Young Giraffe

According to what I posted recently about possible distinguishing features amongst giraffe (& before that, zebra), the observation that giraffe appear to select mates of the same coat type seems to be the case in this (family) photo.

Since 'coat type' refers to the (spot) pattern as well as the colour of the fur, the colouring of this young giraffe certainly is different to that of the giraffe above . . .

. . . as is most certainly also the case with this young giraffe . . .

. . . ditto . . .

. . . ditto . . .

. . . ditto - meaning that the colouring within the same group i.e. the South African (OR Transvaal) giraffe subspecies differs hugely BUT that the pattern - i.e. rounded OR blotched spots, some with star-like "extensions" - is very similar for all of the giraffe youngsters (on "this page") . . .

 . . . because they were all photographed in game reserves across South Africa (& therefore are members of the same subspecies) . . .

 . . . which also is the case for this creche (of giraffe youngsters), although they were photographed in Namibia - where another subspecies, the Angolan/Namibian giraffe, is at home BUT lives "side-by-side" with the South African/ Transvaal giraffe [SEE: previous 2 blog-entries].

Long Necks

Apart from the fact that a giraffe derives its (species) name, (Giraffa) camelopardalis from its camel-like gait as well as the patches on its fur, which are leopard-like . . .

. . . a giraffe is also the tallest animals in the world because of its extremely elongated neck (can be up to 2m long), which is NOT the result of additional vertebrae (= 7 bones) but instead it's a disproportinate lengethening of the cervical vertebrae.

As I've mentioned before [SEE: previous blog-entry] each individual giraffe has a unique coat pattern . . .

. . . which also varies in colour - from orange to fawn, chestnut, brown or even nearly black, seperated by light hair - usually white or cream in colour - . . . 

. . . whereas a giraffe's spots is a key distinguishing factor to determine which (of 9) subspecies it's a member . . .

. . . whilst the coat pattern serves as camouflage amongst the foliage it browses, allowing a giraffe to blend in the light and shade patterns of savanna woodlands.

As I've done in the previous blog-entry, I'm sharing (today: mostly neck-&-face) photos of giraffe to "demonstrate" how vast the difference is even amongst giraffe of the same subspecies . . .

. . . which in this (my) case is the South African (also known as the transvaal) giraffe - and of which some are very handsome species, others a little deformed . . .

. . . and others possibly NOT amused by my comments??? Or why else would it stick out its (relatively) long tongue?

Giraffe Comparison

After trying to make sense to which species or sub-species certain zebra belong [SEE: some of my recent blog entries] what about the giraffe, also a typical African-savanna-animal?

Like zebra, with their different-patterned stripes unique to each animal, giraffe also have unique coat patterns AND different colouring - as these 3 giraffe males, photographed in a private game reserve in Swaziland, "reveal".

On the other hand, these 3 giraffe males, photographed in the Pilansberg Game Reserve (North-West Province), are coloured similarly. The species (Latin) name for a giraffe is: (Giraffa) camelopardalis - referring to camel-like traits, but also to the patches of colour, which are leopard-like!!

As the 3 more "typical-looking" giraffe (above), this giraffe also "hails" from the Pilansberg Game Reserve - although colour- & patch-wise, it seems to belong to another of the apparently 9 sub-species of giraffe found across Africa.

Similar in appearance as the previous giraffe, this male - photographed at a private game reserve in Namibia - also appears different patch- and colour-wise than giraffes in general . . .

. . . as is also the case with this giraffe - also photograped in Namibia, with the Etosha Pan (filled with water) in the background. In particular,  check the size of this giraffe's head - rather smaller than more customarily, right?

This giraffe was photographed at virtually the same spot as the one above - proving, I think, that more than 1 of the 9 subspecies of giraffe can be found in the Etosha Game Reserve.

After the 3 different-looking giraffe above, all nonetheless "hailing from" Namibia, I photographed this giraffe quite recently in a private game reserve here in the Eastern Cape - but more in support of the general opinion that male giraffe become darker as they age!?

This unusually dark male giraffe, photograped in the Kruger National Park, looks as if its in the prime of its life (instead of being old) & therefore seems to reinforce what I personally believe: that colouring varies geographically (instead of with age) . . .

. . . as this female giraffe, also from the Kruger National Park, appears to prove: that the colouring could also be a matter of genetics!?

How do I know this is a female? Just look at the horns! The ones on a male's head are thicker, V-like & bald - in contrast to a female's, which are thinner & have tuffts of hair on the horns.

Save the Rhino

This is probably one of the "saddest" photos I've ever taken but nonetheless felt compelled to do - so I could use it as an example of what owners/managers of (many private) game reserves feel forced to do - to tranquilize their rhinoceros (rhino) to remove the horns as a way of preventing ruthless poachers from mercilessly killing these magnificent animals - for the illegal trade in rhino horn!!

To think that not so long ago, rhino were saved from extinction - only to become the targets again because certain cultures pay enormous amounts of money for rhino horn - mostly on the black market - to be used as traditional medicine or for ornamental purposes.

The recent spike in (especially White/Square-lipped) rhino appears particularly senseless if one considers that rhino horn is made of keratin - just like (human) fingernails and/or hair!!

In other words a rhino horn isn't a "true" horn but instead thickly matted hair . . .

. . . which re-grows after being "cut off" - but why is it necessary to "preventatively maim" these animals in the first place?

In reaction many concerned conservationists/people in general/various organisations are suggesting a variety of drastic measures to save the rhino - apart from "naming & shaming" poachers.

Nobody wants to "de-form" any wild animals (remove the horns - as above) - and for the time being this isn't "practised" by the custodians of the National Game Reserves, but instead by "private" game owners to protect their "investment" - they paid huge amounts of money so that this member of the BIG 5 can feature amongst other species in their reserves.

However if the brutal killing of our rhino isn't stopped right away [See: the deeply worrying statistics on the left] - what can/should be done to save the rhino from extinction???

To date: more than 200 rhino were already killed by poachers this year!!!

Love is in the Air

Thought of posting a few Love is . . .  photos today because I returned from the last tour with quite a collection appearing to depict this - as these 2 (African) buffalo "demonstrate" . . .

. . . or this Blue wildebeest cuddling up to a White rhino!??

. . . 2 Tsessebe antelope - snuggling/kissing . . .

. . . whereas (Burchell's) zebra are known for staying in "close contact" - if mainly as a defensive measure aganst predators - but they are often seen doing what looks like "cuddling" . . .

. . . in contrast to primates, which have "hands" to tend to each other - like this (Chacma) baboon female "grooming" a male . . .

. . . and as this young baboon is reaching out to also accomplish - or appearing to "whisper sweet nothings" :) :)

Birds are no exception to this "rule" - as these 2 (Rock) pigeons reveal.