Advertorial
Woburn
Safari Park
www.woburnsafari.co.uk
Woburn Safari Park has a proud history of animal
conservation stretching back over 100 years on
the Bedford estates. Today, the park is an exciting,
educational day out with over 1,000 wild animals
living in beautiful parkland reserves. Visitors get an
unparalleled close encounter with some of the most
magnificent and endangered animals in the world,
including tiger cubs and an elephant calf!
The fact-filled guidebook and kids activity
books give lots more detail about the park’s wild
residents, plus you can enjoy daily keeper talks and
demonstrations. You can learn all about each animal’s Howletts Wild
wild habitat, conservation status, daily husbandry and
health checks at the park, plus witness their natural Animal Park
behaviours for yourself.
Students and school groups can experience hands- www.aspinallfoundation.org/howletts
on activities, curriculum-based programmes and enjoy Kent’s most successful and multi-award-
the Visitor Enrichment Centre, for interactive learning. winning wild animal park, Howletts is a
breeding sanctuary for some of the most
Wildlife Heritage rare and endangered species in the world.
With over 450 animals and more than 50
individual species, plus plenty of new births
Foundation and arrivals, including adorable baby black
rhino, Kasungu – the first black rhino to be
www.whf.org.uk born at the park, visitors have the opportunity
The Wildlife Heritage Foundation (WHF) is a breeding to see real animals, up close, and be part of
centre for endangered cats and a sanctuary for retired real conservation in action.
cats. Located in Smarden, Kent, it is home to over 50 Home to the world’s largest collection of
species, from the world’s largest, the Amur tiger, to critically endangered western lowland gorillas
the most endangered, the Amur leopard. It is possible and the largest herd of African elephants in
to adopt any of our cats, which includes a visit to our the UK, Howletts offers visitors the chance
park on an adopter’s afternoon and learning about the to get up close to Amur tigers, northern
breeding programmes for the endangered species. Chinese leopards, lions and wolves in their
WHF is not open to the public on a day-to-day basis. glass fronted enclosures and walk with lemurs
However, we operate by way of experiences including big as the Madagascan favourites explore the
cat encounters, ranger days, photography days and an branches overhead.
overnight big cat safari, in addition to the adoptions. We Set in 100 acres of historic parkland, there
also have annual open days – in 2016 these will run from are wooded walkways and pathways to
21 to 24 July. Tickets are available online when families explore and fun-filled animal talks taking place
can come along. at various times throughout the year.
Yorkshire Port Lympne Reserve
Wildlife Park www.aspinallfoundation.org/port-lympne
Port Lympne Reserve, one of Kent’s most popular visitor attractions,
www.yorkshirewildlifepark.com is celebrating its 40th birthday. The Reserve, near Ashford, is home to
The birth of rare Amur leopard cubs at over 700 rare and endangered species and is now Europe’s first animal
focused holiday destination. 2016 will see the arrival of the county’s first
Yorkshire Wildlife Park in June was a ever breeding pair of spectacled bears and an epic dinosaur exhibit. Set
landmark in an international programme over 600 acres, Port Lympne is home to the UK’s most authentic safari
to conserve the species, whose numbers experience. This year the popular safari experience will incorporate an
have dwindled to around 70 in the wild. Asian theme, where water buffalo will roam with other Asian animals,
The pair are enjoying life at Leopard while new arrivals are expected across the park.
Heights, and join a unique collection
of the world’s most beautiful and
endangered species, including Amur
tigers, African hunting dogs, meerkats,
lions and three polar bears, who live at
the internationally acclaimed Project
Polar Reserve on the 70-acre site near
Doncaster. YWP offers visitors an
unrivalled walk-through experience,
coming almost face to face with the
animals. It provides fun-filled and
educational visits for all ages, year round.
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Brightest starfish
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BRIGHTEST
STARFISH
More accurately known as sea stars, these
echinoderms are not actually related to their
fishy neighbours, but they add a splash of
colour to oceans all over the world
Words Zara Gaspar
Enemy of Australia’s
Great Barrier Reef
The crown-of-thorns starfish,
Acanthaster planci, is a corallivore,
which means it eats live coral. It lives
in the Indian and Pacific Oceans, from
Japan to the Gulf of California, and is
common on the Great Barrier Reef. It
is notorious for the negative impact
it is having on the reef – an adult can
eat up to 478 square centimetres (74
square inches) of coral a day.
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Brightest starfish
Meet the elusive
Egyptian sea star
Little is known about the
Egyptian sea star, Gomophia
egyptiaca. This beautiful species
comes in shades of red and
orange with short, fearsome-
looking spikes and can be found
along the coast of eastern
Africa and Madagascar. Like
many starfish, it has five arms
and is able to regenerate its
own limbs as its vital organs are
all in its arms.
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Brightest starfish
One of the hardiest of
the oceans’ sea stars
The necklace or red tile sea star, Fromia
monilis, is a hardy starfish that is bright
red on the tips of its arms and in its
centre. It lives in shallow waters and can
be found in rocky areas in the Indian and
West Pacific Oceans, from the Andaman
Islands to Australia and Japan. It feeds on
sponges and small invertebrates.
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Brightest starfish
Bedazzled with
beautiful rings of blue
The giant spined sea star, Pisaster
giganteus, can grow up to 61 centimetres
(24 inches), hence its name. It can vary in
colour but is generally light brown with
blue rings around its spines. It can be
found on rocky shores along the western
coast of North America, from British
Columbia to Baja, California. It preys on
molluscs, mussels and barnacles.
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Brightest starfish
The opportunistic
scavenger of the sea
The blue sea star, Linckia laevigata,
is often collected from the reef
fringes where it lives and sold as
a decorative item because of its
attractive colouring. Aquarists
have found that this species is an
opportunistic scavenger that likes
to feed on dead organisms, algae © Nature PL; Rex Features
and microbes. It can be found in
the Indian and Pacific Oceans.
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The dog that doesn’t bark
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DHOLE
THE DOG THAT DOESN’T BARK
The dhole may look familiar, but wait until you hear
this wild dog’s trademark whistle – it sounds nothing
like any other canine
Words Sanne de Boer
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The dog that doesn’t bark
Meet the super pack
Dholes are strategic and cunning pack hunters
Dholes are sociable animals, with an instinctive Dholes are also less territorial than wolves, and there
understanding of their place within a pack. The intricate is little friction between packs; young members can join
social structure of their groups makes them efficient other packs without much of a struggle. Despite showing DHOLE
hunters, using the power of teamwork to take down prey little pack rivalry, dholes claim huge territories of up to 88 Cuon alpinus
they could never catch alone. square kilometres (34 square miles). The social aspects Class Mammalia
Each pack has an alpha male and an alpha female, of the dholes’ lives in groups are peaceful, but it’s the
who are usually the only members to reproduce. The way that they use their numbers during hunting that has
rest of the group consists mainly of males, in varying earned them a fearsome reputation.
degrees of status, and a smaller number of females. These pack hunters frequently break into smaller groups Territory Central and eastern
Despite this, dholes are less hierarchical than wolves, during hunting. They know how to exhaust, corner, and Asia
Diet Rodents, hares, ungulates
show little aggression to each other (though dominance confuse their prey, and will often entrust a few members Lifespan 8-12 years
is expressed), and have been observed playing with with the duty of distraction, while others sneak up from Adult weight 15-20kg
enthusiasm, displaying strong bonds and family behind. During the chase, these fast and nimble canids will (33-44lb)
Conservation status
relationships. Perhaps the most notable expression of their slow down their prey by wounding them where it counts
empathy is that they let their young feed off a kill first, – eyes are gouged, genitals are ripped and hamstrings are
rather than favouring the dominant members’ needs, as is torn to bring them to a halt. The dholes’ ruthlessness does ENDANGERED
so often the case in the animal kingdom. not stop there: they often eat their prey alive.
BELOW
The forgotten dog Dholes have
disappeared from
Considered a pest due to their taste for cattle, the almost their entire
dhole was hunted to near extinction in the 20th century range over the
last 50 years
You might be surprised to learn that while there are
an estimated 3,000 tigers le in the wild, there are
thought to be less than 2,200 dholes le . Estimates of
population sizes are diffi cult though, due to their elusive
nature and the small amount of research done on their
behaviour and numbers. One thing researchers can
agree on is that the population is decreasing, mostly
due to habitat loss, culling, depletion of their natural
prey and even diseases transmitted by domestic dogs.
Dholes are currently protected and categorised as
Endangered by the IUCN Red List, but there was a
time that these beautiful and remarkable dogs were
considered a pest. For most of the 20th century, the
dhole was feared across many Asian countries, and
was hunted relentlessly. Even today, the canines are
frequently blamed for depleting the tiger’s prey base,
and hunting domestic fowl. Herders o en poison
carcasses of their livestock – an act that can wipe out
an entire pack immediately.
Despite this, there has been a limited effort to protect
or conserve the dhole, partly due to a lack of awareness
about the species among the general public. Although
they are legally protected in the countries where they
are found, the laws are poorly enforced. The dhole is
not as famous or iconic as the tiger or panda, which is
why it is o en referred to as the ‘forgotten predator’.
The few conservation programmes that are in place
o en focus on improving the relationships with local
communities through information and insurance, as
well as reimbursements for lost livestock.
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The dog that doesn’t bark D h ole
Dhole
Th e wh i s t li n g d o g
The whistling dog
The dhole cannot bark – but that doesn’t
hold it back from making a racket
It’s generally accepted that the domestic dog’s bark is a
learned behaviour – while wolves and other wild canines
are capable of making bark-like sounds, they are seldom
observed making these vocalisations to communicate in
the wild. But if you were to hear a wolf during a hike in the
woods, you would immediately recognise it as a wolf, and it
would sound very similar to your pet husky.
If you were to hear a dhole in the wild, however, your first
thought would probably go towards your pet parakeet.
As odd as it sounds, dholes make strange, high-pitched
noises that sound like a bird’s whistling. They are capable of
producing a huge range of sounds that could actually beat
dogs and wolves in their variety. They whine, scream, whistle,
howl, growl, squeak, sing and hum – which is why a pack of
dholes can sound like a canine orchestra.
Unfortunately, dholes are extremely rare and often fear
human company. In fact, they are among the hardest
animals to track. The few researchers devoting their time to
this shy creature often spend years hoping for a sighting,
and catching and putting a tracking collar on an individual is
nigh impossible.
How exactly the dhole came to develop these noises is
not yet known due to limited research on the rare species.
It is widely assumed that the high-pitched whistling is used
for hunting communication – in thick vegetation, where
vision is poor, the dogs whistle to one another to keep in
contact while they carry out a team attack. However, some
researchers have proposed that they also use their vocal
talents for social interaction. Dholes are very hard to identify
as they spend so much time in packs, but it may be possible
to tell individuals apart by their distinctive calls.
“They whine, whistle, howl,
growl, squeak, sing and hum; ABOVE
Dholes have one less
a pack of dholes can sound molar on each side of
their mouths than all
other members of the
like a canine orchestra” Canidae family
Dhole doppelgängers
Fox Domestic dog Wolf African wild dog Hyena
The dhole is small, lean and Though dholes have shorter The wolf is larger and A close cousin of the dhole, Despite some physical
nimble. Built for speed, its lower jaws and fewer stockier than the dhole, and the African wild dog has similarities with the dhole,
anatomy is similar to that molars than domestic dogs, shows far more aggression many behavioural traits in the hyena is actually not
of many foxes, particularly they share an endearing both within a pack and common with it, including a canine at all. It’s part of
the red fox. The fox would trait: they will wag their tails towards other packs. advanced pack hunting the Hyaenidae family in the
outrun the dhole in a sprint, in excitement when they While dhole packs have strategies and a strong Feliformia suborder – which
but the dhole would win an are reunited with their several females, wolf packs sense of community also includes big cats,
endurance race. pack members. usually only admit one. within a pack. mongooses and civets.
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The dog that doesn’t bark
Dhole and man BELOW
Dhole attacks on humans
are very rare; the canines
Aside from hunting tactics, the dhole tend to avoid human
contact where possible
shows signs of insight and learning
As many pet owners will know, canines often show a
remarkable ability to learn and adapt their behaviours
according to their environment. While domestic dogs
developed the capability to read our body language
as a species, and show signs of learning through tricks
and commands, the dhole has also become familiar with
human behaviours and habits – and learned to stay away
from them.
In an award-winning documentary by Krupakar-Senani,
Wild Dog Diaries, a particular pack of dholes living close to
an indigenous human settlement was tracked for over 12
years, showcasing their elusive nature. As the researcher,
accompanied by a tribesman for guidance, observed
the dhole pack hunting, they noticed the wild dogs
abandoning their prey right before the kill. Confused by
© FLPA; Getty; Nature PL; Thinkstock whether he’d seen this before. With a shrug, the tribesman
this behaviour, the researcher asked his indigenous friend
stated that hunters from his community frequently
followed the dhole and stole their kills. The dhole had soon
learnt that any prey in the near vicinity of humans was not
worth hunting, and abandoned their attempts when they
sensed the humans’ presence.
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Interview with a…
Rhino keeper
Lisa Watkins, deputy head of ungulates and white rhino keeper at West
Midland Safari Park, works with some of the world’s largest creatures
What goes into the day- about and the rhinos simply get on with In the wild, white
to-day life of a white their daily routines, but there is the odd rhinos are classified as
rhino keeper? occasion where a confrontation between Near Threatened. There
Our day usually begins some of them may occur, so in those are around 20,000 of
them le worldwide
by checking in on the instances we would intervene to ensure
rhinos – making sure they their safety.
all seem fit and healthy, as
well as giving their indoor enclosures the What other conservation efforts are you
once over to make sure everything seems and the rest of the team at West Midland
fine. We’ll then feed them in the morning, Safari Park involved in?
before opening the gates and allowing All year round, West Midland Safari
them to roam about the reserve for the Park works with the Namibian Wildlife
rest of the day at their own leisure. Some Conservation in Ongava, which looks after
of the keepers will then go out on patrol and conducts really important research
while the rest will stay behind and clean on the white rhino. This partnership has
the enclosures and get them all ready for been incredibly beneficial and also an
the evening. eye-opening experience for us. And for
four weeks of the year we do charity
What’s the best part of your job? events and fundraising for different wildlife
For me, it’s being a part of a successful projects both here in the UK and abroad.
breeding program and having animals that The park has raised money for white
are happy enough to breed. Just being rhino-specific projects before but fingers
able to give our white rhinos an enriching crossed we’ll get the chance to do that
life as best we can means an incredible again in 2016.
amount to me, especially when you
consider the dangers these creatures face “ Just being able
in the wild.
to give our white
And the worst?
Well, working in all weathers would be
one! So if it snows, we still need to come in rhinos an enriching
and make sure the animals are fed, happy
and exercised. Of course, if it’s scorching life as best we
hot we still need to come in and shovel
large amounts of smelly excrement, too. can means an
You wouldn’t believe the volume of faeces WIN
they produce. That’s a definite downside! incredible amount”
the chance to
Even now as I’m speaking to you I’m become a rhino keeper
soaked through, but that’s just part of the for a day at West
job and you eventually get used to those So you want to be Midland Safari Park!
kinds of things.
a rhino keeper? Visit www.animalanswers.
co.uk to find out how
What kind of challenges and dangers do Here’s how… to enter.
you face looking after such potentially
dangerous creatures? Like any professional wildlife keeper
As you can imagine, there are lots of role, an academic background is always
protocols and procedures in place to keep advantageous, but Lisa believes having
us safe when looking after the white rhinos lots of hands-on experience working at
at West Midland Safari Park, so we feel sanctuaries, zoos and other wildlife centres
more than safe when keeping them. Of is the most important addition to your CV
course, when the rhinos are out on the or application. “I would definitely advise
reserve mixing with our other animals, you to volunteer and get experience. I
we do have a patrol that monitors them know it can be quite difficult to get work in
throughout the day. These are powerful a zoo to begin with, but if you start small © West Midland Safari Park
creatures so we always make sure at stables then you can sometimes get The white rhinos at WMSP
someone is watching and ready to act. internships that provide you with invaluable are usually calm and relaxed,
although too much rain can
Most of the time there’s nothing to worry experience,” she adds. This would also give sometimes get them agitated
you a chance to see if the job is right for you.
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Explore the Earth
ANTARCTIC
ADVENTURE
The Antarctic is one of the most pristine environments
on the planet. Voyages into this isolated wilderness offer
animal enthusiasts a chance to see Earth at its wildest
Words Laura Mears
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Antarctic adventure
Travel expert Antarctic fur seal
Laurie Gough is an award-winning travel writer. Her new These seals breed
book, Stolen Child, is coming out in the autumn of 2016 Emperor penguin mainly on the islands
All morning I’ve been waiting on the top deck for my first These hardy birds are surrounding the Antarctic
glimpse of Antarctica. Then, up ahead, protruding out of the largest penguin mainland, and are found
the black waters and a bank of low-lying clouds, stands species, and breed in a band of warm
a pure white range of icy mountains, completely covered during the Antarctic waters known as the
in snow. I’ve arrived at the least known of all continents, winter. They come Antarctic Convergence.
the most dangerous, least hospitable, coldest, highest, most isolated ashore from late March The biggest population
place on Earth. Over the coming days I see gentoo penguins, leopard when the pack ice breeds on the coasts of
seals, orcas and giant sea birds. Most exciting to me are the humpback starts to freeze. South Georgia.
whales, who seem curious about the ship, breaching the surface, South
flipping their tails, eyeing the passengers. Their underwater lives are Atlantic
Ocean
still a mystery to scientists as they sing their underwater songs.
Southern elephant seal
These imposing seals are found on
most of the Sub-Antarctic islands. Indian
They breed in September, and the Ocean
males compete violently to win
the attention of the females.
Gentoo penguin
The rocky shores of the Antarctic South Pole
Peninsula are home to colonies of
waddling gentoo penguins. Their
presence attracts large carnivores, like
leopard seals and killer whales.
South
Wandering albatross Pacific
The skies surrounding Antarctica are Ocean
home to the largest species of albatross,
with a wingspan measuring up to 3.4 South
metres (11 feet). They are only usually Pacific
Ocean
seen on land during the breeding season.
Snow petrel
What you need to know These little birds
are hardier than
When to go they might appear.
Visits are restricted to the summer months, They can be found
(November to April), but the busiest times Killer whales around the pack
for wildlife are December to February, The waters surrounding ice, where they
when the penguins come ashore to breed. the Antarctic are home patrol the water
to a rich variety of marine in search of their
How to get there mammals, including the favourite food – krill.
Most visitors arrive by boat, but aircraft formidable killer whale (also
also land here. Find a responsible tour known as the orca). There
operator on the International Association of are three distinct types
Antarctica Tour Operators website. here, each with a different
diet and appearance.
What the weather will do
Antarctica is a frozen wonderland even
in the summer, so cold-weather gear is a
must. The weather can be unpredictable,
and choppy seas can affect travel.
What to take
Clean clothes, boots and equipment are
essential. Your kit must be free from mud,
plant material, or anything that could carry
non-native species onto the continent.
What you’ll see
Antarctica is a pristine environment, full of
unusual wildlife to spot. Visitors are treated
to beautiful birds, stunning views and a real
escape from civilisation.
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Explore the Earth
More than wildlife
Antarctic Ice Marathon
This extreme event takes place on Union
Glacier, a part of the Antarctic mainland
accessible only by air, at an altitude of 700
metres (2,300 feet). In 2016 and 2017, the
marathon will be on 24 November.
Deception Island
This horseshoe-shaped island is actually
an active volcano. The water is heated by
underground activity and at the boundary with
the Antarctic waters, tourists can take a dip.
Port Lockroy
Port Lockroy is a natural harbour on Goudier
Island, home to gentoo penguins and the
Antarctic’s busiest post office. Around 70,000
cards are posted from here each summer.
Home of the penguins
While the Arctic is famous for its polar bears, the Antarctic
is known for its penguins; five of the 17 species make their
nests on the mainland or its surrounding islands. The harsh
King George Island
This northerly Antarctic island has more environment near to Earth’s southernmost point can make the
evidence of human civilisation than most other Antarctic a hostile place to raise young chicks, but these black
locations. It has a school, a church, and a post and white birds have made the rocky shores their home.
office, as well as places for aircra to land. There are no land-based predators to worry about on the
Antarctic mainland, and in certain areas the weather is mild
enough to support large penguin colonies. One of the main
hotspots is the Antarctic Peninsula, which is home to gentoo,
chinstrap and macaroni penguins. The two other species, the
little Adelie penguin and the emperor penguin, are hardier, and
are able to make their nests away from this protected spot.
Emperor penguins are the largest species, standing at more
than a metre (3.3 feet) tall, and they are able to withstand
the most extreme of conditions. They are the only species of
Zodiac cruise penguin to breed during the Antarctic winter, coming on to
Take a ride in a Zodiac for a chance to the thick pack ice to lay and incubate their eggs. There are no
experience the Antarctic ice up close. These nesting materials available, so the male balances the egg on his
small boats can get closer to the action than
larger ships. feet, keeping the developing chick away from the ice.
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Antarctic adventure
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Explore the Earth
Spot six kinds of seal
Six of the 35 species of seal can be found in and around
Antarctica, and together, they form the largest seal
population on the planet. The Antarctic mainland and its
surrounding islands have been cut off from the rest of
the world for hundreds of thousands of years, and in this
isolated environment there are no native land predators.
Arctic seals have to contend with polar bears and human
hunters, but here they can move on land undisturbed.
The largest Antarctic species is the southern elephant
seals, which can grow to be more than four metres (13
feet) in length, and next are the leopard seals and Ross
seals at around three metres (9.8 feet). Leopard seals are
carnivores, and are particularly fond of gentoo penguins.
Cruises travelling through the Antarctic will give you a
chance to encounter these impressive marine mammals.
However, they are easily spooked by loud noises and can
stay submerged for up to 15 minutes, so you’ll need to be
patient and keep your eyes peeled.
See the snow
petrels soaring
The British Antarctic Survey describe
snow petrels as “possibly the most
beautiful birds in the Antarctic”. They
have pure white outer feathers, delicate
black beaks and eyes, and a hidden layer
of fluffy black down to keep them warm.
They breed during the Antarctic
summer, making their nests on cliffs and
rocks, and for the remainder of the year,
they tend to stick to pack ice and ice
floes. Like many other Antarctic animals,
they rely on the open water for food.
Snow petrels are agile in the air, and
when hunting, they fly low over the open
water. They feed on krill, fish, squid and
crustaceans, and catch most of their
food by dipping their beaks down just
below the surface while still in flight. They
sometimes even dive into the icy water to
chase after their prey.
For birding enthusiasts, look into the
two-day boat trips that run from Ushuaia,
Argentina, down the Beagle Channel and
across the Drake Passage. These marine
voyages are ideal for spotting snow
petrels and many other Antarctic birds,
including terns, cormorants and fulmars.
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Snap a scavenging skua Unusual Antarctic
inhabitants
South polar skuas are the petrels are known to fly high
pirates of the bird world. Tough over the land to avoid bumping
and scrappy, they chase after into them. Skuas are noisy
other sea birds and harass them during the breeding season,
until they drop their fish. Snow making high-pitched shrieks.
Toothfish
Toothfish live in some of the coldest waters on the
planet. Their bodies produce special proteins that
prevent their blood from freezing.
Krill
These tiny animals are one of the most important
species in the Antarctic food chain. They are eaten by
petrels, penguins, seals, whales and a whole host of
other species.
Watch out for whales
Find the largest land animal
There are many different species of varied buffet of marine life. Some of the ABOVE Very few animals live permanently on land in the
cetaceans – whales and dolphins – found most common are humpback whales, Like all Antarctic Antarctic. In fact, the largest is just a few millimetres in
in the waters around the Antarctic during minkes, and orcas. Many species were whales, the length: the Antarctic midge, or Belgica antarctica.
the summer. They are attracted by the hunted to the brink of extinction in the minke migrates
north to breed in
nutrient-rich waters, which support a 20th century, but numbers are recovering. the winter
Marvel at the
magnificent
albatross Imperial cormorant
These birds are underwater hunters, able to dip
beneath the surface of the ocean to pursue their prey.
The wandering albatross has the largest wingspan Heavy bones and low body fat also help them to dive.
of any bird, measuring over three metres (9.8 feet)
– almost twice the height of the average woman.
With such impressive wings, it is no surprise that
they spend most of their lives in the air.
Wandering albatrosses can live for decades,
with some birds reaching their 50s or 60s. They
mate for life, and return from the ocean to breed
on land. Raising a chick is labour intensive, and
takes about nine months, so parents will often take
a year off in between successful births to recover.
ABOVE The appropriately named Bird Island is one of Water bears
Albatrosses can cover the best places to see albatrosses in the Antarctic,
thousands of miles in just but they can also be spotted around ships, where Tardigrades, or water bears, are some of the toughest
a few weeks animals on the planet. They can survive being dried,
they glide over the water, waiting for fish. frozen, irradiated, and even being sent into outer space.
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Explore the Earth
Spot the
imposter
Antarctica might be one of the most
pristine environments on the planet,
but there are already some animals
that shouldn’t be there. King crabs,
which are most commonly found off
the coast of Alaska, have been spotted
on the seafloor close to the Antarctic
Peninsula. The large crustaceans
cannot survive in waters below around
one degree Celsius (33.8 degrees
Fahrenheit), but with rising ocean
temperatures, their territory appears
to be gradually expanding. Never
having encountered crabs before,
other Antarctic animals are not well
defended against claw attacks and if
the crustaceans manage to take hold
in the area, the consequences could
be devastating.
Marvel as the
macaronis
come ashore
These curious birds can be found on
the Sub-Antarctic Islands and on the
north-western Antarctic Peninsula.
Easily spotted, they have bright orange
plumage for eyebrows and a crown
of feathers atop their heads. Winter is
spent at sea but when the chilly weather
relents in October, the penguins come
ashore in their hundreds of thousands to
find a mate, lay eggs, and care for their
young before returning to the ocean
in April. Seeing the macaroni penguin
colonies is a spectacular sight, so try to
time your visit between these months.
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Antarctic adventure
Top tips
Book last minute
A trip to Antarctica is expensive, but last minute deals can make the
price easier to bear. If you are in Ushuaia, Argentina in November or
December, it’s worth seeing whether there are any spare tickets.
Go with a small group
There are restrictions in Antarctica governing how many people
can land at a given site. Ships carrying more than 100 people are
not able to come ashore.
Clean your kit
Every island that you visit on the way to the Antarctic mainland has
its own flora and fauna. Avoid transferring potentially dangerous
species from one to the next by thoroughly cleaning your kit.
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Endangered
Cotton-top tamarin
The cotton-top tamarin is one of the world’s most
COTTON-TOP TAMARIN
Saguinus oedipus endangered primates. In the most recent IUCN Red
Class Mammalia
List assessment in 2008, their listing was upgraded
from Endangered to Critically Endangered, as their
population is now rapidly decreasing. There are only
Territory Colombia 6,000 individuals left in the wild, and only one third of
Diet Fruit, gum, insects
Lifespan 13 years these are mature adults capable of breeding and driving
Adult weight 400g (14oz)
Conservation status future population growth. These charismatic New
World monkeys desperately need their depleted forest
CRITICALLY ENDANGERED habitat to be protected if they are to avoid extinction.
The causes
of extinction
Habitat loss
Colombia is losing forest at an incredible rate, with five
per cent of tropical habitat being destroyed annually.
Although it may not sound much, that equates to an
astonishing 4,000 square kilometres (1,544 square
miles) of land lost each year. It has also been estimated
that as much as 75 per cent of original habitat has been
felled to make way for agricultural land.
Capture for research
Historically, cotton-top tamarins were hunted and
captured for display in zoos and for use in experiments.
In the early 1970s, up to 40,000 tamarins were exported
from Colombia, 14,000 of which were transported to the
US for use in laboratory tests. Cotton-top tamarins are
particularly susceptible to spontaneously developing a
common type of colon cancer. For this reason, they were
extensively studied before all trade was outlawed in 1974.
Pet trade
Cotton-top tamarins’ small size and unusual appearance
have made them desirable within the illegal pet trade.
Although capture for the biomedical industry has now
been suspended, capture for trafficking is still prevalent,
although due to the nature of the trade, an accurate
estimate of how many tamarins are captured and sold
cannot be made.
What you can do…
WWW.PROYECTOTITI.COM
The Wildlife Conservation Network is aiming to stop the felling of trees in the
cotton-top tamarin’s habitat. Young trees are cut down to make fences for
agricultural land, but need replacing every year. This project raises money to
manufacture fence posts using recycled plastic bottles, which last much longer.
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Cotton-top tamarin
The decreasing habitat
The cotton-top tamarin is a New World monkey, heavily restricted to the tropical,
secondary forests of northwestern Colombia
Territory in 1960s
Historically, the cotton-top
tamarin was distributed
throughout the tropical forests of
northwestern Colombia.
Territory in 2007
A survey of the cotton-top
tamarin’s distribution in 2007
Colombia
showed only small fragments of
forest were still habitable.
Why save the Territory in 1960s
cotton-top Territory in 2007
tamarin?
Living in the dense canopy,
surrounded by predators, it can Protecting the
be difficult to see where danger punk primate
is lurking. For this reason, cotton-
top tamarins can’t rely too Miranda Stevenson is the EAZA (European Association of Zoos
heavily on visual communication, and Aquaria) coordinator and studbook keeper for the cotton-top
but instead use fascinating tamarin, which involves keeping track of all the births, deaths
chemical and auditory cues to and transfers of the species in Europe
convey information about their The EAZA programme for cotton-top tamarins includes the Cotton-top Club,
surroundings. through which zoos support Proyecto Titi in Colombia. These wonderful ‘punk’
primates are only found in the forests of northern Colombia and the zoo
Cotton-top tamarins are unusual
in the way they give birth, more animals are their ambassadors. It is a privilege to run the European captive
often having twins than single breeding programme. There is a good captive population which is kept as
monkeys. This is a risky life strategy ‘insurance’ should the wild population require back-up in the future.
as looking after and feeding two Cotton-tops, like all callitrichid primates, live in family groups and all
youngsters requires more energy members help to care for the young, carrying them on their backs and
expenditure. Luckily, the whole teaching them what is good to eat as they grow up. We have learned a
troop is willing to participate and considerable amount about the family life of these animals from the fieldwork
help raise the young. carried out by Proyecto Titi, where animals can be individually identified and
tracked, as some are radio collared.
Instead of possessing nails The project includes forest protection and regeneration, as well as support
like most other primates, the for local communities by helping them build eco-friendly businesses, including
cotton-top tamarin has a set of making eco-mochila bags from recycled plastic bags. Proyecto Titi also
small, sharp claws called tegulae. runs education activities for the children, some of whom later become part
These have more of a likeness of the workforce for the project. One of the latest initiatives of the project
to the claws of a squirrel than is ‘Titi Posts’. These are plastic posts, made from recycled plastic bottles,
a monkey, but are much more which are used to fence in areas of replanted forest. These new corridors will
useful for clinging to and running connect forest fragments, helping to ensure a future for the species and other
through the tree canopy. Colombian animals. © Alamy
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Conserving the elephant
AFRICAN ELEPHANT
Loxodonta africana
Class Mammalia
Territory Africa
Diet Bark, foliage, grasses,
fruit
Lifespan 70 years
Adult weight 3,600-6,000kg
(7,940-13,230lb)
Conservation status
VULNERABLE
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CONSERVING
THE ELEPHANT
Millions of years ago,
elephants were one of the
most successful animals on
Earth; now, both the African
and Asian species are on the
brink of extinction
Words Naomi Harding
Elephants are the largest land animals on the planet. Once
widespread, African elephants roamed the savannah in
their millions and Asian elephants were found from Syria
to northern China. Today there are around 700,000
African elephants and just 50,000 Asian elephants
remaining in the wild.
Elephants play a crucial role in ecosystem function. The
habitats they live in would look completely different if
they were to become extinct. As the herds roam across
the land they pull down trees with their trunks, open
salt licks by churning the soil, dig waterholes to bathe
in, and trample trails which act as firebreaks. Even their
droppings are of great value. Baboons sift through in
search of undigested nuts, and dung beetles take refuge
to mate and reproduce. Elephants quite literally shape
their environment; they are responsible for creating and
maintaining the open grasslands that many other animals
depend on.
These great giants have been on Earth for 55 million
years and through fossil records it’s estimated there were
once 350 species of elephant. Sadly only two species
remain today as a consequence of habitat loss, poaching
and human-wildlife conflict. In southern and eastern
Africa, populations seem to be increasing thanks to the
success of conservancies and charity work. Unfortunately
the same cannot be said for the rest of Africa, nor for
Asian elephants, where much work is still needed to
safeguard these incredible animals.
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Conserving the elephant
Elephants have brains and beauty
There’s plenty going on between those enormous ears
ASIAN ELEPHANT It seems we’ve only scratched the surface when with their trunks and making soft noises, much
Elephas maximas it comes to elephant intelligence; some scientists like how humans speak softly and hug each
Class Mammalia claim they are so similar to us that humans other for comfort. Elephant friends are thick
could learn a lot from the way elephants behave as thieves and mischievously help each other
towards each other. The ability to empathise is clamber over electric fences and remove
often associated with intelligence and mostly tranquilliser darts.
considered a human trait, but the evidence In studies, elephants have been able to
Territory Southeast Asia, India for elephant empathy is mounting. When one distinguish between human gender, age, and
Diet Bark, foliage, grasses,
fruit member of the herd is in pain, struggling to ethnicity just from hearing their voice. They are
Lifespan 60 years climb muddy banks, or grieving for another, able to tell this information regardless of the
Adult weight 2,040-4,990kg there’s a wealth of anecdotal evidence for language they are speaking, and can also tell
(4,500-11,000lb)
Conservation status elephants comforting each other and offering if the speaker means them harm. The ability to
support. If a member of the group is upset, decipher so much information from another
all they have to do is let the others know by species’ voice is pretty impressive considering a
ENDANGERED flapping their ears and lifting their tail and the cat’s meow, for example, sounds much the same
herd rallies round, stroking the herd member as any other cat to a human.
3 things you
should know
about elephants
Due to a genetic mutation, not
all elephants have tusks. After
high levels of poaching, tuskless
elephants are now more
common, as these are less likely
to be killed by hunters.
If an elephant wants to go
somewhere, they will let the
herd know by emitting a low
rumble and lifting their foot
while facing the direction they
want to travel in.
Elephants have amazing
In tests, elephants have been shown
to understand human body language memories and can remember
almost as well as a one-year-old child other elephants they met only
briefly, decades ago.
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Farmers are fighting back Saving elephants
These three organisations are leading the way for
Historically elephants were killed for their ivory tusks, but in recent elephant conservation in Africa and Asia
years retaliation killings and poisoning have become commonplace
Elephants have a large home range. It’s wildlife conflict. In many parts of Africa and Asia,
estimated that African elephants may need as elephants are considered pests because of their
much as 3,000 square kilometres (1,160 square destructive nature and tendency to trample
miles) of land to roam around in search of trees, raid crops and damage buildings. As they
food and water. To put that into perspective, walk through the land and migrate across the
that’s an area almost twice the size of London. savannah, they take advantage of tasty crops
In comparison, smaller Asian elephants need they find along the way. Elephants will support and comfort each
other in times of sadness and stress by
320 square kilometres ( 120 square miles) In India, elephants kill as many as 300 people rubbing trunks and making so vocal noises
at most. The ideal habitat is uninterrupted each year. Many of these deaths are the result of
Born Free
by human activity, but at a time when the crop raiding. A large, hungry herd of elephants B o r n F r e e
world’s population is growing and land is being can destroy years of hard work in minutes and Born Free are working in the field to
converted faster then ever before for residential the farmers are fighting back. Tactics from develop ways of easing human-elephant
and agricultural purposes, such an expanse lighting fires and banging drums, to throwing conflict. The Rathambalagama project is
can’t always be found. Elephants are finding firecrackers and using firearms are deployed in based in Sri Lanka, where 50 people are
themselves confined to small areas of suitable an effort to protect their livelihoods; however killed by elephants, and people kill 200
habitat with too few resources. Hungry and a 2,000-kilogram (4,400-pound) elephant elephants each year. The project aims to
thirsty, they are travelling through farmland and in search of a meal is tricky to deter, and this work with farmers in growing elephant-
developments, inevitably resulting in human- frequently results in tragedy. resistant crops. Plants such as ginger,
turmeric, and black pepper are unpalatable
“Elephants are fi nding to elephants and can be grown to subsidise
their earnings and increase their yield. This
themselves confined to small method is a potential lifeline to farmers who
regularly get visits from elephants in search
areas of suitable habitat with of food, by securing their livelihoods and
supplementing their income.
too few resources” WWF
Staying ahead of poachers isn’t easy
but the WWF is certainly giving it a
go. In Mozambique, the WWF worked
with the government to establish a
conservancy (Quirimbas National Park).
Alongside this, rangers were trained in
anti-poaching techniques and monitoring
elephant populations. Similar projects
have also taken place in Laos, Cambodia,
and Vietnam, where rangers have been
equipped and trained to handle any
potential threat. Poaching is usually part
of an organised crime operation, and
hunters use sophisticated methods and
equipment to get their hands on ivory. By
strengthening anti-poaching techniques
throughout the world, WWF hopes to
reduce the success of these groups.
Elephant Family
Elephant Family is the UK’s largest
funder to Asian elephants. It works with
organisations in persuading governments
and policy makers to take action. In Kerala,
India, it is helping to secure important
wildlife corridors, so elephants are free
to roam across the landscape. The Kerala
corridor is home to the largest stronghold
of Asian elephants in the world, so much
work goes on here to protect them.
Low-hanging power lines have become
death traps for elephants and it’s thought
many deaths could be avoided if power
supply companies maintained power
cables as regulations require. Elephant
Family is working hard to bring the issue
to the fore and hold the power supply
companies to account.
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Conserving the elephant
Safeguarding the future for elephants with the wildlife that shares their ever-decreasing space, and there are many issues to
consider – competition for land; elephants threatening human life and crop security; and
Dr Max Graham is the founder and chief executive for Space for Giants, a the wildlife-dependent tourism economy. These pressures will not ease as the economy
conservation charity based in Kenya
and the human population continue to increase. Additionally, with the high price of
W hat are the major threats elephants face? ivory, poachers have become ever more determined and motivated, using sophisticated
Driven by the unprecedented demand for illegal ivory from Asia, 100,000 weapons and equipment, and paying handsomely for information.
African elephants have been killed by poachers in the last three years
alone – almost 100 elephants a day. In addition, their last refuges are disappearing too, What projects are you currently involved in?
under new infrastructure projects, increased natural resource extraction and agricultural Space for Giants works on the ground to provide a secure future for African elephants,
expansion. This means that humans and wildlife are being forced to share the limited the places they live and the species that share their range. We provide frontline protection
remaining space, resulting in human-elephant conflict and thousands of elephants being for elephants in the wild; secure space for elephants; mitigate human-wildlife conflict;
killed or injured each year. provide local training and education; and raise international awareness of the threats
facing elephants today. We are based in Kenya but are currently setting up the Giants Club
How can rangers stay one step ahead of poachers? – an exclusive forum that brings together African heads of state, global business leaders
It’s diffi cult, but we are making progress! In northern Kenya, where Space for Giants is and elephant protection experts to expand our work to other African countries.
based, a combination of interventions has resulted in a 74 per cent decline in the illegal
killing of elephants over two years. These have included well-equipped and highly trained How can World of Animals readers get involved?
rapid response teams, who are able to respond quickly to poaching incidents; increasing One of the best ways for readers to get involved is by adopting an elephant at www.
the penalties for wildlife crime; and community projects that help local people appreciate spaceforgiants.org/adopt. You will be directly supporting the costs of providing frontline
the value of wildlife and get involved in the fight against poaching. Our challenge now is to protection for an elephant in the Laikipia/Samburu ecosystem in northern Kenya,
roll these successful projects out across Africa. and get the opportunity to name your elephant. You can even adopt an elephant as a
gi for someone else. We also offer unique, once-in-a-lifetime challenge events and © Thinkstock; Nature PL; FLPA
What are the major challenges in elephant conservation? conservation safaris through our not-for-profit travel business, Journeys for Giants. See
Africa is changing very rapidly at the moment, with admirable economic growth putting our website for more information about Journeys for Giants or other ways to support us:
enormous pressure on natural ecosystems. Communities have complex relationships www.spaceforgiants.org, or email us at [email protected].
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074-078_Conserving_the_elephant_WOA30.indd 78 03/02/2016 16:15
ADVERTISEMENT
ADOPTION
IMAGE: © STAFFAN WIDSTRAND / WWF JAGUARS NEED
YOUR HELP
Don’t let the jaguar become the mythical cat that once lived in the forest
Once found throughout south and central America, jaguars have
been virtually wiped out from most of their northern range.
They’re so elusive that we don’t know exactly how many are left
in the wild. But we do know that their numbers are declining.
Deforestation, mass cattle ranching and a decline in their
natural prey are all major threats that the jaguars face.
Adoption means protection
Adopt a jaguar from just £3 a month and help us protect this
threatened species. Plus discover what it takes to safeguard jaguar
habitat, receive regular feedback from conservationists working
in the field, and foster a long-lasting interest in protecting wildlife.
The perfect gi for any animal lover – from only £3 a month
A soft and cuddly jaguar toy. We know a toy
can never replace
An adoption pack with factbook, certificate, bookmarks, stickers and more. an animal...
but it can help
Jaguar, Wild World and Go Wild updates three times a year. protect them.
Adopt a jaguar today! Fill in the form below, call 0800 035 5926 or visit www.wwf.org.uk/jag
Yes! I would like to adopt a jaguar today DIRECT DEBIT – WWF-UK
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Full Page.indd 1 01/02/2016 12:45
Wildlife of the Sichuan forest
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Wildlife of the
Sichuan forest
From the lush lowlands of the Yangtze basin
to the cloud-shrouded craggy peaks of
Sichuan’s western highlands, dense, misty
forests shelter some of the world’s most
elusive creatures
Words Ella Carter
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Wildlife of the Sichuan forest
Life in the trees Bamboo
Bamboo is one of the world’s fastest-
Elaborately plumed birds pick through the undergrowth growing plants. It’s technically a grass, and
and golden monkeys swing though the canopy – the has a woody stem with delicious shoots
and leaves (if you’re a panda, that is). Some
Sichuan biome is teeming with remarkable oriental species species can grow into colossal forests, and
other species are present in more varied
woodland, shooting up below the canopy.
Sichuan takin
Living in large herds on the mountainside,
the takin is a curious-looking creature with
big horns, a stocky build, a rounded nose
and a thick, golden, shaggy coat to keep
out the cold. The takin herds migrate yearly
up and down the mountainside, following
the availability of vegetation to eat.
Giant panda
These cuddly-looking bears live in
the mountains, where the forest
supports a dense canopy of bamboo
for them to feast on, spending up to
16 hours foraging and eating per day.
Listed as Endangered on the IUCN
Red List, there are less than 2,000
giant pandas le in the wild.
Tremminck’s tragopan
This is a small pheasant that lives
on the ground in the high-altitude
forest. It forages in the leaf on the
forest floor scratching around on
the lookout for bugs, grubs, seeds
and berries. Male tragopans are
incredibly vibrant, wearing bright
blues and reds on their face and bib.
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Wildlife of the Sichuan forest
“Takin herds migrate yearly up and
down the mountainside, following
the availability of vegetation”
Golden snub-nosed monkey
This quirky-looking monkey species lives in
large social groups high up in the Qin Ling
Mountains and braves the chilliest of conditions.
Its luxuriously thick golden fur provides a snug
barrier against the elements, and it’s thought
that its little button nose is an evolutionary
adaptation to prevent the onset of frostbite.
Clouded leopard
One of the region’s most elusive
Dhole inhabitants, clouded leopards are
Packs of these wild dogs live in dense forest or expert climbers. They leap from tree to
scrublands, lower down the mountainside. They tree, climb upside down on branches
work together to hunt and play, and will even and even have rotating rear ankles that
wag their tails when greeting one another like let them climb down trees headfirst, like
domestic dogs. They keep large territories, and squirrels. They prey on deer, pigs and
will communicate using screams and whistles. monkeys, and oen hunt on the ground.
Red panda
Chinese serow Inhabiting the same high-altitude
forests as its namesake the giant
Likened to a goat-antelope, serows panda, the endangered red panda
have large ears and short horns and looks a bit like a raccoon. It’s actually
are adept at climbing steep terrain. in it’s own taxonomic family, Ailuridae.
Their thick, shaggy coats help to The panda’s bushy tail keeps it both
keep out the mountain chill. Serows balanced and warm, and it eats a varied
are solitary and highly territorial, diet of bamboo and other vegetation.
defending their home range from
other serows of the same gender.
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Wildlife of the Sichuan forest
Forests of the
Upper Yangtze
This vast region encompasses a few separate
ecosystems: the deciduous forests of the Qin
Ling Mountains, the evergreen forests of the
Daba Mountains and the evergreen broadleaf
forests of the Sichuan Basin, covering 390,000
square kilometres (150,680 square miles) in total.
The subtropical climate produces cool winters
and warm summers, with hazy fog being a
distinct feature of the region. Because of huge
agricultural use over the last 5,000 years, there
are only a few areas of natural forest left, mostly
higher up the mountains. Mount Emei, one of the
four sacred Buddhist mountains of China, is the
most untouched area in the region.
Plants and animals that inhabit the Sichuan
forests are rich and varied, with some of the
highest diversity of life in the area. There are also
many endangered species such as the giant and
red pandas and the giant salamanders, which are
not found anywhere else in the world.
As more towns and cities expand in the region,
there has been increased demand on the forest.
Habitats for the native creatures have been
destroyed as the demand for timber increases,
squeezing the animal populations into smaller and
smaller areas higher up the mountains. There is
also a high agricultural demand on the fertile soil
of the Sichuan Basin.
“As more towns and cities
expand in the region,
there has been increased
demand on the forest”
Forest friends
Meet the natives of this beautiful Chinese ecosystem
Chinese goral Silver pheasant Golden pheasant
These agile goat relatives can nimbly navigate With its bright red head and legs and flowing This brilliantly coloured bird belongs to a group
their rocky, mountainous home. If they feel white tail feathers, the male silver pheasant is a known as the ruffed pheasants. They have a
threatened, they will communicate with each large and distinctive bird. It takes the male two section or ‘ruff’ of hair that can be raised and
other using loud wheezing sounds and stomp years to achieve its full majestic plumage. The spread around the face when the bird is trying
their feet in an attempt to ward off predators, pheasant lives on the forest floor, eating berries to woo a partner. The female is more subtle in
which include lynx and snow leopards. and nuts and other foods it can forage. colour, but still has a yellow beak and legs.
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Sichuan saviours
Almost a Scott Wilson, head of field programmes at Chester
thumb Zoo, talks about the zoo’s contributions to the
Pandas have evolved Sichuan Forest Biodiversity Project and the China
a pseudo-thumb to grasp Conservation Programme, in collaboration with the
bamboo tightly and strip it Sichuan Forestry Department and Liverpool John Moore’s University
of shoots and leaves. Instead
of being a true opposable What is the Sichuan Forest Biodiversity Project, and why is
thumb, the bone is it important?
actually part of It started off as a pheasant research project looking at pheasants as
the wrist. an indicator species. The forests were identified as hotspots in terms
of bird migration from Russia through to Asia. Plus a lot of endemic
animals, plants and birds are found there that aren’t found in other
places in China. Certainly for the red pandas and the giant pandas, if
these forests go then the species are going as well. From here, the
project spilled over into a lot of community and education work.
What are the main aims and successes of the project so far?
The broad aim is really to get a strong protected area network in
the forests that make a nice corridor for key species in the region.
So far we have achieved national protected area status from the
government for two of the sites that we have been working with.
Which native Sichuan species does the project focus on, and
how does it help?
The pheasants are always a focus – there’s a lot of them that exist
just in that region! The giant and red pandas are found in a number
of forests and reserves that we work in. Interestingly, last year in
the Mamize Reserve our camera traps recorded the most southerly
range of the giant panda.
We work a lot with the government wildlife agency. We train them
in monitoring techniques, how to put out camera traps, how to walk
transects, etc. We also work with the communities around the edge
of the parks. We have helped set up biogas stoves (reducing the
need for firewood by about 80 per cent), beekeeping and many other
schemes that mean people don’t need to rely on activities that take
from and damage the forest.
How can World Of Animals readers get involved?
Our flagship for the fieldwork that we do is the Act For Wildlife
website (www.actforwildlife.org.uk) – that’s our one-stop-shop to
find plenty of blogs and information about all of our field projects and
how to get involved.
Chinese muntjac Chinese giant salamander Tufted deer
Muntjac deer are a small species, reaching just 50 The world’s largest amphibian at nearly two Similar in size to the muntjac deer, the tufted deer
centimetres (20 inches) at the shoulder. They live metres (6.6 feet) in length, this salamander lives is characterised by a large tuft of fur on the top © Sol90; Thinkstock; Nature PL; FLPA; Adrea
as solitary individuals or in pairs, marking their in cool, fast-flowing mountain streams. It is fully of its head and a pair of curious elongated canine
territory using glands on the face. Most active aquatic but lacks gills, instead absorbing oxygen teeth that protrude, fang-like, from the mouths
at dawn and dusk, muntjac are also known to through its skin. It is threatened by habitat of males. Tufted deer live in damp, mountainous
vocalise with a bark, much like dogs. destruction and illegal hunting for the food trade. forests, close to the tree line.
85
080-085_SichuanForest.indd 85 03/02/2016 16:24
Animal be carrying a little extra
Grey squirrels seem to
answers
holiday weight
Send your animal questions to us at:
[email protected]
Is it true that squirrels are getting fatter?
December was unusually mild in 2015. A warmer Squirrels do not hibernate through the winter. Instead, food to eat and more time to eat it in. Heavier squirrels
temperature and absence of ground level frost led to an they eat more during autumn and put on fat stores to have also been reported in Canada and across the US.
abundance of food for squirrels to snack on. The average see them through the colder months when food is less Of course, their size isn’t solely down to eating, but
temperature was 4.1 degrees Celsius (39.4 degrees readily available. Seeing bigger squirrels at this time may also be due to their thicker winter coat. Eventually
Fahrenheit) higher than the UK average. There has also of year is actually quite normal; however this year’s the cold weather will set in, and during this time
been an increase in rainfall, creating the perfect warm squirrels are even bigger than usual. The late onset of squirrels don’t tend to eat much, so it’s likely they’ll lose
and wet environment for fungi, nuts, and seeds to grow. cold weather this winter has meant squirrels have more the extra weight quite soon.
Why are some Spiders depend on their hairy
legs for their survival
spiders so hairy?
When we think of hairy spiders, it’s usually a tarantula
that comes to mind. The special hairs on a tarantula have
a stinging property and they are able to rub their legs
together rapidly to project these hairs onto their prey. In
fact, seemingly hairless spiders have hairs too – tiny ones
that are actually vital to their survival. Under a microscope
you would be able to see lots of small hairs covering the
legs, which are called trichobothria. Spiders don’t have
ears so they use these hairs to gather information about
their surroundings. Small changes in air movement caused
by vibrations can be detected to one ten billionth of a
metre. As well as picking up sound, the hairs are also used
to smell and taste prey. You can often see spiders turning
© Thinkstock; Dreamstime Follow us at... @WorldAnimalsMag worldofanimalsmag
insects with their legs – they are getting a good feel and
tasting to check if they are edible.
86 86
086-087_WOA30_Animal Answers.indd 86 03/02/2016 16:44
Animal answers
What is a habitat
corridor?
A habitat corridor is a strip of green land providing a
connection between two fragmented patches of habitat. All
too often, development of land means an animal habitat is
split apart. This can be detrimental as large structures and
road networks make it difficult and sometimes dangerous
to move between habitats. Sometimes animals become
isolated in their respective fragments and over time this
can lead to a loss of genetic diversity. In extreme cases a
population may be susceptible to inbreeding or be wiped
out entirely by one disease. There is much work going on
to ensure animals have habitat corridors, including creating In Banff National Park, Canada,
protected areas or installing green bridges to help animals animals are encouraged to cross over
to move freely across their landscape. bridges rather than risk the road
Are owls really wise?
Tortoise Turtle Tortoises have large,
domed shells, whereas
Domed, heavy shell Streamlined, light shell turtle shells are flatter and Owls are among the best hunters their heads to survey the area.
more streamlined in the world. They see and hear To humans, these large eyes and
extremely well at night, fly silently horizon-scanning movements
and o en catch their prey by make them seem brainy. But in
surprise. However, when it comes fact, studies have shown that birds’
Short, sturdy feet Flipper-like legs to overall intelligence it turns out intelligence levels are linked to how
and bent legs and webbed feet owls aren’t as wise as people big their brains are in comparison
Lives on land Lives in water think. Experts have discovered that to their bodies. In this respect, it is
humans tend to equate wisdom or actually corvids (birds in the crow
intelligence with large eyes. Owls’ family) and parrots that come out
eyes are very big relative to their on top. Both have relatively large
head size and they are also fixed, brains, and much more developed
which means they must move cognitive abilities.
How closely related are Owls aren’t as
intelligent as
turtles and tortoises? you’d fi rst think
Tortoises and turtles are both cold- tend to have webbed feet and have an
blooded, shell-covered reptiles from the omnivorous diet, eating fish and jellyfish
Testudines family, which reproduce by as well as vegetation. Turtles also tend
laying eggs. Though closely related, there to be smaller than tortoises and have
are certain key differences between the shorter lifespans.
two. Tortoises live and breed on the land, Terrapins are slightly different to them Q. Can pigeons
eating low-growing shrubs and grasses. both. They typically live in swampy areas
Turtles, on the other hand, spend the near ponds, rivers and lakes, and spend detect cancer?
vast majority of their time in water. They time both in water and on land.
Find out at…
animalanswers.co.uk
086-087_WOA30_Animal Answers.indd 87 03/02/2016 17:20
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Wildlife photography
Get stunning shots
on safari
A safari is often a once-in-a-lifetime adventure, so find out how to take
home amazing animal pictures that capture memories of your trip
Keep photos sharp
Work in bright lighting
Improve composition
Going on safari is a dream come true for most wildlife
lovers, giving them an opportunity to see some of their
favourite creatures out in the wild. Capturing photographic
memories of these experiences, though, can be tricky, with
the movements of the vehicles you are in causing blurry
photos, and bright sunlight resulting in flat images full of
lens flare. We are on hand this issue to offer you some
solutions, with some ways to keep your camera stable and
a few bits of kit that are vital to your trip.
Recommended kit
This affordable Sigma 70-300mm f4-5.6 DG Macro
lens (£235/$200, www.sigma-imaging-uk.com)
has a great zoom range for wildlife photography,
allowing you to capture close-ups or zoom out to
capture some of the environment the animal is in.
A dedicated photography
safari will allow you to capture
some of your favourite
animals in their natural habitat
90 90
090-093_WOA30_All-weather wildlife photography.indd 90 03/02/2016 16:45
Wildlife photography
Keep the camera stable
and use a fast shutter Sharp settings
speed to keep blur out of
your images
Use a fast shutter speed Keep focused Keep quiet
Select shutter priority and keep your shutter Set your camera to continuous autofocus To avoid disturbing the animals, mute the
speed faster than your focal length to so it tracks the animal as it moves. Burst sounds on your camera, and turn off the
reduce the effect of shake. This is especially mode will also increase your chances of a flash too. At long distances, your flash won’t
important when using long lenses. sharp shot. help with lighting but may scare the animal.
Tip 1
Keep stable and sharp
Rest your camera on a hard
surface in the vehicle to
Discover how camera shake can ruin your help reduce camera shake
photos, then learn how to fix it
When shooting from a moving vehicle, camera shake can
ruin an otherwise perfect image. The bumps cause you to
move the camera during the capture, resulting in a blurry
photo, and this is even more pronounced when using
longer lenses. The more you can reduce this movement,
the sharper your shots will be, so keep yourself as stable
as possible. This may mean waiting for the vehicle to stop,
or resting your lens on a beanbag on a car window to
keep it stable. If there’s enough space, rest a monopod in
the footwell to reduce the up and down movement.
91 91
090-093_WOA30_All-weather wildlife photography.indd 91 03/02/2016 16:45
Wildlife photography
Tip 2 Tip 3
Shoot in Consider the
strong light practicalities
Avoid lens flare and get better Keep your kit and images safe
colours with this lighting advice with this essential advice
Safaris are often in hot countries where When planning a safari, it’s often easy to
the sunlight is very strong, which doesn’t get excited about the kinds of images you
always help you to take the best photos. will try and capture and forget to consider
One way around this is to organise a tour the practical things. First of all, don’t forget
when the light is softer, around sunrise and to take spare batteries, as the last thing you
sunset; this will also lead to a lovely warm want is your camera running out of juice
glow to your images. If this isn’t possible, just as you spot an animal. Take plenty of
make sure you use a lens hood to reduce memory cards and don’t just use one, as if
glare on the lens. A UV filter will also filter this corrupts you will have lost everything.
out UV light and remove the blue cast A portable hard drive is useful so you can
you might see in strong sunlight – many make a back-up of these shots. You’ll also
modern cameras deal with this quite want to pack some cleaning kit such as a
well themselves, but a UV filter will also microfibre cloth and blower brush, to help
help to protect the end of your lens from clean any dirt off. It’s important to limit how
knocks. A polarising filter should also be often you change your lenses over in dusty
considered, as this will help to improve the environments, though, as this can cause dust
u
s t
o a
r o
n y
o
a
p
p
e
t
o
s
r
.
saturation of the colours and the contrast s spots to appear on your sensor.
o
p
r s
n
e
of your image.
It’s important to clean your kit when you
get back from shoots in dusty locations
Shooting in so er light
will bring out more
texture and detail in
your images
92
090-093_WOA30_All-weather wildlife photography.indd 92 03/02/2016 16:45
Wildlife photography
Tip 4
Create your
composition
Don’t just snap away; consider
each frame carefully
Most people come back from a safari
with thousands of images to sift
through where they’ve snapped away
relentlessly. While you may not have
much time to capture the shot before
the animal moves on, it is still worth
taking a more considered approach
about your composition before you snap
– you’ll have around five great shots of
that moment rather than 50 mediocre
ones. Try not to cut off parts of their
limbs such as ears at the top of the
frame. Zoom in so there’s not a ton of
empty space all around them, but leave
a little space in front of them so it looks
like they have room to move into. When
there is limited space in your vehicle,
using a flip-down LCD screen will also
help you to compose from awkward
angles, for instance you could hold the
camera up above fellow passengers’
heads and flip the screen down to see
what you’re taking.
This considered composition uses
the outline of the elephant in front
as a natural frame for the shot
Top 5 safari animals to photograph
What to look out for and the types of shots that work
Lions Zebras Birds in flight Elephants Hippos
Lions are a lot of people’s favourite With their amazing patterns, zebras It’s not just land-based animals that These creatures create some amazing Hippos are actually one of the fi ercest
safari animal for their stunning are wonderful subjects for your you need to watch out for when on shapes as they feed and scoop up animals in the world, so why not try to
presence. Try taking a close-up portrait photography. Try and capture them safari; there are plenty of interesting water with their trunks, so focus capture this aggression on camera?
that captures the character in their in action, such as running or fighting creatures in the sky, such as the in on these areas for some great They can oen be found roaring and
eyes, waiting for them to make eye amongst themselves. Set your camera American fi sh eagle and the brightly abstract shots. Their textures are also thrashing in water, so use a fast shutter
contact with the camera. Aim to get to burst mode and fire off a series of coloured lilac-breasted roller. Use interesting so close-ups of the skin or speed to freeze their movements and
their eyes as the focus point by moving shots to make sure you capture the continuous focus to track them as they just a crop in on their eyes also make any water splashes that they create @ Thinkstock
your AF point to this area of the frame. exact right moment. move across the sky. for fantastic photos. around them.
93
090-093_WOA30_All-weather wildlife photography.indd 93 03/02/2016 16:45
UR
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Send your photos
our
end
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Y S y p o o
[email protected]
p h o t o s @ a ni m a la ns w e r s . c o. u k
WINNER!
Six of the best I spotted a quartet of young
Charles Kinsey rock hyrax lined up, looking
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Serengeti Plains in Tanzania. thought that a line-up of six 12-month subscription to
In one of the granite cracks, made for a good photo! World of Animals magazine
Lunchtime squirrel
James Dawes
I couldn’t resist getting a shot of this
grey squirrel having a spot of lunch.
Spring offspring
Alfredo Helou
I watched a bird building his nest every day. Then, weeks later,
I found these four cute little baby birds. The photo was taken in
Lebanon in spring.
94
094-095_YourAnimals_WOA30.indd 94 03/02/2016 16:46
Your animals
Fantastic fl amingo
Darren Harris
I’d just like to share with you my photo of a
flamingo I took at Whipsnade Zoo. I could spend
hours photographing these majestic birds!
Springtime spots Robin in the sun
Brianna Connors Barry Saunders
This spotted young fawn was visiting our yard and walked I took this photo of a robin in Richmond Park, London.
into the blooming wild blackberry bushes, which provided It’s easy to see why it’s our country’s favourite bird.
the perfect camouflage.
95
094-095_YourAnimals_WOA30.indd 95 03/02/2016 16:46
Animal trivia
Test your animal knowledge
1. THE WHISTLING DOG 3. CAT DIVERSITY
What is the name of the Asian dog that Can you name the cat species?
doesn’t bark?
2. MEET THE LIZARDS
a. b.
Do you know which is the biggest, smallest, fastest
and most venomous?
a. b. c. d.
Black spiny-tailed iguana Dwarf gecko
4. HIGH JUMPERS
How high can grasshoppers jump?
a. 20 times their own b. 15 times their own
body length body length
c. d. c. 30 times their own d. 10 times their own
Komodo dragon Gila monster body length body length
5. WHO AM I?
Match the cunning animal to its characteristic
a. b. c. d. e.
‘I have a
“I wait all year for “I work in a “I mimic baby “I play mind considerable
the perfect time to team to ambush monkeys to trick games with my talent for
attack” colobus monkeys” the adults” rivals to keep
food safe” thievery”
Squirrel Chimpanzee Nile crocodile Raccoon Margay
96 5. a) Nile crocodile b) Chimpanzee c) Margay d) Squirrel e) Raccoon Answers 1. Dhole 2. a) Fastest b) Smallest c) Biggest d) Most venomous 3. a) Caracal b) Ocelot c) Puma d) Fishing cat 4. a) 20 times their own body length PB
096_Quiz_WOA030.indd 96 03/02/2016 16:47
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© Imagine Publishing Ltd 2016 ISSN 2053-7727
© Thinkstock EXPLORE THE EARTH: THE RUBY-THROATED CONSERVING
DOLPHINS
HUMMINGBIRD
BORNEAN WILDLIFE
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