DISCOVER THE MOST AMAZING PIGS IN THE WORLD From the makers of
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FOX 50 CUNNING CANINE FACTS
SAVING THE 100 ORANGUTAN OVER
HOW YOU CAN HELP RESCUE ASIA’S GREAT APES
ILLUSTRATIONS & PHOTOS
MEET NATURE’S ADORABLE ACROBAT
HARVEST MOUSE SAHARA WILDLIFE
Surviving extreme desert conditions
CUTE BUT DEADLY
Why is the slow loris so dangerous?
CATCH OF THE DAY Take a look at how animals hunt
PLUS SNAKES CAMELS SAWFISH OSTRICHES
LAND OF THE
SNOW LEOPARD
TAPIRS
The guardians of the rainforest
ISSUE 39
! emergency APPEAL
PHOTO TIM FLACH
Storm clouds are gathering for the ploughshare tortoise…
Please help Durrell raise £1,000 to secure our irreplaceable ploughshare tortoise breeding facility and prevent an escalating poaching crisis from tearing this species to shreds. Illegal poaching so threatens the ploughshare tortoise that within the next two years, there could be none left in the wild. Sadly yes, it is that stark. We can’t allow a species this iconic, beautiful and important to simply disappear. 2016 could prove a catastrophic tipping point - if we don’t do something about it.
HELP THEM WEATHER THE STORM
www.durrell.org/saveploughshare
Welcome As you can see from our cover, the harvest mouse can often be found climbing or hanging from ears of corn in the middle of a field, but what else do you know about Europe’s smallest rodent? This tiny mammal is adorable, but it is also a skilled builder, a nimble gymnast and a tenacious survivor. Find out all about these formidable mice on page 12. Another skilled animal famed for its cunning nature is the fox. Most people are familiar with the red fox, but our 50 fox facts feature the fennec fox, which has incredible ears that help keep it cool, and the kit fox, which can survive without water! World of Animals is always packed full of fun facts celebrating the amazing skills of our planet’s wildlife, but we also want to highlight the importance of safeguarding the future of animals such as the orangutan (page 66). We hope you enjoy learning all about Earth’s creatures and are inspired to do your bit to help protect them.
Zara Gaspar Editor
Editor’s picks Living with bears When these bear photos landed in my inbox, I couldn’t believe that wildlife photographer George Turner had got that close to grizzly bears. Read all about his time living with and photographing bears on the Finnish border on page 86. All about the ostrich Growing up in South Africa, the ostrich was always an animal that fascinated me, from the huge eggs it lays, to how fast it can run and its lethal kick. This is one bird that you don’t want to mess with. Get your kicks on page 44.
© Thinkstock; Alamy
Meet the team…
Designer Lauren Debono-Elliot
Assistant Designer Laurie Newman
Picture Editor Tim Hunt
With an adorable spotted coat and nose like a snorkle, I’ve fallen in love with baby tapirs this issue. Meet the species on page 52.
We can all rest easy at Halloween knowing only three species of bat feast on blood. But I’d still keep an eye open at night for spiders!
If looks could kill, the adorably cute slow loris would certainly be held under suspicion. Find out why on page 30.
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Welcome to Issue 39 06 Amazing animals
52 Guardians of the forest
12 Harvest mouse
Learn all about the tapir
Meet nature’s most adorable acrobat
58 Pigs of the world
Hogs and swine from around the globe
20 50 fox facts
Everything you ever wanted to know about this family of cunning canines
64 Lost forever: Irish elk
28 Endangered Saint Lucia racer snake
Why the world’s largest deer disappeared
66 Saving orangutans
What is being done to save one of Earth’s rarest snakes?
What is being done to protect Asia’s red apes?
30 Cute but deadly
72 Explore the Earth: Nepal
What makes the slow loris so dangerous?
36 Catch of the day
Journey to the land of the snow leopard
Breath-taking shots of how animals hunt their prey
80 Sawfish in numbers
42 Spooky animal myths busted
Get to know an elasmobranch with a long, jagged snout
We reveal the truth about bats and black cats
44 All about the ostrich Meet the fastest bird on land
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 CRITICALLY ENDANGERED ENDANGERED VULNERABLE NEAR THREATENED LEAST CONCERN
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82 Wildlife of the Sahara
Meet some of the hardiest desert inhabitants
86 Behinds the lens
THE IUCN RED LIST
EXTINCT IN THE WILD
86
82
We speak to wildlife photographer, George Turner about his experience living with bears
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Xxxxxxxxxxxxx
88 Keeping in touch
92 Readers’ Q&A 12
HARVEST MOUSE MEET NATURE’S MOST ADORABLE ACROBAT
96 Quiz
72
Test your animal knowledge
42
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Page 90
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The amazing world of animals
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The amazing world of animals
These two fox cubs look like they’re having fun as one of them playfully grabs the other by the tail © Getty/Alex Witt
Fox cubs leave their den and the protection of their mother at four weeks old and are weaned at six weeks. But once they are older they can venture out further and they love to play fight.
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©Heini Wehrle/Minden Pictures/FLPA
The amazing world of animals
An impala seems to enjoy being groomed by two red-billed oxpeckers perched on its face Red-billed oxpeckers feed on parasites such as ticks, fleas and blood-sucking flies, which live on animals like this impala. This handy arrangement is called mutualism and benefits both parties.
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The amazing world of animals
© mikroman6/Getty
A ladybird that has been caught in the rain moves under a nearby mushroom for shelter Ladybirds seek shelter when it rains because they cannot fly in the rain. There are over 5,000 species of ladybird and while they are known for eating aphids, some species feed on plants and fungi.
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The amazing world of animals
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A family of grey wolves huddle together in the snow, licking each other affectionately Grey wolves live in packs of about six to eight family members, usually led by a dominant alpha male and female. They hunt and travel together and form close ties within the pack.
© Jim Cumming/Getty
The amazing world of animals
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HARVEST MOUSE
ADORABLE ACROBATS Often described as the monkeys of the rodent world, harvest mice are amazing little gymnasts with the most acrobatic of moves Words David Crookes
I’m a survivor
How long can harvest mice survive in the wild? It appears that the life of a harvest mouse is one of haste. They leave the nest a er a fortnight and they are able to breed around the age of six weeks. Females become pregnant time and time again, too, with as many as eight litters in a year. But all of this is necessary; not only are predators such as weasels, owls and foxes ready to pounce on them, but harvesting, adverse weather and the use of pesticides pose a serious danger. Few harvest mice survive their first winter and studies have shown that 70 per cent perish a er six weeks. They are helped to some degree by excellent hearing and a great sense of balance but their poor vision lets them down. Very few will survive to 18 months.
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Adorable acrobats
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Adorable acrobats
Hanging by a tail Their prehensile tails are like a fifth limb As well as having the tiniest bodies out of all of Europe’s rodents, harvest mice are distinguishable by their long, naked tails. These are of vital importance since they allow the mouse to perform a multitude of tasks. Not only do they provide balance, they are also strong enough to support the body’s entire weight when the rodent is literally hanging around.
The harvest mouse is one of a small number of mammals to have a fully prehensile tail. This allows it to anchor on to branches as its feeds and forages, while also allowing it to hold on to stalks and grass as it nimbly makes its way thorough woodlands, reedbeds and hedgerows. If it wants to put the brakes on as it heads downwards, it uses its tail to grip tightly.
“It is one of a small number of mammals to have a prehensile tail”
Their sensitive feet can pick up on vibrations caused by other animals, which helps the mouse detect predators.
When the mouse climbs up a stem, its tail becomes a balance. On the way down, it can be used as a brake.
HARVEST MOUSE Micromys minutus Class Mammalia
The tail is covered with 120 to 150 rings and the end 2cm (0.79in) is constantly gripped around grass stems. Its bicoloured prehensile tail is 5-6cm (1.97-2.36in) long, which is roughly the same length as its tiny body.
The forefeet are highly dexterous and are mainly used for eating. The grippable hind feet and tail let it leap and swing between vegetation.
Harvest mice are covered in so, thick fur and they weigh roughly the same as a small coin.
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Territory Europe and much of Asia Diet Seeds, insects, fruit Lifespan 1.5 years Adult weight 6g (0.21oz) Conservation status
LEAST CONCERN
ABOVE The harvest mouse’s diet consists of seeds, berries, grasses and flowers – as well as the occasional insect
Tiny climbers Harvest mice are one of nature’s most active climbers Harvest mice have very small, broad feet, making them perfect for climbing up and down tall, dense vegetation. They learn the basics of climbing within days of being born, picking up hand grasping in the first week and feet grasping by day nine. The mice will be walking on all fours between six and 11 days after birth and they will have also figured how to use their tail for climbing by this time. Once they’ve worked out how to correct the orientation of their body (by the twelfth day), they’ll act like little monkeys as they nip around their habitat. To aid them in climbing, each five-toed foot has two large opposable outer toes. As it moves, the rodent is able to use its hind feet and tail for gripping, while the front feet lend support. If it needs to collect food, it can free those forefeet and still manage to get around. It can also climb a vertical stem with great ease. The legs are flexible enough to allow for pivoting and, since the mice have a light skeleton, they can climb the most delicate of objects. No wonder some believe them to be nature’s cutest gymnasts.
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Adorable acrobats
Nest building They can quickly build some incredibly complex nests Harvest mice are talented weavers that use living grasses to create intricate, spherical nests that are poised up to one metre (3.28 feet) or so above the ground. Pregnant females typically start building their nests from around May, ten days before they are due to give birth. It’s a fascinating process that takes around three days and results in a hollow, secure structure that’s only slightly larger than a
cricket ball. Since it is up to 10 centimetres (3.94 inches) wide and secured within vegetation, it is difficult for predators to spot – perfect for breeding. When the leaves die off, the nest is abandoned, since its camouflaging properties have been lost. Breeding nests are not the only temporary homes for the harvest mice, though. They also create nests for winter in between the grass,
reed and rush stalks. While they are not as well made, much smaller (generally the size of a golf ball) and loosely woven, they are perfect for sleeping and for storing food. They are typically found at the bottom of plant stems or even under rocks, and they tend to be closer to the ground than breeding nests. Finding abandoned harvest mice nests is a good indication of how plentiful they are in a particular area.
1. The mouse grabs hold of a grass stem with its tail and hind feet before shredding the grass leaves through its incisors – all while still attached to the stalk.
3. Hanging between stems, it then works from the inside, lining the nest by pulling other leaves through the outer wall until a hollow structure is formed.
2. By weaving the free ends of numerous stripped and weakened leaves (which are down to a single, vertically split vein), the mouse is able to form the basic structure of the nest.
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4. When complete, the female finds its way inside and closes the hole. She creates one nest for each litter. The time taken to build the nest varies between three sunny to seven wet days.
Mama mice
Motherhood for harvest mice is short but sweet Harvest mice tend to breed between May and October, giving birth to up to eight young in each litter, following a pregnancy that lasts between 17 and 19 days. The babies weigh up to a gram (0.035 ounces) and they are born in quick succession, with the mother using the nest she has built by herself to provide warmth, comfort and safety for her young during their formative days. At this stage the baby mice are blind, naked and in need of nurturing, so the mama mouse will nourish them with her milk and keep them warm. She pays
them frequent visits to let them suckle and to keep the nest clean by eating her offspring’s excrement. She’ll begin to reduce the amount of milk by the tenth day and she’ll supplement their diet with regurgitated seeds. A
er two weeks, the mother stops suckling and her mammary glands become inactive. The babies grow ready to make their own way into the world and, a
er a few practice runs, fly away from the crowded nest. The mother will have likely fallen pregnant again and will begin to build again.
BELOW If the mama mouse is wary of predators she may carry her young in her mouth to a new nest
“The babies weigh up to a gram and they are born in quick succession” 17
Adorable acrobats
BELOW The harvest mouse’s habitat includes fields with long grasses or crops such as wheat, reed beds and hedgerows
© Alamy; FLPA; Getty; The Art Agency/Peter Scott; Thinkstock
Mice and men
Derek Crawley is a council member for The Mammal Society and is an expert in harvest mice. He tells us about his work in the field Why is it important to monitor harvest mice? We currently don’t know their true distribution and, because of this, whether or not they are under threat. It is only by carrying out surveys that we can judge their status. How elusive are they? Not many people get to see a harvest mouse in the wild. I have caught some in live capture traps while monitoring small mammal populations, but I have not seen them free living. We carry out surveys by looking for their nests in tall grasses and even that is considered
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hard. It can be like looking for a needle in a haystack as their nest is made from the grass blades and it blends in with the vegetation. What measures do you take to help ensure their survival? Harvest mice use the stalks of grasses and reeds so they are mainly found in unmanaged grassland, conservation headlands and reed beds. They are also found in hedgerows. Allowing grasses, hedges and reed beds to mature and form dense vegetation will provide ideal nesting opportunities for harvest mice. What role does captive breeding play? Harvest mice are easy to keep but they breed easily in captivity so people oen release them into the wild. But this goes against IUCN advice. Animals should not be
released without first checking the habitat is correct and that there is not a population already there. Only once we know the true distribution and status should we consider captive-bred releases – if the circumstances are right and the IUCN guidelines are followed. What can our readers to do help? Using tennis balls was an idea designed to help with monitoring, but we found that juveniles of other small mammals also used them, so the results are inconclusive for harvest mice presence. You can learn how to find harvest mice by joining your local mammal group and helping monitor these and other elusive mammals. You can find local groups at www.mammal.org.uk/ volunteering/local-groups.
Bizarre! The neon hermaphrodite sea slug that can smell underwater The Spanish shawl slug is a nudibranch (from the Latin and Greek meaning ‘naked gills’) – a nod to this unusual creature’s shell-less form
Xxxxxxxxxxxxx SPANISH SHAWL Flabellina iodinea Class Gastropoda
Territory West coast of North America, Canada, Mexico, Gulf of California, Galápagos Islands Diet Hydroids Lifespan Unknown Adult weight Unknown Conservation Status
NOT EVALUATED
They are hermaphrodites
Individuals have both male and female organs, making the Spanish shawl a hermaphrodite. Plants have a similar system; as they can’t move, they need to be able to self-fertilise, but this is a rare occurrence for the Spanish shawl. Instead, they are able to mate with any individual they come across, which is really useful because they are so small that they don’t cross paths with each other very often.
They look like flamenco dancers Unlike most other sea slugs, the Spanish shawl is able to swim. By flexing and contracting its body it can move through the water column with ease. As its body bends, the frills look similar to a flamenco dancer’s dress.
They use their red Its digestive Bright colours noses to smell system is on the help them underwater outside of its body to survive The bright orange tentacle-like body parts are called cerata. They help the slug respire by extracting oxygen from the water, while also forming part of the digestive system. On top of that, they store the stinging cells of the anemones the slug feasts on, which can then be used for defence.
The orange appendages are not only functional, they are a warning sign to predators. A myriad of bright colours lets other animals know that the slug is probably going to be poisonous, so it’s not worth trying to eat it.
© Alamy
The protruding red structures coming from the head are not eye stalks like you see in other gastropods, but rather chemosensory organs called rhinophores. They are used to pick up the scent of dissolved chemical molecules, helping the creature to smell prey or find a mate.
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FOX
50 CUNNING CANINE FACTS You may recognise the red fox, but what about the kit or swift fox? Find out all about these cat-like carnivores with these bite-sized facts Words Naomi Harding
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50 fox facts
1. Dominance is established early on When a litter is born, the hierarchy is settled very quickly. The dominant pups demand more attention from the mother, and in turn, are fed more and end up larger than their siblings. Sometimes pups will make power plays and challenge each other’s dominance, resulting in the losing party being rejected from the group. The other kits eat those that die from their injuries or lack of food.
3. Foxes could be the oldest canine in the world
The oldest known Vulpes fossil we have to date is from Vulpes riffautae. It is now extinct, but as the fossil is around seven million years old, it is highly likely to be the earliest Canidae.
2. The red fox is the largest of the true foxes
The largest red fox ever found in Britain was caught in Aberdeenshire, Scotland, and was 1.4 metres (four feet seven inches) in length. On average they are 45-90 centimetres (18-35 inches) in length.
6. They have magnetic powers
Like a hidden superpower, foxes are tuned in to the Earth’s magnetic field. Many other animals use a magnetic sense to orientate them during migration, but the fox is the only known animal to use it for hunting.
4. Males are called dog foxes, and females are called vixens
People are generally aware that a female fox is called a vixen, but many are usually surprised to discover a male is called a dog fox. They can also be called a tod or a reynard.
Across many cultures around the world the cunning, wily fox is considered the ultimate symbol of untrustworthiness. The pale fox in Dogon folklore (from Mali, Africa) is said to be the trickster of the desert, representing all that is sinister and chaotic.
7. They created the northern lights
According to a Finnish folk tale, the northern lights are created when an arctic fox runs fast through the snow touching the mountains with its tail, so that it sweeps sparks into the sky.
8. They avoid running as they’re not sprinters Running is not one of their strongest skills, nor are they particularly gied at sprinting. If they need to escape a predator, they will run, but generally foxes avoid it.
© Thinkstock; Shutterstock
5. Foxes symbolise cunning and trickery
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50 fox facts
12. Silver foxes are black or grey
9. Most wild foxes do not see their third birthday
A fox’s life expectancy is around ten years, but in the wild they rarely make it past three years of age due to hunting and environmental pressures such as disease.
The silver fox is a melanistic form of the red fox which means they are the same species, but their fur is a different colour, They range in colour from black through to grey, with all shades of silver in between. In the wild, silver foxes do not breed with each other, but they have sadly been popular in the fur trade and are bred in captivity for their silver fur.
10. In Celtic mythology, the fox symbolised passion
The foxes beautiful red, fiery fur was thought to represent passion and play. These positive connotations meant if you saw a fox, either in real life or in your dreams, it was time to put more passion towards achieving your life goals, while remembering the importance of lightening up and having fun.
11. Two thirds of all foxes in UK cities die each year because of traffic As the population grows, so does the amount of cars on the road, and the number of roads to drive on. A rapid increase in road networks means foxes have to take more risks when travelling between habitats and unfortunately cars hit a large number every year.
13. They are essentially cat-like dogs Foxes are part of the Canidae family, along with animals like the domestic dog, wolf, jackal and dingo. Although foxes come from the canine family and are related to dogs, they have many cat-like features. Just like cats, they have vertical pupils, which helps them see well in dark conditions. Foxes also stalk and pounce on their prey, they walk on tiptoes and some have retractable claws like cats.
15. They’ve got whiskers on their ankles Foxes have whiskers, like cats and dogs do, but a fox’s whiskers are longer than a dog’s and more closely resemble those of cats. They also have whiskers around their ankles, which act as feelers. This extra sense helps the fox navigate through burrows in the dark. RIGHT Foxes use both their eyesight and whiskers to navigate at night
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LEFT Like cats, foxes are skilled at climbing trees and mark their territory with their urine
14. They can have up to 24 siblings Arctic foxes, on average, have around five to ten young but when times are good and food is plentiful, it’s not unusual for a female to give birth to much larger litters. They have been known to reproduce up to 25 kits, which is more than any other wild mammal on the planet.
50 fox facts
16. Foxes change fur with the seasons
17. They have super hearing like a bat
To help them blend into their environment, many species’ fur colour changes with the season. Arctic foxes are white in the winter and grey in the summer, for example. It helps the fox camouflage to stay hidden and lowers the risk of predation.
Foxes can’t quite use echolocation but they do have amazing hearing. A red fox can reportedly hear a watch ticking 37 metres (40 yards) away.
18. Foxes skulk
When a group of foxes get together, the collective noun is a skulk, leash or earth. Skulk probably comes from the idea that foxes are vermin and is used to describe other similar animals.
BELOW White fur helps the Arctic fox stay hidden in the white snow
19. They team up with brown bears
Tibetan sand foxes sometimes work with bears to catch prey, particularly when hunting pikas. The bears dig out their dens, while the foxes make a grab for the pikas as they run from the bears.
Foxes will eat almost anything, despite being considered primarily as carnivores. From small mammals and insects, to birds and jam sandwiches, they are the ultimate opportunistic eater.
21. Blandford’s foxes love seedless grapes
Most foxes are opportunistic hunters, eating whatever they can get their paws on and scavenging for food if necessary, but the Blanford’s fox is the most frugivorous of the fox species. It may seem fancy for a fox but they actually prefer to eat a diet of seedless grapes which they steal from vineyards, ripe melons, and chives.
22. Blind baby foxes rely on their mothers to see
Female foxes are able to reproduce once a year and can give birth to a litter as large as 11 pups, also known as kits. It gets very busy in a fox den as the young are born blind and are constantly clambering over one another. At this stage of life, they are heavily dependent on their mother to keep them safe.
© Thinkstock
20. Although they are carnivores, they will eat jam sandwiches
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50 fox facts
“Just as your dog loves tennis balls, foxes seem to have developed a fascination with golf balls” 25. Mange and canine distemper are big fox-killers
The most prolific disease in the UK that foxes are susceptible to is mange. It spreads through the population with relative ease causing the fur to fall out and the skin to be covered with mites. In other parts of the world, foxes are threatened by canine distemper, a virus that causes gastrointestinal failure and respiratory problems. It is fatal in almost all cases and spreads between all dog species.
26. Fox hunting is illegal in the UK, sort of
Fox hunting was banned in Scotland in 2002, and England and Wales followed suit in 2004 (although this wasn’t enforced until 2005). Traditionally a pack of foxes were used to hunt and kill a fox, whereas the 2005 law states no more than two dogs can be used to flush a fox from its den. The fox must then be shot by the hunter and not killed by the dogs.
27. There’s no such thing as an urban fox
23. The fox actually comes from the same family as your pet dog
Foxes belong to the Canidae family, a carnivorous group that includes wolves, jackals, dingoes, and domestic dogs. The canine family is divided into two groups: those related to wolves (Canini) and those related to foxes (Vulpini). Your pet dog is a direct descendent of the grey wolf, but is still a close relative of the fox.
24. Foxes use public toilets Some foxes such as kit foxes, swi foxes and Arctic foxes defecate in latrines. For foxes this is a hole dug in the ground for other local foxes to do their business in. It really is a mark of how intelligent these animals are when you think about it. Humans started using toilets to keep the street clean and to reduce the spread of disease, and animals like foxes use communal latrines for the same purpose. Not all foxes do this and species that are susceptible to predation avoid visiting latrines. It can make them more vulnerable, as predators on the lookout will know where to find them as they can see where they have been from their faeces and can follow the scent of their urine to track them down.
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We hear about urban foxes all the time; however they aren’t a separate species. It is just the name given to a fox that visits urban areas from time to time and most of these animals also spend time in rural settings. It is probably more accurate to call them suburban foxes, but it’s not as catchy.
31. Pale foxes went under the radar for quite some time
It wasn’t until 2012 that pale foxes were properly assessed by the International Union for the Conservation of Nature. Because of their elusive and nocturnal nature they are difficult to track down, follow and study. They also have sandy coats to match their habitat, making them very difficult to spot in the wild.
28. The fennec fox wears snowshoes
In the midday heat of the desert, sand can feel like lava and the fennec fox has found a way to overcome this. Paws lined with thick fur allow the little fox to walk across the sand without fear of burning its feet. The fur also keeps them warm when the temperatures in the desert suddenly drop at night.
29. Foxes are friendly and curious, and they love golf balls
Foxes are curious and love to play, which can be a sign of intelligence. When they are young, they wrestle each other to the ground and chase each other’s tails playfully. Just as your dog loves tennis balls, foxes seem to have developed a fascination with golf balls and red foxes around the world have been caught sneaking onto golf courses at night and making off with a ball or two.
30. We don’t know if the swift fox and kit fox are different species
Some consider the swi fox and the kit fox as two subspecies but there isn’t enough evidence to conclusively say this. Some scientists refer to them as the same species, whereas others prefer to consider them separately.
50 fox facts
32. Kit foxes don’t drink water Like many desert animals, the kit fox is able to survive without drinking water and acquires what it needs from prey alone. They are mostly carnivorous but if food is scarce, kit foxes have been known to nibble on the local produce, eating tomatoes and cactus fruits. BELOW Kit foxes hunt for small rodents in the day and at night time
34. They have many names
A number of fox species have nicknames. An Arctic fox can also be known as a white fox, polar fox, or snow fox. The Bengal fox can also be called the Indian fox, and the Cape fox goes by the name of the cama fox and the silver-backed fox.
35. Kits eat like birds At one month old, kit fox pups are ready to start eating and are weaned from their mother’s milk. At this stage they aren’t quite ready for solid food, so the mother will pre-chew and regurgitate food for her young. They won’t be able to search for their own food until they are around seven months old.
36. Many foxes are not true foxes
There are 37 species with the name fox, and all of these animals look and behave like foxes, such as the bat-eared fox and Darwin’s fox. However, there are only 12 creature belonging to the group Vulpes such as the red fox. These are considered the true foxes.
37. Arctic foxes love the snow, so long as it’s not too cold
Foxes live in underground dens but they are far more fancy than a hole just dug in the ground, some are centuries old and used by many generations. The dens of some species can cover 2,589 square kilometres (1,000 square miles), have up to 150 entrances with numerous tunnels, back entrances and escape routes built in.
These snowy foxes are perfectly adapted to their cold environment but they are not completely immune to the cold. When the temperature drops below -70 degrees Celsius (-97 Fahrenheit), it can be quite uncomfortable for them and they begin to shiver.
38. Foxes weigh 30 per cent less than they should
Relative to dogs of other species, foxes weigh 30 per cent less per unit area of bone than you would expect. Their bones are extremely lightweight, making foxes weigh less overall than other dogs of the same size.
© Thinkstock; NaturePL; Alamy
33. They have fancy homes
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50 fox facts
39. Corsac foxes are one of the slowest runners
40. A fox was discoverd by Charles Darwin
The Darwin’s fox was brought back from San Pedro Island in Chile by naturalist Charles Darwin in 1834. This species of fox is now Critically Endangered.
Foxes don’t make great runners, and the corsac fox is possibly the worst of the bunch. Unfortunately, they are an easy catch for hunters and dogs can catch up with one without even really trying. This makes corsac foxes a firm favourite amongst fur traders and in the late 19th century around 10,000 were killed annually for their pelt.
41. The fennec fox is the smallest species
Weighing just 0.67-1.6 kilograms (1.5-3.5 pounds), the fennec fox is the smallest fox in the world. Being so small makes them vulnerable to predators, and this could be one of the reasons why they are also the only fox species to live in packs.
42. 16 per cent of the cape fox population is lost annually
Due to collisions on roads with vehicles, or through being hunted and persecuted as vermin, 2,500 individuals are killed every year throughout Zimbabwe, Botswana, and South Africa.
43. The idea that foxes kill for fun is a myth This myth probably stems from when foxes break into hen houses. A fox’s natural instinct is to kill all the easily caught prey, and bury it for later. This is because of their scavenger nature. They will return for the remaining corpses if given the option, but usually an angry owner will have discovered the bloodshed before the fox has opportunity to return.
44. Cape foxes will always let you know what they’re thinking
One of the more expressive species of fox, Cape foxes are usually quiet, but whine and chirp to communicate with each other, and growl and hiss when they feel aggressive, sometimes even spitting. When something makes them jump, they let out a loud bark and when they are excited they raise their tail high in the air. Studies have shown that he higher their tail is in the air, the more excited they are.
45. When a fox dies, another one occupies the vacant territory in three to four days There are more foxes than land to live on and foxes can spend a long time on the move trying to find a home patch. When a fox dies, there will always be a new one ready to take its place, which is why fox culls will always be unsuccessful. If foxes are being a nuisance, it’s much more effective to try and deter them from the area rather than cull them.
“Cape foxes are usually quiet, but whine and chirp to communicate with each other ” 26
50 fox facts
The bushy-tail red fox is the most common fox worldwide and the largest geographical range of any carnivore. This is partly because it has the most flexible diet of the foxes, allowing it to adapt to more habitats. Wherever the red fox finds itself, it will always find food. This is also why it has done particularly well in urban environments, thanks to its scavenging ability.
48. Danger to foxes comes from the sky Rueppell’s foxes live in inhospitable habitat in the north of Africa and have very few predators for this reason; however they can’t completely let their guard down as aerial predators such as steppe eagles and eagle owls are always ready to swoop down and carry a fox away. BELOW Eagle owls tend to hunt for rabbits, but are also a risk to foxes.
47. They mate for life Some species, such as the grey fox and Bengal fox, form pair bonds that can last a lifetime. Most species will naturally form these types of relationships but for some, it will depend on their environment. In times of disease or food scarcity they will lead a more polygynous lifestyle, meaning one male will mate with multiple females.
49. The swift fox was nearly declared extinct in the 1930s
There were very few individuals le in North America when conservation measures were put in place. Predator control programs were hugely successful and a number of foxes were reintroduced to the areas they were once found. They are now considered to be of least concern to the IUCN and populations are stable.
50. The fennec fox’s ears do much more than sound out prey
The 15.24 centimetre (six inch) long ears are amazing for listening to prey, they tilt their heads form side to side while triangulating sound so that they can pinpoint the exact location of insects, rodents, reptiles, and other tasty treats which are oen hiding under the sand. These oversized ears are for more than just listening. The ears also serve as a way to dissipate heat and keep cool in the desert heat.
© Thinkstock; NaturePL; Alamy; FLPA
46. The red fox is the most successful carnivore in the world
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Endangered
Saint Lucia racer snake SNAKE
Erythrolamprus ornatus Class Reptilia
Territory Saint Lucia, Caribbean Sea Diet Skinks, anoles, frogs Lifespan 10-15 years Adult weight 67g (2.36oz) Conservation Status
ENDANGERED
Thought to be the world’s rarest snake, the Saint Lucia racer was initially declared extinct in 1936. Thankfully, there have been sightings of the reptile since but it is still very much an endangered animal. Non-venomous and very docile, its jaw is unconnected allowing it to swallow comparatively large food. It is believed that there are only 18 left in existence, all on one small 12-hectare (30acre) inlet in its natural habitat of Saint Lucia, a volcanic island in the Caribbean.
The causes of extinction Predators
The introduction of mongooses by humans has had terrible consequences. Brought in from India in the late 1800s, the infamous snake killers preyed on the helpless St Lucia racers. Non-native rats also see the snake as a tasty meal and the small inlet is now the only place the predators can’t get to.
Humans
The snakes may be harmless to humans but being snakes, they have a bad reputation. This means that they can be beaten to death by people who are afraid and can also be accidently run over by cars who don’t see the tiny St Lucia racer on the road.
Weather
Tropical storms can prove fatal to the St Lucia racer as rain and winds ravage the island, but it’s not the storm itself that kills them. Huge swells of water carry rats and mongooses to the island, cut-off from the rest of St Lucia, and they will then hunt down the snakes.
What you can do...
DURRELL WILDLIFE CONSERVATION TRUST
Based in Jersey, with 50 projects across 18 countries, the trust is dedicated to conservation with a particular focus on islands. They are currently monitoring the St Lucia racer very strictly. To find out how you can help Durrell visit www.durrell.org/wildlife/speciesindex/saint-lucia-racer
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The decreasing habitat Thanks to the human induced influx of mongooses and rats, the population of the snakes has retreated to Maria Major, a small island off the south coast of the island.
Saint Lucia
Saint Lucia racer snake
ABOVE Aer it was thought extinct for decades, one racer was found on Maria Major Island in 1973 proving its existence
Matt is head of Durrell’s Herpetology Department and has been involved with breeding programmes in Jersey, Saint Lucia, Anguilla, Montserrat, Mauritius and Madagascar. It doesn’t do harm to anyone except its food. Even if you caught it, it wouldn’t try to bite. It’s a very friendly, docile snake. Its main characteristic that sets it apart from many snakes is that it’s a reptile and an amphibian feeder. It doesn’t go for the usual suspects that snakes eat like mice or rats as they would be too big for it. 18 is our very best guess at how many are still in existence from the data we have. It could be as little as 10 or as many as 30. It now primarily lives on a small island just off St Lucia as rats and mongooses can’t reach there. However, it is believed that they can swim over when water levels swell aer a tropical storm and can also stowaway on boats. If a rat or a mongoose does get onto that island, the remaining 18 will be gone in an instant. We want to breed the St Lucia racer and if we think we can boost numbers, we will take a number off that island, maybe eight or 10, and put them into enclosures on mainland St Lucia and breed them over a period of five years and boost numbers that way. Nobody has ever worked with this species so to get our experience and confidence up with this type of snake we looked into the Anguillian racer that is ecologically very similar.
“Even if you caught it, it wouldn’t try to bite. It’s a very friendly, docile snake”
© Toby Ross/Durrell/G Guida/Matt Goetz; freevectormaps.com
Snake conservation
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Slow loris: cute but deadly
BORNEAN SLOW LORIS Nycticebus menagensis Class Mammalia
Territory Brunei, Indonesia, Malaysia and the Philippines Diet Sap, nectar, fruit and small insects Lifespan 20 years Adult weight 1.1-1.6kg (2.43.5lb) Conservation status
VULNERABLE
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SLOW LORIS: CUTE BUT DEADLY One of Southeast Asia’s most tranquil creatures holds a deadly secret, and this primate will unleash its wrath on anything that gets too close Words Amy Grisdale
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Slow loris: cute but deadly
What makes the slow loris so deadly? Who would have thought that the fluffy-faced animal that might lose a race to a snail could kill? So named for its lack of speed and comical appearance, this little-known primate forages through forests under the cloak of darkness. It feasts on fruits and gums sprinkled with insects and curls up in a ball to sleep during the day. They are so slow, in fact, that their metabolic rate is only 40 per cent of what would be expected for a
mammal of their size. They typically travel at 2.2 kilometres (1.3 miles) per hour, and can remain motionless for hours on end. Despite all of this, the bizarre slow loris is one of the only venomous species of mammal on the planet. It secretes deadly toxins from its elbow, which it then licks to transfer them to its bite. The sharp incisors
slice the flesh of the victim open to allow the poison to enter the bloodstream, often resulting in death. This isn’t performed on prey, only animals that get too close to the loris. It uses the venom strictly for defence and it isn’t known if the animal bites to scare an attacker away or to incapacitate the threat.
BELOW This cute creature gets its name from the Dutch word for ‘clown’, probably because of its comical face
Slow lorises start out life weighing no more than a fistful of paperclips, but can live until the age of 20 and have more than 15 offspring of their own in that time.
Hiding in plain sight It has been suggested that lorises have evolved to mimic cobras to further repel attacks. Their faces do have a startling similarity, and lorises even show snake-like movement. The two animals have lived side by side for millions of years, so slow lorises may have adapted to look like their reptile neighbours.
Slow loris in numbers
5 40
species of slow loris, four of which are classed as Vulnerable and one as Critically Endangered
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million
years since they diverged from other primates
29 60 8KM 80 179
PER CENT
of their movement occurs while suspended from tree branches
The number of sleeping sites one slow loris may have at once
The distance that a slow loris can travel in one night
Percentage of the Javan slow loris’s habitat that has been lost, largely due to deforestation
CENTIMETRES of annual rainfall this species experiences in the wild
Slow loris
1. Venom The mystery toxin with no known antidote
Toxic elbow The elbow of the slow loris is a convenient place to hide its oily poison.
This is technically venom rather than poison as the animal delivers it to the blood through a bite. Poison, on the other hand does damage when eaten or inhaled. The venom is activated when it mixes with saliva, but its properties are yet to be fully understood. Venom samples have been found to contain proteins very similar to those responsible for cat allergies. The toxin itself contains over 200 different compounds and has no anti-venom, though is really only dangerous to humans when paired with extreme anaphylactic shock.
Don’t tickle a slow loris Videos of slow lorises being tickled have been circulating the internet for a while now, but this is not an interaction the animals enjoy. The slow loris feels crippling fear and will raise its arms to try and access its elbow venom. Most unfortunately, these animals are proving to be very popular as pets. Their wild populations are dwindling because the demand for them is so high, and each wild-captured animal has its teeth removed without anaesthetic before being sold. This is just one more species that the exotic pet trade is exploiting.
2. Eyesight Seeing beyond the dark Oversized eyes take in as much light as possible when there is little available. White stripes between the eyes act as reflectors to allow maximum light to hit the loris’s retinas. The eyes have excellent depth perception, meaning a bite rarely misses its target. Light-magnifying crystals are found at the rear of the eye to force more light to find its way to the optic nerve. Unlike many mammal species, slow lorises are born with their eyes open as it is an extremely important sense.
During the day the pupils are as narrow as pinpricks to minimise light entering the eyes.
Sphincters control the iris, and relax to allow the pupil to increase in size.
Full dilation makes seeing in the dark a breeze, as these animals are active at night.
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Slow loris: cute but deadly
3. Teeth Razor-sharp, multi-purpose spikes Not only do the teeth help chew through sticky gum and pulpy fruit, but they are a vital part of the animal’s best defence mechanism. Inside the mouth is a structure called the tooth comb, which is a cluster of teeth that extend around five millimetres (0.2 inches) from the jaw. This dental comb helps pick up the venom from the animal’s elbow ready for an encounter with a predator. It can also be used to transfer toxins to a defenceless baby slow loris, and for simple grooming. The incisors on the upper and lower jaw are spiky and angled outwards. They have sharply pointed tips, so they can pierce fruit and flesh with relatively little force. BELOW Slow lorises groom themselves with venom as a chemical defence – it gives their fur a nasty taste that puts off predators
Other cute but deadly creatures
Poison dart frog
Even a single drop of the deadly toxin produced by the poison dart frog can kill in seconds. Their bright colours warn animals around them to stay away as their skin is covered with fatal venom, which is probably crafted from toxic plant proteins the frog eats.
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Honey badger
Able to crunch through tortoise shells, the honey badger is one of the deadliest mammals on the planet. It feasts on honey and dangerous animals like venomous snakes and may even scare young lions away from their kills. It also lets out an awful odour to warn predators off.
Blue-ringed octopus
Though it would fit in the palm of your hand, this pint-sized octopus has claimed the lives of humans. The bite seems to be painless, but within ten minutes the entire body becomes numb. Surviving the first 24 hours is key, and deaths 24 hours after a bite are rare.
Slow loris
4. Grip Hands like miniature vices Life in the treetops means that you have to be able to hold on. Slow lorises have exceptional grip which means they can stay glued to trees even when upside down. The fingers and toes are equally powerful and each hand and foot features an opposable thumb, allowing a full range of motion. The second digit is greatly reduced, possibly to help the animal harvest nectar and honey. Even the specialised blood vessels of this animal allow it to maintain its grip, by giving extra oxygen to the muscles that are straining to battle gravity. This adaptation also handily avoids cramps if the animal needs to move at top speed. When on the hunt, slow lorises use their grip to immobilise prey. They are known to feed on small mammals and birds, and a lightning-quick grab with the knuckles of steel prevents their prey from escaping.
Hold on tight
The slow loris shares its pincer-like grip with other primates like lorises and pottos
Sunda slow loris
Red slender loris
ABOVE The nocturnal slow loris lives in the trees and its powerful grip helps it to climb through the branches during the dark of night
Giant anteater
Bosman’s potto
With poor vision and no teeth you’d think the giant anteater would be harmless, but these insectivores have been known to maul humans to death with their massive claws. They probably stand up on their hind legs to do this, reaching their full two-metre (seven-foot) height.
Leopard seal
Though goofy-looking, the four-metre (13-foot) leopard seal is a deadly predator that has been known to drown humans, seemingly on purpose. Antarctica’s most dangerous animal has sharp teeth that it uses to kill other seals and penguins, though it often kills just for sport.
Pufferfish
Famous for their poison if prepared incorrectly, pufferfish are equally as dangerous when alive. These cute little creatures contains tetrodotoxin, which makes them taste awful to other fish and is lethal to humans. One pufferfish contains enough toxin to kill 30 fully-grown men.
©Alamy; NaturePL; Shutterstock; Thinkstock
Calabar potto
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CATCHING PREY Whether they chase, ambush or hunt their prey in groups, capturing a photograph of an animal when it finally grabs its dinner can be breath-taking Words Zara Gaspar
Great grey owls sound out their prey The world’s largest owl hunts both during the day and at night, using its acute hearing to sound out its prey, and then utilising its sharp talons to grab hold of it. Great grey owls feed on small rodents such as voles, and can hear their prey even if it is buried 0.6 metres (two feet) under the snow.
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© Will Nicholls/REX/Shutterstock
Catching prey
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Catching prey
Dunlins probe for food with their beaks This coastal bird wades across shorelines, flooded fields and saltmarshes searching for its food during the day and night. It uses its curved bill to probe for dinner which can include insects, snails and worms. They generally feed in large flocks.
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Catching prey
Yacare caimans swallow their animals whole
Hamerkops wade in water to find a meal These wading birds mainly eat frogs, or tadpoles if they are young, but they also prey on small fish and insects. They generally find their food by wading through shallow water and using their feet to stir up the mud so that their prey comes out of hiding, but they can also hunt from the air.
© NaturePL/ Andrew Parkinson/ Bence Mate
The yacare caiman may have a powerful jaw, but it swallows its prey whole. It’s nicknamed the ‘piranha caiman’ because of its preference for piranha fish, but it also eats aquatic invertebrates, birds and even capybara.
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Catching prey Otters use their whiskers to hunt The Eurasian or common otter’s diet mainly consists of fish. However, they will also eat small amphibians, birds, crustaceans, and even small mammals. They catch their prey on land and in the water, and use their whiskers as sensors to feel out when their food is nearby, grabbing it with their retractable claws.
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Catching prey Great whites breach to grab their dinner
© NaturePL/ Chris & Monique Fallows/ Sven Zacek
Great white sharks are the only sharks that leap out of the water to seize their prey. When they are young they feed on big fish and rays, but once fully grown their preferred choice is marine mammals such as seals, sea lions and small whales. Breaching allows them to catch faster prey off guard.
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ANIMAL
MYTHS Myths about animals have popped up since the beginning of civilisation with tales that make us fear certain species that actually pose no threat Toads give you warts
Just because they have bumpy skin themselves doesn’t mean a toad can give you warts. The origin of this myth is unknown, but we now know that warts are caused by a group of viruses called the human papillomavirus (HPV). Warts are then spread from human to human by touch, and the viruses can even live a short time on inanimate objects. The body usually gets to work on the wart quickly and destroys it before the virus can do any real damage.
Bats suck your blood
Over 70 per cent of the globe’s population of bats feed exclusively on insects, and in fact only three out of 1,250 species feast on blood. There are three species of vampire bat native to Central and South America, and they drink the blood of birds and mammals. Each species has its favourite target to prevent competing with the other vampire bat but even these don’t ‘suck’ blood. The flying mammals make an incision with the sharp teeth, and lap at the flow of blood from cattle and chickens but very rarely bite humans.
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Black cats are an omen of bad luck
5,000 years ago in Ancient Egypt cats were highly revered and to kill one was a capital crime. But by the Middle Ages cats, especially black ones, were associated with the idea of witchcraft. Hysteria surrounding black magic fuelled all sorts of strange rumours, and in certain areas people believed witches could turn into black cats at night. In reality, of course, cats can be all-black because of the pigment melanin – it’s actually just a mutation.
Wolves howl at the full moon
Researchers have found zero links between wild wolf behaviour and the Earth’s lunar phases, and yet this myth has been around for centuries. Howling helps the pack keep in contact when they can’t see one another, and as they are active at night they spend a lot of time out of each other’s sight. The reason wolves throw their heads back and howl facing the sky is because the acoustics are better that way. It helps the sound carry over a longer distance to reach as many wolf ears as possible.
True or false? Cockroaches are dirty
False. If a cockroach isn’t resting, it’s probably cleaning itself. They don’t spread germs or disease themselves, but hairs on their legs pick up nasty things that can then spread.
Termites destroy houses
True. These colonising insects feast on wood, which is an abundant construction material in North America where termites can be found. You’d be safer in a gingerbread house.
Crows congregate to attack
Leeches go for the jugular
Rather than waiting to drop down on to a juicy vein in the neck, you are much more likely to find a leech on your ankle. They are mostly found in shallow freshwater, where they attach to passing mammals. Unlike ticks, however, leeches are not known to spread disease and they seal wounds neatly when left to fall off. The National Health Service in the UK uses around 15,000 leeches each year for medical procedures as they suck blood painlessly and have anaesthetic in their saliva.
False. While crows do come together to roost at night, the only place you will see a choreographed attack is in an Alfred Hitchcock thriller.
Owl heads rotate 360
False. Owls can rotate the head 180 degrees in each direction which gives the impression that their head is spinning all the way around (no need to call an exorcist).
Spiders crawl deep under your skin to lay their eggs
False, thank goodness. Spiders can lay eggs inside the ear or nose though, and botflies can lay eggs under human skin but try not to think about that if you don’t want nightmares.
Worms can be cut in half and grow back
You’re never more than six feet from a rat
In truth, only three per cent of UK residences have rats on the property and they are found in only five per cent of sewers. The buildings that are most affected by rodent invasion are agricultural premises. Recent data suggests that in the UK at least, humans outnumber rats six to one.
© Thinkstock; Alamy
The smooth section in the middle of a worm is called the saddle, and many school children are told in the playground that the worm can be cut in half and when it regrows a new saddle will form. Of course, chopping a worm in half does about the same level of damage as slicing up a human but the worm is able to regenerate some of its body. As long as the saddle and the 10 segments are left intact, the rest of the body can grow back.
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All about the common ostrich
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All About the
Common ostrich
The largest bird on Earth is the fastest thing on two legs, can deliver a fatal kick, has eyes larger than its brain, and holds the record for the largest eggs laid. But how does this legendary bird live life day to day?
Words Naomi Harding
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All about the common ostrich
Dating and mating With communal nests and complex mating rituals, ostriches have a very unique style of breeding Ostriches usually live in groups of around ten individuals, but sometimes flocks can include up to 100 birds. There is a loose hierarchy; a dominant male and female head the group, which is made up of several other, less important, females. Young, lone males also come and go, joining the group during mating season and moving between flocks. The female at the top of the hierarchy is the only one the dominant male will mate with. As for the other males in the herd, they will have to catch a lower ranking female’s attention through a dancing ritual. It’s easy to see when an ostrich is ready to mate. Their beak, neck and legs turn bright red in colour and the females’ feathers change entirely, becoming silvery in the sunlight.
The males – also known as cocks or roosters – flap their wings in alternating wing beats, showing off their plumage until a female shows interest. Once paired, they retire to a mating area, where they graze together in synchrony. After eating, the male pokes at the ground with its beak and flaps its wings once more to clear the area of dirt and create a nest. The female starts to run in circles around the male, whose head winds in a spiral motion, before the female drops to the ground and copulation begins. When it comes to laying eggs, there is one communal nest for the herd, called a dump nest. The dominant female places hers in the centre, where they will be safest, and the other females have to place theirs around the edge.
“The female starts to run in circles around the male, whose head winds in a spiral motion, before the female drops to the ground and copulation begins”
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Communal nests are around three metres (ten feet) wide and can contain up to 60 eggs, although when it comes to incubation, the dominant female will sometimes remove the eggs of weaker females to ensure only the fittest genes are passed on to the next generation. Although there are numerous eggs, each female ostrich is able to recognise her own. During the day, the dominant female will sit on and incubate all remaining eggs in the nest. Its light coloured feathers act as camouflage to help it stay safe. When night falls, the dominant male’s shift begins. With its black feathers, the male is able to incubate the flock’s eggs without being spotted by predators. This is vital as, despite their large size, they are vulnerable to attack from behind when sitting.
BELOW The common ostrich’s neck changes colour when it is ready to mate
Surviving the savannah Ostriches are notoriously tough, but how do vulnerable chicks stay safe from wandering predators? Ostrich chicks can be as large as chickens, but these big babies need constant round-the-clock care. Both males and females make excellent parents and share the responsibility of caring for their young. The chicks are particularly vulnerable to predation from hyenas, big cats, and African hunting dogs. With danger at every turn, it’s important for the birds to remain vigilant and stay hidden. The young ostriches are born with fawn-coloured feathers to help them blend in with the sandy surroundings, and when they feel threatened they will often stop moving and stay low to the ground. Few animals are willing to take on a fully grown ostrich, which is sensible considering they have strong legs, sharp claws and a fatal kick. But the
chicks that stray too far from the adults make for an easy meal. Usually predators will have to be particularly hungry to risk going for an ostrich, but its certainly not an easy task. When under attack, the male ostriches will try to get the attention of the predator to lure it away, while the female runs for cover with the chicks. Chicks only need such intense care for a short while. By the age of six months, they are almost fully grown. In theory, they will be able to defend themselves by this stage, but staying close to the flock is still much safer. LEFT Predators will take a chance at raiding a nest if it’s le unattended
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All about the common ostrich
Inside the common ostrich
Mouth
Ostriches are without a doubt one the world’s weirdest creatures. The largest living bird has wings but can’t fly and its sharp claws can disembowel with one kick
Ostriches do not have sweat glands. To cool down in their hot climate they pant to regulate their body temperature, just like dogs.
COMMON OSTRICH Struthio camelus Class Aves
Eye
The eyes can be five centimetres (two inches) in diameter and are bigger than the bird’s brain. Ostriches hold the record for the largest eyes of any land animal.
Territory Africa Diet Roots, shoots, leaves, insects, and lizards Lifespan 40-45 years Adult weight Up to 156kg (344lb) Conservation Status
LEAST CONCERN
Gizzard
Any food the ostrich eats enters the gizzard, where it is ground down and partially digested by pebbles that the ostrich has eaten. They don’t have any teeth to break down food, so eating stones is an important part of their diet.
Running at top speeds
Legs
How does the ostrich measure up against the average speed of other runners?
Runner
The fastest animals on two legs, their strong legs can carry them at speeds of 70 kilometres per hour (43 miles per hour). Not only are they fast, they have incredible stamina, too.
13kph (8mph)
Claws
The toes are armed with claws which, when paired with their strong legs, make for a formidable weapon. They are able to disembowel with one kick.
Cyclist 40kph (25mph) Greyhound 69kph (43mph) Ostrich 69kph (43mph) Horse 72kph (45mph)
JUVENILE
INFANCY Inside the egg Ostrich eggs are the largest in the world but also the smallest relative to the bird’s body size.
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Hatching A er 40 days, the young birds are ready to emerge from the egg within the communal nest. Some eggs hatch earlier than others depending on when they were laid.
Staying safe Male and female ostriches take it in turns to watch over their offspring. They need constant care and the parents keep an eye on them 24 hours a day.
Feeding Young ostriches cannot eat the same food as their parents. Instead the adults feed their young on other unhatched eggs.
Growing up Baby ostriches grow at a pace of around 18 centimetres (seven inches) a month.
Light feathers The chicks have a fawn coloured plumage to help them blend into their environment.
All about the common ostrich
Feathers
The feathers are very loose and soft. Unlike most other birds, the feathers do not hook together and are not waterproof.
“When running at high speeds they hold their wings out and use them like rudders to balance”
Intestines
When stretched out, their intestines measure 14 metres (46 feet) long. This is to increase the surface area and maximise nutrient absorption.
Feet
The ostrich is the only bird on Earth with only two toes on each foot. Other birds have three or four toes to help with perching and taking flight. As the ostrich doesn’t do either of those things, two toes are perfect for walking and running. Other running animals have a similar arrangement, including horses, antelopes, and camels.
MATURITY Reaching adulthood Ostriches reach adult height within the first year of their life. They have lost their juvenile plumage and start to look like adult ostriches.
Mating and laying eggs They become sexually mature between two to four years old. They have the opportunity to mate between March and September.
Long lived In the wild, they live for around 40 years. This is much longer in captivity (up to 70 years) as they are protected against disease and predation.
Why do ostriches have wings if they can’t fly? It seems pointless for a bird that can’t fly to have wings, but the ostrich has found other uses for these appendages. When running at high speeds they hold their wings out and use them like rudders for balance when changing direction suddenly. Even if ostriches had perfectly developed wings, they would still be unable to fly as they lack a keel on their sternum. This is what anchors the wing muscles in other birds.
Closest family
Closely related to the common ostrich are…
Somali ostrich This ostrich was previously thought to be a subspecies of the common ostrich, but research has determined that it is genetically distinct enough to be classed as a separate species. It can be identified by its blue neck, rather than a red one.
Emu The Australian emu looks extremely similar to its African cousin. Emus are considerably smaller than ostriches, at around 25 per cent the height, and have three toes rather than two. They belong to the same order, but not the same family.
Kiwi These quirky-looking animals are native to New Zealand and are the smallest of the flightless birds. They lay the largest eggs relative to body size of any bird on the planet. They can generally measure around 15 per cent of the bird’s body weight.
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All about the common ostrich
Disappearing land These tough birds may be strong enough to look after themselves, but what will happen when humans leave them nowhere to go? Ostrich populations are relatively widespread. They have an extremely large range and are found throughout much of Africa. This is, in part, due to their hardy stomachs, their unfussy diet and an ability to go for long periods of time without access to water. Although ostriches are not considered to be endangered – or even vulnerable – their general population trend has been on the decline for some time now. Ostrich farming is now fairly common and preserves the species in a captive sense, but wild ostriches are losing land fast. It is unknown exactly how many ostriches remain in the wild, but hunting for meat and feathers has meant
the number of wild ostriches has been decreasing. Alongside this, large expanses of ostrich habitat is being lost at an alarming rate. As the human population grows, so does the demand for resources, not to mention land for agricultural use or homes. This encroachment means ostriches are not able to roam as freely as they once did, and that can impact the species by restricting flock sizes and limiting reproductive success in the long term. The level of decline may not be alarming conservationists just yet, but humans are putting pressure on ostrich populations and it’s certainly something to be monitored for the future.
“Hunting for meat and feathers has meant the number of wild ostriches has been decreasing”
Ostriches and humans
Across Africa ostriches have played an important part in human lives throughout history
In the wild ostriches tend to view humans as a threat and will keep their distance. However, an increasing number of ostriches are being kept in captivity for various reasons, meaning more of the birds are coming into contact with humans than ever before. In the wild, approaching an ostrich would probably result in the bird running away, but backed into a corner the bird is more likely to feel threatened and attack. Although generally peaceful, ostriches are notoriously aggressive when they feel unsure of a situation, and this has been noted oen in captive or domesticated populations. There are three main reasons why people keep ostriches in captivity: feathers, farming for meat, and racing. Keeping birds alive and harvesting their feathers has been a lucrative way for farmers to earn a living as they are able to generate a crop of feathers every eight months while keeping the bird alive. This has helped wild populations immensely, reducing the perceived need to kill wild animals for their feathers. Racing is only really seen in Africa, with the exception of tourist attractions in Florida. In Egypt, images of humans riding ostriches have been found in ancient tombs, while engraved eggshells from the Middle Stone Age have been found in South Africa, suggesting ostriches were part of human lives in 60,000 BP. Riding an ostrich is considerably more difficult than riding a horse, even though they run at roughly the same speed. People use specialist equipment and saddles to do so and it is considered an important part of traditional culture across many parts of Africa.
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Ostrich homeland
These big birds are found in many parts of Africa.
Nearest neighbours Ostriches share their home with these other species
Zebra Zebras and ostriches are usually found in close proximity. They alert each other to any dangers, as zebras have poor eyesight and ostriches have poor hearing so they can help each other keep safe from lion predators.
Ostrich distribution African elephant The ostrich and the African elephant share their grassland habitat rather peacefully and neither are a real threat to one another, although elephants have been known to attack ostriches in their way.
Vulture While they mainly feed on carcasses of dead birds and mammals, Egyptian vultures also eat eggs. They have been observed in some parts of Africa picking up rocks and using them to crack open the hard outer shell of ostrich eggs to eat the insides.
© Alamy; Getty; The Art Agency/Peter Scott; NaturePL; Shutterstock; Thinkstock
Lion Although lions are feared predators, an ostrich could easily kill the big cat with one kick, so they usually keep their distance. However, lions will attack from behind, for example, when an ostrich is sitting on the ground.
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TAPIRS GUARDIANS OF THE RAINFOREST
While they may look like pigs with trunks, the tapir is an ancient species that’s essential to the survival of the rainforest Words James Brereton Hidden deep within the rainforest lumbers a shadowy figure. At the size of a large dog, the tapir is a bulky, hoofed animal with a nose like a snorkel. Across the globe, tapirs have relatively few predators in the wild, and are threatened only by tigers, jaguars and leopards. The five surviving species of tapir are found throughout the rainforests of South America and Asia. To blend into their dark, jungle habitats, they’ve developed grey-brown coats and quiet temperaments. The only exception, the Malayan tapir, possesses a striking white and black colouration. Young tapirs have
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a striped appearance, and spend long periods of time hiding as they are more vulnerable. Tapirs feed on grasses, leaves, twigs and fruits. These animals act as fertilisers of the forest, producing nutrient-rich dung to support the growth of rainforest plants. As large herbivores, they play a role in raising new trees; the seeds of eaten fruit have a better chance of germinating after being processed through a tapir’s digestive system. While the tapir is dependent upon the rainforest as a place to live, the rainforest also relies upon tapirs to fertilise the next generation of trees.
Tapirs: guardians of the rainforest BRAZILIAN TAPIR Tapirus terrestris Class Mammalia
Territory South America Diet Leaves, grasses, fruits and twigs Lifespan 30 years Adult weight 150-250kg (330-550lb) Conservation status
VULNERABLE
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Tapirs
BELOW Tapirs can be found in South America and Asia, but they are always found near water to cool down in
Living a double life
Tapirs are adapted to life both on land and in water
Tapirs seem perfectly at home on land, but these animals have adaptations for life in water too. The tapir’s eyes and ears are situated near the top of the head – perfect for keeping an eye out for predators while swimming. The snout has developed into a highly mobile trunk, which can be used as a snorkel when in the water. Even the tapir’s coat is waterproof: the skin secretes a waxy grey substance that helps to repel water. When necessary, tapirs may submerge for several minutes below the surface, allowing them to escape from threats.
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Tapirs may spend long periods of time walking through soft river mud. To protect these heavy animals from sinking, the tapir ‘hoof’ has widened and become partly webbed. This provides a much greater surface area, supporting the tapir on soft ground. In warm weather, tapirs may seek shelter against the heat by bathing in streams and rivers. Tapirs can even feed while bathing. Grasses and reeds on riverbanks may be taken in addition to river weeds, and these ungulates may use their trunks to drag out-ofreach foliage toward their mouths.
Tapirs: guardians of the rainforest Slow breeders Tapir pregnancies last longer than a year Tapirs are well known for their slow reproductive rates. For all species, a gestation period may last from 12 to 13 months. Tapirs give birth to one youngster at a time, with twins being born rarely. Tapirs may give birth once every other year, though there may be even longer periods between births. If you compare this to a similarsized animal, the pig, which can produce up to 12 piglets a year, it becomes clear that tapirs have a very slow reproductive cycle. When born, all tapirs have a white and brown striped pelt, complete with a series of pale dots. This strange colouration helps to camouflage the young tapir among undergrowth, protecting it from predators. Young tapirs are born able to follow their mothers, thus keeping the youngsters away from harm. When separated, young tapirs are highly inactive, remaining out of sight of carnivores. Mother tapirs are highly protective of their offspring, and have been known to charge down threats and misplaced humans in the wild. At the age of seven months, tapirs begin to lose their juvenile colouration, gaining a brown or black-and-white pelt. It isn’t known how long young tapirs stay with their mother, but this period may be longer than a year.
“Mother tapirs are highly protective of their offspring” Top tapir facts Tapir toes Tapirs are odd-toed ungulates. They have four toes on the front feet and three toes on the back feet. Their toes are splayed, which helps them carry their heavy bodies more easily through muddy and so terrain because it gives them more traction. The word ‘tapir’ comes from ancient Amazonian The word ‘tapir’ has been stolen from an ancient Amazonian language known as Tupi, spoken in Brazil from the 16th to 18th century. While much of the Tupi language is lost, the word ‘tapi’ira’ survives. They’re related to the rhinoceros Tapirs have remained unchanged for millions of years, so they have no close living relatives. However, these animals are distantly related to the rhinoceros and the horse. Collectively, these animals are known as perissodactyls.
Snorkel nose The tapir’s long trunk is actually an extension of its nose and upper lip. It acts as a snorkel in the water to help the tapir breathe. Silver lining All tapirs have dark ears that are tipped with a pale stripe.
“Tapirs have remained unchanged for millions of years, so they have no close living relatives” 55
Tapirs
Scientists describe tapirs as living fossils © Alamy; FLPA; Shutterstock; Thinkstock
Tapirs have remained unchanged for over 30 million years Step back in time, to an era when mammoths roamed tundra steppes. Tapirs already existed. Travel back further, before North and South America were connected together. Tapirs already existed. The first tapir fossils, in fact, date back over 50 million years, to a time when terror birds roamed the rainforests. The basic body plan for the tapir has stayed unchanged despite millions of years of evolution. The reason? Tapirs, it is believed, are incredibly well adapted for their rainforest biomes. Able to make use of both land and freshwater, these mammals have
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few natural predators. In their wild state, tapirs rarely suffer from disease. They have few competitors in their niche, and clever adaptations for procuring food. Evolution is a process of survival of the fittest, leading to gradual changes in animal form and function. Tapirs, it seems, are so well adapted to their current environment that few changes are needed. Dependent upon rainforests, this ancient group may suddenly be facing a new threat. With deforestation reducing the amount of habitat available for tapirs, these animals may struggle to adapt to new biomes.
DID YOU KNOW? A mysterious fifth species of tapir was discovered in 2013. The little black or kabomani tapir was first discovered in Brazil, and is the first oddtoed ungulate to be discovered in over 100 years!
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OF THE WORLD Think pigs are just boring farm animals? Wait until you find out about the secret lives of bizarre babirusas, weird warthogs and peculiar peccaries Words Matt Ayres There’s more to pigs than truffle hunting and mud wallowing. Whether you think of them as adorable or unclean, there’s no denying the impact that these remarkable mammals have had on our planet. We farm pigs in their hundreds of millions. The modern farmyard swine has developed into an unrecognisably different animal to its wild boar ancestors, but its core evolutionary traits remain the same; intelligence, sociability and powerful senses are all key characteristics of the humble domestic pig. Around the world, different pig species have developed their own evolutionary advantages to help them thrive in their endemic habitats. Some are
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dependent on their home terrain, while others live opportunistically, snorting out survival strategies in the unlikeliest of places. But sadly, people aren’t always up for sharing their homes with local pig populations. In areas where human settlements and agricultural plots have expanded, pigs increasingly find themselves rooting around for food in places where they aren’t welcome. As a result, wild pigs in developing countries are often killed by farmers and hunters, and several species are now endangered because of this. From forest-dwelling hogs to swine swimming in the sea, meet the pigs that call our planet home.
Pigs of the world
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Pigs of the world
Domestic pigs can be found all over the world, with the exception of Antarctica
Domestic pig Think they’re just filthy farm animals? Few creatures match the cerebral skills of the domestic pig The best known and most widespread swine of all, domestic pigs are among the most numerous large mammals in the world, with approximately one billion of them trotting around at any one time. These familiar farmyard animals are the descendants of wild boars, although nowadays they are considered their own species (Sus domesticus). Despite their reputation for being clumsy, lazy and generally oafish,
domestic pigs are highly intelligent. Their cleverness rivals that of dogs, and they can even be taught to perform tricks. On a more practical level, the savvy animals use their brainpower to help them forage for food and form social bonds. Dirtiness is often associated with domestic pigs, but their wallowing serves an important purpose. They use mud as a natural sunscreen, protecting their skin against UV rays, and to keep cool.
Wild boar These heavyweight hogs from Southeast Asia can now be found snuffling all over the world The original ancestor of the domestic pig, wild boars date back to the Early Pleistocene, around 1.8 million years ago. Although they originate from Southeast Asia, the mammals can now be found all over the world. There are 16 subspecies of wild boar, with small anatomical differences depending on where they come from (boars from arid regions tend to be smaller than those with access to food and water). One characteristic of all wild boars is that they have a massive, plowlike head that acts as a shovel, upturning tricky terrain and rocks. Wild boars are found throughout parts of Europe, Asia and North Africa, although their range is spreading
“They have a massive, plow-like head that acts as a shovel” 60
Pigs of the world
Giant forest hog The biggest pigs on the planet Giant forest hogs are aptly named, given that they are the largest wild pigs in the world. They can be found in west and central Africa, where they live in forests and humid highlands. Although they are large and aggressive enough to chase away hyenas, they occasionally fall victim to attacks from larger predators such as leopards.
Peccaries are found throughout Central and South America, as well as in southern parts of the United States
Peccary There’s more to these unassuming American pigs than meets the eye Although they closely resemble the other pigs on these pages, peccaries belong to a different animal family: Tayassuidae, or New World pigs. They are found in North, Central and South America, living in sociable herds of up to 100 members. One of the main differences between peccaries and Old
World pigs, from the Suidae family, is their tusks. While pigs such as wild boars and babirusas have long tusks that curve backwards, the ones found on peccaries are short and straight. When in danger, the peccary rubs its tusks together to alarm predators with a chattering sound.
Babirusa
Babirusas are found in the Indonesian islands of Sulawesi, Togian, Buru and Sulu
The toothiest pig in the paddock
Many pigs have impressive tusks, but the male babirusa’s are out of control. These primitive-looking pigs have enormous upper canines that grow vertically upwards, piercing through the roof of the mouth and curving back towards the forehead. Babirusas must therefore grind down their tusks regularly to avoid penetrating their own skulls. The purpose of this gruesome adaptation is still a mystery. While you might assume that the tusks are used as weapons, the pigs tend to only use their hooves in combat. Whatever their purpose, it is likely that the babirusa’s other name – ‘pig-deer’ – derives from the antler-like appearance of those ungainly canines.
Bushpig Powerful pigs with an appetite for destruction They might resemble domestic pigs, but bushpigs are a farmer’s worst nightmare. These African hogs cause havoc in agricultural areas, cutting down crops like sugar cane and banana trees with their sharp canines, while also upturning root vegetables like sweet potatoes and carrots. Adding insult to injury, bushpigs only eat a few of the crops, trampling the rest with their powerful hooves.
ABOVE The word babirusa translates as ‘pig-deer’ and these pigs can actually run just as fast as a deer
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Pigs of the world
Feral pig This little piggy didn’t go to market. He’s running rampant in the wild instead Although not technically a separate species, feral pigs thrive in the wild. To distinguish them from domestic breeds, they are given their own title. In America, feral pigs are often referred to as razorbacks or wild hogs. These descendants of escaped or released domestic pigs can be a nuisance. In the Philippines, they have bred with local wild populations like the Philippine warty pig, causing genetic contamination
that potentially threatens the survival of the rare endemic species. Australia also considers feral pigs to be invasive pests, as they cause damage to pastures and national parks down under. However, wild hogs aren’t always unwelcome. Feral pigs on the island of Big Major Cay in the Bahamas have become famous for their love of swimming in the sea. Thousands of tourists travel to the region to see the unusual aquatic pigs.
BELOW The symbiotic relationship between a mongoose and a warthog is called mutualism
Warthogs are found in Africa
Warthog You’ll do well to avoid a fight with these feisty hogs Warthogs aren’t always as friendly as Pumbaa, the jolly bug-guzzling swine from The Lion King. These African pigs are prolific fighters: males aggressively duel one another with their razor sharp tusks during breeding season, competing for females against dominant boars. Nor are warthogs likely to be seen hanging out with meerkats like Timon. However, a similar looking animal, the banded mongoose, does enjoy a mutually beneficial relationship with warthogs. While the pigs relax in the sub-Saharan sun, these resourceful critters act as personal groomers for their tusked friends, eating ticks and other insects and parasites from their hair. Hakuna matata indeed.
“These African pigs are prolific fighters: males aggressively duel” 62
Pigs of the world
Red river hog The vibrant and vocal forest dweller With striking orange fur, contrasting black legs and accenting white markings, red river hogs are the most colourful pigs. They live primarily in rainforests, particularly favouring habitats near swamps or rivers. Living in groups, they constantly communicate via a series of grunts and squeals, conveying messages that range from casual greetings to alarm signals.
Javan warty pig Uncommon ungulates threatened by humans Like the warty pigs of the Philippines, Javan warty pigs are exceedingly rare, and have been classed as endangered on the IUCN red list. Habitat encroachment by humans is the biggest threat to this species – their forested homes are gradually being replaced with agriculture, and many are shot by farmers who discover the pigs eating their crops.
Visayan warty pigs are found in the Philippines
ABOVE Visayan warty pigs are born with stripes, but these disappear as they grow older
Visayan warty pig
Pygmy hog The littlest pig needs a boost in numbers Pygmy hogs belong to their own unique evolutionary branch, Porcula. Sadly, they are also critically endangered. These tiny swine are oen overlooked due to a lack of public support – they live in India, where schemes to protect iconic endangered animals like tigers and rhinos receive the most funding. Work by the Pygmy Hog Conservation Programme aims to secure a future for these enigmatic pigs.
The Visayan warty pig is one of four varieties of endemic pig found in the Philippines. These critically endangered mammals are among the rarest wild pigs in the world, with an estimated 200 individuals remaining in the wild. While the Visayan warty pig was originally found on six islands in the Philippines, it has since
become extinct on four of those. Habitat loss and hunting are the two main causes for its decline. Boars from this species can be distinguished as they have three pairs of wart-like protrusions lining their snouts. They also grow a distinctive spiky hairstyle during breeding season, which helps them to catch the attention of females.
“These critically endangered mammals are among the rarest wild pigs in the world, with an estimated 200 individuals remaining in the wild”
Bornean bearded pig Athletic animals with a fondness for facial hair Rather than having hairs on its chin, the Bornean bearded pig grows fuzz on its elongated snout. These sociable ungulates live in families and migrate in large groups, travelling hundreds of miles in search of food. They have a mostly vegetarian diet that includes fruits, roots and fungi, which might explain why Bornean bearded pigs are the slimmest swine.
© Alamy; NaturePL; Shutterstock; Thinkstock; freevectormaps.com
It’s not just pandas and orangutans that need our help. These wild pigs are in desperate need of conservation too
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L Irish elk OST FOREV ER
The prehistoric giant deer that walked the Earth as recent as 10,000 years ago Ireland
Giant antlers The deer had antlers that spanned 2.7 metres (8.9 feet) that would weigh 40 kilograms (88 pounds).
Towering height At 2.1 metres (6.9 feet) tall at the shoulders, the Irish elk was one of the largest deer to have ever lived.
Incredible weight Its total body mass was somewhere between 500-700 kilograms (1,1901,543 pounds).
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Age and a changing climate presented various problems for the species. Food scarcity would have been a challenge, as the Earth’s average temperature declined dramatically, the ground became cold and dry, and fewer plants grew, making foraging near impossible. The forests withdrew and became less dense, and the deer probably had difficulty getting enough calcium in its diet to support antler growth – a feature the species relied upon so heavily for mating, deterring predators, and defending territory. As with most animals that become extinct, hunting is usually a factor and many animals were wiped out towards the end of the European Ice Age because of this. It is thought that the Irish elk was no different. It is difficult to pinpoint one cause of extinction for this animal, and its demise likely came from a number of factors including hunting, starvation, climate change, and just plain old bad fortune.
Last seen… Date: 10,000 years ago Location: Ireland
The Irisk elk is thought to have disappeared around 10,000 years ago in Ireland, but it is not known exactly when. Preserved fossils have since been analysed leading to the discovery that the elk was the largest species of deer to have ever existed.
“Scientists are not sure why this giant deer disappeared from the Earth”
© freevectormaps.com; Alan Batley
This extinct species of deer was also known as the Irish giant deer, giving some indication to its enormous size. The name is somewhat misleading as it wasn’t just restricted to Ireland, but was present throughout Europe, northern Asia, Africa, and parts of China, indicating that, at some point, it was a widely distributed and successful species. Originally it was thought that they were the victims of their own success. With females sexually selecting mates for the size of their antlers, and thus the level of protection they could offer, over time the males grew antlers so large they were not able to carry the weight. Studies have shown this is probably unlikely as, although their antlers were colossal, they were in proportion to their body size. Scientists are not sure why this giant deer disappeared from the Earth, but there are a number of more plausible theories. One of which is that the Irish elk was wiped out during the Ice
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Saving orangutans
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SAVING ORANGUTANS Brought to fame by The Jungle Book, the enigmatic orangutan is more like you than you may realise, and this critically endangered species desperately needs your help… Words Ella Carter The orangutan is Asia’s only great ape, and they are restricted to two distinct areas: Borneo and Sumatra. Their geographical separation also separates the two species – the Bornean orangutan and the Sumatran orangutan. Characterised by their shaggy, dark-orange hair, orangutans are the largest tree-living mammals in the world. They roam the rainforests foraging for fruit as well as honey, bark and insects. These apes are a brainy bunch, and can easily remember where hundreds of their favourite fruits are found at different times of year in various forest locations. Their long, dextrous fingers make feeding and foraging easy, and as well as four long fingers with an opposable thumb, they also have four long toes plus an opposable big toe. This helps to grip onto bark while easily making their way through the trees. In the Malay language, ‘orang’ means person and ‘hutan’ means forest, which couldn’t be a better description of these enigmatic primates. They are an essential keystone species, meaning that when the orangutans disappear, so do countless other rainforest species. And unfortunately, disappearing is what orangutans are doing at an alarming rate. Of the populations of these apes in 1900, just seven per cent of Bornean and 14 per cent of Sumatran orangutans survived the 20th Century. Worse still, this year saw the IUCN Red List of Endangered Species assess and re-classify the Bornean orangutan species alongside its Sumatran cousin as ‘Critically Endangered’. Without help, this species of orangutan now face an 'extremely high risk of extinction in the wild'.
ORANGUTAN
Pongo sp. Class Mammalia
Territory Rainforests of Sumatra and Borneo Diet Mostly fruit Lifespan 30-40 years Adult weight Up to 90kg (200lb) Conservation Status
CRITICALLY ENDANGERED
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Saving orangutans
Gardeners of the forest Take a trip into the treetops and discover the amazing life history of the orangutan
Orangutans generally live alone but females can be seen with their adorable babies clinging on as they swing through the trees. The apes make lofty nests from leaves and branches and sleep in the trees to avoid predators. Although not many are large enough to take on a 90 kilogram (200 pound) ape, that’s not to say that hungry big cats won't try. Dominant male orangutans also live alone and keep loose territory boundaries. These big boys have large, fleshy pouches either side of their faces known as ‘flanges’ – but curiously only some males develop this. Mature yet ‘un-flanged’ males can develop into ‘flanged’ males too, but we still don’t know exactly why or how! Like the rest of their great ape cousins, these apes are a clever and sensitive species, and social learning plays a key part in orangutan education. Babies observe their parents using tools, and adopt this for themselves. Ingenious orangutans have been witnessed using sticks to rake food, dip in honey, remove seeds from fruit, spear fish in the water and test water depth. Some even use leaves as umbrellas, as cups to drink water and as instruments to amplify their vocal calls to warn off predators! RIGHT Baby orangutans stay with their mothers for seven to eight years, longer than any other mammal other than humans
Bornean versus Sumatran
Bornean orangutan
Sumatran orangutan
Bornean orangutan The Bornean orangutan species has a broader face and a shorter beard, and appears slightly darker in colour. This species is more likely to descend from the trees than its Sumatran cousins, and there are also three subspecies classified by their locations, namely the Northwest, Northeast and Central orangutans.
Sumatran orangutan Sumatran orangutans have much longer, shaggier and thinner hair that is a lighter orange than the deep hues of the Bornean tribe, which serves as an adaptation to the climate. As well as more elongated faces – Sumatran orangutans are also thought to form closer social bonds, whereas the Bornean variety are very solitary beasts.
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Saving orangutans 3 things you should know about orangutans With arms much longer than their legs, a male orangutan’s arm span can reach 2.4m. Swinging through the trees hand over hand is a method called ‘brachiation’ – it’s efficient and helps maintain strength! We share 97% of our DNA with orangutans. Humans and orangutans are the only great apes to have hairlines on our faces.
Great apes in distress
Orangutans face a wide range of threats in the wild, from surviving forest fires to avoiding poachers’ snares
The key threat to orangutans in both Borneo and Sumatra is habitat loss. The rainforest home of these great apes is their lifeline and it is disappearing at a devastating rate. Yet over half of orangutans are found outside protected areas of forest. The increasing demand for cleared land for growing crops and for giant enterprises like palm oil plantations is pulling down the rainforests and removing the orangutans’ natural habitat forever, especially as over half of all packaged products in supermarkets globally contain palm oil. Forest fires are another issue. During the dry season in Southeast Asia farmers and plantation developers deliberately (and illegally) set fires that rage through
the forests to clear the way for crops. As the orangutans’ home range gets smaller and smaller the survivors are forced closer together. The rainforest that is left may not be able to support the amount of individuals seeking refuge there, adding further threats to the species as they compete for resources. Illegal hunting and poaching is another facet to combat for orangutan survival. The apes’ slow-moving nature makes them an easy target for hunters, and although they are a protected species there is a high demand for baby orangutans in the illegal pet trade. Babies are prised from their dead mothers before being transported to owners who cannot give them the care and freedom that they need.
An orangutan being released back into the wild by the Orangutan Survival Foundation and the Bornean Orangutan Survival Foundation
Lost habitat
These images show the scale of habitat devastation for both the Bornean and Sumatran orangutans over the last century. The levels of deforestation are a severe threat to these tree-dwelling great apes. Current range Forest lost since 1950
Borneo
Sumatra
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Saving orangutans
Rescuing and rehoming apes
© Alamy; FLPA; Shutterstock; Orangutan Survival Foundation; Borneo Orangutan Survival Foundation
Monkey World is a Dorset-based rehabilitation centre that takes in and rehomes apes from across the world as well as working in the field to save key primate species. We talked to a spokesperson about their work Please tell me a little bit about Monkey World? Monkey World Ape Rescue Centre was established in 1987 to provide a home for abused Spanish beach chimps. These chimps were being used as photography props for tourists, oen working extremely long hours in the sun, and kept in abhorrent conditions, and subjected to significant abuse and neglect. Jim Cronin MBE set up Monkey World, along with Jeremy Keeling, to provide sanctuary for any primate in need. What started with nine chimpanzees has grown to over 250 primates of more than 20 different species. Jim passed away in 2007 and his wife, Alison, and Jeremy have carried on the work of the park. Today, she oversees the day to day care of the animals, as well as organising rescues of primates both from the legal UK pet trade, and abroad. Monkey World is home to the European Orangutan crèche, meaning any orphaned orangutan in Europe is raised at Monkey World. Where do the orangutans at Monkey World come from, and what's their story? There are 14 orangutans at the park: 11 Bornean and three Sumatran. Amy was the first orangutan at Monkey World, as Jeremy hand reared her in a job prior to Monkey World, when Amy’s mother rejected her at birth. The three
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Sumatran orangutans, Silvestre, Bulu-Mata and Rieke, all came to Monkey World as it is the official European crèche. We have also rescued some orangutans from life as a pet. Oshine is one such, who lived with a family in South Africa before coming to the park. She had been fed a human diet, and lived in a house with very little exercise, and so was overweight when she arrived. We also work with Pingtung Rescue Centre for Endangered Wild Animals in Taiwan to try to stop the smuggling of gibbons and orangutans from the wild. We have rehomed six orangutans from Pingtung who were rescued from the illegal pet trade; Hsiao-lan, Hsiao –quai, Lucky, Tuan, A-mei and RoRo. As orangutans are part of the European Breeding Programme (EEP), we have also had several births at the park. Gordon, Jin and Awan were all born at the park. Why is it so important to protect these animals? They are critically endangered in the wild, and if they continue at the rate of current decline due to deforestation, they will be extinct in the wild within 20 years. How is Monkey World helping? Monkey World works closely with governments to try and stop the smuggling of orangutans from the wild, and to
raise awareness of the plight of the orangutan in the wild. We recently held an event for International Orangutan Day at the park, where visitors were encouraged to embrace all things orange for the day. All the money raised on this day went to the Sumatran Orangutan Conservation Programme, which works within Indonesia to rescue, rehabilitate and release orangutans to the wild. We campaign against the use of palm oil, as the plantations for this crop are reducing the habitat for orangutans. We are vigilant against the use of palm oil in any products in our cafes, and check all items for this, and all the food sold in our gi shop is palm oil free. What can World Of Animals readers do to help? Donate to the Sumatran Orangutan Conservation Programme to help orangutans in the wild or adopt one of our orangutans by visiting www.monkeyworld.org.
How you can help You can support orangutan charities by doing fundraising, or
‘adopt’ an orangutan. Try to avoid using products and foods that use or contain unsustainably grown palm oil and try to adopt ‘green’ habits – it all helps! You can even go on an eco-tour to see these amazing creatures in the wild, or just tell your friends and raise awareness of their plight.
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Explore the Earth
TREKKING IN NEPAL A natural extravaganza of varied ecosystems, Nepal hosts some of the most diverse and spectacular wildlife that intrepid travellers could hope to see Words Ross Hamilton
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Trekking in Nepal Travel expert Born and raised in India, Rajan Jolly is an experienced operations manager at specialist wildlife holiday provider, NatureTrek Wildlife viewing in Nepal is a unique experience not to be missed. It is one of the most spectacular countries on Earth, inhabited by the most friendly and endearing of people, and boasts an incredible 840 species of birds within a land-locked area only the size of England and Wales. There are a wealth of mammals to be found in Nepal’s scenic national parks, including tigers, Indian rhinoceroses, red pandas, Asian elephants, gaur, wild water buffalo and various species of primate. Nepal’s splendid bird life includes such sought-aer species as the Bengal florican, ibisbill and swamp francolin. Chitwan and Bardia are undoubtedly Nepal’s best known national parks, but I would also suggest a visit to Koshi Tappu (one of Asia’s finest wetlands) and Suklaphanta (a beautiful grassland reserve) – both of which boast wonderful lodges but are little known, meaning you can end up with an entire national park to yourself!
Gaur
Map key 1 Chitwan National Park 2 Bardia National Park 3 Koshi Tappu Wildlife Reserve 4 Suklaphanta Wildlife Reserve 5 Parsa Wildlife Reserve
Indian cobra
Difficult to miss because of their impressive bulk, this enormous species of wild cattle inhabits the forested regions of Nepal. They can reach more than two metres (6.6 feet) at the shoulder.
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Active mainly around dawn and dusk, this hooded reptile is stunning to observe, but don’t get too close – it inflicts more bites on humans annually than almost any other snake.
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Nepal
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Sloth bear
These shaggy, long-clawed bears can be found throughout the Terai region of Nepal. They’re excellent climbers, and often hang upside down from branches (hence the name).
What you need to know When to go
Spring and autumn are the peak tourist seasons in Nepal, offering clear weather without the extreme conditions of deep winter or the monsoon season.
Mugger crocodile
Pass the rivers and lakes of Chitwan National Park and you’ll likely spot these wide-snouted crocodiles floating past or basking in the summer heat. Though not overly aggressive, we recommend you keep your distance.
Ibisbill
A frequent sight along the stony riverbanks of Nepal, these wading birds sport a striking curved red bill, which they use to glean a variety of small creatures from slowmoving riverbeds.
How to get there
Nepal’s only international airport is in its capital, Kathmandu, and almost always requires a change or two, usually at Dubai, Istanbul or Delhi.
What the weather will do
Temperatures and humidity rise steadily from February to June, when the downpours of the monsoon arrive. A clear and comfortably warm autumn follows.
What to take
Essentials will vary depending on which region of Nepal you plan on visiting, but hardy trekking footwear and clothing are a universal must-have.
What you’ll see
The beauty of Nepal is its diversity. Dense jungle and snow-tipped peaks – and the myriad creatures that inhabit them – can be crammed into the same trip.
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Look into the eyes of a tiger
Stalking the dense forests of Nepal’s national parks is Asia’s most fearsome mammal, the unmistakable striped form of the Bengal tiger. Though their roar can be heard as far as three kilometres (two miles) away, tigers are rarely so conspicuous, their unique patterning keeping them deceptively well hidden in the dense sal forests of Nepal. Unlike most other members of the cat family (Felidae), tigers are excellent swimmers, and watering holes are some of the most fruitful locations for sightings, though spotting one is as much an exercise
Get up close with gentle giants The magnificent Asian elephant (specifically its Indian subspecies) provides one of Nepal’s most memorable wildlife encounters. Historically an extremely significant animal in Nepalese culture, both religiously and agriculturally, elephants remain one of the country’s biggest draws for wildlife tourists today. The largest mammals in Asia can be observed roaming wild in the country’s expansive jungles and Terai plains, though the captive population is understandably easier to get acquainted with. Bathing and feeding sessions in particular allow visitors to observe the incredible dexterity in the elephants’ trunks (each of which contains over 40,000 muscles), while elephant safaris are an extremely popular method of traversing Nepal’s rich parkland. They offer a unique vantage point from which to spot some of the country’s other remarkable wildlife, too, from rhinos to water buffalo. While the overall number of elephants in Nepal remains low, and they are still classed as endangered by the IUCN, the country has taken an encouraging approach to conserving and fostering its elephant population, centred around protecting the groups in its major national parks. Visitors to Chitwan National Park can take in its elephant breeding centre, where the enthralling and playful relationship between mothers and calves can be intimately observed in a comfortable environment.
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in patience and luck as it is in following a trail. Here, they can be observed bathing, cooling off, or lying in wait to ambush prey, which can range from boar to water buffalo. With human activity over the past century reducing their range by more than 90 per cent, the majority of Nepal’s tiger population resides in Chitwan, but smaller concentrations can be found in Bardia and Suklaphanta. Sightings are far from guaranteed – park rangers estimate a density of four to six tigers per 100 square kilometres (39 square miles) – but with local numbers tentatively on the rise, Nepal is the best country outside of India to see tigers in the wild.
Trekking in Nepal More than wildlife
Scale peaks
Undoubtedly, Nepal’s most iconic feature is its incredible array of stunning mountains. Everest is just one of over 300 peaks that can be climbed or admired from afar. It is the perfect place to visit if you love to hike.
White waters
Nepal is one of the world’s most exciting raing and kayaking locations, thanks to its stunning gorges and exhilarating Himalayan rivers. Ideal if you want an action-packed trip.
Bungee jump
It’s not for those with a fear of heights, but few activities get the adrenaline pumping like bungee jumping over a spectacular canyon. Are you ready for a challenge?
Exploring temples
Nepal’s diverse cultures and architecture mean that there are a wealth of fascinating buildings to discover, from the quiet and intimate to the grandiose.
Soar skywards
The Nepalese landscape is even more amazing when seen from the air, and paragliding is a fantastic option for those with hardy dispositions.
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Explore the Earth
Clamber peaks with Himalayan tahrs While the Sherpas of Nepal are famed for their climbing ability, with their guidance invaluable for many mountaineers aspiring to climb the country’s formidable peaks, even they can’t match the natural dexterity of the Himalayan tahr. These relatives of the North American mountain goat are superbly adapted to the harsh conditions of their habitat – the mountains in the north of the country. Primarily found at altitudes of between 2,500 and 5,000 metres (8,200 and 16,400 feet), you’re unlikely to come across tahrs unless you’re venturing into the unforgiving slopes of the Himalayas but, when spotted, their movement is incredible to behold. Their agility and sure-footedness on sheer cliffs owes much to the make-up of their hooves, which feature a keratin-coated outer layer and a rubbery core that combine to offer exceptional durability and grip. Add in an ability to digest even the toughest plant life found in the region and it’s easy to see why these goats are among Nepal’s hardiest local residents.
Glide past endangered gharials With its long, slender jaws and bulbous snout, the gharial is an unmistakable presence on the muddy riverbanks that run through Nepal’s Terai region. Occasionally reaching lengths of up to six metres (20 feet), they’re nonetheless one of the least dangerous crocodiles. Visitors need not worry – the gharial’s diet is made up almost exclusively of fish, and it’s extremely sluggish on land thanks to its weak limbs, which are unable to raise its body off the ground at all.
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Canoe journeys in Chitwan National Park offer the chance to see these impressive reptiles in their riverbank habitats. Gharials have suffered particularly badly from human encroachment and are currently listed as critically endangered by the IUCN, but Chitwan is leading the way in their conservation. We recommend visiting the park’s crocodile breeding centre, where you can observe recently hatched juveniles up close prior to their release.
Surround yourself with butterflies With more than 650 species making their home in the country, Nepal is a butterfly enthusiast’s paradise. They’re present all year round, with the Kathmandu Valley offering the most fruitful location for spotters, who can take in the dazzling colours of purple sapphires, oakblues, great orange tips and many more.
Nepal’s beautiful birds
Himalayan monal
Nepal’s national bird possesses stunning iridescent plumage – or at least the males of the species do. Female colouring is noticeably more subdued.
Pied kingfisher
A more monochromatic member of Nepal’s avian population, the pied kingfisher is a potent aquatic predator, diving and catching its prey – mainly fish and small crustaceans – without even having to land.
Gallop alongside a nilgai Also known as the blue bull, this hefty ungulate features short horns in its males, and is Asia’s largest antelope. Found sporadically throughout Nepal, it
is easily startled despite its large size and it will flee for distances approaching a kilometre (0.6 miles) if it senses danger such as a predator in the area.
Go in search of the ‘mountain ghost’ While it is arguably Nepal’s most iconic animal, and undeniably one of its most captivating, the snow leopard is also one of its most elusive. A combination of sparse populations, excellent camouflage and an unforgiving habitat mean that sightings are rare, but those making their way up into the Himalayas may get the chance to spot the big cat known as the ‘mountain ghost’. Active at altitudes of between 3,000 and 4,500 metres (9,850 to 14,760 feet), snow leopards stalk their prey – which ranges from hares to tahrs and ibex – in almost complete silence. Extremely wide and furry paws distribute their weight and allow them to walk unhindered on snow, from which they can jump over nine metres (30 feet) to pounce on unsuspecting victims. This stealthy nature even extends to the snow leopard’s vocal range: a genetic difference in its larynx means that it is one of the only big cats that can’t roar.
Great hornbill
Easily identifiable by their distinctive yellow casque and long, curved bill, these spectacular birds sport a wingspan of up to 150 centimetres (five feet) and can live for up to 50 years in captivity.
Himalayan cutia
Found widely in the foothills of Nepal, these babblers are notable for their vivid plumage – a bold combination of grey and burnt orange feathers, with striped flanks and a black ‘mask’.
Sarus crane
The world’s tallest flying bird, with males reaching up to 1.8 metres (5.9 feet) in height, sarus cranes are a staple of the Nepalese wetlands, where they sustain themselves with a varied, omnivorous diet.
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Explore the Earth
Spy a singlehorned rhino Chitwan National Park is one of the world’s best sites for observing the Indian rhinoceros. These armoured giants can be found grazing in the park’s grassland or wallowing in one of the many lakes and ponds. They can be viewed from a vehicle or on foot, though be careful if you’re doing the latter. While they are usually docile and will often pay onlookers little attention, rhinos have been known to charge at unfamiliar humans who get too close.
Glimpse an elusive river dolphin Endangered and only ever seen in small numbers, the Ganges river dolphin is a rare but intriguing sight in the fresh waters of Nepal. Its long, tapered snout and stocky body give it a distinctive silhouette, while its swimming style is downright bizarre – the dolphin moves along riverbeds on its side, using a trailing fin to flush out the shrimp and small fish on which it feeds. It’s almost completely blind, with its eye lacking a lens, and relies heavily on echolocation.
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Trekking in Nepal
Adventuring tips Don’t travel alone
Nepal is beautiful but the terrain can also be treacherous. Always ensure you’re trekking or travelling with someone who knows where they’re going to avoid getting lost.
Dress appropriately
‘Appropriately’ varies wildly depending on where in Nepal you’re visiting, but shoulders should always be covered and shorts shouldn’t rise above the knee where possible.
Adventure ethically
Nepal’s tourist industry has taken great strides in recent years, but it still pays to do some research into your wildlife tour operator to check their environmental record.
Lifesystems Expedition Plus
Depending on the time of year that you visit Nepal, it can be very insectheavy – make sure you’re prepared. £7.99 www.ellis-brigham.com
Oakley Half Jacket Polarised Sunglasses
Good, polarised sunglasses are an absolute necessity in Nepal. £160 www.ellis-brigham.com
Alpina Plus LTR
These AKU three season, light hiking boots are the perfect hiking accessory if you want a comfortable, sturdy shoe for trekking. £147.95 www.alpinetrek.co.uk
Osprey Atmos AG 50 backpack
Excellent ventilation and impeccable weight distribution make this an ideal pack for the heat and humidity of Nepal. £170 www.ospreyeurope.com
Who to travel with Family Families Worldwide
WWW.FAMILIESWORLDWIDE.CO.UK Himalayan adventure This trip is priced from £1,964 per person for 13 days, including flights
Budget Responsible Travel
LifeStraw
This nifty and compact water purifier ensures that you’ll always have access to clean drinking water, even on long, remote and mountainous treks. $19.95 www.lifestraw.eartheasy.com
Luxury Scott Dunn
WWW.RESPONSIBLETRAVEL.COM
WWW.SCOTTDUNN.COM
Bardia National Park Holiday This holiday is priced from £295 per person for five days, excluding flights
Highlights of Nepal See the highlights of Nepal from £3,800 per person for 14 days, including flights
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© Getty; NaturePL; Thinkstock; freevectormaps.com
Nepalese essentials
In numbers…
Sawfish
These curious looking critters are fish on the brink. Here’s everything you need to know about the fascinating sawfish KNIFETOOTH SAWFISH Anoxypristis cuspidata Class Chondrichthyes
Territory Indo-Pacific oceans Diet Squid and small fish Lifespan 20 years Adult weight 544kg (1,200lb) Conservation Status
ENDANGERED
The first time you see a sawfish, it’s easy to see how these fish get their name! They are sharky looking animals with a very large protruding snout that looks like a saw. But these fish are actually a type of ray. They are found living on the sandy bottoms of tropical shallow seas, rivers, estuaries and mangroves and can tolerate a wide range of salinities. The defining feature of the highly endangered sawfish is its snout – known as the ‘rostrum’.
This amazing appendage is tipped with denticles – they looks like teeth but are actually modified scales. The sawfish uses its rostrum for finding and catching prey. Electroreceptors within help locate a dinner of fish and crustaceans, and then the sawfish can use its snout to stir up substrate and flush out any tasty morsels within. The rostrum is also incredibly strong, and the fish can use it to club and stun prey for an easy mouthful.
The ‘teeth’ on the sawfish’s rostrum aren’t really teeth at all. They’re modified scales known as denticles that play a role in sensing prey. Sawfish can grow to colossal sizes! The largest species is the smalltooth sawfish, which can reach over 7m/23 in length.
Sawfish babies are known as pups. They can be born in large litters, each with a protective membrane over its rostrum.
There are 5 sawfish species Narrow Sawfish Anoxypristis Cuspidata
Dwarf Sawfish Pristis Clavata
Smalltooth Sawfish Pristis Pectinata
Largetooth Sawfish Pristis Pristis
Green Sawfish Pristis Zijsron
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Endangered Critically Endangered
Sawfish are ovoviviparous, which means that they give birth to live young.
Sawfish
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Sawfish are a long-lived species and can live to the ripe old age of 50 in the wild.
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Individual sawfish representing four species are currently in public aquariums.
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million years
The fossil record for the ancestors of the sawfish species alive today dates back...
Where in the world
2007
Sawfish are found in shallow tropical waters across the world, however their range has significantly decreased due to threats such as overfishing and habitat loss
The year sawfish gained international protection from trade.
Historical Current
Saving the saws Katy Duke is curator at The Deep in Hull and manages the sawfish studbook for the zoo and aquarium community
16-37 pairs of ‘teeth’ on their rostrum, which are actually modified scales.
The delicate and intricate rostrum becomes easily entangled in discarded fishing nets, posing a huge risk to the fish.
28% The snout, or ‘rostrum’ takes up around a quarter of the sawfish’s total length!
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The number of countries that have lost at least one of their native sawfish species.
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The number of countries in which sawfish species are or were present.
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Countries protect sawfish by law. It’s illegal to fish for them as they are endangered.
21 The number of countries that have completely lost sawfish from their waters.
½
Unfortunately, sawfish are now extinct in half of their former range.
Why are sawfish important? They are the most endangered family of sharks on the planet. They’ve had a tough ride! Is there a captive breeding program? Of the five species, four are represented in aquariums globally. One of those species, Pristis pectinata (smalltooth sawfish) is the first one that has been bred, but there are none of those within Europe so we are still waiting. We believe that our animals [in Europe] are becoming sexually mature, we think, around 15 years of age. Captive breeding is the kind of thing that aquariums can offer – especially when it comes to data sharing. Aquariums are really well placed to be able to offer data that can’t really be studied in the wild. What else can be done? In the field, work is being done to discover where populations are at the moment. In a lot of places it’s surveying local communities to try and find out whether they’re still seeing Pristis in their waters, and talk about where the numbers are declined over the years and so on. Awareness-raising is a big one because still in a lot of countries they are still fished and caught and eaten. How can readers help? Help the ‘See-A-Saw’ campaign – the Sawfish Conservation Society are collecting data from old rostrums. The campaign is asking people who see these old ‘curios’ to report that data to the Sawfish Conservation Society, because we can gain all kinds of data from this, even DNA samples! For more information, head to sawfishconservationsociety.org
© Norbert Wu/Minden Pictures/FLPA
Sawfish all belong to the family ‘Pristidae’, a word derived from the Greek word for ‘saw’.
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Wildlife of the Sahara Desert Despite boasting some of the most extreme temperatures on the planet, the Sahara Desert is teeming with life. These animals don’t just survive, they thrive in these hostile conditions Words Amelia Jones
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Wildlife of the Sahara Desert Surviving the desert At around the size of the United States, the Sahara Desert is the largest hot desert on Earth, and its harsh conditions make day-today survival very difficult. The desert stretches for more than 9.4 million square kilometres (3.6 million square miles) across most of northern Africa, spreading across 11 countries. But while many view the Sahara as a vast sea of sand dunes, the landscape is actually quite varied. In fact, it is mostly made up of rocky plateaus, where animals shelter among the rocks or in their underground burrows, away from the scorching heat. The winds in the northeast of the desert can reach hurricane speeds, creating turbulent sand storms and dust devils that sweep across the desert. Rainfall is very scarce, but when rain does fall it is usually torrential. Some areas of the Sahara receive less than 250 millimetres (one inch) of rain per year, and so finding an oasis can provide a vital lifeline for wildlife. With blisteringly hot days and bitterly cold nights, you would be forgiven for thinking few animals live here. But among the sandy plains and rocky plateaus, an entire ecosystem lives and thrives.
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Wildlife of the Sahara Desert
Surviving the desert With little food, water or shade, the Sahara Desert is harsh and unforgiving for those that call it home. Despite its extreme conditions, the species that live here are diverse and plentiful Life in the desert is challenging, and finding food and water in this arid land can mean the difference between life and death. With very little rainfall, few plants or trees for shelter or food, and temperatures hitting 50 degrees Celsius (122 degrees Fahrenheit) in the midday sun and plummeting to below zero degrees Celsius at night, it really is a battle for survival. But the animals that live here have
a few survival tricks up their sleeves. Whether it’s the huge heat-expelling ears of the fennec fox, the sand swimming abilities of the skink or the collapsible ribs of the common gundi, many animals have developed adaptations to not only survive, but thrive in this environment. In fact, some have learnt to survive without drinking water, instead absorbing their water from the plants they eat.
Where is the Sahara Desert? The Sahara Desert spans 9.4 million square kilometres (3.6 million square miles), spreading across the northern countries of Africa including Algeria, Chad, Egypt, Libya, Mali, Mauritania, Morocco, Niger, Western Sahara, Sudan and Tunisia. While many think of deserts as vast expanses of sand, just 30 per cent of the Sahara is sandy; the other 70 per cent is gravel. The desert is similar in size to the United States or China and has as little as 250 millimetres (one inch) of rainfall a year.
Griffon vulture
Egyptian plover
Addax antelope The addax, also known as the screwhorn antelope, travels in small herds across the sand dunes and is critically endangered, with as few as three le in the wild. As water is scarce, the addax has adapted to suck moisture from the desert grasses and bushes. Its large, oversized hooves provide a good footing in the sand dunes.
Dorcas gazelle Dorcas gazelles are very fast and can run at speeds of up to 79km/h (49mph). They show off their graceful speed and fast reflexes by jumping, or ‘stotting’, when predators are nearby to scare them off. They can go almost their entire lives without drinking water, as they absorb it from the plants and leaves they snack on. Pin-tailed sandgrouse
Common gundi This guinea pig-sized rodent spends its time sunbathing or sheltering from the heat in rock crevices. Common gundis have very sharp claws but do not burrow. Instead, they are able to flatten their ribs and squeeze into cracks in the rocks. They live in small family groups of up to 11 and are very territorial. When threatened, they will thump their hind legs to alert others of danger.
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Spiny-tailed lizard
Deathstalker scorpion These venomous scorpions prefer to hunt at night and will even prey on their own species for food. Deathstalker scorpions are able to absorb water from their prey and can control their own metabolism, slowing it down to one-third the normal rate. This means they could survive on just two insects a year.
Wildlife of the Sahara Desert Stars of the Sahara A range of unique adaptations helps these Saharan species in the fight for survival
Jerboa These tiny rodents can jump up to 3m (10) and run at around 26kph (16mph), hopping over the hot sand and away from predators.
Skink These reptiles dive into the sand and move through it as if they were swimming. They do this to prevent overheating and to evade danger.
Dung beetle These beetles survive by living in the dung of other animals. They create perfectly round dung balls for ease of transport.
Spiny-tailed lizard These lizards gain 99 per cent of their water from the plants they eat and can inflate their bodies to wedge themselves under rocks in hiding.
Dromedary camel Thick eyelashes and slit nostrils protect the dromedary camel from sand storms. Its flat feet allow it to walk over the loose sand with ease, and the camel can drink up to 100 litres (22 gallons) of water in just ten minutes. Its hump is used to store fat for when food is scarce, meaning the camel can go up to 17 days without food or water.
Oryx Oryx have a keen sense of smell and can detect rain in the area. They have adapted to survive days or even weeks without water.
Desert hedgehog When faced with danger, desert hedgehogs will tense their muscles and curl up into a spiky ball, making it difficult for predators to catch them.
Fennec fox These tiny foxes have huge bat-like ears, which measure up to 15cm (6in) and are used to radiate heat and keep cool. While their thick fur may seem inappropriate for the desert, they are mostly nocturnal; their fur keeps them warm during the cold nights and reflects heat during the day. Fennec foxes also have fur on the soles of their feet to protect them from the scorching sand.
Desert plants
Spitting cobra Spitting cobras have a deadly bite and a nasty defence mechanism; they are able to spit their neurotoxic venom up to 2.4m (8), and with great accuracy. They will aim for the eyes of a perceived predator and can cause permanent blindness in humans. Like other cobras, they have long cervical ribs that expand to form a hood around their head.
Skink
Helmeted guineafowl While helmeted guineafowls are able to fly, they prefer to walk and can travel up to 10km (6mi) a day. They spend most of their time scratching the ground with their sharp claws, making their nests or searching for insects and seeds. When faced with danger they will oen run away quickly and make loud harsh calls to warn others.
Doum palm The doum palm is oen found near oases and can grow up to 17m (56) tall, providing crucial shade for wildlife. Its red-orange, apple-sized fruit tastes like gingerbread.
North African gerbil
Red acacia tree This thorny tree grows in damp valleys and has a pale green or reddish bark. In severe drought it will drop its feathery leaves to conserve energy until the next rainfall.
© Getty; Sol90; Thinkstock; Alamy
Oryx
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Finland
BEHIND LENS THE
George Turner
We interviewed photographer George Turner about his experience living and photographing wild grizzly bears in eastern Finland “I’ve always had a fascination with brown bears, especially because of their legendary status in the chronicles of European history. These days bears have all but vanished from the forests of Europe apart from one place... eastern Finland. In fact, it has the highest concentration of European brown bears on the entire continent. The second I read about it, I booked within the hour. “So, in mid-July of this year, I found myself deep in the Suomussalmi Forest on the Finnish-Russian border in bear country. Hiking with our guides into the forest, every step genuinely felt like we were making waves into Europe’s final frontier; this area is so remote that it’s avoided human disturbance allowing wildlife (including bears!) to flourish. “Around two kilometres into the hike, our guide received a radio call from his one of his colleagues some 500 metres ahead up the trail. There were bears. Lots of them. He instructed us to move swiftly - but not frantically - and not to take photos. We’d have plenty of time for that later. We moved on and came to the crest of a small hill… there they were, some 30 European brown bears foraging without a care in the world. I’ve never felt my heart beat faster.
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“I was quickly taken to my accommodation for the night, a one-person hide. What ensued was the most memorable wildlife encounter of my life. “Within one minute of the guide leaving, there were bears at every angle. At first they were tentative, but soon came within 30 centimetres of my hide, so close that I was shooting with a wideangle for the most part! Despite the 40 degree Celcius heat and mosquitos, I’ve never felt more serene. Exhilarating doesn’t come close. “The look on the male bear’s face (right) perfectly encapsulates the brown bear. He has so much expression across his face - along with his human-like pose - showing the depth of emotion that these beautiful animals feel.”
George Turner
WWW.GEORGETHEEXPLORER.COM To find out more about George Turner’s work, visit his website and check out his photography, from otters in Scotland to puffins in Iceland. Location: Suomussalmi Forest, on the FinnishRussian border Camera used: Nikon D700 Canon EOS 6D with a 24-70mm lens
How to shoot it
George Turner tells us his top tricks for getting this type of wildlife shot Focus on the eyes As a rule of thumb, having an animal’s eyes in focus is a must. We make the connection with the subject through this, allowing the viewer to travel to the ‘moment’ that you’ve captured. With wild animals this can be tough but it’s all about practice. Try easier subjects - e.g .pets - to get used to moving subjects so you’ll be battlehardened when in the field!
Get low, low, low Just as focusing on the eyes is vital, getting low is too. It’s a fantastic method to communicate an animal’s behaviour. For example, a fox staring down the lens (at eye level) gives the sense of a predator looking at its prey. With larger animals this is easy, just kneel down. However, if it requires getting mucky in the mud, you’ve got to be prepared to sacrifice that jumper of yours!
© George Turner
Know the subject Wildlife is notoriously difficult to photograph, simply because it is so unpredictable! You can remedy this problem somewhat by studying your subject: when are they most active? Where are they most active? How do they react to people? Any unique behaviours? By being able to answer the above, you can try and get one step ahead of your subject. Even that can sometimes not be enough, so persevere!
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Charity run Here at WOA HQ we like to let you know what the team has been up to. Our amazing designer, Lauren, ran her first half marathon in October for two incredible charities close to her heart: WWF and the Cystic Fibrosis Trust. The target was £400 and she managed to raise £460 so we just wanted to say, well done Lauren!!
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“@WorldAnimalsMag Looks like a very entertaining read. Seahorses are amazing” @BelindaLondon
#Halo is delighted to featured in @WorldAnimalsMag. Help support her and other working dogs here: bit.ly/SuperpowerGO #SuperpowerDogs
@SuperpowerDogs
50 Amazing Things You Never Knew About Animals Discover weird and wonderful facts from the animal kingdom in our latest digital edition. 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 by our planet’s wildlife.
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Superpower dogs update We caught up with Superpower Dogs producer Taran Davies in LA for an update on filming, and to find out about a very special crowd-funding campaign
What is the exciting new campaign all about? [The Indiegogo campaign is] a crowdfunding project that will help us to continue to be able to film Halo in the critical junctures in her journey from puppy to urban search and rescue dog. This is a two-year journey and so we have asked for $50,000 and I’m pleased to say that we raised 70 per cent of what we were looking for in the first three days! As part of the campaign we have some tremendous perks on offer, such as experiences to come on set and to have your dog’s photograph in the movie credits or even your dog in the movie itself! We have some great merchandise to celebrate dogs such as mugs and dog bowls and t-shirts and all kinds of fun stuff. In addition, we will be contributing 20 per cent of the profits of the campaign to working dog organisations that are helping to train working dogs.
How important is it for the Superpower Dogs team to donate that 20 per cent? As filmmakers, traditionally an important thing one can do is raise awareness about a subject. What we want to do is not just that, but to facilitate funding to these organisations so that we can help to make sure that there is a working dog for everyone who is in need. What we discovered as we’ve been making this film is just how hard the handlers and first responders work to train their dogs and how much of a financial burden they have to take on themselves. From the housing of the dog, the training and looking after the dog – much of this is volunteer work! We’ve realised that this financial contribution is really important! Already we have
raised close to $10,000 that will go directly to our working dog organisation partners such as the National Disaster Search Dog Foundation and the Canadian Avalanche Rescue Dog Association.
What are the other stages of filming and how is everything going? One of the other key points of the Indiegogo campaign is for us to succeed and show the potential sponsors and distributors for these movies the love and interest that there is in the working dog community and in a movie like this! So right now we are closing the balance of the funding that will allow us to go out and shoot the rest of the film. The key for now though is that we need to start with Halo – we are following the story of a puppy over two years and we needed to start when we did several weeks ago so that we would be able to deliver this movie sooner rather than later! Certainly it will allow us to film Halo’s next key phase in her training and growth – that’s number one! And then when we have closed on the balance of the financing we will be able to film all the rest of our wonderful canine cast next year. To get involved or support the campaign visit indiegogo.com/projects/superpower-dogs-3d/ Read the full interview at animalanswers.co.uk
Animal antics this month
Wildlife journeys Exploring an urban zoo
Our favourite animal news and stories. Let us know yours at
[email protected]
Production Editor Hannah Westlake recounts her enchanting day at Copenhagen Zoo Copenhagen’s zoological garden is one of the oldest zoos in Europe, nestled between the picturesque Frederiksberg Gardens and Søndermarken Park. If the hustle and bustle of the city centre is getting overwhelming, the zoo is the perfect place to spend a day unwinding. It is overlooked by a wooden observation tower, which offered breathtaking views of the parks and enclosures. There are over 3,000 animals and there’s a very busy daily schedule, from training the llamas in the Children’s Zoo to feeding the elephants in the Elephant House. However, it wasn’t until the end of my day that I came across the giraffes. It was feeding time and they were enticed over by buckets of greens. The design of the enclosure meant we stood almost head-height to a juvenile giraffe as it gracefully lowered its neck to take food from a keeper - the perfect pose for a photo!
Ad campaign
Mad about cats We loved seeing all the ads at Clapham Common tube station replaced with cat images as part of the CATS Citizen Advertising takeover to make people see things differently.
Tell us about one of your wildlife holidays by emailing your story and photos to animals@ animalanswers .co.uk
Reader photos Little green bee-eater Billy Evans
Nature documentary DiCaprio talks nature
Check out the trailer for Before The Flood, National Geographic’s latest documentary where actor Leonardo DiCaprio talks about stomping out climate change before it is too late for our planet’s precious wildlife.
I saw this bird in Uduwalawe National Park. I was going around in a 4x4 safari vehicle when I saw a common kingfisher and a little green bee-eater sitting on the same log together. I am 13 years old and love photography and animals.
Heron at the park Roxanne Levy
Animail
UNPA stamps
Sophie Mayes
The red-legged seriema is a terrestrial bird that inhabits grasslands in Brazil, Uruguay and Argentina. This one however was in an enclosure at Banham Zoo in Norfolk. These brown feathers are perfect for allowing the beautiful light blue colour that surrounds its eyes to stand out. Have you been inspired by a WOA cover or feature? Send us your best wildlife photos.
© Thinkstock; Thore Siebrand; Dave Scelfo
Red-legged seriema
The United Nations Postal Administration (UNPA) created 12 stamps featuring 12 endangered plant and animal species found in Africa in honour of one of the world’s most important wildlife conferences. CITES CoP17, or the World Wildlife Conference, was held in Johannesburg, South Africa, from 24 September to 5 October.
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Animal answers
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Send your animal questions to us at:
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Can giraffes make sounds? Long-thought to be a mute animal, recent research has found that giraffes hum at night. The sounds are so subtle that the recordings needed to be examined visually. The soundwaves of almost 1,000 hours revealed regular patterns of low-frequency sounds that continued throughout the night. The audio has a frequency of just over 90 hertz, which is just inside the human range of hearing. The vocal chords vibrate to make noise, and in giraffes the sound production system is similar to
horses. It’s thought that because a giraffe’s neck is so long, the airflow through the trachea can’t vibrate the vocal chords to produce sound that’s as loud as a horse’s neigh. The function of this night-time humming isn’t clear, but researchers think it serves to keep the group together. Giraffes are highly visual and always try to stay in each other’s eyeline. At night when the animals can’t see each other, it is thought that they hum to let others know exactly where they are.
How long can tapeworms grow? These parasitic worms can reach lengths of up to 15 metres (50 feet) inside the intestinal tract of their host. Its body is divided into up to 2,000 sections called proglottids, and the tapeworm reproduces by dispersing some of these body sections into the gut. These then exit with the digested food and wait until they can find their way into another host. The trick to being a successful parasite is to keep your host alive and healthy (once a
host is dead, the parasite is too) and becoming any longer would likely cause permanent damage. Tapeworms live in the small intestine of their host, and in fact there are 100 species within the Taenia genus. Each species targets a specific animal, but they are found most commonly in cows and pigs. That’s generally how they end up in humans, so if having a tapeworm is your worst nightmare, maybe laying off the red meat is a good idea.
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ABOVE A 3D rendering of a tapeworm, showing how it looks from a side-on view
@WorldAnimalsMag
worldofanimalsmag
Animal answers What affects the position of animal eyes? Animal anatomy is shaped by evolution, and those that have evolved with the need to look behind them have eyes on the sides of the head. Those that need to stalk prey have eyes on the front of the head, generally speaking. The two types of vision are called monocular and binocular vision and they help the animal survive in its particular environment. Most predators can afford to face forward at all times as they are at little risk of being attacked. Wolves have eyes that point frontwards to help look out for scampering prey, as the two eyes create overlapping images that show the detail in the environment. Most prey animals need to be extremely aware of what might be sneaking up behind them, and that’s why their eyes are positioned on the side of the head. This means the animal can see almost 360 degrees, though the images are not as detailed as those registered by two eyes simultaneously. Hare eyes can see in every direction, giving the animal a fighting chance of surviving an attack.
Which animal produces the richest milk? Hooded seal milk is 60 per cent fat, which is extremely rich compared to the three per cent fat in human breast milk. This high-fat liquid helps newborn seal pups survive the harsh Arctic temperatures, as these mammals give birth on floating ice. The pups only
Mammal milk compared
Animal parents give their young exactly what they need to grow up as fast as possible
Hooded seal milk is 60% fat
Human milk is 3% fat
What will be the next species to go extinct? It’s difficult to predict, but there are a few species that are in real danger of disappearing in just a few years’ time. The northern white rhino is a subspecies, but there are only four le on the planet and just one of them is male. They are being cared for at the Ol Pejeta Conservancy in Kenya, and unfortunately the last male, Sudan, is probably unable to have offspring due to his very advanced age. Sadly, there are many species that face a very real threat of extinction. The leatherback turtle has been hit hard by poaching, habitat loss and
suckle for four days, and the mother can dispense around eight litres (17 pounds) of milk in each 24-hour period. After this short period of feeding, the newborn seals are double their birth weight and well-equipped to swim in the freezing north Atlantic waters.
the fishing industry, causing numbers to decline by 80 per cent in the last 20 years. The next animal that is likely to be declared extinct is the ivory-billed woodpecker. It may have died out already, but the scientific community need to be sure before changing the species’ status. A few seconds of video footage captured in 2005 is the only evidence collected on a fiveyear search period over eight states of the USA. It’s highly unlikely that there is still a surviving population of ivory-billed woodpeckers, and it may not be long until they are considered extinct.
Tammar wallaby milk is 14% sugar
Eastern cottontail rabbit milk is 15% protein
Black rhino milk is only 0.2% fat
ABOVE Hooded seal pups have a shorter weaning period than any other mammal
Numbers left in the wild Northern white rhino
4
Amur leopards
70
Javan rhinos
60
Vaquita
60
Saola
750
Q.Why do whales jump? Q.
Find out at…
animalanswers.co.uk
Animal answers
[email protected] Why do wasps sting? Have you ever noticed that wasps only tend to bother us humans in late summer when we’re having drinks or food in the garden? That’s because the wasps that generally sting are not solitary, but social wasps searching for something sweet to eat. Social wasps live in colonies with a reproductive queen, a male reproductive drone and female worker wasps. Worker wasps spend most of the year searching for food because once the queen lays her eggs, it is their job to feed the larvae with soft invertebrates like caterpillars. In turn, the larvae produce a sweet liquid, which the worker wasps feed on. When the queen stops laying eggs and the larvae are fully developed the worker wasps have nothing to eat, so they head out in search of alternative sugary foods. Wasps do not tend to sting humans unless they feel threatened – for instance, when they are being swatted away – so stay calm and don’t swat!
False widow spiders can be found in sheds, lo s and conservatories
Are there poisonous spiders in the UK?
ABOVE Lamprey are jawless fish with long, eel-like bodies covered in a mucous substance
Do all fish have scales? There are four types of fish scales: placoid (which sharks and rays have), cycloid (the most common form of scale on bony fish), cosmoid (for example on lungfish) and ganoid (which sturgeons have). Scales come in all different shapes and sizes,
and although most fish do have them, there are fish that don’t – like hagfish and lampreys. Scales serve as a protective layering for fish, but instead of scales, these fish are covered in mucus, which helps keep their so bodies protected.
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There are no poisonous spiders, however there are venomous spiders in the UK. The difference is that venomous animals inject the toxin with a bite or sting, whereas poisonous animals secrete them through the skin. The false widow spider has the reputation of being Britain’s most venomous spider, and while it has been known to bite humans, it is not aggressive so cases of this are rare. If a false widow spider does bite a human, it can cause swelling and discomfort, but even the worst cases last only a few days.
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An animal in crisis
In eastern Africa, poachers use automatic weapons to slaughter endangered rhinos. The animals are shot and the horns are hacked away, tearing deep into the rhinos’ flesh with the rhino left to die.
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Animal trivia
Test your animal knowledge 1. TRUE OR FALSE
3. PIG FAMILY
Owls heads rotate 360 degrees
Can you name the pig species?
2. THE PERFECT GRIP Which animals do these hands belong to?
a.
b.
a.
b.
c.
d.
4. FASTEST BIRD ON LAND How fast can an ostrich run?
c.
d.
a. Up to 43mph
b. Up to 53mph
c. Up to 33mph
d. Up to 63mph
5. WHO AM I? a.
b.
“I am the largest of the true foxes.”
© Thinkstock
Match the fox to the statement c. d.
Arctic fox
“I am a melanistic form of the red fox.”
Fennec fox
“I wear snowshoes to protect my paws.”
Kit fox
e. “I am able to survive without drinking water”
Red fox
“I shiver when the temperature falls below -70 degrees Celsius.”
Silver fox
Answers 1. False. They rotate 180 degrees in both directions. 2. a. Red slender loris b. Sunda slow loris c. Calabar potto d. Bosman’s potto 3. a. Bushpig b. Peccary c. Warthog d. Wild boar 4. a. Up to 43mph 5. a. Red fox b. Silver fox c. Fennec fox d. Kit fox e. Arctic fox
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“A present that is useful, desirable and capable of doing some good” THE SUNDAY TELEGRAPH
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