widow spiders and baboon spiders have a neurotoxic venom (affects the nervous system). The main symptoms of a neurotoxic spider bite include sharp burning pain at the site (the pain may spread to lymph nodes within 15 minutes), severe muscle pain and cramps, tightness of the chest, difficulty with walking, anxiety, sweating, fever, slurred speech, nausea and headaches. The sac spider, the violin spider and the six-eyed sand spider all have a cytotoxic venom. Cytotoxic venom effects the cells and the tissue surrounding the bite. These may lead to a lesion forming and a wound of up to 10 cm developing. The symptoms develop gradually and often the person is unaware that he has been bitten until the area around the bite becomes painful.

Tropical tent spider web Banded legged golden orb-web spider Violin spider

Some interesting general facts about spiders: Spiders fall under the Order Araneae and are arthropods that have eight legs, two body parts (the cephalothorax and the abdomen), breathe by means of book lungs and usually have spinnerets with which they produce silk. They are the largest order of arachnids and rank seventh in total species diversity among all other orders of organisms. Spiders are found on every continent except Antarctica.

Although most spiders live for at most two years, tarantulas and other mygalomorph spiders can live up to 25 years in captivity.

Spiders are vital to a healthy ecosystem. They eat harmful insects (spiders eat more insects than birds and bats combined), pollinate plants, and recycle dead animal and plants back into the earth. They are also a valuable food source for many small mammals, birds and fish.

The biggest spider in the world is the goliath spider (Theraphosa blondi), which can get up to 28 cm wide.

The smallest spider in the world is the Samoan moss spider (Patu marplesi)– This spider has a body length of only 0.3 mm.

The most venomous spider in the world is the Brazilian Wandering Spider / Brazilian Banana Spider (Phoneutria sp.). Just a small amount of venom is enough to kill a human. The name “Phoneutria” comes Greek word meaning murderess. The neurotoxic venom from this spider may cause loss of muscle control and breathing problems, resulting in paralysis and eventual death by asphyxiation. Another effect of this venom on human males is priapism. The venom boosts nitric oxide, a chemical that increases blood flow. Several studies have looked at incorporating the venom into drugs for erectile dysfunction.

Fishing Spider

The majority of spiders are carnivorous, although a particular small jumping spider from Central America (Bagheera kiplingi) is notable for its peculiar diet (it feeds mainly on protein-rich parts of Vachellia/Acacia trees). No other known spider has such a thoroughly herbivorous diet.

Spiders are divided into two suborders, Mesothelae (the only living members of this suborder are from the family Liphistiidae and are found in Southeast Asia) and Opisthothelae (which can then be divided into the Mygalomorphs and the Araneomorphs). Areaneomorphs are often referred to as web-building spiders, usually have only 1 pair of book lungs and have a diaxial biting action (the fangs move sideways and inwards). Mygalomorphs, in contrast, usually do not build substantial webs (most are free-running and often live in holes or under rocks), have 2 pairs of book lungs and have a paraxial biting action (the fangs move forwards and downwards).

The silk in a spider’s web is supposedly five times stronger than a strand of steel (of the same thickness). Scientists are investigating the potential of artificially producing spider silk in order to use it to produce amongst other things bullet-proof vests and artificial tendons. Up to now scientists have been unable to replicate the strength and elasticity of a spider’s silk. Spiders have blue blood. In humans, oxygen is bound to haemoglobin, a molecule that contains iron and gives blood its red colour. In spiders, oxygen is bound to haemocyanin (which contains copper rather than iron). The name “Widow Spiders” comes from the behaviour of certain spiders where the female spider may eat her mate after or during mating. Spiders, therefore, often use elaborate courtship rituals to prevent the larger females from eating the smaller males before fertilization. In web-weaving species, precise patterns of vibrations in the web are a major part of the rituals, while patterns of touches on the female's body are important in many spiders that hunt actively, and may "hypnotize" the female. Some jumping spiders gesticulate and dance in front of the females in order for them to be recognized as mates and not food. Some male spiders will even give the females gifts of insects to keep them occupied while the male takes advantage while she is busy feeding.

Slender crab spider

Male spiders weave a small “sperm” web. They then place a drop of semen on the web, suck it up with their pedipalps, and then use the pedipalp to insert the sperm into the female. The shape of a male’s pedipalp is specific to that species and therefore acts as a “lock and key mechanism” (so that other species cannot mate with the female).

Young spiders often disperse from the hatching site by releasing one or more silk threads into the wind. The wind then catches the thread and lifts the spiderling into the air and carries it away. This is known as “ballooning”. Ballooning can carry spiders up to hundreds of kilometres from their original point. Atmospheric data-collecting balloons (sent up by scientists and meteorologists) have collected samples of spiders ballooning at a height of over 5 km above the Earth.

Jumping spiders can leap up to 40 times their own body length. If humans could jump this far, they would be able to jump over 70 meters. They jump by contracting muscles in their abdomen, which forces liquid into their back legs (in a similar way to the way that hydraulics works). The back legs then straighten, which catapults the spider forward.

There are various species of Spider-hunting Wasps or Masonry Wasps that actively hunt down spiders. Once they find a spider they then sting it, which causes the spider to become paralysed. The wasp then bites off the spider’s legs and transports it to the wasp nest or a hole in the ground, where it lays its eggs on the still-living spider. The young wasps then devour the unfortunate spider upon hatching.

Orb web

And one last spider story, based on ancient Greek mythology (taken from Encyclopaedia Mythica and written by Melissa Lee)… “Arachne was a young woman from Lydia, sometimes said to be a princess, who offended Athena, and suffered the consequences. Her story helped serve as a warning to all to take care to not offend the gods.

Arachne was gifted in the art of weaving. Not only were her finished products beautiful to look at, but the very act of her weaving was a sight to behold. Nymphs were said to abandon their frolicking to come observe Arachne practice her magic. So remarkable were her works that observers often commented that she must have been trained by the very patron goddess of weaving, Athena herself. Arachne scoffed at this. She was disgusted at being placed in an inferior place to the goddess and proclaimed that Athena herself could not do better than her.

Athena was quite perturbed at Arachne's bold claim, but she decided to give the young woman a chance to redeem herself. She came to Arachne disguised as an old woman and warned her to be careful not to

offend the gods, lest she incur their wrath. But Arachne told the old woman to save her breath. She welcomed a contest with Athena, and, if she lost, would suffer whatever punishment the goddess deemed necessary.

The goddess accepted the challenge and revealed her true form. The nymphs who had come to watch Arachne's weaving shrunk back in fear, but Arachne stood her shaky ground. She had made a claim, and she was sticking to it. So the contest began, the mortal at her loom, the goddess at hers. Athena began to weave the scene of her contest with Poseidon for the city of Athens. A beautiful scene developed from the threads, showing Poseidon and the salt water spring, and Athena with an olive tree, gifts to the people who would name Athena as their patron, and their city after her. The bystanders marvelled at the goddess' work.

Arachne, for her part, created a tapestry showcasing scenes of Zeus' various infidelities: Leda with the Swan, Europa with the bull, Dana and the golden rain shower. So exquisite was the mortal's work that the bull seemed lifelike, swimming across the tapestry with a real girl on his shoulders. Even Athena herself was forced to admit that Arachne's work was flawless. (Whether or not Arachne was actually better than Athena is still a mystery.)

Angered at Arachne's challenge, as well as the presumptuousness of her choice of subjects, Athena tore the tapestry to pieces and destroyed the loom. Then she touched Arachne's forehead, making sure that she felt full guilt for her actions. Arachne was ashamed, but the guilt was far too deep for her poor, mortal mind. Depressed, she hanged herself.

Athena took pity on Arachne. She most likely did not expect that Arachne would commit suicide. She brought her back to life, but not as a human. By sprinkling her with the juices of aconite, Athena transformed the woman into a spider, her and her descendants to forever hang from threads and to be great weavers”.

April moments in time

Photo by Nick du Plessis

Photo by Brian Rode Photo by Brian Rode

Photo by Brian Rode

Photo by Jacques Briam

Photo by Brian Rode

Photo by Nick du Plessis

Articles by Nick du Plessis, Jacques Briam, Sean Harris, Callan Neilson & Brian Rode

Photos by Nick du Plessis, Jacques Briam, Tams Bissett & Brian Rode Singita Kruger National Park, South Africa

Thirtieth of April, Two thousand and seventeen