[WPRESTO]

Golden-collared manakin. There are some very colorful species among the manakins.

Attached Images

 

[noelcmn]

And yet another image of an Eland-Rietvlei Nature Reserve, Pretoria. Such beautiful antelope.

[aslyfox]

We saw numerous species of birds and animals in Tanzania, representatives of all of the Big Five (those animals traditionally prized by trophy hunters Elephant, Rhino, Lion, Leopard and Cape Buffalo) as well as several members of what we were told was the Secret 7 (animals not usually seen and/or which usually only came out at night). Large and small herbivores and carnivores, only one snake - African Rock Python (huge after eating a kill) a few lizards, no turtles or tortoises

however of all we saw, I have to say that the Cheetahs are my favorite. Fastest land animal on earth, but only in short bursts, their body cramps because of lactic acid build up when they do run at top speed, the claws dull because they do not retract like other cats, small in size - too weak to carry their kill to safety or protect it against the approach of other large cats or packs of hyenas drawn to the kill by the scent of blood or the circling vultures.

here is the female we saw, in the Serengeti National Park, eating with her young cub on a Thompson's gazelle. You can see slight traces of blood on the muzzle

[noelcmn]

Klipspringer-literally stone jumper- an antelope that has as its habitat rocky crags and outcrops. Adaptations on its hooves allow it to jump with amazing dexterity from rock to rock

[aslyfox]

here is one of a pair at the Henry Doorly Zoo in Omaha Nebraska

the second photo is the same animal, extremely cropped, to show the almost ballerina type of hoof, tippy toe fashion

"This fascinating small antelope has a number of distinct features that make it well adapted to its rugged, rocky habitat (3). It is unique amongst the antelope for walking on the tips of its hooves and it has a remarkable dense, coarse coat consisting of hollow hairs that rustle when shaken or touched"

- http://www.arkive.org/klipspringer/oreotragus-oreotragus/

K 3 + HD PENTAX-DA 16-85mm F3.5-5.6 ED DC WR

[noelcmn]

A giraffe licks from a mineral rock, though I am not sure. Its possible that it is salt sprinkled deliberately over this rock. It had just driven some wildebeest away from the rock, and they were also licking it too. Have seen this before, and it is well documented. Pilansberg National Park.

[aslyfox]

A giraffe licks from a mineral rock, though I am not sure. Its possible that it is salt sprinkled deliberately over this rock. It had just driven some wildebeest away from the rock, and they were also licking it too. Have seen this before, and it is well documented. Pilansberg National Park.

FYI::

in the history of our country, hunters would locate naturally occurring "salt licks" and hunt the game attracted to them.

____________________________________
Interesting test (for me at least):

sit at a dining table with others and ask them to identify what used to be the most expensive item on it. most will guess some type of food, some might guess a plate, other sugar. the answer would surprise them - it is the pepper which had to be imported to the west

"At one time it [pepper] accounted for a whopping 70 percent of the international spice trade. As it became more readily available, the prices dropped, and ordinary people were able to enjoy it"

http://www.history.com/news/hungry-history/off-the-spice-rack-the-story-of-pepper

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Last edited by aslyfox; 01-10-2017 at 05:48 AM.

[WPRESTO]

Per unit weight, probably the most expensive item used in cooking is saffron, at least in the USA.

[WPRESTO]

A gharial (AKA gavial).

[aslyfox]

Per unit weight, probably the most expensive item used in cooking is saffron, at least in the USA.

no argument here, but it isn't usually on the table at home or at a resturaunt

[noelcmn]

And of course there is the acceptable alternative to Saffron- Tumeric.
This I think is a Mountain Reedbuck


And don't be alarmed about the Canon in the EXIF- Its my son's camera and images.

[aslyfox]

this is the male lion (in the back ground) and one of the lionesses at the Topeka Zoological Park. She is enjoying a sunny day in January (about 50 degrees F)

K 3 + HD PENTAX-DA 16-85mm F3.5-5.6 ED DC WR [photographed through a very dirty glass window into the enclosure]

[noelcmn]

One of the many Rhino we saw in Pilansberg National Park

[aslyfox]

we did see 2 black rhinos, 1 the first day, 1 the second, in the Ngorongoro Crater in Tanzania but never that close.

On the other hand, elephants and lions got real close in several of the National Parks

note the debris this guy collected as he moved through the brush.

[WPRESTO]

Think I'll insert a giraffe, this one ambling along the way they do.