WILDLIFE REPORT SINGITA PAMUSHANA, ZIMBABWE For the month of July, Two Thousand and Sixteen Temperature Rainfall Recorded Sunrise & Sunset Average minimum: 12,3˚C (54,1˚F) For the month: 1 mm Sunrise: 06:19 Minimum recorded: 09,6˚C (49,2˚F) For the year to date: 401.5 mm Sunset: 17:38 Average maximum: 26,1˚C (78,9˚F) Maximum recorded: 31,9˚C (89,4˚F) One of my favourite lines is, "If it's not about elephants it's irrelephant," and indeed I could fill this month's journal with elephant stories alone, like the bull in the photo above who almost perfectly replicated the 'S' of Singita's logo while joyfully squirting water from his trunk. However, the diversity of our wildlife and wilderness, and the viewing of it, is at it's best at the moment. The land is dry, the grass low, and many of the treetops are still wearing an autumn crown, but the animals are drawn to the permanent water sources so all you need do is make sure your visit these on drive and you will be rewarded with wonderful sightings. Here's an overview for July: African wild dogs The pack has not shown us their pups yet! We don't approach a den-site at all in order to make sure no vehicle track is made that might make it easier for hyenas or lions to follow, find and then kill the pups. We've seen the
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WILDLIFEREPORTSINGITAPAMUSHANA,ZIMBABWE
ForthemonthofJuly,TwoThousandandSixteen Temperature RainfallRecorded Sunrise&Sunset Averageminimum: 12,3˚C(54,1˚F) Forthemonth:1mm Sunrise: 06:19 Minimumrecorded: 09,6˚C(49,2˚F) Fortheyeartodate:401.5mm Sunset: 17:38 Averagemaximum: 26,1˚C(78,9˚F) Maximumrecorded:31,9˚C(89,4˚F) Oneofmyfavouritelinesis,"Ifit'snotaboutelephantsit'sirrelephant,"andindeedIcouldfillthismonth'sjournalwithelephantstoriesalone,likethebullinthephotoabovewhoalmostperfectlyreplicatedthe'S'ofSingita'slogowhilejoyfullysquirtingwaterfromhistrunk.However,thediversityofourwildlifeandwilderness,andtheviewingofit,isatit'sbestatthemoment.Thelandisdry,thegrasslow,andmanyofthetreetopsarestillwearinganautumncrown,buttheanimalsaredrawntothepermanentwatersourcessoallyouneeddoismakesureyourvisittheseondriveandyouwillberewardedwithwonderfulsightings.Here'sanoverviewforJuly:AfricanwilddogsThepackhasnotshownustheirpupsyet!Wedon'tapproachaden-siteatallinordertomakesurenovehicletrackismadethatmightmakeiteasierforhyenasorlionstofollow,findandthenkillthepups.We'veseenthe
alphafemaleouthuntingwiththepack,sothepupsmustbequitebigbynow,anditmustbeanydaysoonthatwe'llseethepacktakingthepupsoutontheirfirsthuntinglesson.ThehighlightofthemonthwaswhenthepackwasouthuntingandchasedanimpalatoSosigiDam.Theretheimpalaspedintothewaterforsafety,butalasacrocodilelayinwaitbeneaththemuddywaterandstoletheunluckyimpalaforitself.Thewilddogsstoodontheshore,notdaringtoventureintothewater,andlookedoninbewildermentasthecrocodileclampeditstoothyjawsontheirpreyandateit.LionsInterestingtimes-there'smatinggoingoninatleasttwooftheprides,youngcubsareoutandabout,andthecoalitionofthreeyoungstrongmalesarerestlesslybidingtheirtimeontheoutskirtsoftheestablishedprideterritories.Thankstoourdedicatedandextremelyaccurateliontrackingteamalmostallgueststhatspendafewdayswithuswillgettoseelions.Howourteamoftrackersisabletofollowalion'sinvisiblefootstepsthroughdensebushandgrasslandisoftenbeyondme.LeopardsGlimpsesoftheseelusivecatshavebeentantalisingyetinfrequent,makingthemevenmorespecialwhentheydohappen.CheetahsThismonthwe'veenjoyedexcellentsightingsofthetwopairsofmalecoalitions,andthe'sort-tailfemale'thatweseeregularly.HyenasPredatornumberspeakandfallinthenaturalcycle,andnowitseemsthehyenashavetheadvantage.There
areanumberofsuccessfulclanswithcubscoveringtheproperty.Theyareputtinghugepressureonthewilddogs,andononeoccasionthismonthIsawthedogsouthuntingatnightbeingtrailedbyfivehyenas.Assoonasthedogsmakeakillthehyenastrytostealit-andareoftensuccessful,beingmuchlargerstrongeranimals.Fightsbreakout,injuriesoccurandhuntersgohungry.
Butisn'tthiscuriouscubquiteadorable?
RhinosThishastobeaboutthemostheart-warmingandhopefulphotoyou'llseeinthisdayandage.Whiterhinomotherstaketheiryoungcalvesintothegrasslandsintheearlyeveninghours.Duetotheeffortsofgenerousindividualsandteamsourpopulationofblackandwhiterhinosareabletothriveinthissanctuary.ElephantsYousimplycouldn'tmissseeingelephantsoneachandeverydrivethismonth.Bullsaremonopolisingthewaterholesandthecowherdsarefeedinginthedenserareaswhiletryingtomaintainlawandorderamongsttheircalvesandtheyoungdelinquentmales.PlainsgameExcellentsightingsofthemorecommonplainsgamesuchasimpala,zebra,wildebeestandgiraffehavebeenhad,buttherehavealsobeenseveralsightsoftherarerspeciessuchassable,elandandLichtensteinhartebeest.
BuffaloesMostsafarivehiclesorcruiseboatshaveencounteredafewbuffalobullsoneachoutingthismonth,anditisfascinatingtonoticetheirindividualcantankerouscharacters.Thesetwoweregrazingonthebanksoftheshoreaswewentforasundownercruise.However,whenguestsnoticedustonthehorizonyoucanbesureitisabreedingherdofbuffaloontheirwaytothewater.We'veseenherdsof600strongthismonth.SpecialsightingsWe'vehadquiteafewsightingsofayounghoneybadger,aswellasporcupines,civets,genetsandevenastripedpolecat!BirdsIt'sencouragingtonoticeallthenestbuildinggoingonatthemoment-especiallybytheraptorssuchascrownedeagles,Africanhawk-eaglesandwhite-backedvultures.Mesmerisingarethemurmurationsofmillionsofred-billedqueleasflyinginwhirling,ever-changingribbon-likemovementsthatcarryonforseveralminutes.
ThebornentertainerAfterdrinkinghisfillatdawnthisyoungbullcreatedacircusshowjustforus.Hestoodontheshorewithhisperfectlychocolate-dippedfeet,suckedupwater,andthenusingthetwofinger-likeprojectionsattheendofhistrunkhesquirtedwaterinsimultaneousarcs.Atthezenithofhistrickshewouldshifthisweightoffhisfrontleftfoottoshowusthathecoulddoallthisonthreelegs.Hesaunteredoffsigningtheairwithan“S"forSingita,thenblewamistofwaterjustinfrontofhisfaceandwalkedthroughittospritzhimself-asanystarperformerwoulddo.Herearethephotostoillustratethisoutlandishstory:
Moremammothmomentsforthemontharethese:
Thesethreebullsdranktheirfill,andthenengagedinsomeroughandtoughbullying.It'salldoneingoodspiritsthough-butitdoesgetoutofhandonoccasionswhenonebullbecomestoorough.It'sthenthatyouasaguideneedtokeepaneyeoutthattheydon'ttryto'bully'yourvehicleinstead!
Elephants'eyesareverysmallcomparedtotheirbodysize.Theyareonlyaboutonlyabout3.8cm(1.5")indiameter.Thelocationoftheireyesonthesideoftheirheadsallowsforperipheralvisionbutnotdepthperception,andthetrunkcreatesalargeblindspotintheirvision.Theyhavethreeeyelids:anupper,lowerandonethatmovesverticallyformoreprotection.Theirenviablylongeyelasheskeepforeignmatteroutoftheireyes.Weidentifysocloselywithelephantsinmanyways,andIfinditinterestingthatelephantshavethesamevisualpigmentsaswedo,withred/greencolour-blindness.Theirrangeofvisionisonlyabout10metres(30feet)-youmightsaythatelephantsarenear-sighted!Becauseoftheirpoorvision,elephantsusetheirsensitivetrunkstonavigate.
RunningwildPacksofAfricanwilddogs(Lycaonpictus)dispersefarapartduringtheirbreedingseason,andforseveralyearsinarowwehavebeenluckyenoughtohavethispackleavetheGonarezhouNationalParktooursouth,andheadintoarangeofrockyoutcropsnearthelodge,toden.Asmentionedbeforewedon'tviewthepupsattheden-siteasitispossiblethatthisunsettlesthem,forcesthemtochangesitesthusjeopardisingthepupslivesintheprocess,anditisalsopossiblethatopportunistpredatorslikehyenasandlionswillfollowourtracksorpathtotheden-siteandkillthepuppies.Followingwilddogsonahuntisnearimpossibleastheyfanoutlikeshotarrowsthroughthebushtotryandflushtheirprey.Thenthey'llchaseitdownathighspeed,ofteninrelays,untiltheantelope,mostoftenanimpalahere,istooexhaustedtogetaway.Theimpalawillbekilledanddevouredastherestofthepackzeroesinonthekillsitewhentheyhearthekillorthecalloftheirpackmember.Andtrackingthemonahunthasalowsuccessrateastheyaresimplytoofast-youhavetoanticipatetheirdirection,cutahead,andtrytointerceptthem-buttheychangedirectionallthetime.ThereasonI'mgoingintothiswholeexplanationissothatyoucansharethedelightoffindingthemhavingalittlepost-huntnaponthesideofourmaintrack,beforetheyreturnedtotheden.Theretheywere-11ofthem,somewithblood-stainedfaces,justenjoyingsomequiettimebeforereturningtothedenandregurgitatingsomeoftheirswallowedmealforthepupsandbabysittersbackattheden.Inthephotobelowisahuddleofdogs-beinganAfricanwilddogisallaboutbeingamemberofapack,andeveninthehottestweatherthey'lltryandsitontopoforasclosetoeachotherastheycan.Thefirstphotoonthenextpageisofthealphapair-youcanseetheteatsofthealphafemaleclearly.Thealphapairbreedandtherestofthepackhelpwithraisingthepupsasiftheyweretheirown.
Thisisaportraitofanimpala'sworstfear.Justlookatthatcamouflage;thatbodybuiltforhunting;thosehugeearsforpin-pointingsound;thoselonglegsforhigh-speedchases;thosepaddedpawsfortraction...
Butmuchtothewilddogsannoyancewasalonehyenaintentonfollowingthem,inthehopetheywouldkillagain.Everynowandagaintheywouldturnonhim,nippingandbiting,buthewouldnotgetthemessage.Iwonderifthiswilddoghopedthehyenacouldread...!Thepacktrottedoffdownthetrackinthegeneraldirectionweassumetheirden-sitetobe,butthenveeredofftheroadandwedidn'tfollowthemfurther.Whetherthehyenagotafreemealwedon'tknow,orwhethertheychaseditoffbeforetheygottotheirdenalsoremainsamystery.Whatisforcertainisthatwehopethepupsaresafeandweseethemsoon!
BlackbeautyWhatawonderfulblackrhino(Dicerosbicornis)experiencethiswas.Ithadbeenanextremelyquietandchillymorning,andweweretrundlingalongatrackthattraversesamopanewoodland.Almostbeforewesawitthisblackrhinobullsawus-whichisquitesomethingconsideringhowpoorsightedandcomparativelytinytheireyesare.Hetookfright,tookoffandthenintypicalblackrhinofashioncircledbackandtentativelysteppedcloser.Hemadeacoupleofhalf-heartedmockcharges,andhiscuriositywagedbattlewithhisfearandaggression.Twicehegottowithinafewmetresofthevehiclebyalmostcreepingonestepatatimetogetacloserlookatwhatwewere.Butthenhedecidedwewereneitherfriendnorfoeandhesnorted,whirledandgallopedoffintothedistance.Hescent-markedadistanttreebysprayingurinebackwardsbetweenhislegs-andbydoingsoreinforcedthemessagethatthiswashisterritory.Thisclose-upshowssuchcharacterbutwhatIlikemostaboutitisthecolourofthebarkandleavesleftatthebaseofhishornandhowthatcontrastswithhisgreyuniformity.
CheetahbrothersThesetwocheetahbrotherswererestingduringborderpatrolinanareawehardlyevergoto.Ourwesternboundaryabutsanagriculturalareabutmalecheetahsarehighlyterritorialanddonotseemphasedbyhumanpresence-certainlythesetwoweren'tworriedaboutanyofusorthefarmworkersthatwentabouttheirworkontheothersideofthesecurityfence.Wedidhoweverseeaglimpseofaverynervouslionessbeforeshedashedaway,inthesameareahardly50metresaway.MakingcubsThepitifulroaringofanon-dominantmalelionalertedustothismatingcouple.Asmuchashewouldhavelikedtobeapartoftheactionhewasbeingkeptatbaybythisbigdark-manedmale.Themalefollowedthereceptivelioness'everyfootstep,notlettingherbeoutofhiscontact.Matingtookplaceevery30minutesorso,wasbrief,momentarypainfulforher,andthentheywouldsettleintopost-coitalrest.Thegestationperiodforlionsisabout110days.
PhototipsBoththesephotosweretakenfromthesunkenphotohidewithmycamerasteadiedonatripod.InverylowlightIwasabletouseaslowshutterspeedwhichwasfineforthehardlymovingrhinosandbuffalo,yetrenderedthebirds'wingsalovelyblur.Speed1/30sec;f/4,0;ISO1000.WithalmostnolightleftI'veoptedforafluorescentwhitebalancewhichhelpseliminateundesirablemulti-colourednoiseasitgivesallthepixelsamauvetint.Speed320sec;f/2,8;ISO500.
AnarrayofbirdsBirdscomeinsuchanamazingarrayofsizes,withsuchdifferentbehaviours,dietsandrequirements.Eachhassomethingsoveryspecialaboutit,anditisathrilltoseethisquietlybyyourselfortoshareitwithguests.Birdsremindmeofhowwonderful,preciousandfragilelifeis-andthatwecan'thaveitall.Imaginehowcoolitmustbetojustspreadyourwingsandfly!Thisfirstphotoisofacrownedeagle(Stephanoaetuscoronatus)thatwascallingforitsmate.Itisperchedinahugebaobab,andintheforkofthebranchesyoucanseeitsnest.Oneofourguideswhoworksherehasnoticedthatthisnesthasbeenusedbyapairofcrownedeaglessincehearrivedherealmost15yearsago.Nestslikethisthatareusedandaddedtooverseveralyearscanbe2.5metreswideand3metresdeep.Crownedeaglesaresuperblybuiltforthekill,maverickforestflyersandconsideredAfrica’smostpowerfuleaglewhenmeasuredintermsoftheweightoftheirpreyitems.ThesecondandthirdphotosshowthegentlebeautyandsoftshadesofCapeturtle(Streptopeliacapicola)andlaughingdoves(Streptopeliasenegalensis)astheydrinkcautiouslyyetthirstilyfromthewater'sedge.Whenyoustudythemverycloselyyourealisethateachisquitedifferentfromtheother.Everydoveisuniqueanditsfeathersareeversoslightlydifferentincolourtothoseofthatnexttoit.Thefourthphotoismyfavouritetodateofwhite-backedvultures(Gypsafricanus).Theyarerippingintoabuffalocarcassthattheymobbedaprideoflionsfor,andthelionseventuallyandreluctantlyleftitforthem.Whatapowerfulfeedingfrenzyoffeathersflying,squawkingandjostlingitwas.Intotalcontrast,inthefifthphoto,isatinyred-billedfirefinch(Lagonostictasenegala).Heonlymeasures10cminlength,andeatssmallseedsandgrain.
WrittenandphotographedbyJennyHishin,unlessotherwiseindicatedSingitaPamushana
MalilangweWildlifeReserveZimbabwe
Thirty-firstofJuly2016
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