Hippos are the third-largest living land mammal, after elephants and white rhinos. Its name comes from the ancient Greek for “river horse.” Hippos rely on water or mud to keep cool — this accounts for the amount of time they spend in the water. Instead of sweating, they secrete a viscous red fluid, which protects the animal’s skin against the sun and possibly acts as healing agents.
When warthogs walk, their tail hangs down, but when warthogs run, their tail sticks up, with the bushy tip hanging down. This may serve as a warning to other warthogs that danger is near.
It is said that cats have nine lives………………
You come around a bend in the road and there is a major obstacle in your path! What do you do?
Elephants have around 40,000 muscles in their trunks. An elephant’s trunk acts as its mouth, nose and hands all in one. It is used for breathing, smelling, picking up objects, touching and hugging. It is a very powerful yet delicate instrument, strong enough to break a branch from a tree and yet delicate enough to be able to pick up a blade of grass. To drink, an elephant sucks water into its trunk like a hose and blows it into its mouth – researchers reckon elephants can store up to nine litres of water in their trunks! The trunk also lifts food into its mouth. Elephants are great swimmers and can use their trunks like snorkels!
Leopards are largely solitary animals, with exceptions being females with cubs, or pairs briefly during courtship and mating periods. For this reason, male and female leopards need to defend territories. Each selects their territories based on different needs. Females select their territories based on density of prey and availability of den sites, and males select theirs based on prey density and availability of females. Therefore, a male territory may encompass multiple female territories. A Leopard territory can vary in size depending on these needs and can be anywhere between 5 and 1 000 km2.
Dave and I were so fortunate to see quite a few Leopard on this trip. I love seeing Leopard in a tree. And look at those eyes!
Leopards are strong climbers. Pound for pound, the leopard is the strongest climber of all the big cats. Their shoulder blades even have special attachment sites for stronger climbing muscles. Leopards spend much of their time in trees even when stalking prey and for eating. Both lions and hyenas will take away a leopard’s food if they can. To prevent this, leopards will often store their meal high up in tree branches where they can feed in relative safety.
