WATCHING THE BIRTH OF TIGER CUBS AT LONDON ZOO From the makers of
TM
SLOTHS HOW BEING SLOW HELPS THEM SURVIVE AN ENTIRE ECOSYSTEM IN THEIR FUR WHY DO WE LOVE THEIR LAZY WAYS?
THE FUTURE 200 OF THE RHINO OVER
WHAT CAN BE DONE TO COMBAT POACHING?
ANIMAL FACTS
CREATURES OF THE NIGHT
THE ANIMALS THAT COME OUT WHEN THE SUN GOES DOWN
ALL ABOUT GIRAFFES
Uncover the secrets of Earth’s tallest mammal
HUMPBACK WHALES
The double life of these ocean giants
FLAMINGO FACTS
Find out why this pink bird stands on one leg
MEET THE PENGUINS
Get to know 6 of these aquatic birds
PLUS GREVY’S ZEBRAS GIANT PANDAS STARFISH COYOTES PANGOLINS
MAGNIFICENT MOTHS ISSUE 37
Around 40% of amphibian species are threatened with extinction. To prevent a catastrophe from unfolding, Durrell has launched the Saving Amphibians from Extinction (SAFE) programme. We are committed to stopping the alarming decline of amphibians before it’s too late. Amphibian species are vital to the health of the planet.
Boophis goudotii PHOTO Jeff Dawson
Saving Amphibians From Extinction
Help us secure the survival of threatened amphibians in some of the most at risk locations on the planet by donating today. Visit www.durrell.org/safe
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Welcome Sloths are notorious for being slow, but it is a misconception that they are lazy. In fact, they only sleep for around 9.5 hours a day. Their lethargic behaviour can instead be attributed to their slow metabolism. Did you know it takes 50 days for food to pass through a sloth’s digestive system? For this reason, it needs to conserve energy. No matter how slow they are, we love these furry rainforest mammals! Find out all about them on page 14. Also in this issue, enter the scorching hot territory of the coyote and mountain lion in our Wild West feature (page 22), and spot animals like the bat and badger that come out when the sun goes down in our Life After Dark feature (page 36). There are plenty of fun facts and stunning images too! We’ll be asking for feedback in our reader’s survey this month, but we are always keen to hear from you, whether it is by letter, email, social media or through sending us your photos. Enjoy the read!
Zara Gaspar Editor
Editor’s picks Wildlife in black and white Because animals come in such a diversity of colours, when taking photographs of them we can quite easily forget how dramatic and breath-taking photos can be if they are shot in black and white. Check out our photography tips on page 84. How starfish work I think we oen forget how many animals don’t actually look like animals. Starfish are beautiful, but how many people know that they breathe, that they’re not fish and they can regenerate their limbs? Read more on page 82.
© Shutterstock; NaturePL; Pixabay
Meet the team…
Designer Lauren Debono-Elliot
Staff Writer Naomi Harding
Picture Editor Tim Hunt
We’ve all fallen in love with sloths and their quirky traits. Get to know all six species and their unique personalities on page 14.
Did you know there are now more fake plastic flamingos in the world than real ones? Find out more on page 30.
Check out a stunning selection of moths in this issue. They certainly have the ‘wow’ factor. You’ll be surprised they’re not butterflies!
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Welcome to Issue 37 08 Amazing animals 14 Sloths
Earth’s slowest animal
56 Conserving zebras
Read all about the work being done to save the savannah’s favourite ungulate
62 Magnificent moths
21 Bizarre lobster moth
The winged insect that starts life looking like a crustacean
22 The Wild Wild West
The winged creatures that make butterflies look boring
68 The future for rhinos
We interview Save the Rhino about the arguments for and against legalising the rhino horn trade
Explore the home of the mountain lion
30 Flamingos
Why do these flamboyant birds turn pink and stand on one leg?
36 Life after dark
Meet the creatures that come out at night
42 The double life of the humpback whale
Find out all about how these marine mammals live
46 All about giraffes
Discover how the world’s tallest mammal has evolved to be so unique
54 Meet the penguins
74 Explore the Earth: China
Journey to the land of the giant panda
82 You wouldn’t believe… How starfish work
84 Wildlife photography How to master black and white shots
95 Interview with a tiger keeper
We speak to ZSL about what it’s like to care for these big cats
Get acquainted with six of our favourite feathered friends
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THE IUCN RED LIST
Throughout World of Animals you will see symbols like the ones listed below. These are from the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species, the most comprehensive inventory of the global conservation status of animal species in the world. Here’s what they mean:
EXTINCT EXTINCT IN THE WILD CRITICALLY ENDANGERED ENDANGERED VULNERABLE NEAR THREATENED LEAST CONCERN
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36 68
74
Xxxxxxxxxxxxx
88 Keeping in touch
92 Readers’ Q&A 14
SLOTHS GET UP CLOSE WITH THE WORLD’S SLOWEST ANIMAL
96 Quiz
Test your animal knowledge
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The amazing world of animals
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The amazing world of animals
© Getty/Arun Roisri
A kaleidoscope of butterflies come together to extract much needed minerals from the soil Butterflies can oen be found drinking nectar from flowers, but they also need minerals in their diet, which is why they can sometimes be found gathering to sip nutrients from the soil.
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© NaturePL/Andy Rouse
The amazing world of animals
A fearsome lioness peers out from behind a tree as if she were ready to attack her prey Lionesses do most of the hunting for the pride. Although they can reach speeds of up to 81kph (50mph), they usually use the element of surprise to hunt, as they are unable to run at high speed for long.
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The amazing world of animals
There are around 30 species of leaf insects, most of which are a greenish colour, but some like this one are a yellowish red to camouflage themselves against the changing leaves in the forest.
© Getty/kuritafsheen
This master of disguise mimics the appearance of a leaf to hide itself from predators
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© David Fleetham/Bluegreen/REX/Shutterstock
The amazing world of animals
A Galapagos sea lion swims through a shoal of black-striped salema fish off Santa Cruz Island The Galapagos sea lion is endemic to the islands of the Galapagos Archipelago. Despite its curiosity, this marine mammal doesn’t stray too far from the shore in its search for fish and squid.
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The amazing world of animals
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THE WORLD’S
SLOWEST ANIMAL Ever feel like life’s moving too fast? Take inspiration from the sloth, whose survival strategy involves taking things as slowly as possible Words Matt Ayres
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The world’s slowest animal
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The world’s slowest animal
Why are sloths so slow? They’re famous for being the slowcoaches of the rainforest, but there’s a good reason why sloths like to take their time Sloths are named after the cardinal sin attributed to idleness and unwillingness to work, so it’s no wonder most people think of these slow-moving South and Central American mammals as being lazy. At first glance, you may agree that sloths aren’t the most industrious animals. They’re usually found inching their way casually through the branches, or hanging in the same spot for hours on end. But rather than laziness, it’s the sloth’s slow metabolism that compels it to act in such a lethargic manner. This arboreal animal’s diet consists mostly of leaves, buds and shoots. These foods only contain a small amount of energy and nutrients,
Inside a sloth’s fur
so to make the most of their meagre meals, sloths have evolved a specialised slow-acting stomach, with digestive processes that can take over a month to complete. Consequently, the sloth’s metabolic rate is exceptionally low: half the rate expected for a mammal of its size. With energy being released so slowly, the sloth’s pace of life must be adapted to match, which explains their unhurried behaviour. Although they’re slow, sloths are experts at avoiding danger. Apart from during their weekly toilet visits, where they come down to the ground to relieve themselves, they remain hidden in the trees, away from predators.
Sloths support an entire ecosystem within their fur, an amazing example of animal symbiosis
The presence of the moths encourages algae to grow in the fur, benefitting the sloth by providing it with camouflage and a nutrient-rich food source to supplement their leaf-based diet.
When the eggs hatch, the larvae feed on sloth dung, eventually metamorphosing into moths and settling in a sloth’s fur.
Three-toed sloths defecate on the ground once a week, providing a place for the speciallyadapted sloth moths living in their fur to lay their eggs.
The world’s slowest animals
Garden snail
Giant tortoise
Leather star
It would take a garden snail over 11 days to cross Tower Bridge in London.
It would take a giant tortoise six and a half days to complete the distance of the London Marathon.
It would take a leather star five and a half hours to swim the length of an Olympic pool.
1m per hour/3.3ft per hour
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Like sloths, these animals from around the globe prefer a steady pace of life
0.27kph/0.17mph
9m per hour/30ft per hour
The world’s slowest animal BROWN-THROATED SLOTH Bradypus variegatus Class Mammal
Territory South and Central America Diet Herbivore Lifespan 20-30 years Adult weight 4kg (8.8lb) Conservation status
LEAST CONCERN
By moving so slowly, sloths avoid being spotted by the rainforest’s most dangerous predators
Dwarf seahorse
Manatee
Koala
It would take a dwarf seahorse 60 hours to swim the length of a football pitch.
It would take a manatee around 35 days to swim from Great Britain to the United States.
It would take a koala 145 hours to walk from Land’s End, England to John O’Groats in Scotland.
1.5m per hour/5ft per hour
8kph/5mph
10kph/6mph
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The world’s slowest animal
Sloths in numbers They might be a bit dopey looking, but sloths are impressive animals when you consider the wealth of adaptations that help them to survive
4,000kg
Megatherium, an elephant-sized ground sloth that lived during the Pleistocene epoch, was 6m (20) long and weighed approximately 4,000kg (4 tons)
… 9.5 HOURS
Wild sloths spend an average of 9.5 hours sleeping per day. Captive sloths usually sleep for between 15 and 20 hours per day
100 There are fewer than 100 pygmy three-toed sloths le in the wild, making them a critically endangered species
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While most mammals have seven vertebrate in their spines, three-toed sloths have eight to nine. Two-toed sloths have six to seven
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0.24kph
The average speed of a sloth clocks in at 0.24kph (0.15mph). This means they’d take around 42 hours to complete a 10km (6.2mi) run
270 Three-toed sloths can turn their necks 270 degrees in both directions
The world’s slowest animal
Where sloths live
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PER CENT
50
DAYS The food inside a sloth’s body can take as long as 50 days to pass through the digestive system
ONCE
PER WEEK
Sloths defecate once every seven days, a risky toilet break that involves visiting the ground and potentially attracting the attention of predators
0
10cm
A sloth’s claws grow to 10cm (4in) in length. They’re useful for defence against predators and provide a tight grip for the long periods of time spent hanging from tree branches
“The sloth’s metabolic rate is exceptionally low: half the rate expected for a mammal its size”
© Shutterstock; Thinkstock; FLPA
Approximately 66 per cent of a well-fed sloth’s body weight can be attributed to the food digesting inside its body
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The world’s slowest animal
Know your sloth
Pygmy three-toed sloth By far the smallest sloth, being 40 per cent lighter than its closest sloth relatives
There are six extant species of sloth, each with their own unique evolutionary traits. Here’s how to tell them apart
Sometimes known as the monk sloth or dwarf sloth, the pygmy three-toed sloth is exclusively found on a small island off the coast of Panama, known as Isla Escudo de Veraguas.
Pale-throated sloth A dark brown sloth from northern South America with a pale yellow patch on its throat Although similar in appearance to the brown-throated sloth, genetic evidence suggests that pale-throated sloths diverged from their cousins approximately 6 million years ago.
Linnaeus’ two-toed sloth Longer hair, bigger eyes and a shorter tail distinguish this sloth from three-toed varieties As one of the two extant species of twotoed sloths, Linnaeus’ two-toed sloths are related to extinct ground sloths like the elephant-sized Megatherium.
Hoffmann’s two-toed sloth A nocturnal sloth named aſter German naturalist Karl Hoffmann Subtle skeletal differences distinguish the Hoffmann’s two-toed sloth from the closely related Linnaeus’ twotoed sloth. Its range includes Brazil, Honduras, Ecuador, Bolivia and Peru.
Brown-throated sloth The most common three-toed sloth, found throughout Central and South America
© The Art Agency/Peter Scott
Brown-throated sloths are widespread, with a range that sometimes overlaps with the Hoffmann’s two-toed sloth. However, they are diurnal and rarely interact with the larger, nocturnal species.
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Maned sloth A shaggy-bodied sloth found in the coastal rainforests of Brazil The maned sloth prefers hot and humid climates, such as those found in the rainforests in southeastern Brazil. They are a vulnerable species, threatened by deforestation and hunting.
Bizarre! The unusual moth that starts out life looking like a crustacean As a caterpillar, the lobster moth resembles a lobster, but as an adult it transforms into a greyish-brown winged insect
LOBSTER MOTH Stauropus fagi Class Insecta
Territory Woodland Diet The larvae feed on oak, beech, birch and hazel Lifespan Up to 6 weeks Adult weight Unknown Conservation Status
NOT EVALUATED
It is not in fact a poisonous beetle This little guy had trouble being identified at first. Before people managed to rear it and watch what one entomologist called ‘the crustaceous fish’ turn into an ordinary looking moth, it was thought to be a poisonous beetle related to the Devil’s coachhorse beetle. But now it has a well-established name for itself.
It looks nothing like a lobster as an adult
The larva eats its own shell While the larvae like to eat trees and leaves, in the first instance the caterpillar feeds entirely on its own eggshell and is unusual in that it mimics an ant or small spider. This is due to the long thoracic legs and caudal appendages, which are ever nervously twisting about.
It relies on woodlands
It is not to be messed with
Lobster moths reside mostly in woodlands, especially in the UK, but face losing their homes to development and tree diseases, such as dieback and other bigger animals. Although not rare, the moths are often camouflaged and therefore protected by sticks and trees.
During the early stages, the caterpillar likes to be left alone and will become agitated when threatened. If disturbed, it spreads its front legs, and arches its head back, possibly spraying formic acid at its enemy. However, as an adult moth, it simply flies away to avoid trouble.
© FLPA
The moth’s name celebrates its caterpillar form, which is one of the most extraordinary in the natural world. Its forelegs resemble outstretched claws, while its body swells and extends back on itself like a lobster’s tail. It is also a reddish-brown colour, and the body is covered in dimples.
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The
WILD WEST Rasping rattlesnakes, galloping horses and screeching eagles... These are sounds synonymous with any classic western, and humans have long been fascinated with the animals that inhabit the American desert
© freevectormaps.com; Alamy
Words Amy Grisdale
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The landscape that captured hearts around the world has been immortalised in film and literature over the decades. The 1800s saw an eruption of violence, romance and action-packed adventure as early settlers established towns and pioneered industries. But long before the first spurred boots kicked up the desert dust, wildlife was evolving to inhabit the dry, open plains. Sun-loving reptiles basked in the baking heat, snatching small birds and burrowing rodents. Predatory birds soared high above the ground, searching for carcasses of animals that couldn’t survive the heat. Species adapted to live with little water and began to develop strategies to escape the deadly Sun. When humans arrived, they were inspired to create totems and legends inspired by
the stunning wildlife. At the same time, there was conflict between the native Americans and the animals of the desert, which continued when the European settlers arrived. Animals were used for entertainment, ruthlessly hunted and eradicated from land claimed for agriculture. Time progressed, however, and the impact of human civilisation became clear, so conservation efforts began in earnest. Struggling species have been re-introduced to several areas, wildlife is being closely monitored and daily advancements are being made in decoding behaviour and their uses of the environment. It seems Wild West wildlife continues to scuttle, scavenge and survive as these animals have evolved to live under the unforgiving Sun.
The Wild West Where in the West?
Contrary to their movie portrayal, many of these animals are unlikely to simply show up on your doorstep
Cougar Grey wolf Mustang
Rattlesnake
Coyote
Nine-banded armadillo
Cougar North America’s largest cat is at the top of the desert food chain Able to live in forests, climb mountains and wade through swamps, the mountain lion is the master of every habitat the continent has to offer. The Wild West is no exception, and cougars thrive in dry habitats. Research suggests that cougars prefer hunting on steep canyon slopes, perhaps because a prowling cat has an advantage when leaping down on prey from above. Mountain lion habitat overlaps with wolf hunting grounds, and unfortunately these apex predators go head-to-head on a daily basis. Wolves strip the land of elk and steal
carcasses from feeding felines, forcing them to find new prey. As solitary hunters, cougars aren’t equipped to defend themselves against a pack of hungry wolves, and are now starting to avoid wolf areas. With the largest geographic range of any land mammal, cougar territories can reach almost 650 square kilometres (400 square miles). These cats have serious power, capable of transporting prey many times their body weight. Carcasses are stored for days on end, meaning a cougar only has to hunt every ten to 14 days.
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The Wild West
Grey wolf The ancestors of domestic dogs are ruthless killers These wolves will do whatever it takes to survive, constantly adjusting their tactics to ensure they secure their kill. The packs found in Wyoming’s Yellowstone National Park take any prey, from rabbits to young bison that are under the supervision of their one-tonne parents. Outside of Yellowstone, moose is the biggest game, and even a lone wolf can take down the largest member of the deer family. Apart from hunting, maintaining territory is one of the most important aspects of a wolf’s life. Packs can control up to 6,200 square kilometres (3,900 square
miles) and contain as many as 40 wolves. Each group is led by a dominant pair, and the other members are usually older offspring and the youngest pups that will stay with their family for two or more years. Sometimes wolves do go rogue. Creeping through territories of established packs, these animals have turned their backs on group life. These mavericks rarely breed, and instead focus on getting enough food for number one. As the animal ages, however, it may be adopted into a pack to replace a fallen breeder, so it can begin to settle into family life.
GREY WOLF Canis lupus
Class Mammal
Territory North America and Northern Europe Diet Mainly large ungulates Lifespan 6-8 years Adult weight 20-80 kg (40175 lbs) Conservation status
LEAST CONCERN
Lone wolves do very well in the Wild West, picking off prey and stealing from other carnivores
American badger
The brawny member of the weasel family Rarely living longer than five years, up to 35 per cent of this badger species dies annually. Many populations comprise 80 per cent yearlings or younger animals. This species lives hard and fast, feasting on fast-moving mammals like prairie dogs and ground squirrels. Like their European counterparts they are exceptional diggers, but American badgers take this even further. They have sensitive nerve endings in their claws,
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which help them detect traces of movement in the soil. They can excavate through concrete and dig quickly to chase escaping prey. The burrows they create when in hot pursuit then become their home, oen boasting up to ten metres (33 feet) of tunnels. These badgers have few natural predators but generally fall at the hands of humans. They are feared by many and regarded as pests, but thankfully they aren’t endangered.
The Wild West
Coyote Mostly solitary dogs, coyotes hunt by night Occasionally seen in daylight, these dogs modify badger burrows to provide shelter so they can sleep through the baking heat. The dens are used year after year, and the coyotes surface to urinate and defecate. They create scent posts with their waste – most likely to mark their territory – and to communicate with a wide range of sounds. They have three distinct calls, but can also interpret one another’s body language, such as ear movements and tail
position. They are secretive animals and try their best to go unnoticed by other nearby wildlife. Coyotes generally avoid areas controlled by wolves, but when one is going it alone the two species will interact. Wolves are the coyote’s main natural predators, but without the pack’s support a lone wolf can fall prey to a group of hungry coyotes. Clashes can be extremely vicious, but there are documented cases of them teaming up to hunt and even interbreed.
Coyotes are unlikely to form packs and spend most of the day underground
GREY WOLF Canis latrans
Class Mammal
Territory North and Central America, , Canada and Mexico. Diet Rabbits, rodents, deer, frogs and fish. Lifespan Up to 14 years Adult weight 9-23kg (2050lb) Conservation status
LEAST CONCERN
Coyote vs lone wolf A wolf can outweigh a coyote six times over. Wolf ears are short and rounded, while coyotes have long, pointed ears.
The snout of a coyote tends to be narrower than a wolf’s.
Coyotes have much smaller nose pads than wolves.
Coyote paws are around half the width of wolves’.
Reddish-brown fur is typical of coyotes, whereas wolves are grey. © FLPA: NaturePL; Thinkstock
Find out how to tell these two canines apart
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The Wild West
Mustangs Free-roaming horses that enjoy the American desert in which they evolved millions of years ago Around four million years ago, North America was attached to Eurasia via a land bridge. It was at this time that prehistoric horses made their way from America to the rest of the world. They were brought back by the expanding Spanish Empire in the late 1400s and many made their return to the wild. Mustangs are grazers, feeding on plant matter and moving as a group
MUSTANG
Equus ferus caballus Class Mammal
Territory The American Midwest Diet Herbivore Lifespan 25-30 years Adult weight 340kg (750lb) Conservation status
NOT EVALUATED
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for protection from predators. They are adapted for running, having just one toe that absorbs the impact of each thundering step. Male mustangs use manure to establish dominance, and herd leaders may fight for control of fertile mares. Young males are driven away from the group and join bachelor bands before working to establish their own harem.
The Wild West
Round-tailed squirrel Adapted to the lack of trees, these rodents take to the soil for protection during the night. They can be seen sunning themselves during daylight.
Horned lizard Eight species of this reptile exist in the USA and each has a characteristic crown of horns. Many defend themselves by spurting blood.
Eastern red bat Feeding begins in the early evening, and these bats typically catch their prey mid-flight. They are well-adapted for the cool desert night conditions.
Turkey vulture Easily recognisable by their unsteady flight, their sense of smell means they can detect carrion from the air. Their sharp bill is used to strip carcasses.
Long-tailed weasel Its high metabolism demands that the weasel eats 40 per cent of its own body weight every day. They oen hunt for more than they need.
© FLPA
Porcupine The herbivorous porcupine has spines for protection, but it is a myth that they fire out quills. They simply become embedded in a predator’s body.
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28 Bighorn sheep These sure-footed ungulates of the Rocky Mountains are America’s largest wild sheep species. Their wide-splayed vision gives them a panoramic view of the unstable terrain and their specialised hooves have rough soles to provide additional grip. They find success living in social groups, mostly to protect young lambs that could otherwise be targeted.
Bald eagle
The state of Utah receives less than 20 centimetres (eight inches) of rainfall per year in the driest parts and temperatures can soar above 46 degrees Celsius (115 degrees Fahrenheit). The area is an enormous mixture of desert, grassland, forest and shrubland. It is an incredibly diverse state in terms of wildlife, with different species occupying each niche that the habitat range offers.
Utah and its canyons are home to some incredible species
Wildlife of the Canyonlands
Red-tailed hawk
The Wild West
© The Art Agency/Peter Scott
Bobcat Unfortunately, these cats have a bad reputation for sneaking into poultry farms, but their natural prey is mostly rabbits and hares. Bobcats can survive in almost any of Utah’s habitats, resting in caves or rocky shelters. They inhabit several dens, one main home and other secondary areas of protection.
Prairie dog The ‘language’ these animals use has been closely studied and many individual words have been isolated. These ground-dwellers emit different calls depending on what kind of predator is approaching and can even distinguish between colours. The Canyonlands are the best place to see the Utah prairie dog, though feeding them is not advised.
Striped skunk Grasslands and wooded areas are the skunk’s home, and it scent-marks its entire home range. Famously smelly, the musky spray released by the anal glands can disperse over an area of nearly five metres (16 feet). It’s thick and oily, making it difficult to be removed with water alone.
Grey fox These are likely to be found skulking through forests and shrub plains in the south of the state. This fox has an omnivorous diet, feasting on both fresh animal meat and wild-growing fruit. Dens are located in tree hollows and abandoned animal burrows, and the foxes will climb a nearby tree if they are discovered.
Kangaroo rat Named aer its hopping gait and long legs, this rodent uses its tail for balance in a similar fashion to its Australian namesake. They are extremely well adapted for life without water and extract as much moisture as possible from the seeds they eat using kidneys designed for maximal water re-absorption.
Snowshoe hare One of three hare species of Utah, the snowshoe hare is named aer its enormous feet that resemble snowshoes. Its pelt changes with the season; it hops through coniferous forest with brown fur in the summer and dazzling white fluff throughout the chilly winter season.
Black bear This protected species is found in Utah’s forests, and it may have the smallest population of all of the western states. Most of their diet is made up of berries and roots, but they may snack on fresh carrion they stumble upon. With such a strong sense of smell, little food gets past this bear. Mule deer
The Wild West
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A FLAMBOYANCE OF
FLAMINGOS They may look as though they have jumped straight out of someone’s imagination, but there is much more to flamingos than meets the eye Words Naomi Harding
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Flamingos Flamingos are one of the strangest looking, and most recognisable birds in the world. It’s difficult not to be fascinated by their long spindly legs, oversized beaks, and bright pink feathers. Flamingos are found all over the world in large shallow pools of water from lakes and lagoons, to swamps. There are four species in the Americas and two species found in parts of Africa, Europe, and southwest Asia. These birds adapt to both the hot climes of sub-Saharan Africa and the chilly waters of the Andean mountains. The most widespread species is the greater flamingo and the most numerous is the lesser flamingo. One thing all species have in common is that they are extremely social and gather in the thousands forming colonies, and painting lakes and watercourses pink as
they flock together. The pinker the bird, the higher they rank in social status. Their colour is an outward statement to others showing that they eat plenty and are skilled at finding food sources, making them the ideal mate. Mating is certainly a spectacle to behold. Males dance in large synchronised groups amongst the pink flapping mess of birds to snare a female’s attention. But besides the dancing and the pink feathers, there are many other facts that make this bird interesting and set it apart from the rest. From why they are such vibrant shades of pink, to how they are able eat with their heads tilted upside down, and how they have puzzled scientists who couldn’t understand why they stood on one leg in the water, find out all about these incredible wading birds.
During breeding season, flamingos can form flocks of up to 50 birds. They then dance in large groups to attract a mate.
“They are extremely social and gather in the thousands, forming colonies and painting lakes and watercourses pink as they flock together”
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Xxxxxxxxxxxxx Flamingos A flamingo’s colouration changes depending on the area they live in and their diet
DID YOU KNOW? The word flamingo comes from the Latin word ‘flamma’ which means fire. It is a nod to their bright feathers, which can look almost red in some of the bird species.
Eating upside down means flamingos can use their beaks as a filter
Freaky eaters There aren’t many animals that have perfected the art of eating upside down, but it’s a skill the flamingo couldn’t live without Having long legs means flamingos are able to wade out into deeper waters and find food other birds cannot. It allows them to avoid competing with other species and exploit harder-to-reach food sources. Although their beaks certainly look odd, they are essential to their survival. In order to eat, flamingos lower their necks to the water, so much so that their head is almost upside down. Once their beak is upended and submerged, they disturb the waterbed with their feet to agitate the sediment. They suck the water and mud through the front of the bill and force it out of the sides using their tongue like a pump. Small plates called lamellae act like a sieve, filtering out the waste and keeping tiny aquatic animals such as shrimps, flies, and mollusks inside the beak for the flamingo to eat.
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Flamingos Think pink Flamingos are what they eat, and the shrimp determines their shade of pink
“The red colour comes from a pigment called a carotenoid...through eating brine shrimp”
Flamingos aren’t the only pink birds in the world but they probably are the most recognisable. They don’t start life pink however; in fact, they are born with grey feathers, which gradually become pink with age. As you have probably heard, their pink feathers are down to their diet, but it is a bit more complex than ‘flamingos eat shrimp’. The red colour comes from a pigment called a carotenoid. This is acquired through eating brine shrimp and crustaceans. These little aquatic invertebrates survive by eating microscopic algae that naturally produce the carotenoid pigment. But it doesn’t stop there. In order to get from food to feathers, the flamingos have an enzyme in the liver that breaks down the carotenoids into pink and orange pigments, which are then deposited around the body. Without this food source, flamingos quickly turn grey again and in captivity, they are fed a special diet to prevent this from happening. The variation in colour between species is down to diet and birds that eat algae will be darker in colour than those that get the carotenoid pigments second hand, i.e. from shrimp. Humans also eat food containing carotenoids, or beta-carotenes, such as carrots and sweet potatoes. If you were to eat too many of these vegetables, you wouldn’t quite look like a flamingo, but you could end up with an orangehue, called hypercarotenemia.
Flamingo milk Flamingos are not like other birds in the way they feed their young once they hatch Flamingos painstakingly construct their nests on mudflats. Here they lay their eggs, and sit on them to incubate, while chewing and dribbling mud over the structure to increase its height and protect the unhatched chick from the watery surroundings. By definition, only mammals feed their young with milk, but a handful of birds buck tradition and produce milk. Pigeons, penguins, doves and flamingos are able to feed their young this way. Once the eggs have hatched, parents feed their chick crop milk for up to two months, until their beaks are fully developed and they are able to forage and feed themselves. It is a little different to breastfeeding, though. Crop milk comes from a pouch just below the oesophagus and has high quantities of fat and protein, providing all the nutrition young flamingos need. A secretion in the digestive tract produces the milk and they regurgitate it when it’s time to feed their chicks. It is somewhat different to mammalian milk; it’s a pale yellow colour and is much thicker. The milk’s production is stimulated by the chirping of hungry chicks, and both male and female birds are able to produce it.
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Flamingos Meet the family
There have been a number of theories as to why flamingos stand in the water on one leg
They may all look the same, but there are in fact six species of flamingo and it takes a keen eye for detail to differentiate between them
Lesser flamingo
James’ flamingo
DID YOU KNOW?
Andean flamingo
Flamingos are great fliers and can fly at speeds of up to 64 kilometres per hour (40 miles per hour), although this takes a lot of effort and they need a running start before they are able to take off.
Chilean flamingo
A leg to stand on
It may be comfortable to rest those long legs from time to time but there’s a better reason why flamingos spend so much time on one leg
© Alamy; FLPA; NaturePL; Thinkstock
Greater flamingo
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Caribbean flamingo
The famous bending knee of the flamingo is actually the bird’s ankle. The knees are found much further up the leg and are hidden by the feathers. If you imagine the way your ankle bends, it reveals that flamingos are really tiptoeing around. Perhaps more curious than their bendy ankles, is their habit to balance on one leg. No matter the weather, strong currents or high winds, they’re able to do this for hours on end. The reason for this puzzled researchers, but we might finally have an answer.
The current school of thought is that it helps to conserve body heat and helps to regulate their temperature. Flamingos tend to spend more time on one leg when they are in water than when they are on land. Water draws heat away from the body faster than air, so standing on one leg helps to keep them warm for longer, while requiring less energy. Flamingos spend a lot of time in water and if they were to stand on two legs constantly they would likely become too cold.
“Water draws heat away from the body so standing on one leg helps to keep them warm for longer”
© KLEIN & HUBERT / WWF
ADOPTION
ADOPT HIM TODAY. OR LOSE HIM FOREVER. Will you help the snow leopard claw its way back from the brink?
Snow leopards have survived in the Himalayas for thousands of years. But right now, there are as few as 300 left in Nepal. The harsh reality is that they’re being slaughtered by poachers for their bones and precious fur – and they urgently need your help if they are to live on.
Your present. Their future. For as little as £3 a month, you or your loved one will receive an adoption pack, an adorable cuddly toy and regular updates from people on the ground working tirelessly to help save the beautiful snow leopard. What’s more, you’ll have the satisfaction of knowing you’re helping us to train and equip courageous anti-poaching rangers. And you’ll discover what it takes – and how it feels – to help save a species.
By adopting a snow leopard today, you’ll help protect this endangered big cat for future generations.
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LIFE AFTER
DARK When we turn in for the night, the day is just beginning for some creatures. Meet the animals with weird and wonderful ways of surviving after the sun goes down Words Naomi Harding Humans aren’t the only animals to regulate their sleepwake cycle over a 24-hour period. Many other species do this too, concentrating their peak activity at different times during the day for survival. Some animals focus their efforts at dawn and dusk; this is called crepuscular, or solely during the night, as seen in nocturnal creatures. These activity patterns are usually found alongside a host of physiological adaptations, such as larger eyes, enhanced night vision, or better hearing. Being nocturnal is a strategy that can help an animal avoid predation, find food, or even simply escape the midday heat. There is a general consensus that no two animals can occupy the same niche in the same habitat in order to avoid competition. This is what drives adaption and, ultimately, evolution. It is one of the reasons why many animals have learned to exploit the night. Bats hunt the same prey as many birds. In order to make the most of their time and ensure they get their fill, living life after dark means they avoid competing directly with birds for insects. The same can be said about owls and hawks that prey on the same small rodents. Whether it’s to escape the heat, avoid being eaten, or prevent competition, there are a whole host of interesting and bizarre ways animals behave and survive after dark.
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Xxxxxxxxxxxxx Life after dark Creatures that glow in the dark It seems like an odd strategy to draw attention to yourself, especially when so many other animals are trying hard to stay hidden. But for some animals glowing in the dark is a way of life. Scorpions can’t stand the sun, which is unfortunate for a creature living in the desert, so coming out at night is their only option. However, when they are under moonlight, or a black light, their armoured exoskeletons illuminate. No one is entirely sure why glowing bright blue under UV light is necessary, and there have been numerous theories. The most promising hypothesis thus far is that glowing acts as a mechanism to determine light levels above the surface,
and allows the arachnids to work out if it is time to search for prey. Arachnocampa, also known as fungus gnats, live tucked away in caves and forests but before they spread their wings, they begin life as larvae. They stay in the larval stage for up to 12 months spinning silk nets coated with poisonous mucus that they hang from tree branches and the ceilings of caves. They glow to attract insects to their traps. The more hungry the bug, the more brightly they shine. Like stars in the sky, they shimmer and sparkle, drawing moths, midges, mosquitoes and many other flying insects toward them, just as a street lamp does.
Keen eyesight gets some animals through the night In order to find their way around in the dark, nocturnal animals have eyes far better equipped to low-level light conditions than our own. Owls are one of the very few nocturnal animals that do not rely upon either echolocation or a tapetum lucidum (a special reflective layer to increase the amount of light entering the eye). They have the largest eyes relative to body size on the planet; their eyes are even larger than their brain. Unlike our round eyes, owl eyes are more tubular, which is why they cannot move them and have to move their head in order to look around. But despite this drawback, they have incredibly powerful night vision and
Binocular vision
some say an owl could spot a mouse on a football pitch lit by a single candle. Humans can’t see in colour at night, so it was assumed for a long time that other creatures couldn’t, but we’re starting to realise this may not be true. The elephant hawkmoth was the first animal found to have colour vision in 2002, when scientists realised they are able to find flowers by colour just as well as butterflies do, in darkness. Colour vision is just as important to nocturnal animals as it is to diurnal creatures. They still need to carry out the same tasks such as finding food and shelter, and for this they need to be able to see the world in as much detail once the sun goes down.
Owls and hawks compete for the same food source but hawks hunt in the day, and owls at night
An owl’s field of view only covers 110 degrees, but 70 degrees of this is binocular, allowing it to see in three dimensions
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Life after dark
Large ears go a long way Rabbits are crepuscular, which means they are most active in the twilight hours of dawn and dusk as these are the safest times for foraging. It’s a bit late for predators tired from a day’s hunting, but too early for nocturnal hunters. Being on the menu for so many larger carnivores they wouldn’t survive long without any tricks up their proverbial sleeves. Rabbits are able to swivel their ears like satellite dishes independently from one another, directing and funnelling sound from all angles. Their hearing is arguably the most important sense they have and their ears are so sensitive they are said to hear bugs and birds from 3.21 kilometres (two miles) away. Bats are a strong contender when it comes to hearing and are usually considered as having the best hearing in the animal kingdom, but one animal has managed to get one-up on them. The greater wax moths, which incidentally are prey for common bats, have evolved to hear the flying mammal’s echolocation calls and evade capture. Rabbits are continuously twitching their ears and scanning their surroundings
“Their ears are so sensitive they are said to hear bugs and birds from 3.21 kilometres (two miles) away” Tapirs take night time baths
In the wild, Brazilian tapirs are nocturnal. When threatened they stand in rivers to hide their location, and let the water carry their scent downstream to confuse predators.
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Bush babies urinate on their hands
To communicate with each other in the dark, they cover their hands and feet with their own sticky urine, leaving a trail wherever they walk. To mark out their territory, they use secretions from their chest.
Lions hunt during the night, unless there’s a full moon
Lions hunt at night, except for when there is a full moon. Then they will hunt during the day. Because of the increased levels of light, prey animals are less likely to come out, so the lions must supplement their efforts with a daytime hunt.
Life after dark
Seeing with sound
Shrews are believed to echolocate to make up for their poor eyesight
What shrews lack in size they make up for in noise. Shrews are forever twittering and shrieking, they are extremely vocal creatures. It is likely they make these supersonic calls to assess echoes and reverberation. Shrews are most active at night, and using a form of echolocation can help them to build a picture of their surroundings using sound. They have poor eyesight and the small eyes they do have are usually covered by fur. This form of echolocation, however impressive, is somewhat unsophisticated when compared to insectivorous bats. Shrews seem to be scanning their close-range immediate habitat, just to check they aren’t about to walk into a rock or a tree trunk, rather than pinpointing tiny insects metres away. Instead of using echolocation to supplement poor eyesight, bats emit high frequency calls to compliment vision that is nearly as good as ours. They emit a mixture of low to high frequency sounds to distinguish objects around them. These calls bounce back and help the bat build up a picture of its environment, from how far insect’s are and their size, to the location of objects they need to avoid while flying at high speed. The physics of echolocation The shrew’s calls are reflected from the insect’s body, enabling the shrew to discern the insect’s size and location, so it can analyse whether it’ll be a worthwhile meal and how to go and catch it.
“It is far too hot in the day, so they wait until the temperature is cooler to leave the safety of their hideaways”
The lesser Egyptian jerboa waits until it is dark to leave the safety of the burrow
Some animals wait until sunset to beat the heat In parts of the world where the midday sun scorches the ground, life is nigh unbearable and many animals have adopted a nighttime strategy to beat the heat. At night the desert comes alive. Small mammals leave their burrows without the risk of burning their feet on hot sand, and in turn, predatory birds begin to circle the skies. Amphibians rise from the cool under layer to the surface to find insects to eat, and reptiles that have spent most of the day basking still on rocks, begin to hunt. Most animals in the desert, particularly mammals, burrow beneath the sand during the day. Jerboas are small mammals that live in the deserts across North Africa and Asia. They construct complex burrows below the surface featuring emergency exits and tunnels. It is far too hot in the day, so they wait until the temperature is cooler to leave the safety of their hideaway to find food. However, when small animals come out at night, so do the predators. Jerboas are equipped to jump three metres (ten feet) in one leap and live without the need to find water (they get all they need from their food) to avoid being out in the open for too long and escape predators.
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Life after dark
Predators come out after dark on the hunt for midnight snacks While many animals choose to come out under the cover of darkness to stay hidden, other clever creatures have learned to exploit this habit. With so many animals coming out at night, predators have responded by also being most active after dark in the hope to catch a meal. Take the badger, for example, they are relatively fearless. They are one of the only animals able to take on a wasp nest, and although they are intelligent enough to remain wary of humans, they have no natural predators in the UK yet they are most active at night. There is no real reason why badgers should be nocturnal other than for hunting. Badgers can eat several hundred earthworms each and every night. Worms are particularly sensitive to light so will generally only brave it above ground during the night and on particularly cloudy days, and as they surface to wander about, badgers are there waiting. But a nice, juicy worm isn’t the only prize for staying up all night. Badgers are carnivores, technically speaking, and make meals of rabbits, hedgehogs, shrews, and moles, all of which can be found scurrying through the undergrowth on an evening.
Night-time digging
Mainly nocturnal, American badgers also come out a er dark to forage for food Searching for prey While American badgers have few natural predators, they mainly hunt for food at night-time
Carnivores The American badger mainly eats small mammals such as ground squirrels which also come out at night.
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Life after dark
© Alamy; FLPA; NaturePL; Shutterstock; Thinkstock
“They are one of the only animals able to take on a wasp nest, and although they are intelligent enough to remain wary of humans, they have no natural predators in the UK”
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The double life of the
HUMPBACK WHALE
The giant mammals of the ocean lead two parallel existences; peacefully feeding during summer but engaging in hormone-fuelled battles in winter Words Amy Grisdale
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Humpback whale
Summer feeding frenzy Humpbacks fill their summer months with finding as much food as possible to sustain them through the winter Humpback whales love to pig out on the ocean’s fishy fare. They are a cosmopolitan species, meaning they can be found in any major ocean on the planet, and travel the world in search of top-quality cuisine. Polar regions are the most popular as they have nutrient-rich deep waters, and the low temperatures are combated by the whale’s crucial blubber layer. These animals undertake the longest migration recorded in any mammal with an 8,300-kilometre (5,160-mile) journey tracked from Costa Rica to Antarctica. The route between Hawaii and Alaska is wellknown by whales and despite being almost 5,000 kilometres (3,000 miles), it takes only 36 days. What’s even more impressive is how the whales work together to find their way to the winter breeding grounds. Rather than take their chances alone, whales form feeding groups to scoop up as many fish as possible. One technique is known as ‘bubble-net’ feeding, in which a group collaborates to trap fish. The whales dive to a depth of around 50 metres (164 feet) and slowly swim upwards in a spiral motion while blowing bubbles. This creates a circular wall of bubbles, meaning that fish trapped within the wall cannot escape. Once the whales reach the surface with wide-open mouths, the fish have no option but to enter the bellies of these beasts. Humpbacks don’t have teeth, but filterfeed through fibrous plates of baleen. Up to one metre (three feet) in length, these protein plates act as a sieve to allow water to escape the mouth while trapping the animals inside. They are made out of the same material that makes up human fingernails and are lightweight and flexible. After summer, the whales head back to warmer waters. Their behaviour in the shallow waters of the tropics is a world away from their summer scoffing, and they won’t eat another bite until next year.
HUMPBACK WHALE
Megaptera novaeangliae Class Mammalia
Territory All oceans Diet Plankton, krill and small fish Lifespan 40-50 years Adult weight 27,000-36,000kg (60,000-79,000lb) Conservation Status
LEAST CONCERN
The blubber that a humpback builds during the summer determines its survival over the following winter
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The double life of the humpback whale
Winter of love After filling up on food, humpbacks rely on stored energy to make it through the breeding season The frantic feasting at the poles fuels these whales from late autumn until the following spring. In this time not only do the whales migrate, but they battle it out for the right to mate in ‘heat runs’. Males chase one another, aim swipes with their powerful tail flukes and even slam themselves on to the bodies of others. These fights can end in death, and more often than not draw blood. When they aren’t trying to kill one another, males spend their time in the winter singing. All males in the same population sing the same song, but over time the song evolves. A whale can sing for hours at a time, with repeated sections that each last up to 20 minutes. This impressive chorus can be heard from 30 kilometres (20 miles) away, and while it has a social function of some kind, the scientific community is still largely in the dark about its function. It’s not even clear how the whales produce these noises as they have no vocal chords and don’t release any air while singing. After mating females have around 11 months until their calf arrives. When it’s time to give birth, females seek out the warmest water possible and prefer it to be shallow. A mother whale has to teach her calf everything, starting with how to breathe. Calves are encouraged to surface regularly with gentle nudges and instinctively know how to suckle. Six months are spent drinking only the mother’s milk, followed by a mixed diet of milk and solid food. Throughout the season adult whales abstain from eating, saving their appetite for the summer. In a typical year a humpback can lose up to a third of its body weight during winter. These animals have been shaped to survive by millions of years of evolution and found success living two different lives.
“When they aren’t trying to kill one another, males spend their time in the winter singing”
The reason why whales breach is not fully understood, but it is believed that it is used as a form of communication during mating
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Humpback whale How humpbacks fall in love
Scientists think that the humpback’s song is some kind of sexual signal, either used in male-on-male competitions or to influence the female’s choice of mate.
Humpbacks slap the ocean’s surface with their fins, and it’s thought to be a form of communication. Evidence suggests that females fin slap in the presence of eager males to encourage mating.
Before mating can even cross a whale’s mind it first has to reach sexual maturity. This takes four to five years in both males and females.
Rather than have the same partner each year, males compete to have access to fertile females and only winning males get the reward of the chance to copulate. When in the womb, calves can grow by up to 35cm (14in) per month, and continue to swell rapidly a
er birth
Humpbacks have the longest pectoral fins
Whales can catch ‘crabs’ or whale louse
Females outgrow males as they grow up
They eat over 1,500 kilograms per day
Humpback milk is 50 per cent fat and pink
Relative to their body size, no other whale has longer fins and no one is sure why. It could assist the whales in slapping the water’s surface to attract the attention of others.
Despite their lack of body hair, the whale louse Cyamus boopis thrives exclusively on these animals. It is concentrated around the genital region and attaches to the skin.
Unlike a lot of mammals, the female humpback is larger than the male. This is probably to help support the body during pregnancy, as baby whales take up a lot of room.
During the summer feast a humpback can eat the equivalent of three dairy cows in a 24-hour period. Astonishingly, that’s only four per cent of their total body weight.
Baby whales are just five metres (16 feet) long at birth and need to grow quickly to keep up with their giant relatives. They suckle from mammary slits on the female’s underside.
© Shutterstock; FLPA
5 incredible humpback facts
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All About the
Reticulated giraffe
The reticulated giraffe is possibly the most recognisable subspecies, but how do these curious creatures survive the savannah living life at dizzying heights? Words Naomi Harding
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The reticulated giraffe
“Giraffes need the least sleep of all mammals; just 30 minutes a day, although they only sleep for a few minutes at a time”
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Mating habits explained The dating scene of the sociable giraffe has been compared to a never-ending cocktail party LEFT Newborn giraffes are taller than most humans, standing at 1.8 metres (six feet) tall
BELOW Necking is the most aggressive behaviour you will ever see from a giraffe
Giraffes live in an ever-changing society. It’s quite a relaxed way to live with a loose social structure and little in the way of hierarchy, aside from the occasional ‘necking’ display to display dominance. Reticulated giraffes live in what is known as a fissionfusion society. They come together, and break apart depending on environmental conditions. There is always one main group, called a parent group, but how often they come together depends on the circumstance. If food is scarce, for example, they split off into smaller factions to go foraging for the day. Usually parent groups will overlap in territory also, leading to a group of animals that are highly flexible and gregarious. It’s even been likened to being at a never-ending cocktail party as they are forever mingling and socialising with different individuals within the group. It’s common to see a small number of giraffes together, but it’s likely that they are a smaller subunit of a larger herd spreading as far as a kilometre (0.62 miles) in distance. Their long necks mean they can always keep an eye on each other from afar. Males tend to move around on
Nuzzling
Giraffe behaviour Whether it’s a reticulated giraffe or a Rothschild, most subspecies display these basic behaviours
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Adult females will often nuzzle their young by rubbing them with the side of their face, or stroking their back to show affection. Giraffes can make sounds, but they tend to be quite quiet. Instead, they use body language as a way of communicating with each other.
Flehmen response
This is when giraffes curl their upper lip and draw air into their mouths to get a better smell of something. They can hold this stance for a few minutes to determine other animal smells, to locate a food source, or work out whether or not a female is in heat during mating season.
The reticulated giraffe
“How do male giraffes know when to make their move? The female will urinate in the male’s mouth. Unfortunately it’s a bit unpleasant by our standards, but necessary” their own much more often than females, who often stay in groups, and mothers may stay with their daughters for years. As for their sons, after about three years mature males leave the safety of the herd and wander the open plains in search of a female in oestrus. They have a small window of opportunity. Females are on a two-week cycle, and are only able to conceive for fewer than four days. But how do male giraffes know when to make their move? The female will urinate in the male’s mouth. Unfortunately it’s a bit unpleasant by our standards, but necessary. Giraffes have a sensory organ in their mouth called the Jacobson’s organ. They curl their lips back, seal their nostrils and inhale deeply, a reaction seen in many other animals such as horses, cats, giant pandas, and hedgehogs, to name a few. It gives the giraffes an incredible sense of smell and also helps the male to tell if a female is fertile. If the male is in luck and a female is ready to mate, he will follow her as she walks around weighing up her options and the availability of other males in the area. Once she accepts a male, mating lasts just a couple of minutes and a 15-month pregnancy follows. She will give birth to just one calf at a time, returning to the place she was born to give birth each year. A female can give birth to eight young during her lifetime, and with no specific breeding season, there are always new arrivals being welcomed to the herd.
Walking
Giraffes have a unique way of walking. Unlike other four-legged animals that move one leg at a time, giraffes move both legs on each side of the body at the same time. For example, both the front left leg and the hind left leg will move forward in unison and then the right side follows.
BELOW In captivity, giraffes feel safe enough to lie down and curl their head round onto their backs to sleep
How do giraffes sleep? Lying down and having a snooze leaves this large creature vulnerable to predation so they rely on power naps to get through the day That long neck is as cumbersome as it looks. Lying down and getting up again takes some time, probably enough time for a lion to sneak up from behind. For that reason, you’ll rarely see a giraffe lying down. In captivity, life is much easier of course, and individuals tucked away within the safe confines of a zoo are able to lay their heads
Chewing the cud
When they aren’t eating, lumps of fermented food travel from the first part of the stomach (giraffes are ruminants and have fourchambered stomachs) back into the mouth. The lumps are called cud, and they chew on them to help break them down and aid the digestion of their food.
Drinking
down with ease. In the wild, this is less common and they tend to catch 40 winks while standing. Giraffes need the least sleep of all mammals, snoozing for just 30 minutes each day, although they only sleep for a few minutes at any one time. It wasn’t until the 1950s that scientists even discovered they sleep at all.
Giraffes are arguably at their most vulnerable when they assume this position to drink. They don’t need to drink often as they get most of their water from their diet of leaves. They drink once every few days and are cautious, surveying their surroundings beforehand.
Long tongue
One of the giraffe’s favourite plant species to eat is the infamously thorny acacia tree but this is no problem for this tall ungulateas they have long and rough tongues to help strip branches of their leaves, and to grip onto twigs to break them off before eating them.
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Unique patterns
LEAST CONCERN
Territory Somalia, southern Ethiopia, northern Kenya Diet Acacia trees, leaves, branches, insects Lifespan 25 years Adult weight 794-1,270kg (1,750-2,800lb) Conservation Status
Class Mammalia
Giraffa camelopardalis reticulata
RETICULATED GIRAFFE
Intestine
Stomach
Reticulated giraffes have a four-chambered stomach. Food goes to the first compartment and water goes directly to the second. Having four chambers means the tough food they eat is completely broken down and all nutrients are successfully extracted.
No two giraffes have the same spot-pattern, similar to how no two humans have the same fingerprints. Scientists aren’t really sure exactly why they have spots at all, but the best guess is that it helps the animal to camouflage and blend in with the savannah. The varying orange coloured-fur and dark spots probably imitate the dappled effect of the sun shining through the vegetation onto the red savannah soil and the shade produced by the many bushes and acacia trees.
Ossicones
Almost like antlers, these horn-like structures are fused to the skull. They are covered in skin and fur. The fur is often worn away at the tips in male giraffes from violent necking.
Giraffes have sponge-like vessels at the base of their brain. When they lean forward, to drink for example, it contains the extra blood rushing to the head and expands like a sponge to prevent the animal from becoming dizzy or passing out from a rush of blood to the brain.
Rete mirabile
These creatures have the most fascinating physiology of all mammals. With long necks, giant hearts, and unusual proportions, find out how giraffes survive at great heights
Anatomy of a reticulated giraffe
Vertebrae
Giraffes have seven vertebrae, the same number we have in our necks. However each one is significantly larger than ours and can be 25.5 centimetres (ten inches) long.
Jaw
Tongue
Giraffes have incredibly long tongues that can stretch for 45 centimetres (18 inches) to grab leaves. The tongue is black, probably to help protect it from the sun’s rays.
All about the reticulated giraffe
© The Art Agency/Sandra Doyle
First steps 60 minutes Young giraffes are extremely vulnerable so it’s important they learn how to move as soon as possible. They are able to stand and walk within an hour, and are almost indistinguishable from a one-week old.
INFANCY
Rib cage
Beginning to eat 4 months Giraffes start to eat leaves and solids quite early on in life but they continue to nurse on their mother’s milk until they are six to nine months old.
Dependent 15 months Young male giraffes are dependent on their mothers for the first 15 months of life. A female stays with her mother slightly longer, until 18 months of age.
JUVENILE
Heart
Reproductive age 4-5 years Reaching sexual maturity marks the start of adulthood for giraffes. Females are now fully grown and they are now able to find a mate and continue the cycle.
MATURITY Old age 9 years As males reach old age, like humans, their fur beings to change colour. But rather than go grey, their spots darken and become black blotches.
The vertebrae are joined together differently to ours. They are joined more like our hips and shoulders, with ball and socket joints allowing for a greater degree of movement where the neck meets the back.
How is a giraffe’s neck so flexible?
Finding a female 8 years Although giraffes reach sexual maturity between four and five years of age, most males do not mate until they are eight years old.
Their hooves are split into two sections to give a greater surface area and help distribute their weight more evenly. This gives them better balance on their long, thin legs.
Feet
The walls of the heart are extremely thick. Their heads are two metres (6.56 feet) away from their heads, so they have to have an extremely strong heart to pump blood all the way up. As a result, they have the highest blood pressure of any mammal.
The reticulated giraffe
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All about the reticulated giraffe
Surviving the savannah The vast grasslands of the African plains stretch as far as the eye can see. At first glance it appears still and almost calm, but hidden from sight is the ever-looming threat of predators Giraffes are the world’s tallest animals. They are megafauna, giant herbivores with strong legs and a powerful kick. Few other creatures in the savannah are willing to take on a giraffe due to its height and strength. They are usually left alone, able to live their lives without the threat of predation, but despite their towering size there is still one group of animals they need to be wary of - lions. Giraffes are certainly not
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easy prey. Even for a pack of lions, giraffes can prove troublesome. But when the dry season shows no signs of relenting and food is scarce, sometimes a lion has no other option than to potentially risk a life-ending kick in pursuit of a meal. Adults are usually out of the question (except when they bow down to drink and are more vulnerable), but the same can’t be said for the young. When a mother’s back is turned
and her calf is left alone while she feeds, it’s the perfect time to strike. Baby giraffes make for an easy target as they spend lots of time on the ground resting during the first few weeks of life, and anything from lions and hyenas, to wild dogs and leopards will take advantage of the opportunity a small, sitting giraffe presents. For this reason, three quarters of all calves born do not survive to adulthood.
RIGHT The giraffe’s savannah habitat is sparse and dotted with acacia trees, with little cover
A shrinking habitat Once giraffes reach adulthood, they may not have predators to evade but they still have challenges to overcome Living life at towering heights means giraffes have less competition for food. Generally, the males feed from the top of the trees and the female feeds from just below. Big animals need large amounts of food and the reticulated giraffe eats around 34 kilograms (75 pounds) of food every day. They can eat over 100 different plant species, although acacia trees seem to be the firm favourite. They are also very heavily reliant on the savannah’s vegetation, gaining energy from their food and hydration from the leaves’ high water content. Once giraffes successfully reach maturity, their chance-of-survival dramatically improves and the only threat they have to contend with is a loss of habitat. As human settlements expand and land is converted to construct roads or increase agricultural activities, their source of food is torn from the ground. It is thought giraffe numbers have decreased by 40 per cent in the last 15 years alone, and the population will only continue to decrease in correlation with their shrinking habitat.
Giraffes in danger
Although these gentle giants are not considered endangered on the whole, there are a few subspecies that we risk losing in the near future
West African giraffe There were just 50 light-coloured West African giraffe le in the wild but following intensive conservation efforts, the last count in 2011 stated there were now 310. Kordofan giraffe There are fewer than 2,000 Korodofan giraffes living in the wild. Bristol Zoo has plans to begin a pilot study this year to investigate areas for future conservation work.
© Thinkstock; Alamy; Shutterstock
Rothschild giraffe These giraffes are easy to distinguish, as their legs are white from the knee down. There are very few le in the wild and the ones that remain are at risk because of interbreeding.
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Meet the family
Penguins
KING PENGUIN
Aptenodytes patagonicus Class Aves
The grounded, waddling birds of the southern hemisphere are full of character and probably some of the most endearing birds on Earth
Territory Sub Antarctic islands Diet Small fish and squid Lifespan 15-20 years Adult weight 11-16kg (24-35lb) Conservation Status
LEAST CONCERN
King penguin
Macaroni penguin
King penguins may have a different approach to childcare, but they still make great parents
These fashionably crested penguins have plumage that makes them stand out from the crowd
Often considered one of the most striking species, the macaroni penguin’s crown of yellow plumage makes the bird easy to spot. Although it sounds like they were named after the tube-shaped pasta, they were really named after the 18th-century European fashion trend known as maccaronism, which was characterised by large hairstyles and fancy accessories, and perpetuated by young well-travelled gentlemen around the time of the penguin’s discovery. The macaroni penguin was always considered an extremely successful species, with an estimated 18 million individuals worldwide in 1998, however, populations have suffered declines of up to 50 per cent in some areas and local extinctions in others. Their numbers have been slashed to 6.3 million breeding pairs globally. There are now various conservation efforts to halt these declines and figure out what is negatively affecting the birds.
While king penguins are diving, they are able to hold their breath for about five minutes as they hunt for fish. Their favourite meal is lantern fish but there isn’t always enough to go round, so krill and cephalopods are also on the menu.
While most other penguins painstakingly construct nests of pebbles and rocks in which to lay their eggs, king penguins look after their unhatched offspring rather differently. The penguins precariously balance the egg on their feet. As opposed to sitting on the egg for incubation, they cover the egg with a protective membrane called the brood patch; this abdominal skin keeps the egg warm. Both parents take it in turns to care for the egg for a total of 55 days, although even after they hatch the young are still carried around in this way for at least another month until they are old enough to keep themselves warm in the chilly climate.
CHINSTRAP PENGUIN Pygoscelis antarcticus Class Aves
They are especially skilled at diving, however, they have to keep their wits about them, as fur seals, leopard seals, and killer whales will all hunt macaroni penguins.
Territory Southern Pacific and Antarctic Ocean Diet Krill, shrimp, and small fish Lifespan 15-20 years Adult weight 3-5kg (6.6-11lb) Conservation Status
LEAST CONCERN
MACARONI PENGUIN Eudyptes chrysolophus Class Aves
Territory Sub Antarctic to the Antarctic Peninsula Diet Krill and crustaceans Lifespan 15 years Adult weight 3.3-6.4kg (7-14lb) Conservation Status
VULNERABLE
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At a zoo in New York, two captive chinstrap penguins took it in turns to incubate a rock – obviously the pair were feeling broody and eventually a keeper exchanged the rock for a fertile egg. The pair hatched a healthy chick, which they went on to raise as their own.
Chinstrap penguin
Perhaps it’s just a coincidence, but the only species of penguin appearing to wear a helmet is also the most resilient
This species is named for the thin black strip around its neck, giving it a rather comical appearance, almost as though it is wearing a helmet, or sporting a beard. Unlike many other species, it appears that chinstrap penguin numbers have been increasing. Found over a vast range covering more than 20,000 square kilometres (12,500 square miles) and eight million individuals strong, this penguin is thriving in a time when many others are struggling to survive.
Penguins
Rockhopper penguin Rockhoppers shun the traditional waddle of other penguins, bounding between coastal rocks
The little fierce penguin with a big heart ADÉLIE PENGUIN
MAGELLANIC PENGUIN Spheniscus magellanicus Class Aves
Territory Argentina, Chile, Falkland Islands Diet Cuttlefish, squid, krill and crustaceans Lifespan 25 years Adult weight 2.7-6.5kg (6-13.4lb) Conservation Status
NEAR THREATENED
2 1. Emperor penguin Tallest
3. Gentoo penguin Fastest
2. Little blue penguin Smallest
4. Galápagos penguin Rarest
Standing at nearly 1.2 metres (4 feet) tall, the emperor penguin, found in Antarctica, is the tallest and heaviest penguin.
The little blue penguin, named because of the blueish plumage on its head, grows to just 33 centimetres (13 inches) in height.
Adélie penguin
Adélie penguins are mid-sized compared to other penguins but rather small Pygoscelis adeliae in the grand scheme of things, Class Aves standing between 46-71 centimetres (18-28 inches) tall. They don’t let their size hold them back, however. Noted Territory Antarctic coast for their intense curiosity Diet Krill, Antarctic silverfish and self-importance, a lack of and glacial squid Lifespan 20 years natural land predators has led the birds Adult weight 3.6-6kg to become fearless in their approach of (7.9-13.2lb) humans, even being spotted standing Conservation Status nose to nose with ferocious dogs. Despite this documented arrogance, Adélie penguins are romantics at heart. Pebbles NEAR THREATENED are highly prized on the Antarctic tundra, being used to build nests. A male will spend lots of time combing the landscape, agonising over pebbles until he has selected his favourite. He then presents his special stone to a female, which, should she accept, will become his mate.
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Able to swim 22 miles per hour (36 kilometres per hour), gentoo penguins are the fastest diving bird, which is vital for their survival.
Found only on the Galápagos Islands, they are considered the most rare as there are only about 1,000 breeding pairs.
Not a… penguin
Located above the eyes is the salt gland, which enables penguins to excrete salt safely, as their kidneys are not as efficient as ours.
Magellanic penguin
These birds are easily stressed, so it’s probably best to leave well alone
Although there are many of these penguins living on the coasts on Argentina and Chile, they are considered Near Threatened. Unfortunately, there are a number of threats the magellanic penguins are faced with. Most notably, oil spills were claiming the lives of around 40,000 individuals annually throughout the 1990s. This number has been reduced in recent years but the development of future oil extraction offshore of the Falkland Islands threatens to further deplete penguin populations. The plight of these penguins and images of the oil-covered birds attracted well-wishers and tourists from around the globe. Sadly some were doing more harm than good. Young chicks that encounter tourists undergo a severe stress response called corticosterone. The long-term effects of this response means the chicks may grow to have trouble with problem solving and finding food.
Puffins and penguins are oen grouped together as they share a number of physiological and social similarities. Even early explorers got the two mixed up and would record puffin sightings as penguins. Both have white fronts and black backs, and congregate in large groups to breed with males and females of both species oen mating for life, although this is where the likeness ends. Adults have black backs to blend in with the murky ocean when viewed from above, and white stomachs to match the sun hitting the light ocean surface when viewed from below.
© Thinkstock
Since the beginning of the 20th century, rockhopper penguins have declined by 90 per cent. Unfortunately, no one really knows why, making it difficult to safeguard the penguins.
As the name suggests, these penguins are most at home when leaping from rock to rock along rugged coastlines. It’s a far faster way to travel than waddling. They congregate on the shores of Chile, New Zealand, and the islands of northern NORTHERN Antarctica year after year at ROCKHOPPER PENGUIN Eudyptes moseleyi the start of their breeding Class Aves season. Each individual has their favourite spot and usually returns to the same shoreline each year to begin the arduous Territory South Atlantic task of finding their previous Ocean mate among the hundreds of Diet Krill, crustaceans, squid and octopus thousands of other penguins. Lifespan Ten years It’s like finding a needle in a Adult weight Unknown haystack among all the bodies Conservation Status and the cacophony of noise made by other penguins searching for their partner. ENDANGERED
3
1
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SAVING THE GREVY’S ZEBRA With the population decreasing by half in the last two decades, there’s never been a better time to jump into action and help save these marvellously stripy stallions Words Ella Carter Grevy’s zebras are one of three zebra species, all very easily recognised by their iconic black and white stripes. The Grevy’s joins the plains zebra (also known as Burchell’s zebra) and the mountain zebra in sporting this amazing monochrome coat. The exact function of these gorgeous stripes isn’t fully understood, but scientists hypothesise that they are a type of camouflage to deter and confuse predators, or that the stripes could even play a part in zebra temperature control! All of the world’s zebra species live in Africa, existing in social herds and grazing on grasses and shrubs. Yet unlike the plains zebra, which has a healthy population, the mountain zebra is listed on the IUCN Red List as being vulnerable and – worse still – Grevy’s zebras are an endangered species in desperate need of protection. Larger and more mule-like than the other zebra species, with a thick mohawk-style mane, Grevy’s zebras live in a very specific area of Kenya and Ethiopia. Once, these zebras were known to roam the scrublands and plains of much of Eastern Africa, but their home range has drastically decreased over the last few decades. Sadly, these zebras have also fallen victim to environmental factors such as drought, as well as human influences, which is why conservation trusts and charities are stepping in to ensure that this zebra species gets what it needs to survive.
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Saving the Grevy’s zebra
GREVY’S ZEBRA Equus grevyi Class Mammalia
Territory Semi-arid scrublands of southern Ethiopia and northern Kenya Diet Graze on grasses and plants Lifespan 20 years Adult weight 350-450kg (770-990lb) Conservation Status
ENDANGERED
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Saving the Grevy’s zebra
Grevy’s in danger
A drastic decline posed a threat to the survival of these species, but numbers are now on the up
In the last 30 years, estimates show an 80 per cent decline in global numbers of Grevy’s zebras. The habitat that supports Grevy’s zebras is part to blame, as it has come under intense pressure from human influences. Farming is overtaking more of their homeland, and irrigation is draining the water, making it less available for the zebras. Overgrazing of livestock has also meant that the quality of their environment has declined, and zebras have had to compete against other domestic animals for resources. Droughts in the area continually pose threats to the species, as lactating mothers need to
drink every other day. If there simply isn’t enough water (and also food) to be found, this can severely affect the survival of the foals, meaning that the new generations of Grevy’s zebras might not survive to further the species. Local conservation laws protect the Grevy’s zebras, and hunting for the zebras’ beautiful skins was outlawed in the Seventies, but occasionally still happens illegally. Thankfully, to combat these issues facing the Grevy’s zebra, there are many dedicated conservation programs that have produced evidence that numbers are slowly increasing.
How to spot a Grevy’s zebra
Grevy’s stripes are thinner and more plentiful than other zebras’ stripes, and look almost horizontal on the backs of the legs. The stripes don’t reach down to the zebra’s belly, and a thick black stripe runs the length of its spine and tail.
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Grevy’s zebras have very large heads compared to the plains zebras, with oversized, rounded ears. Their long noses are oen tipped with a velvety brown muzzle, and a thick mane of coarse, dark hair runs down the neck.
Native populations
Saving the Grevy’s zebra
Herd life
Grevy’s zebras roam together in small herds to find food and water On the dry plains of the horn of Africa, Grevy’s zebra herds live in much smaller groups than those of their zebra cousins. They communicate with facial expressions and vocalisations, and will strengthen bonds with one another by grooming. Zebras are vegetarian beasts, and aside from their main diet of grasses, water is the most important aspect of their environment. However, zebras aren’t afraid to walk in order to quench their thirst, and these zebras can go up to five days without water, making great treks across the desert to find a drink. Male zebras aren’t hugely territorial, but when water is such an important resource, breeding
males have been known to defend their patch when there’s water nearby, and also when there are breeding females around. They mark their territory with loud vocalisations and dung piles, and can hold dominance until a younger, stronger and altogether more strapping challenger may appear. These younger males will live in separate bachelor groups until they challenge for dominance over a herd. Foals are most often born in the rainy seasons, and usually have reddish-brown stripes that fade to black in time. They stay with their mothers for up to three years, before becoming more independent.
With their habitat dwindling, the Grevy’s zebra has never needed more help. Luckily, the following organisations are coming to the rescue.
The Grevy’s Zebra Trust
www.grevyszebratrust.org Established in 2007, the Grevy’s Zebra Trust is an independent wildlife conservation trust in Kenya, dedicated to conserving the Grevy’s zebra and its habitat. The organisation covers an area of the north of the country of 10,000 square kilometres (3,861 square miles), and 93 per cent of the Trust’s team come from communities within the Grevy’s zebra range. They work together with local communities, along with research partnerships, to monitor the zebras. The Trust also has many other schemes in place to ensure that the zebras stand a fighting chance for survival, such as water-management programs throughout the dry season, habitat restoration through planned grazing, and a widespread educational scheme to prolong the success of the Grevy’s Zebra Trust, as support from the local community is essential to the survival of the zebras. To find out more, go to www.grevyszebratrust.org.
African Wildlife Foundation
www.awf.org In partnership with other organisations dedicated to preserving the Grevy’s zebra (such as the Kenya Wildlife Service), the African Wildlife Foundation (AWF) set out in 2002 to conduct a census on the Grevy’s zebra populations living in Kenya’s protected areas as well as community lands. It takes and records data on the population sizes, movements and distribution of the zebras, among other things. This is important to get a clear picture of the zebra population. The AWF is now using its data to make more people aware of the plight of the zebras, and to work on securing further key areas for Grevy’s zebra conservation. For more information head to http://www.awf.org/ projects/grevys-zebra-protection.
Saint Louis Zoo
www.stlzoo.org As well as conserving the species in the wild, zoos worldwide are contributing to keeping the Grevy’s zebra species from extinction with successful captive breeding programs. Marwell Zoo manages the International Studbook for the species (see our interview section for more information on Marwell’s conservation efforts), but another zoo that has had much success is the Saint Louis Zoo in Missouri, USA. This zoo has celebrated the birth of more than 30 Grevy’s zebra foals in the last five decades. The zoo’s ungulates/mammals curator also manages the Grevy’s zebra Species Survival Plan (SSP), and the zoo itself contributes to the conservation of the animals in the wild, as well.
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Saving the Grevy’s zebra
Aside from its main diet of grasses, water is the most important aspect of the Grevy's zebra's environment
Zany zebras Marwell Zoo is at the forefront of Grevy’s zebra conservation, and this month in particular, these wild horses are in the stripy spotlight Tanya Langenhorst is a conservation biologist at Marwell Zoo. She told us about the work the zoo is doing to protect Grevy’s zebras in the wild, and PR assistant Emily Slater showcased their amazing Zany Zebras trail.
© FLPA; freevectormaps.com
How is Marwell involved in protecting Grevy’s zebras? We’ve been working with Grevy’s zebras since 2003, and over the last decade we have published results of extensive surveys and monitoring of populations, pioneered the use of digital recognition soware to identify individuals, and created a national photographic database. We’ve carried out groundbreaking research on unstudied populations, and gained insights into the ecology and movements of the zebra using camera traps and GPS collars. We also helped to carry out successful operations to save the species from disease outbreaks and effects of drought, and supported community-based conservation initiatives. Marwell also manages the International Studbook and the European Endangered Species Programme (EEP) for Grevy’s zebras. What has recording data told you about the species and how has it helped? Grevy’s zebras can move over huge distances, so it’s difficult to conserve them just in conventional protected areas. We therefore fit collars to a number of study animals and track their locations. This tells us what they do, how far they move, and where they find food and water. We can also see how they react to human activities – it’s vital for planning conservation action. One of our study animals recently crossed the Chalbi Desert during a journey of 500 kilometres (310 miles) in just one month – that’s the equivalent of walking from Marwell to Newcastle, but in stifling heat!
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What are the key achievements in Grevy’s zebra conservation? Surveys over the last ten years show that population figures have stabilised. This is a first and hugely important step to increasing numbers again. Another success was the vaccination of Grevy’s zebra against anthrax during an outbreak in 2006. Conservation organisations and the zoo world pulled together and acted quickly to protect the core population in Kenya. Without this, we could have lost huge numbers of animals that would have delayed the recovery of the population. We supplemented Grevy’s zebra feeding through two periods of drought, and successfully enabled females to keep lactating and feed their foals. We could have otherwise lost recruitment from a whole year. Why is it important to preserve the longevity of the Grevy’s zebra? Not only could we lose this wonderful animal, but it could weaken the ecosystem and its ability to support other species, and the people that depend on precious natural resources. People would also lose the social and economic benefits that Grevy’s zebras can bring through community conservation initiatives and alternative forms of income like eco-tourism. Emily, can you tell us about Marwell Zoo’s Zany Zebra trail? It’s a 10-week long public arts trail in Southampton (16 July – 25 September 2016) with 150 zebra structures to find. There are 47 almost-life-size zebras and 103 small sculptures designed and decorated by schools and youth groups from across the south. There’s also a trail of mini zebras around the zoo. To find the zebras, we have a free map and a free app on Android and iOS phones. The Zebratastic Weekend is at the end of the project in October. All of the sculptures are put on display at the Ageas Bowl in Southampton. They then get auctioned off, and the money raised goes to help Grevy’s zebra conservation. The scheme is to raise both funds and awareness – lots of people don’t realise that zebras are endangered!
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MAGNIFICENT MOTHS When you picture a moth, a dull brown insect probably comes to mind. But with their diverse colours, shapes and sizes, these incredible critters will make you think butterflies are boring Words Naomi Harding
The brightly coloured warning moth The stunning suraka silk moth (Antherina suraka) is also known as the Madagascan emperor moth, or the Madagascan bullseye moth, thanks to its bright colours and two ‘bullseye’ spots on its forewings. These fake eyes are used to warn off predators when it feels alarmed or threatened.
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Magnificent moths
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Magnificent moths
Luna moths have only one life goal Like many moths, the adult luna moth or American moon moth (Actias luna) does not have a mouth and is therefore unable to eat. It emerges purely to breed and only lives for around seven days out of its cocoon. The moth has pale green wings and long curving tails, which serve to confuse bats, skewing their echolocation calls to prevent them from being caught and eaten.
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Magnificent moths
Arch moths are large for their family The arch moth (Bracca matutinata) is a member of the Geometridae family and is particularly big compared to its relatives, with a wingspan of six centimetres (2.36 inches). The yellow and black spotted critter can be found in Queensland and New South Wales.
The scarlet tiger moth is a day-flier One of the most beautiful moth species found in Europe, the scarlet tiger moth (Callimorpha dominula) is a day-flying species. It is easily identified by the blueish black, yellow-spotted forewings and red hindwings that hide beneath. You are most likely to spot one in damp places such as wet forests, bogs and stream edges. This is one of the few tiger moths that has mouthparts and feeds on nectar.
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Magnificent moths
One of the world’s largest silk moths You can find the comet moth (Argema mittrei) deep in the rainforests of Madagascar. They are so adapted to hot and humid conditions that holes in their cocoons act as drainage channels, preventing the pupa from drowning after a heavy downpour before it’s had the chance to transform. The comet moth is 20cm long.
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Magnificent moths A moth with wings like a kaleidoscope
© NaturePL; FLPA
Originally mistaken for a butterfly, the wings of the Madagascan sunset moth (Chrysiridia rhipheus) actually have no pigment. The appearance is the result of optical interference, an optical illusion when two or more light waves interact as they bounce from the microscopic scales on the wings’ surface.
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Not for sale
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NOT FOR SALE
RHINOS
Earlier this year, South Africa backed away from a proposal to legalise the rhino horn trade. We talk to Save The Rhino International about the arguments for and against, and the rhino’s future if a solution can’t be found Sadly, among the nouveau-riche of Asia’s middle classes, rhino horn is very much back in fashion. It’s a devastating trend for one of the most striking and recognisable land mammals to roam our planet. “The current poaching crisis is attributed to the growing demand for rhino horn in Asian countries, mainly Vietnam and China”, says Katherine Johnson, Communications Manager of the UK-based charity, Save The Rhino International. “Vietnam has been identified as the largest user country, in part due to economic growth and rise of a wealthy business elite who are the key consumers for rhino horn.” The boom in demand can be traced back to a rumour that circulated within the Southeast Asian country a decade or so back that rhino horn, crushed into a powder, had ‘cured’ a politician’s cancer. It reignited a myth that has existed in the region for centuries: that the rhino’s horn boasts healing qualities. Soon, locals hoping to cure everything from fevers to hangovers were seeking the remedy – whatever the cost. As we know, rhino horn is made of keratin – the same protein found in our fingernails and hair – therefore it can claim no medicinal properties whatsoever. But that hasn’t deterred poachers from dusting off their rifles. The going rate for horns in Asia has skyrocketed; pound for pound, it is now worth more in Vietnam than gold or platinum. And the rising prices are only further fuelling the level of demand: among the wealthy, rhino horn is coveted as a status symbol. “The high price fetched for the horn has attracted the involvement of ruthless criminal syndicates,” says Johnson. “They use high-tech equipment to track down and kill the
rhinos for billions of dollars a year, while leaving a trail of devastation behind, impacting not only wildlife and local communities, but also global security.” As a result, the Javan rhino was quickly poached to extinction in Vietnam. But the problem extends far beyond the country’s borders – or even those of the Asian continent. With the reclusive Sumatran and Javan rhinos being both rare and difficult to track down, poachers have turned to Africa’s rhino population in order to meet their demands – with devastating results. The number of rhinos poached on the continent has risen for the last six years on the bounce, and by a frightening margin. In 2007, the country of South Africa, home to an estimated 80 per cent of the world’s rhino population, lost 13 rhinos to poaching. In 2015, that number rose to 1,175. Worryingly, the crisis has spread to neighbouring countries in southern Africa. “During 2015, Namibia lost 80 rhinos to poaching, up from 25 in 2014 and just two in 2012,” says Johnson. “In Zimbabwe, it is reported that at least 50 rhinos were poached last year, more than double the previous year. For Africa as a whole, the total number of rhinos poached during 2015 was the highest in two decades.” If the killing continues to rise at this rate, Save The Rhino International predicts that we could see a tipping point where rhino deaths begin to outstrip births – perhaps as soon as this year, 2016. Against this backdrop, it may seem strange that the conversation in rhino conservation circles this year was dominated by the possibility that South Africa would table a proposal to CITES (the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora) to end the 39-year ban on the international rhino horn trade.
© Shutterstock/Tom Franks
Words Alex Dale
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Not for sale Yet, on paper at least, you can make a convincing argument for its legalisation. It’s a matter of working with demand, rather than against it; like our fingernails, rhino horn grows back, as long as it’s cut above the root. The country is sitting on a massive stockpile of farmed rhino horns worth around 1 billion US dollars, and in theory, making it available on the international market would allow the demand to be met without the need for more slaughter. Hypothetically, it is an infinite resource. However, Save The Rhino International is not in favour of a one-off sale of the stockpile for a number of reasons. Firstly, there are concerns that legalising the rhino horn trade would in turn legitimise it. Before the current poaching crisis, trade bans and awareness campaigns had done much to reduce demand in countries such as Japan, Taiwan and Yemen. Between 1990 and 2005, WHITE RHINOCEROS South Africa lost just 14 Ceratotherium simum Class Mammal rhinos a year through poaching, which proves it is possible to reduce demand through education. Secondly, for a oneTerritory Grassland and savannah habitats in Southern off sale to work, South Africa. Also introduced into Africa would need to find Kenya and Uganda. a trade partner capable Diet Herbivore Lifespan 40-50 years of managing a tightly Adult weight 3,168-7,920lb controlled trade in rhino (1,440-3,600kg) horn. Even if a partner, such Conservation Status as China, came forward, demand in other countries NEAR THREATENED would still have to be met illegally. And in
“If poaching continues at the current rate then it is a very real reality that most wild rhinos will be poached until all species are almost extinct within the next ten years” BELOW A charging black rhino can reach 55 kilometres per hour (34 miles per hour)
any case, there’s no guarantee that buyers would flood the market with their freshly-acquired horns. Instead they might stockpile them and wait for the species’ extinction, at which point they could sell them off for an even more significant profit. The proposal raises as many questions as it does answers. The fear is of a repeat of 2008’s disastrous decision to legalise the sale of African elephant ivory stockpiles to China and Japan, which saw elephant poaching numbers rise to an all-time high. In the end, South Africa opted to back away from the proposal, a decision Save The Rhino International believes is the right one. “This is a good and brave decision by the South African government,” says Cathy Dean, the company’s Director. “They are to be applauded firstly for having gathered a panel of experts to form the official Committee of Enquiry to consider all the issues involved in legalising the trade in rhino horn, and secondly for taking on board the recommendations made by the Committee
BELOW Juvenile white rhinos will stay with their mother for two to four years
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Rhinos
On the up Despite the major threat of poaching, black rhino population numbers are slowly on the rise.
Innovative techniques
3D Printing Several US-based companies have announced their intentions to begin printing synthetic horns genetically identical to the real thing, thus flooding the market. However, some are opposed to this development, citing fears that it would lead to increased demand for ‘the real thing’.
Poisoning horns First proposed in 2010, this process involves drilling into an anaesthetised rhino’s horn and injecting it with poison, hypothetically deterring poachers since it would be unfit for human consumption. But it isn’t very practical, it’s expensive, and it carries risks to the rhinos’ lives. Two horns All rhino horns vary in shape and size. Black rhinos have two horns. Just like fingernails, these continue to grow throughout a rhino’s life.
Hooked-lip rhino Black rhinos can be identified by their hooked lip, which is unlike white rhinos’ flat lip-base.
Surveillance drones One of the more promising emerging technologies are silent, night visionenabled drones that are used to patrol poaching hotspots, allowing rangers to be deployed before a kill can take place. Improvements need to be made to the design to allow these bulky machines to navigate African terrain.
Horn dying Another idea that proved flawed. The concept is that by injecting traceable dye into the horn, it can later be traced by airport scanners, even if it has been ground into a fine powder. But rhino horn isn’t porous, meaning poachers can easily remove the dye before selling the horn on the market.
“There are concerns that legalising the rhino horn trade would legitimise it” when reaching their decision.” Nonetheless, the debate looks set to rage on. Following South Africa’s withdrawal, Swaziland launched an 11th hour proposal of its own, leading to claims from other countries that it was acting as South Africa’s ‘puppet’. A leaked document instead pointed to the countries’ desire to recoup the costs of rhino protection. But for Save The Rhino International, the answer still lies in education. In May 2016, the company partnered with Vietnamese organisation Education for Nature to launch a new campaign called Save The Rhino Vietnam. It is fronted by Arrow and Lagaan actor Paul Blackthorne, who has delivered speeches at schools and universities, and met influencers from the business and political spheres keen to raise awareness of Vietnam’s role in the trade. But if the solution is unclear at this time, then the urgent import to find one is crystal clear. “If poaching continues at the current rate then it is a very real reality that most wild rhinos will be poached until all species are almost extinct within the next ten years,” says Johnson. “We wouldn’t lose all rhinos, but there is a high likelihood that we would be left with very heavily guarded small populations of rhinos that are not wild as we know them today. A sudden and desperately sad end to a mammal that has roamed our planet’s grasslands for millions of years.
© NaturePL; Thinkstock
LEFT Black rhinos bathe in dust to clean themselves and cool down in the Sun’s baking heat
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Not for sale
Rhinos in numbers Under threat
Javan rhinoceros 60 left in the world The rarest large mammal on the planet, the entire Javan rhino population is isolated to a single Indonesian national park.
Sumatran rhinoceros 100 left in the world This hairy relative of the ancient woolly rhino is the world’s oldest surviving mammal.
Global threats to rhino populations Greater one-horned rhinoceros 3,500 left in the world Found in India and Nepal, numbers have rebounded from less than 200 a century ago, but the sub-species remains under threat.
Black rhinoceros 5,200 left in the world The smaller of the two African rhino species, numbers have rebounded from just 2,400 in the early nineties.
White rhinoceros 20,000 left in the world The southern sub-species is one of conservation’s great success stories, rebounding from just 50 remaining individuals in 1900.
It don’t matter if you’re black or white... Both black and white rhinos are actually grey in colour. The white rhino’s name comes from the Afrikaans word ‘weit’, meaning wide, which was misinterpreted by European settlers. As for black rhinos? They likely got their name from their penchant for wallowing in mud.
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Political conflict In areas plagued by war or political instability, it is easier for poachers to kill rhinos. This is the reason behind the huge discrepancy in numbers of southern white rhinos (20,000) and northern white rhinos (just three).
Conflict with humans Indian rhinos thrive in areas with fertile soil, which puts them in conflict with humans hoping to use the same land for farming.
Habitat loss Logging and urbanisation has fragmented populations of the Sumatran rhino in Southeast Asia, hindering their reproduction and causing their numbers to plummet.
Black vs white rhinos
3 0 0 of which...
Northern white rhinoceroses (one male, two female) le on the planet
Are capable of producing young
Western black rhinos le in the wild. The subspecies was declared extinct in 2011.
Rhinos
“By the end of 2015, Ol Pejeta had raised and dispersed over US $7.5m”
Kruger National Park
6,000 white rhinos estimated to be found in Kruger National Park 73 per cent of all rhinos poached worldwide in 2013 were located in Kruger Kruger is targeted by poachers due to its 256 km border with neighbouring Mozambique The cost of a mass one-off dehorning of all rhinos in Kruger National Park is estimated at US $8.8 million
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TONNES
Estimated weight of South Africa’s stockpile of rhino horns, worth an estimated $2 billion on the international market.
4
DAYS
It is estimated a park ranger is killed every four days protecting rhinos from poachers.
Kruger National Park
Population decline Estimated total rhino population in the wild
1,000,000
800,000
600,000
Update from Ol Pejeta Richard Vigne is the CEO at Ol Pejeta Conservancy How has the situation with your rhino population changed in the past year? The current rhino population stands at 136 rhinos: 108 black rhinos, 25 southern white rhinos and three northern white rhino. So far we have recorded a few births but also recorded four deaths. Three black rhinos were poached and one southern white rhino, Ringo, died of natural causes. What initiatives do you have in place with the local communities to raise awareness of the plight of the rhinos? Each year more than 25,000 school children drive through the gates of Ol Pejeta Conservancy for a conservation education program to increase awareness on conservation and the plight of rhinos. Schools within the conservancy’s local communities have entry fees waived to incentivise use of the conservancy as a learning tool. To wade deeper in exposing the plight of rhinos, we have a project engaging communities for a balanced approach in tackling rhino poaching. Meaningful engagement with 18 local communities ensures that projects across key development sectors in education, health, agriculture, energy and enterprise are communityinformed, enlist community participation and achieve mutual benefits. Consistent interaction helps maintain good relations with the surrounding community, which is vital in gaining support for conservation efforts, raising awareness about the plight of rhinos, and in helping to peacefully resolve inevitable incidents of human/wildlife conflict. Ensuring the sustainability of Ol Pejeta Conservancy, in particular the concerns over the ever-increasing threats to the rhino population, is inextricably linked to community involvement and in sharing of conservation benefits with the 25,000 people that live in the communities along its borders. By the end of 2015, Ol Pejeta Conservancy had raised and dispersed over US $7.5 million in support of its community development programme. This translates to better infrastructure in schools, mobile clinics for remote communities, education bursaries for poorer families, solar power for small businesses, water storage systems and energy-saving stoves for households. Each project is underlined with a conservation message and the need to increase trust and confidence from community members, which in turn helps to reduce incidents of insecurity. What kind of security measures are in place at Ol Pejeta? First, close community relations act as our early warning system by providing intelligence information on possible threats. The perimeter fence of the entire conservation area is electrified to keep out intruders. We have armed rangers coupled with a dog unit which consists of tracker, search and assault dogs. Additionally, we have rhino patrol teams who carry out daily monitoring of endangered black rhinos.
400,000
200,000
0 1900
1920
1940
1960
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2020
10 per cent of WOA profits go to Ol Pejeta to help combat rhino poaching. Find out more at animalanswers.co.uk.
© Thinkstock; freevectormaps.com
Kruger National Park, South Africa is home to the world’s largest rhino population
Year data was recorded
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Explore the Earth
CHINA’S WILD SIDE
With landscapes varying from deserts to mountain plateaux and bamboo forests, the world’s most populous country is home to a surprisingly diverse population of wildlife Words Adam Millward
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China’s wild side Travel expert Melissa Scott has been an expedition leader for Natural Habitat Adventures since 1987. She leads tours in China as well as North America. She holds a BS degree in environmental education with special emphasis on the sciences. China represents an incredible diversity of habitats – from oceanic ecosystems to the top of the tallest mountains on Earth. We are fortunate to visit a small but important biome in Sichuan Province that plays host to some of the few remaining giant panda populations to be found. In the late 1970s, the Chinese government began setting aside areas to protect the quickly vanishing temperate broadleaf and mixed bamboo forests necessary for survival of the endangered panda. In doing so, they also helped a variety of other dwindling wildlife populations rebound. While visiting these areas, travellers have the opportunity to view Tibetan takin, Tibetan and rhesus macaques, tued deer, Reeve’s muntjac, long-tailed goral, Chinese serow, a variety of bird life including the magnificent golden pheasant and, if very lucky, the golden snub-nosed monkey.
Map key 1 Panda Base, Chengdu 2 Xishuangbanna Nature Reserve 3 Zhangjiajie National Park 4 Sanjiangyuan Nature Reserve 5 Tian-e-Zhou Oxbow Nature 6 Mingsha Shan
Bactrian camel
You can take a bumpy ride through ‘singing’ sand-dunes on the fringes of the Gobi Desert courtesy of these charismatic beasts.
Black-necked crane
During the summer, these sacred birds can be found on the ‘Roof of the World’, aka the Tibetan Plateau, which has an average altitude of 4,500 metres (14,760 feet).
Yangtze finless porpoise
Endemic to the Yangtze River, this is one of the rarest cetaceans on the planet. Conservation efforts are under way to stop it going the same way as its larger cousin, the Yangtze river dolphin.
Giant panda
One of the most famous endangered animals in the world, some 1,600 of these bears are thought to remain – mainly in the Qinling and Minshan mountain ranges. Wild sightings are very rare, so dedicated sanctuaries around Chengdu are the best option.
What you need to know When to go
The best time to visit is spring or autumn. However, owing to its size, the seasons vary across regions, so you should check your destination’s specific climate.
How to get there
Direct flights from London to Beijing are frequent, from where you’ll most likely need to make at least one onward domestic flight.
Asian elephant
These slightly smaller cousins of the African elephant have a small but growing population in the dense tropical forest near the borders of Laos and Myanmar.
Giant salamander
The world’s largest amphibian can be seen in streams and rivers in China’s central highlands. There are thought to be fewer than 50,000 left.
What the weather will do
This depends on both when and where you go, as the climate can vary wildly. Expect heavy showers, high humidity and storms in the summer (May to August).
What to take
It’s best to prepare for all eventualities by packing lots of light layers and a decent jacket that’s water and wind-proof. You’ll also want a sturdy pair of hiking shoes.
What you’ll see
You need to be realistic about your chances of seeing wild pandas, but you will see breathtaking landscapes and mind-boggling art and architecture.
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Explore the Earth
Go in search of a “river goddess” The chances of seeing a river dolphin, also called baiji, are about as slim as they come. Although still listed as critically endangered by the IUCN, sightings have been so few in the last two decades that many scientists are convinced that the baiji is functionally extinct. Once venerated as the “goddess of the river”, in the 20th century, a combination of pollution, indiscriminate fishing methods and increased river traffic all took their toll. But just because the odds are against it doesn’t mean there’s any harm in keeping an eye out… after all, it’s not every day that you get the chance to potentially rediscover a species. Cetacean lovers shouldn’t despair though, as Yangtze finless porpoises are still found in the river, as well as its tributaries and offshoot lakes. Known for their cheeky smiles and keen intelligence, spotting these gentle creatures can be tricky owing to the absent dorsal fin. One of your best bets for a sighting is to head to a protected area such as Tian-e-Zhou Oxbow Nature Reserve in Hubei Province – home to about 60 porpoises.
Hang out with pandas Let’s face it, for any wildlife lover venturing to China, these furry blackand-white conservation superstars are probably going to be at the top of your must-see list. The city of Chengdu is known as the panda capital of the world, so this should be your first stop. Near here you’ll find Panda Base, a research and breeding centre set up in 1987 that is at the cutting edge of panda breeding and rehabilitation. The park comprises a range of microhabitats that occur in the bears’ native setting, including bamboo forest, streams and caves, enabling visitors to observe the animals engaging with their natural environment. The
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park is also home to two red panda enclosures. If you’d rather try your luck at seeing pandas in the wild, your best bet is to sign up for an organised tour to the Qinling or Minshan Mountains (there are several operators in Chengdu and Xi’an). November is the best month to visit as the early snows help to reveal tracks. However, the odds of a sighting are extremely low. It’s worth factoring in a stop at a reserve too to make sure you don’t go home disappointed. Another option is to volunteer for a day at a centre like Dujiangyan, during which you’ll get the opportunity to assist keepers with feeding and cleaning duties as well as observe the pandas’ behaviour up close.
China’s wild side Heritage Sites
Great Wall
This wonder of engineering was started in the 3rd century BCE and was being extended right up to the 17th century CE. It stretches more than 20,000 kilometres (12,400 miles) and includes towers, garrisons and fortifications.
Mausoleum of Qinshihuang
The tomb of the first Qin Emperor holds thousands of life-size clay figures, known as the Terracotta Army.
The Forbidden City
This complex of ornate buildings and tranquil gardens at the centre of Beijing – formally known as the Imperial Palaces – was the heart of Chinese power for more than 500 years.
Historic Centre of Macao
The former Portuguese colony is a fusion of cultures. Western-inspired architecture, such as the fortress and China’s first lighthouse, number among its many charming buildings.
The finless porpoise is the only species of porpoise that lives in freshwater. The endangered Yangtze finless porpoise is a subspecies of the finless porpoise
Longmen Grottoes
A warren of man-made caves carved into the karst rock near the ancient capital of Luoyang plays host to 100,000-plus Buddhist statues and etchings.
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Explore the Earth
Peek at a pika If there were an award for the cutest animal in China, it’s hard to imagine the pika not being among the nominees. But cuteness aside, these fluffy relations of rabbits play a crucial role in their habitat. They are the major food source for all the predators on the largely barren Tibetan Plateau, from brown bears to Tibetan foxes. What’s more, their burrows provide essential shelter for smaller critters like snow-finches to escape the cold.
Watch wild elephants make a splash Although it’s still early days, China’s largest land animals are a welcome success story, with their numbers on the rise thanks to a government drive to protect them. However, there’s a long way to go, with only about 250 individuals restricted to a few pockets in the far south of the country. At Xishuangbanna National Park, there are daily displays with a few tame elephants (this may not be to everyone’s taste). For a far more natural encounter, you’ll want to book a night or two in the treetop hotel here. This accommodation gives you a front-row seat to the 70-plus wild Asian elephants who come to the valley stream to bathe, drink and play.
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Predators of the Tibetan Plateau
Out-of-the-blue monkey business Golden snub-nosed monkeys certainly stand out, but they can actually be quite hard to find – not merely because of their endangered status, but also because they spend much of their lives in the treetops. They share their mountain forest home in central China with species, including goat-like takin, muntjac deer and flying squirrels.
Listen for a living fossil Giant salamanders are the largest amphibians on the planet with the biggest specimens reaching up to 1.8 metres (5.9 feet) in length. Their ancestors date back to the time of the dinosaurs, but recent decades have seen their numbers plummet by as much as 80 per cent, owing to their continued capture for both food
Pallas’s cat
This fluff y wildcat, also known as the manul, has evolved very dense fur to withstand the bitter temperatures of the plateau. It typically rests during the day and hunts around dusk.
and medicine. One of their last remaining strongholds is Zhangjiajie National Park where you may be lucky enough to spot one in the reserve’s pools and shallow streams. They are well camouflaged, so you’ll want to listen out for their call, which is said to sound like a child’s cry.
Tibetan sand fox
Living up to their wily nature, these high-altitude foxes have been recorded striking up an alliance with bears when hunting pika, though it’s hard to see what the bear is getting out of the deal!
Tibetan blue bear
A highly elusive subspecies of brown bear that can on very rare occasions be seen in the summer months hunting or foraging. A mix of white hair in its outer coat lends this bear its subtle blue tint.
Meet some colourful feathered friends Thanks to its position straddling the edges of the Tibetan Plateau and the temperate forest, Wolong Nature Reserve provides a unique habitat for a wide range of wildlife, including some 300 types of bird. Many species of laughingthrush, parrotbill and firethroat call this region of Sichuan home. Some of the most striking residents are from the pheasant family, including the Temminck’s tragopan, Chinese monal and golden pheasant. If you’re lucky, you might witness the tragopan’s unusual courtship display, which involves the male making itself as tall as possible, raising two fleshy horns on its head and showing off its vibrant blue wattle.
Tibetan wolf
Unlike most wolves, this subspecies lives in very small packs, typically travelling in pairs or as a trio. Some scientists believe this wolf is the closest relation to modern-day domestic dogs.
Snow leopard
China is home to the largest population of these big cats, known locally as ‘mountain ghosts’. Their huge paws act like snowshoes, distributing their weight and also helping them to creep up on prey.
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Explore the Earth
Watch blacknecked cranes dance One of the most elegant displays of nature in China can be observed in the high-altitude wetlands of the Tibetan Plateau, where, during summer, black-necked cranes perform mesmerising dances that include moves such as jumping, wingflapping, bowing and plant tossing, among other actions. Although it is generally agreed that courtship is their primary motive, experts believe that cranes dance for other reasons too, including stress relief and strengthening bonds with their lifelong partners. Due to its remote habitat, this species was the last crane to be formally documented in 1876.
Ride a camel on the Silk Road While elephants splash about in the tropical south, in the far north Bactrian camels patrol the arid borderlands of the Gobi Desert. These hardy, two-humped beasts have survived in this harsh terrain for centuries and once played an instrumental role in transporting goods on this section of the Silk Road, which connected Asia to Europe. Nowadays, they offer up-close – if bumpy – tours of Gansu’s otherworldly sanddunes, which are said to “sing” or “echo” as they are continually re-sculpted by the wind.
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China’s wild side
Top tips Present and correct
Giving and receiving gifts is still common practice in China, but don’t feel obligated to spend big. Small gifts like CDs, books and candy are perfectly acceptable.
Travel light
Hand luggage on domestic flights in China is limited to just five kilograms (11 pounds) – that’s half the allowance in Europe. Make sure you don’t exceed it or you may have to pay excess baggage.
Don’t holiday on holidays
Avoid visiting China during official holidays. Doing so will ensure shorter queues at parks and monuments as well as much less crowded photos. Better still, transport terminals and transits between cities will be far less chaotic.
Hiking shoes
Merrell’s Moab Gore-Tex shoes are designed for comfort and support, with their padded soles and breathable lining. Suited for rocky mountainsides, these shoes are perfect for China’s diverse terrain. £115 www.merrell.com
Pollution mask
Instant camera
China’s cities are renowned The 10MP Polaroid Snap for high pollution, but that fits easily into your pocket doesn’t mean you have to and boasts several modern miss out. Filter out dust, settings that you might not pollen and vehicle fumes expect, including colour with the Respro Techno, styles such as sepia and which comes in several black and white. Photos colours and sizes. make for perfect gifts. £35.99 £89.99 respro.com polaroid.com
Who to travel with Family Wendy Wu Tours
WENDYWUTOURS.CO.UK
See historic sites and pandas at Chengdu on this nine-day trip; £1,845 per person including flights and accommodation
ChineseSkill app
You won’t become fluent in Mandarin using this app, but it will at least help you with the basics. Its gamebased learning makes the task far less daunting and you can squeeze it in when you have five minutes. Free iTunes/Android
Explorer Naturetrek
Suunto Traverse GPS Watch
Outdoor functions (altimeter, barometer, compass) combined with advanced GPS navigation. Follow your progress enroute and save points of interest along the way. £285 suunto.com
Luxury Natural Habitat Adventures
NATURETREK.CO.UK
WWW.NATHAB.COM
18 days on the Himalaya-hemmed Tibetan Plateau, home to everything from Pallas’s cats to black-necked cranes; price TBC
12-day wildlife-focused trip in Sichuan’s Minshan Mountains from $10,495 (approx. £7,675); includes transfers, accommodation and permits.
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©freevectormaps.com; Thinkstock; NaturePL; Getty; Alamy; Xinhua News Agency/REX/Shutterstock
Key kit
You wouldn’t believe
How starfish use their bodies COMMON STARFISH Asterias rubens
Class Asteroidea
Territory North Atlantic Diet Oysters, clams, mussels and sea urchins Lifespan 5-10 years Adult weight Unknown Conservation Status
NOT EVALUATED
Starfish are more than just beautiful sea stars; having been on Earth for 450 million years, they have developed into surprisingly complex creatures Starfish are also known as sea stars, which is possibly more accurate because they’re not fish. They belong to the same group of animals that includes sea urchins and sea cucumbers. There is more to starfish than first meets the eye. They may not have brains, but they are able to navigate the oceans, give birth and regenerate lost limbs. Far more than just ornaments of the ocean, they have complex life cycles, and are able to smell predators and take evasive action.
“They may not have brains but they are able to navigate the oceans, give birth and regenerate lost limbs”
ABOVE There are over 2,000 species of starfish. The most common have five arms, but some species have up to 40
Anus
Thorn
Central disc
Filtering
Starfish don’t have brains, hearts or even blood; instead, their bodies are filled with filtered seawater. The madreporite acts like a sieve to filter the water before it enters the body.
Circular channel
Gonad
Digestive glands
Stomach
© NaturePL; Thinkstock
Mouth
Movement
Although it may seem as though they drift around the ocean aimlessly, starfish are very in control of their movements. They use a hydraulic system of compressing and expelling seawater to move the tube feet. To stay stationary they use suction to attach to surfaces.
Feeding
The star-shaped carnivore consumes its prey, such as mussels and clams, by turning its stomach inside out. First the arms hold on tightly, prizing open the shell, then the stomach protrudes from the mouth and extends out of the body. The starfish then inserts the stomach into the shell and digests the mollusc, drawing the nutrients up into the body.
Radial channel
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Wildlife photography
Learn to see in black and white Don’t just hastily convert your colour shots to monochrome; discover how to craft them from the very beginning for your best ever results
Select your settings Consider the light Edit to perfection When a shot hasn’t quite gone to plan, it can be all too tempting just to convert it to black and white to ‘save’ it. While black and white certainly can help to eliminate certain distractions such as a colourful background deterring attention away from your subject, the best black and white shots are considered from the start. Certain shots just won’t look good in black and white, such as bright blue skies causing flat results, or, if you don’t get your lighting just right, your image will be a dull grey with little tonal difference. Without the interest of colour, too, your compositions have to be spot on to hold the viewer’s attention. Keep your compositions simple and you may wish to use a wide aperture for a shallow depth of field to blur any distractions in the background. Follow this guide and we will give you top advice on lighting, shapes, textures and tones, as well as a simple editing guide, to help you on your way to monochrome shots that really stand out. By using well-considered lighting, this shot is full of detail, texture and contrasting tones
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Wildlife photography Tip 1
Keep it Raw Shoot in RAW to keep control of your tones When intentionally shooting for black and white, you could just select a preset mode on your camera and have it already converted for you. While this may work well in some cases and save you time, to take proper control over your tones you may want to shoot in RAW. This means you’ll have a colour version of your shot so you can convert and customise the look you want. However, if you select your camera’s Monochrome Picture Style, you’ll be able to preview your shots in black and white on the back of the camera as you shoot, letting you see roughly the result you’ll get.
By shooting in RAW, you are able to take much more control over the type of monochrome conversion you want
Tip 2
Decide what level of noise is acceptable to you before you shoot Black and white is a lot more forgiving when it comes to image noise, the fine speckling that can appear in your image when your ISO is set to a high level. This ‘grainy’ look can be quite appealing sometimes if you want to create a gritty, textured look in your images. If you want your images clean and noise free, however, keep the ISO low. You can also go some way to reduce the noise in editing software, or, if it’s the look you want, you could even add some more in.
@ Thinkstock; Design Pics Inc/REX/Shutterstock
Consider your ISO
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Wildlife photography Tip 3
Learn to see in tones of grey Strip away the colour and your image has to work much harder to be effective It is always a good idea to think in terms of greys when shooting for black and white, as when you take away the colour, you have to rely on other things to work for you. Look for contrasting tones, so bright highlights and darker areas, especially when it comes to what backgrounds the animals are next to – if they are too similar in tone, the effect in black and white won’t be as strong.
Also keep your eye out for shapes and patterns that will really capture the eye, and your composition is really important when the colour has gone. Looking for areas of texture rather than flat, smooth subjects is also effective in black and white and this will really help to give more interest to your image. For instance, you may want to focus in on the texture of animal skin or fur for your shot.
Draw attention to the animal’s shape by shooting a silhouette against a bright background
Tip 4
Consider the light
Use the light to emphasise shape and texture
Your lighting is always important in photography, but ever more so in black and white. Use side lighting on the animal to create powerful shadows and enhance texture and details. Wait for the Sun to be low in the sky and your image will have much more depth to it. It’s actually best not to shoot on bright sunny days for black and white shots as the sky will be a flat block grey; shooting in more overcast or even stormy conditions can add texture and detail to the cloud formations, which can really enhance your monochrome shots.
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Consider how the light falls onto your subject to try to enhance the detail and texture of their skin
Wildlife photography Tip 5
Take control of your edits Make black and white shots really pop with Silver Efex Pro 2 Silver Efex Pro is a great tool for converting to black and white, and it’s now free along with other great bits of software in the Nik Collection (download it now from www.google. com/nikcollection). Once it’s installed, open it up, import your image (File>Open Images) and begin making black and white shots that stand out.
App options Apps for shooting and editing black and white photographs
Perfect the look In Colour Filter, you can select to filter certain tones in the image, brightening the colour selected. In Film Types, you can also pick presets that replicate certain film, as well as customise this.
Tweak your options You can now customise this preset by heading to the right-hand panel. In Global Adjustments, you can use the sliders to change the brightness, contrast and structure (which is a sharpening tool that is great for enhancing texture).
Add final touches In the Finishing Adjustments panel, you can now add colour tones, vignettes, burnt edges and borders. Just select the drop-down and toggle through to see the results. Click Save and your image will be processed.
Dramatic Black & White JixiPix Soware iOS: £1.49/$1.99 Android: £1.89/$1.99 Dramatic Black & White lets you choose from a variety of presets, including infrared, and you can put a spotlight on your subject using a simple elliptical tool. Simply B&W James Moore Free on iOS (iOS only) This app gives you access to some classic film looks such as T-Max and Delta as presets, and you also have options for colour filters, controls for brightness, contrast and grain, as well as vignettes and borders.
@ Thinkstock; Reinhard Hölzl / imageBROKER/REX/Shutterstock
Explore the presets On the le-hand side are a series of preset options. Click the filters at the top to just see certain types such as ‘Classic’ or ‘Modern’ and then click on the thumbnail to preview the effect on your image.
Lenka Kevin Abosch Free on iOS and Android An app with a simple interface, Lenka lets you preview how your shot will look in black and white before you press the shutter. What we like most are the tones it creates, with deep blacks and bright whites. You can also manually focus too.
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Keeping in touch “@WorldAnimalsMag I’ve learned so much about wildlife & now I want to go to Costa Rica! Thank you for another beautiful issue!” @TardisGeek22
Star letter Thanks to our readers Rod and Jen Bell for sending in photos of themselves with the magazine on their own wildlife trip at the Kruger National Park in South Africa.
Contact us at… @WorldAnimalsMag worldofanimalsmag
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We thought it would be fun to take some pics of your mag in Kruger National Park and the Elephant museum at Letaba rest camp - it seemed like a great place to do so.
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Superpower dogs update This month, aer lots of hard training, Halo and her handler Cat are on a much-deserved holiday. While they rest and recuperate, here are ten facts about the Dutch shepherd breed
“Love this mag…”
@foxyflic
Aer WWII, the breed was on the brink of extinction as the war had meant that little breeding had taken place. Luckily, enthusiasts began breeding once more to save the Dutch shepherd.
The breed originated on farms in the Netherlands.
Dutch shepherds are oen confused with their similarlooking cousins, the German shepherds and Belgian malinois, but they are smaller in size.
Dutch shepherds, as their name suggests, were used as an all-round working dog, for minding and herding livestock and as guard dogs. Their intelligence and strong physical form make them ideal dogs for police work, search and rescue work as well as disability assistance dogs.
Latest digital edition In our latest digital edition, 50 Amazing Things You Never Knew About Animals, discover weird and wonderful facts from the animal kingdom. From the creatures that can fly without wings, to incredible transformations and translucent species that you can see right through, be prepared to be amazed.
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The Dutch shepherd has been a recognised breed since 1898.
These dogs are lively, intelligent, affectionate and loyal.
About the film: Superpower Dogs is a forthcoming 3D liveaction IMAX film unlike anything you’ve ever seen before. “Dogs are the most extraordinary creatures in the world” says George Duffield, one of the film’s producers. “The super dogs are the working dogs – search and rescue dogs, service dogs, avalanche dogs... We are making a movie about the Olympic heroes of the dog world.” Through the magic of the giant screen the movie and its accompanying exhibition in collaboration with the California Science Center will immerse you into the way that dogs think and work, and tell the incredible story of how man’s best friend is able to fight crime and save lives.
These dogs can be very stubborn and very cheeky – just like Halo.
The coat colour for this breed is always a gold or silver brindle (speckled pattern).
Dutch shepherds have three coat types: long, short and rough.
Animal antics this month
Wildlife journeys Exploring an Ionian island
Our favourite animal news and stories. Let us know yours at
[email protected]
Production Editor, Amelia Jones had some nice wildlife surprises on her visit to the lush mountains and clear waters of Kefalonia
In the news
Tiger numbers rise
A hidden gem in the Ionian Sea, the Greek island of Kefalonia is the perfect place to unwind and take in the views and wildlife. At the hotel, a flock of swallows were regular evening visitors, dipping and diving with great speed and grace to scoop water from the surface of the swimming pool, while on the beach I came across a beautiful preying mantis on the wooden walkway. However, it was the marine life that really caught my eye. I followed a number of colourful fish around with my GoPro and snorkel and even saw a few hermit crabs. The highlight of the trip was spotting a loggerhead sea turtle while parasailing high up over Skala on the south east coast. Seeing this majestic creature in the wild was magical. Luckily, I managed to get this close up view in Argostoli a few days later, as the turtles came to the fishing boats for scraps.
Endangered bengal tiger numbers have nearly doubled in Nepal in just three years according to a survey which ZSL helped carry out.
Tell us about one of your wildlife holidays by emailing your story and photos to animals@ animalanswers .co.uk
Reader photos
Animals on film Nine Lives
We can’t wait to see Kevin Spacey’s new film which tells the story of a businessman who gets transformed into a cat aer he loses sight of the right priorities in life.
Green heron
Saw this green heron at the edge of a small pond. It hurried to higher ground to observe me.
Amazing animal
Cat gets promotion Felix, a station cat from Huddersfield was promoted to Senior Pest Controller for her years of mouse-catching services. She received a new high-vis jacket and a name badge on behalf of the Transpennine Express rail network.
Tapping beetle Evelyn Joubert
Colourful pollinator
Karthikeyan Shanmugasundaram This hummingbird hawk moth is collecting nectar from the flower. I saw this moth hovering around in my garden and it moved very fast from a flower to flower. Aer many chases and missed moments I finally got this beautiful action shot of this hummingbird moth.
I took the photo during a weekend away with my daughter and two grandchildren. I was excited to spot this little creature. The last time I came across a tapping beetle (Toktokkie) was 48 years ago. Have you been inspired by a WOA cover or feature? Send us your best wildlife photos.
© Courtesy Everett Collection/REX/Shutterstock; Thinkstock; ZSL
Johnny Walker
QUESTION OF THE MONTH What is the funniest thing your pet has ever done? Tell us at questions@ animalanswers.co.uk
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Animal answers
Xxxxxxxxxxxxx
“Around 725,000 people are killed indirectly by mosquitoes”
Send your animal questions to us at:
[email protected]
What is the most dangerous animal worldwide? When thinking of which animal is the most dangerous, it’s easy to immediately assume that some of the larger predators would be at the top of the list. Lions kill fewer than 100 people each year and sharks kill only ten people per year, yet the World Health Organisation estimates that around 725,000 people are killed indirectly by mosquitoes and the diseases they transmit. Diseases such as malaria, dengue and yellow fever are all spread by mosquitoes.
Deaths per year
The mosquito is the animal responsible for the most deaths worldwide
Mosquito Freshwater snail Ascaris roundworm Venomous snake Rabid dog Assassin bug Tsetse fly Tapeworm Crocodile Hippo Elephant Lion Wolf Shark
725,000 110,000 60,000 50,000 40,000 12,000 9,000 2,000 1,000 500 100 100 10 10
Do alligators have tongues? Alligators do indeed have long tongues hidden within their long snouts. To make sure they aren’t constantly swallowing water they have a palatal valve at the back of the tongue. This valve stops water getting down their throat and into their stomachs, or more
seriously, their lungs. It also means they are able to hunt prey and open their mouths wide underwater. Conversely, a crocodile’s tongue is fused to the roof of its mouth by a membrane, so it won’t stick its tongue out at you anytime soon.
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Animal answers Are killer whales dolphins? Orcas aren’t really whales but are the largest member of the delphinidae, the oceanic dolphin family. As a group they are known as the cetaceans (the name of the order to which they belong) and when people talk about cetaceans collectively they are usually referring to whales, dolphins and porpoises. So whales and dolphins are closely related, as they are in same order, but they are still quite different from each
other. Orcas are ‘toothed whales’ and confusingly, all toothed whales are actually dolphins. When orcas were first discovered they were given the name ‘whale killer’ as some orcas prey on other cetaceans, but over time the words flipped to ‘killer whale’, as it is slightly easier to say. When you think about it like that, it makes it less bizarre that they aren’t really whales.
A cross-section of an elephant’s prehensile trunk
An elephant’s trunk is the equivalent of a human’s nose and upper lip
Is an elephant’s trunk made of bone or muscle? Elephant trunks contain 40,000 muscles, divided into 150,000 individual units. The human body has just 640 skeletal muscles by comparison, so you can imagine just how complex it truly is. Interestingly, if you were to look at an elephant’s skeleton, you would never
know that the trunk existed, as there are no bones within the trunk. It takes a long time to learn how to use their trunks and baby elephants aren’t quite used to their appendage at first. They even suck their trunks in the way that human babies suck their thumbs.
How many species are there on Earth and how do we know if we haven’t discovered all of them? We don’t actually know how many species there are on Earth, purely because we are still discovering them. A study published in 2011 offered the most accurate estimation yet and places the world’s total number of species at 8.7 million, give or take 1.3 million. There are thought to be around 6.5 million species on land and a further 2.2 million in our oceans. Before this study we had no idea how many species existed and estimates ranged from three million, right up to 100 million. Currently, there are 1.5 million known species that scientists have discovered and catalogued, but this number is increasing every day. The main point to take away is that we are still learning about our planet and the creatures that inhabit it.
ABOVE The phylogenetic relationships between species and their common ancestors was referred to metaphorically by Charles Darwin as the ‘tree of life’
Q. How many sharks are killed by humans each year?
Find out at…
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Animal answers
[email protected] What is the strongest material produced by animals? For a long time, spider silk was assumed to be the strongest material made by animals. We now know that limpet teeth are much stronger. Limpets are tiny aquatic creatures that cling on to rock faces beneath wide shells. Their teeth are just one millimetre (0.04 inches) long and contain goethite; an iron-containing mineral. To reinforce the strength of the teeth, the goethite fibres are
wrapped in protein and are tightly packed. They are so strong they even outperform man-made metal alloys in terms of how much force they can withstand. Generally speaking, the bigger the structure is the weaker it is. So you’d expect tiny limpet teeth to be strong but, amazingly, they are able to retain their strength regardless of size due to the arrangement of minerals.
How do snakes sleep if they don’t have eyelids and can’t shut their eyes? Snakes are able to sleep, despite not having any eyelids and being physically unable to close their eyes. Humans have eyelids not only to aid with sleep but also to protect our eyes. But even without eyelids, a snake’s eyes are still protected. They have a transparent layer covering the surface of the eye called ‘spectacles’, which
stop the eye from drying out. These shed just like the rest of the snake’s skin, which is very bizarre to watch. There’s no real way to tell if a snake is asleep or not. You could guess by its lack of movement but snakes oen sit very still anyway. There has been very little research on snakes and sleep so the exact mechanisms are unknown.
Limpet teeth are not only strong, but they are also curved, adding extra strength to their structure
Emerald tree boas rest by coiling around a tree branch
© Thinkstock; Dreamstime
How do ants breathe if they don’t have lungs?
Ants need oxygen just like we do but have evolved to gain it through an entirely different method
Ants, like many other invertebrates, have developed an entirely different system of breathing to ensure they get enough oxygen. Instead of having lungs and breathing in air like we do, they have lots of tiny little holes in the abdomen called ‘spiracles’. There is one pair per segment. The holes branch out to a network of tubes called trachea, which permeate the entire body. This system is what stops ants getting as big as humans; while it’s incredibly efficient for their small size, it wouldn’t scale up. Instead of having a pumping heart, their general movement is enough to ensure air is moving in and out of the spiracles. As it is a passive process, they don’t ever get out of breath either.
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Interview with a…
Tiger keeper
Tony Cholerton, a senior tiger keeper at ZSL London Zoo, speaks to us about what it’s like to spend every day with these big cats
Tell us how exactly you became a tiger keeper. I have always been passionate about working with animals, so as soon as I could, I signed up to be a volunteer at ZSL London Zoo. My first role was working with the tropical birds, which I loved. The experience really cemented my desire to work professionally with animals, so I applied to become a trainee keeper. I worked my way up from trainee, and began working with mammals, like the giraffes and okapis, before joining the team that looks after the lions, tigers and gorillas. What does your job entail? Our mornings are usually taken up with the cleaning of the enclosures – there’s a lot of mucking-out involved – and doing enrichment training with the animals. When Melati, our female Sumatran tiger, first moved to ZSL London Zoo, she hadn’t had much previous training. But by working to positively reinforce certain natural behaviours, she’s now well at ease with us weighing her and carrying out the veterinary checks that ensure she’s a happy and healthy tigress. What is the best part of your job? The fact that I get to experience so many unique moments that I’ll remember my whole life – every day is different as an animal keeper. Most recently, coming in and finding out that Melati was in labour with the cubs was a real highlight.
gives our visitors a real insight into the world of the Sumatran tiger and the threats they face in the wild. You recently had Sumatran tiger cubs born at the zoo. Tell us what this was like. We knew roughly when Melati was due to give birth, so it was really exciting coming in each morning to see if she had gone into labour. I was working with her the day before, and I saw signs that she was very close – she was finding it difficult to get comfortable and couldn’t settle, so I was sure that it was about to happen. When I came in the next day, she had made her own way into her special cubbing den and was in labour. A few hours later, we all watched on our cubcam system while she gave birth to the two cubs. Because Melati and Jae Jae have a really strong bond, we decided to leave them together throughout the pregnancy and birth. Soon after the twins were born, we spotted Jae Jae paying his first visit, and we’re really pleased with how attentive he’s been to them ever since. Why is keeping tigers and this birth in particular important for the zoo? The Sumatran tiger is classified as Critically Endangered, with just 300 of these beautiful animals left in the wild. Their numbers are sadly declining due to habitat loss, poaching
and human-tiger conflict. Alongside our conservation programme in Indonesia, where we work to make changes to continue their survival in the wild, our work as part of the international breeding programme is absolutely vital. When our two cubs are old enough, they’ll move to other zoos where they will start their own breeding groups. This ensures that a healthy population of Sumatran tigers will continue to exist around the world. What do you recommend budding conservationists do if they want to become a tiger keeper? Spend as much time as possible working with and learning about animals. Volunteering at a local kennel, animal shelter or stables all goes a long way towards demonstrating your dedication to animal care. Anything can happen if you work hard enough and care passionately about animals.
“I get to experience so many unique moments… every day is different”
Melati with her cubs at ZSL London Zoo
What has it been like getting a new tiger enclosure at the zoo? Tiger Territory is incredible. It was specifically designed as an ideal habitat for Sumatran tigers to breed, and allowed us to welcome cubs into the world at ZSL London Zoo for the first time in 18 years. It has special areas for us to train with our tigers, Jae Jae and Melati and the cubs, and
© ZSL London Zoo
And the worst? When Melati’s last litter were old enough, they moved to new homes at other zoos. This was so they could start their own breeding groups as part of the international breeding programme for critically endangered Sumatran tigers – managed by ZSL’s conservation experts. Because we worked so closely with them, it was really hard to say goodbye to the cubs. But what’s more important is that we know they’ve all gone to excellent zoos where they’ve been matched with the perfect partner for them to have their own cubs with.
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Animal trivia
Test your animal knowledge 1. GIRAFFE BEHAVIOUR
3. FLAMINGO SPECIES
What is it called when giraffes curl their upper lip and draw air into their mouths?
Can you name the flamingo species?
2. MEET THE PENGUINS
a.
b.
c.
d.
Can you spot which penguin is the tallest, fastest, smallest, rarest?
a.
Emperor penguin
Little blue penguin
b.
4. SLOTH DIGESTION How many days does food take to pass through a sloth’s digestive system? Gentoo penguin
Galápagos penguin
c.
d.
a. 50 days
b. 100 days
c. 30 days
d. 20 days
5. WHO AM I? a.
b.
I echolocate to make up for my poor eyesight
© Thinkstock
Match the burrow to the animal c. d.
Shrew
When I’m under moonlight, my armoured exoskeleton illuminates
Owl
Some say I could probably spot a mouse on a football pitch lit by only a single candle
Scorpion
e.
I am able to swivel my ears like satellite dishes to scan my surroundings
Rabbit
It is too hot in the day so I hide underground until nighttime
Jerboa
Answers 1. Flehmen response 2. a) Tallest b) Smallest c) Fastest d) Rarest 3. a) Lesser flamingo b) Greater flamingo c) Andean flamingo d) Caribbean flamingo 4. a) 50 days 5. a) Shrew b) Scorpion c) Owl d) Rabbit e) Jerboa
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Disclaimer The publisher cannot accept responsibility for any unsolicited material lost or damaged in the post. All text and layout is the copyright of Imagine Publishing Ltd. Nothing in this magazine may be reproduced in whole or part without the written permission of the publisher. All copyrights are recognised and used specifically for the purpose of criticism and review. Although the magazine has endeavoured to ensure all information is correct at time of print, prices and availability may change. This magazine is fully independent and not affiliated in any way with the companies mentioned herein. If you submit material to Imagine Publishing via post, email, social network or any other means, you grant Imagine Publishing an irrevocable, perpetual, royalty-free licence to use the material across its entire portfolio, in print, online and digital, and to deliver the material to existing and future clients, including but not limited to international licensees for reproduction in international, licensed editions of Imagine products. Any material you submit is sent at your risk and, although every care is taken, neither Imagine Publishing nor its employees, agents or subcontractors shall be liable for the loss or damage.
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CONSERVING SEAHORSES
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MEET THE CHAMELEONS
ISSN 2053-7727
Stolen from the wild. Her mother killed. Please help end this cruelty. Join our campaign to end bear bile farming.
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01579 347148
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