Sex, drugs, rock and roll…

So how do you entertain your clients on days of incessant rain when every creature from ants to zebras have entrenched themselves in the deepest cover to avoid the deluge? Or on those nightmarish days of bright sunshine when nothing is moving, not even a mouse….

In an attempt to answer this question I came up with the idea of sharing some of the wonderful, occasionally weird, but always interesting plants and animals in whose space we work.

I hope this series of monthly blog spots will not only help to fill rainy days with your guests but will also inspire you to delve deeper into the marvels of our remarkable natural heritage.

Best regards, Lorraine

January 2016 - Sex, drugs, rock and roll…

https://www.ispotnature.org/sites/default/files/images/42521/b2ccdbb0bc7c21e2a9cdfc040da20117.jpg

Whilst the extinction of the dinosaurs ended the rule of reptiles and ushered in the era of mammals, in sheer number terms our planet is currently very much the domain of insects. Three quarters of all living species on earth are insects, amongst which the beetles (Order: Coleoptera) reign supreme.

As the most diverse order in the entire animal kingdom, beetles have derived an amazing range of adaptive and fascinating behaviours. What follows is sex, drugs, rock and roll – beetle style…

Glossy and colourful the Fruit Chafer (pictured above) males have developed an interesting, and energy efficient, strategy for attracting females. They congregate in ‘juice-bars’– created when damage to the bark of a tree results in sap flows. Favourite ‘hang-outs’ are the Buffalo Thorn (Ziziphus mucronata) or the Velvet Bushwillow (Combretum molle). Competition is fierce as the males jostle with one another to be able to mate with the females who are attracted to the sweet juice. Winner takes all.

 

https://www.ispotnature.org/sites/default/files/images/45530/54cff76e0062d62023ff7225c6d15bc5.jpg

The less attractive Toktokkies (Tenebrionids) require more stamina to stay in the running for a mate. In some species found in our sub-region a whole string of males will follow a female around. When the female runs, they run and when she stops to feed, they stop. However, so intent are they on not losing sight of her they do not even feed. It has been recorded that more than a few drop out of the pursuit from sheer exhaustion. The chase continues for days on end until the female is ready to lay her eggs. Then, the first in line, and only he, is allowed to mate with her. Strangely males further back in the line do not attempt to queue jump to be the ‘lucky one’…

So, gentlemen, if you thought that ‘Singles bars’ and ‘Chasing after the ladies’ were the

brainchild of humans – think again!

https://www.ispotnature.org/species-dictionaries/sanbi/Paussinae

Beetles also understood the tranquillising effects of chemicals many moons before humans did. Ant’s guest beetles (Subfamily Paussinae) produce a glandular secretion on their antennae and body that is highly sought after by ants. As the name suggests upon finding an ant colony these beetles invite themselves in as guests, albeit through drugging and subterfuge!

The glandular secretion they produce - which is so sought after by the ants that they will actually lick it off the beetle - contains a volatile substance which appeases them and suppresses their usual antagonism towards intruders. This tranquillising effect, combined with the beetle’s ability to use an acoustic mechanism to successfully imitate the sounds of an ant queen, permits them access to the nest without alarming the colony.

 

In return for their ‘drug fix’ the ants feed the beetle and its larvae. In some instances however the beetles are less altruistic and their larvae feed on the ant brood…perhaps ‘deceptive diners’ rather than ‘sneaky guests’ on those occasions.

And last, but by no means least, are the rollers of the beetle world. Dung beetles evolved at least 65 million years ago as the number and size of mammals (and their droppings) was increasing. Specially adapted to working in and with dung these remarkable creatures have been cleaning up our planet for millennia.

 

There are some 6,000 species world-wide of which only 10% are rollers. More correctly called Telecoprids these beetles roll away the dung they collect from the dung pat. This behaviour is thought to have evolved from competition for dung amongst the many species that arrive at fresh dung.

 

Photo credit: Nicky Glennie

Thousands of dung beetles may arrive at a single Buffalo pat within an hour, so its gets crowded, fast. Removing your portion not only reduces onsite crowding and competition but if you have already ‘scooped your poop’ and are making a quick getaway you also have a better chance of keeping hold of your spoils.

 

That said, whilst on drive a few weeks ago I witnessed the ‘rock’ to accompany the ‘roll’ in the Telecoprid world. A male was happily rolling his ball of dung, climbing atop it every couple of minutes to orientate himself, when in flew an interloper. The interloper then proceeded to also climb onto the ball and rock it aggressively in attempt to knock off the rightful roller. A fascinating fight ensued with the original owner eventually regaining ownership of his ball and rolling it off. 

I hope you have enjoyed this short foray into the hidden life of beetles and will join us next time...

Until then, in the words of another ‘Beatles Group’, I’ve got a “ticket to ride”…back to the bush…

The ANT Blog

The best sighting EVER...

Hi there everyone!

I’m not sure where to begin as this past week or so has been so eventful and has been filled with endless unforgettable, unbelievable sightings…

First of all, we have received some unexpected and much needed rain and this has brought forth a wide variety of life in the area (even more than usual!). The bush has started to turn a refreshing shade of green, with new shoots emerging on the recently burnt areas. This has made for fantastic scenery, coupled with the stunning animals which have been showing off for us these past few days.

Every day here in the middle of the African bush is a special one as each day brings new, unpredictable sightings along with more knowledge...which leads to a better understanding of how nature works. 

One day in particular stood out far above the rest and it started out like every other day. We woke up to an overcast morning and decided to go out for a game drive to see what the bush had to offer. It turned out to be more than anyone would ever have expected…

 

A young Buffalo calf

The first incredible sighting was one of an enormous herd of buffalo. We switched off the vehicle and watched in amazement as we became surrounded by these amusing bovids. We were lucky enough to see all sorts of behaviour from youngsters suckling to impressive bulls head-butting one another and even saw how one male actually mounted another in order to show his dominance! At times we had no clue where to look, as all this entertaining activity was taking place around us. I personally love viewing buffalo as they each  have their own facial expressions which ensure there is never a dull moment…

The gorgeous male leopard

We then came across a scene in which a very young male leopard had stored an impala kill in a massive Jackalberry tree. He had been feeding on this along with his mother for the past two days and he was panting from gorging himself on his well-deserved meal.

We found him lying comfortably with his limbs hanging either side of a large branch with his kill not too far away on a lower branch. This was an absolute treat as we could view the gorgeous cat only metres away from us without any obstructions. We then realised that his mother was lying in a patch of dense vegetation in close proximity to the tree, which was even more of a bonus. Scanning the surroundings of the open area, we saw a couple of old buffalo bulls which were also very close to the leopard. They showed interest for a moment or so then remained unfazed with the predators nearby and carried on with their normal behaviour.

After a couple of minutes, something appeared in the far distance across the plains…a lion! We could not believe our eyes, as we looked through our binoculars to see a dishevelled and hungry-looking male lion which appeared out of nowhere. We decided to drive closer to inspect the scruffy cat as he sat staring into the distance towards the leopard kill. We stopped near the lion, expecting him to remain lazy and lethargic, as most lions do during the day...until the wind direction changed and he got a whiff of a much needed meal! He immediately got up and walked past and behind our vehicle (as if deliberately using it as cover) and made his way across the open area towards the leopards.


The lion stealing the kill

His eyes remained focused on the lifeless impala and he started to gain speed and run to the tree, without even glancing in the direction of some very angry and alert buffalo nearby. 

We were absolutely stunned by the scene unfolding before our eyes and somehow it was all happening so quickly…Before we knew it, the mother leopard had scattered out from behind the bushes and disappeared in a flash. The young male shot higher up the tree and found himself balancing amoung the flimsy, thin branches, left only to watch dumbfounded as the lion clumsily climbed the tree to steal his kill. The lion struggled to keep his balance and quickly returned to the ground with the remains of the impala. He then proceeded to consume the rest of the kill, biting and chewing through the carcass in minutes, whilst the leopard remained helpless in the safety of the Jackalberry. The sighting of a lifetime!

 

A magical moment...

We were convinced we had seen it all and thus didn’t expect to have another unbelievable sighting but, once again, we were proven wrong… After some classic sundowners in the bush, we were on our way back to camp when one of the students spotted some eyes reflecting in the distance. We assumed it was Impala, as usual, until we approached closer...to find that it was actually a leopard!

When we got close enough, we were delighted to see that it was in fact a mother leopard as well as her cub. We could not believe our luck as we followed these two leopards and watched the playful cub wander about and interact with her mother. It was a unique sighting and we spent quite a bit of time with them, enjoying observing their natural behaviour. The leopards eventually came to a water-hole where they had a drink before moving off into the night.  It was such a memorable experience! 

Life's tough in Africa!

After this we had another fantastic sighting of a male cheetah as well as at least fifty Marabou storks, African Fish eagles and many more! We have been extremely lucky and never take anything for granted…Today the students start with lodge placements at one of the prestigious lodges in the area where they will get the full experience of how a lodge environment works. Exciting!

Stay tuned to see what happens next…

The ANT Blog

Another fantastic sighting of two lions doing what they do best!

The King of the Jungle stares intently into the distance...

A Spotted Hyaena near the Leopard kill

 

Pangolins in Peril - World Pangolin Day 21st February

Photo courtesy of the African Pangolin Working Group  http://www.pangolin.org.za

Many people don't know what a pangolin is...and there are even fewer people who have ever been lucky enough to have seen one in the wild during their lifetime!

They are scale-covered mammals that are most active at night, feeding almost exclusively on certain species of ants and termites and have an endearing habit of carrying their babies around on their tails!

Temminck’s Ground Pangolin (Smutsia temminckii) is one of four species of pangolins found in Africa and is the second largest (typically 7–12kg).

It is the most widespread of these species and the one that is likely to be seen in northern South Africa (also through most of East Africa, Southern Sudan and Chad).

Its preferred habitat is savanna and woodland, with an average territory of between six and fourteen square kilometres in which to find its main food source of ants and termites. Following a gestation period of 139 days, a single young youngster is born in June or July.

There are eight species of Pangolin worldwide: three in Asia, one in India and four in Africa.

Distribution of Smutsia temminckii

Pangolins are classed as Vulnerable on the IUCN Red List of threatened species and their Global population is believed to be decreasing. It is estimated that the total population has decreased by at least twenty percent in the last thirty years. 

As of 2013, the estimated total density in the Kruger National Park is one individual every 8.4 square kilometres...but these numbers are hard to verify, given that pangolins are nocturnal and seldom seen.

The reasons for the drastic population decline are various and include poaching (for illegal bush meat trade, illegal use in traditional medicine, illegal exportation to Asian food markets), loss of habitat and encounters with electric game fences.

According to the IUCN Species Survival Commission, more than one million individuals are believed to have been taken from the wild in the past decade. 

Pangolins are considered a delicacy in Asia and are now the most illegally traded mammal in the world.
 

The name pangolin comes from the Malay word
penguling meaning something that rolls up.

I think we all know about the poaching and illegal wildlife trade, but the reason for pangolin losses that hit me hardest was when I read of the huge numbers that are killed when pangolins encounter electrified game fences. This is one of the notorious challenges in conservation practice that we have today.

When a pangolin comes into contact with an electrified fence, its immediate reaction is to curl up to defend itself against the initial shock...but, unfortunately, they remain curled around the live wire and are eventually electrocuted until they die - a truly nasty way to go!

The African Pangolin Working Group (which officially launched on 19th February 2015) is looking at various options to improve the design of electric fences to eliminate the killings. They request that you report any sightings and submit photos to them on the following link: http://www.pangolin.org.za/sighting.html.

We wish you happy searching...and, of course, would love to hear about any of your sightings - all photos are welcome! 

The ANT Blog
Written by Jenny Bell

Autotomy: The 'Tail' of a Great Escape

Self-mutilation, self-amputation, separation of a body part: it all comes down to one thing – autotomy can be ‘Life over Limb’!

As a little girl, I remember watching in horror as a lizard I was trying to protect from my pet cat suddenly ran off without its tail, leaving my cat and I staring in bewilderment at a wriggling lizard tail. I now know that this was a great example of ‘autotomy’.
 

Image source: buzz-master.com

Autotomy is a self-defence mechanism that many animal species can utilise. For example, if a predator seizes the tail of a striped skink, the skink can detach its tail from the rest of its body, sacrificing the tail, but escaping with its life.

If the predator does not consume the tail, the skink may return to the 'scene of the crime' once the predator has left and eat its own discarded tail.

As the skink’s tail is an important site for the storage of nutrients, the skink can ‘win back’ some of the nutrients lost in the fight (glad I’m not a skink).

Further, in the case of the striped skink, the animal can regenerate the sacrificed tail.

So the question remains - despite its immediate advantage in terms of survival, does autotomy have a downside?

The answer is most likely 'yes'.

http://blog.thereptilezoo.com/post/Auto-Whaty!.aspx

The animal could have impaired locomotion and reduced ability for foraging in the event a limb is lost...and even limited reproductive options if the detached body part is important for mate attraction.

Is autotomy really the 'great escape' or merely a short-term survival mechanism? We'd like to ask what you think...
 
The ANT Blog
(Written by Jenny Bell)

A kill on the wing!

On a recent trip to the Kruger National Park, we parked on the high level bridge over the Shingwedzi River, enjoying the amazing sunset. A ranger mate who used to be stationed at Shingwedzi always assured me that Bat Hawks did indeed exist, as he had seen them in the area from time to time. “Yeah, right...” was my usual reply!

So there we were, clicking away with our cameras, whilst keeping an eye on the bats emerging from their roost under the bridge, when two dark birds swooped over the river from some nearby large trees. Could these be the elusive Bat Hawks I have wanted to see for years? Binoculars quickly replaced the camera and my eyes confirmed the over-excited expletives from my husband – our first sighting of a Bat Hawk!

Image: Bat Hawk in daylight by Johan Janse van Rensburg

The Bat Hawks started their hunt as one swooped on a bat. 

The bat detected the threat and swiftly took impressive evasive action, only to fly directly into the path of the second Bat Hawk – we had just witnessed a ‘kill on the wing’. 

It all happened very quickly and, with the light fading and gate-closing-time fast approaching, I did not manage to get photographic evidence of this incredible sight, but I definitely have a picture in my mind that I will never forget.

Back at camp, the reference books came out and we read that Bat Hawks do indeed hunt their prey on the wing, catching prey with their feet and - if the prey item is small enough - swallowing it whole in flight. 

Insectivorous bats are the usual prey of the Bat Hawk, with most hunting occurring at dusk. The bird can catch its daily food requirement within only twenty to thirty minutes. 

It is estimated that there are no more than five breeding pairs of Bat Hawks in the Kruger National Park[1] and they have ‘Near-threatened’ status in SA - so this is a very rare bird to see.

Image: Shingwedzi sunset by Jenny Bell

We returned to the bridge the following evening and - luckily - the Bat Hawks made another appearance at sunset...so keep an eye out for them next time you overnight at Shingwedzi!

The ANT Blog 

- written by Nature Enthusiast Course student, Jenny Bell

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[1] http://www.birdlife.org.za/conservation/important-bird-areas/iba-directory/item/143-sa002-kruger-national-park