Download WILDLIFE REPORT SINGITA SABI SAND, SOUTH AFRICA

WILDLIFEREPORT
SINGITASABISAND,SOUTHAFRICA
ForthemonthofJanuary,TwoThousandandSixteen
Temperatures RainfallRecorded Sunrise&Sunset
Averageminimum: 20.6˚C (69˚F) Forthemonth: 109.2mm Sunrise 05:31
Averagemaximum: 32.5˚C (90.5˚F) Fortheseasontodate: 282.4mm Sunset 18:43
Minimumrecorded: 18◦C (64.4˚F)
Maximumrecorded:42˚C (107.6˚F)
Raindrenchedthedryearthduringtheeveningonafewoccasionsandthegreenflushisevidentthroughout
thearea.ThedrainagelinesleadingdowntotheSandRiverarestilldry,howeverthevegetationisinfull
revivalmode.
Here'sahighlightspackageofthemonth'ssightings:
Lions:
Averyinterestinginteractionoccurredrecentlybetweentwooftheprominentpridesinthearea.Afight
betweenthepridefemaleswasbriefduetotheMajingalanemalelionssoonresolvingtheheightened
tension.Whatmadethissightingevenmoreinterestingwasthattwoofthemalelionswereshowingan
investedinterestofcourtingalionessfromeitherprideandthiswasveryunusualtowatch.
Leopards:
Excitingnews.TheHukumurifemaleleopardinthenorthwasfoundinthenorthwithtwocubs.Tracksofthe
femalealongwithhertwocubswerereportedafewweeksagoanditseemsthatthetrioaremovingmuch
moreasthecubsarenowfeedingonthecarcassesalongwiththeirmother.
Buffaloes:
Theherdsofbuffalohavebeensmallerincomparisontothepreviousmonth.Alargenumberofsmaller
groupsofbuffalobullshavebeenseennorthoftheriver.
Elephants:
Aftertherecentrain,largernumbersofelephantshavebeenseenregularly.Oneofthesightingswas
recordedwithwellover50elephantsintheherd.Thelargemovementoftheherdshavecreatedsomevery
interestingsightingsduringbreakfastandlunchtime,fromthelodgedecksoverlookingtheSandRiver.
Alesser-knownspottedcat ArticlebyMichelleCampbell
Wedrovesouthonehotafternooninsearchofarareandwonderfulcheetah,andwereover-joyedwhen
quiteearlyon,wecomeacrossacurledupballofgolden,blackspottedfluff,takingshadeunderabush.
Uponhearingthevehicle,theanimalputitsheadup,anditshugeroundedearstoldusinstantlythatthiswas
nocheetah!Wehadinfactcomeacrossaserval.
Aslender,long-leggedspottedcat,theservalhascharacteristiclarge,roundedears,thelargestearsinfact,
proportionaltoitsbodysize,ofanyAfricancat.Althoughoftenthoughttobenocturnal,thissolitaryanimal
leadsacrepuscularlifestyle,meaningthatitismostactiveduringthecoolerdaylighthours,aroundduskand
dawn.Theplacementandsizeofthespotsandstripesvariesfromoneindividualtothenext,andthose
servalsthatarefoundingrasslandhabitatstendtohavelargerblackspotsthanthosefoundinmoreforested
areastoensuretheyarewell-camouflagedintotheirsurroundings.
Exceptionallyquickandagile,servalscapturemostoftheirpreybyjumpinghighandpouncing,withtheirlong
legsenablingthemtoseeoverthegrass.Althoughservalseatavarietyofdifferentprey,nearly94%oftheir
dietiscomprisedofsmallrodentssuchasrats,miceandshrews,whichmeansthattheyplayavitalrolein
theirlocaleco-systemskeepingrodentnumbersdown.Theirlargedish-likeearsallowthemtosensethe
vibrationsofrodentsthatareevenundergroundandoncedetectedtheservalwilldigitspreyoutusingits
sharpclaws.Oneofmycolleaguesoncesawaservalkillingalargepuff-adderatabout9o’clockinthe
morning.
Withoutcovertohide,andnotobservedtouseholestoburrowin,servalsarevulnerabletolargerpredators,
especiallyleopards,hyenasandwilddogs.
Thephysicalthreatextendsfurtherthanjustpredation,however,withthelargerpredatorsalsooutcompetingthemforbothfoodandterritories,explainingcertainlyinthisareawhyweseerelativelyfew
servals.ThebiggestthreattoservalsthroughoutAfricahowever,ispeoplethatkillthemfortheirfur,whichis
highlysoughtafter,particularlyamongtribesinWestAfrica.Althoughtheservalisnotconsideredtobeat
anygreatriskinthewild,theyarebeingsubjectedtoincreasinglevelsofthelossoftheirhabitats,whichhas
ledtopopulationdeclinesincertainareas.
Hornbills ArticlebyGrantPengilly
Whilenotsucha“highprofile”speciesasacheetah,Ifeltveryfortunatetohaveseenthisserval,andtohave
beenabletosharetheexperiencewithguests!
Thisisatimeofabundanceinthebush.Impala
lambs,warthogpiglets,fruitingmarulatrees
andthearrivalofvariousmigratorybirds.There
isalsoatouchofromanceintheair,especially
amongstthebirds.Courtshipdisplaysabound
intheirmanydifferentforms.Duetcalls,the
colourfulflightdisplayofthelilacbreasted
rollers,thepersistentshrillingcallofwoodland
kingfishersandthehop-flappingconstantchirpchasingofthemalepin-tailedwhydahs.Certain
speciesofbirdsneedtobuildupatrusting
relationshipwiththeirchosenpartnerbefore
courtshipandegg-layingcantakeplace.
Thehornbillsareacommonsightforvisitorstothelowveldatanytimeoftheyear.Theyarealways
entertainingtowatch,withtheconfusedlookofacrazedscientistastheyscratcharoundlookingforanytype
oftastymorsel,fromfruitstoinsectsandevenscorpionsandsmallmammals.Theremarkablenesting
strategyexhibitedbythesebirdsrequiresahugeinvestmentofdependencebythefemaleonherchosen
suitor.Bylockingherselfintoanaturalcavityinatreeandpluckinghertailandflightfeatherstolinethenest,
sheputsherselfatthemercyofhermatebyrelyingfullyonhimtobringfoodtothenesttofeedherandthe
chicks.Failuretofulfilhisrolewouldresultindeathbystarvationforthefemaleandherbrood.
Suchtrustisbuiltupbyconstantlavishcourtshipdisplaysbetweenthepair.Muchlikeus,themalewill
present‘nuptialgifts’tothefemaletoreassureherofhiscapabilitiesasabreadwinner.Theusualgiftsare
fooditemssuchasinsects,maybeafatjuicygrasshopperorchubbycaterpillar.Thisparticularyellow-billed
hornbillobviouslywantedtobesomethingmorethanusual,andtookitonestepfurther,maybetoofar.We
hadtotakeasecondlookwhenwecameacrossthisambitiousavianindividualwithhisaboveaverage
generosity.Hetriedhisbest,butalargeflapneckedchameleonwasabitonthebeefysideforhim!Hetried
afewdifferentholdsonitbutcouldn’tseemtogetcomfortableenoughtoflywhilecarryingthelifeless
reptile.Heeventuallydroppeditandflewoff,possiblyinsearchofsomethingmorefeasible.Hopefullyhis
effortspaidoff,andhewonoverhisladyfortheseason.
TheAfricanhawk-eagle ArticlebyDanielleKueck
Eaglesareoneofthemoreprominentbirdtypesthatstandoutformostofourguests,withawiderange
occurringinthisarea.Somespeciesaremigratoryandleavetheareainourwintertimeinsearchofwarmer
climatesandmorefood.Therearehoweverafairfewwhichstayallyearround.Oneofthesespecieswould
betheAfricanhawk-eagle.I'mmakingamentionofthiseagleinparticularbecauseyouaremorethanlikely
toseethisspecieshereintheSabiSand,oreveninKrugerNationalParkforthatmatter.Therearearound
1600pairsoccurringinSouthAfricaandthemajorityofthosepairsoccurinTheKrugerNationalParkand
surroundingconservationareas,liketheSabiSand.
Youwilltypicallyseethemintheirmonogamouspairs,soaringoverheadwhilstoutonadrive.Theyhave
whiteunderpartswithabitofblackstreaking.Theirdietismostlygamebirds,suchasguineafowland
francolins(butwillalsosometimeseatsmallermammalssuchassquirrels,mongooseandhares),andhave
beenknowntoevenhunttogether.Theyarealsoveryterritorialandutilisetheirsamenestevery2-3years.
Boththemaleandfemaleareresponsiblefortheconstruction/rebuildingofthemetre-widenest.Whenit's
thematingseason,themalehastorekindlethe'romance'betweenthetwo,whichhedoesbyperformingan
elaboratedisplayaroundthenestintheskywithundulatingdivesatthefemale,andlaterturnspresentinghis
claws,followedbybringingheramealwhichshewilleatbeforethematinghappens.
Ihaveneverpersonallywitnessedthisbehaviorwhilstoutondrivewithmyguests,butitisjustanother
situationthatIhaveaddedtomylistofthingsthatIcannotwaittoexperienceandshareonedaywithmy
guests.Thislistiswhatmakeseverydriveexciting,neverknowingwhatamorningoranafternoondrivein
thisunpredictableenvironmenthasinstoreforus.
Afewofmyfavouritetrees "Raindropsonrosesandwhiskersonkittens;
ArticlebyLeonVanWyk
Brightcopperkettlesandwarmwoollenmittens;
Brownpaperpackagestiedupwithstrings;
Theseareafewofmyfavouritethings!"
Whowouldnotwanttosingorhumalongtothiscatchytunefromthatgrandoldclassic"TheSoundof
Music"?Well,strangeasitsounds,itisthetitleofthatsongthathasinspiredmetowritethislittlearticleon
afewofmyfavouritetrees.Ihavealwaysbeenfondoftrees,andsomeofmyfavouritesinthisareawill
featureinthetextandimagesbelow.
Leadwood(Combretumimberbe)
Believedtoliveforseveralhundredyears,leadwoodsareextremelyslowgrowing,dense-woodedtrees,
whosetimberissohardthateventermiteshavenoimpactonit.Oncealeadwoodhasdied,itwillcontinueto
standformanydecades,andtome,thesightofareallyold,deadleadwoodisoneofindescribablebeauty.
Likeasilversculptureagainstadazzlingbluesky,adeadleadwoodjustoozessomuchcharacterinitsgnarled
trunk,andhasanauraofpermanenceandstabilityaboutit,which(forme)linksitinastrangewaytoalarge
oldelephantbull.Therearenumerousdozensofmagnificentlivingleadwoodsonthispropertytoo,and
manyofthemgrowingrovesfairlyclosetoeachother,particularlyinareasofdark,heavyclaysoil.Because
therearefrequentlymudwallowsveryclosetotheseleadwoods,anumberofthemappeartohavethe
bottomfewmetresoftheirtrunkspaintedwithathicklayerofaverydarkbrownplaster.This,ofcourse,is
fromthewallowingormud-bathinganimals(specificallyelephant,rhino,buffaloandwarthog)which,after
coveringtheirhideswithliquidmudfromthewallowingpits,goandhaveagoodrubagainsttheinvitingly
roughbarkonthesturdytrunksoftheleadwoodtreesthataresoconvenientlypositionednearby!
Atthistimeoftheyear,thelivingleadwoodsarealsoveryattractive,becausetheyareflowering.NowImust
hastentoaddthattheindividualflowersarebynomeansspectacular,butwhenviewedfromsomedistance,
aleadwoodladenwiththousandsoftheselittleflowerstakesonagorgeousgoldenhue,particularlywhenthe
lightisjustright.BeingaCombretum,thefruitthatdevelopsfromtheflowersofaleadwoodisacharacteristic
4-wingedseedpod.
Jackalberry(Diospyrosmespiliformes)
AlsoknownasaLowveldebony,TransvaalebonyorAfricanebony,thejackalberryisamagnificent,verydarktrunkedtreethatisfoundinabundanceintheSabiSand,particularlyalongthebanksofsomeofthe
prominentwatercourses,suchastheSandRiver.Jackalberrytreesareverypopularwithleopards,astheyare
comfortable,easytoclimb,offeragoodamountofshadeandnumerouslimbsthatareoftenatvery
convenientanglesonwhichtolie,oroverwhichtodrapecarcassesofpreyanimalsthattheyhavekilled.
Jackalberriesarealmostevergreen,eachtreelosingitsleavesforjustafewweeks,usuallyinmiddleorlate
spring.Beforetheleavesfalloffthetree,theyturnyellow.Thenewleavesthatreplacethemintwoorthree
weeksarereddishbrown.Becausethetreesdonotalllosetheirleavesatexactlythesametime,onecan
encounter3jackalberriesincloseproximity,withspectacularlydifferentcolouredfoliage-one,arichgreen,
oneyellowandonereddish-brown.
Inlatespringandearlysummer,thejackalberriesbeartheirfruit.Thesearein
theformofsmall,olivetokhakicolouredberries,withathinhuskyshell,
palatablepulpandafewpea-sized(butkidney-shaped)darkseeds.Tasty
enoughforhumanstoenjoy,thefruitsareagreatfoodsourcetobirdssuchas
greenpigeons,purple-crestedturacos,brown-headedparrots,starlingsand
severalmore,aswellasmammals,particularlymonkeys,baboons,jackalsanda
fewdifferentantelope.Civetsalsoenjoythem,whichisclearlyevidentwhen
oneinspectsthecontentsofcivetdungmiddens(knownascivetries!)
Marula(Sclerocaryabirrea)Itisprobablyveryappropriatetoincludethemarula
treeinthismonth'sjournal,becausenowisthetimethattheseattractivetrees
beartheirhighlysought-afterfruits(picturedhere)ingreatquantities.
Maleandfemalemarulaflowersareborneonseparatetrees,anditisonlythefemaletreesthatbearfruit.
Thetreesthemselvesarequiteeasytorecognise,astheyhavegrey,blotchybark,eachtreegivingthe
appearancethatithasbeenstruckbyathousandgolfballs.Thelimbsoftheserathersmoothtreesendin
blunt-tippedorstubbybranches,andthecolouroftheleavesisalmostagreyish-green.Thefruitsthemselves
canbelikenedtominiaturegreenmangos,astheyalsohaveasmoothgreenskin,withastickysapthatoozes
fromanydamagedsurface.Thelarge,hardstoneiscoveredbyadisappointinglythinlayerofthemost
delicious,juicy,greyish-white"flesh",whichhassuchawidecombinationoffruityflavours,beingbothsour
andsweet,andreminiscentsometimesoflitchis,apricots,mangosandevenoranges.
Theyreallyarewonderfultoeat,although
perhaps"eat"isnottherightwordto
describehowhumansconsumethem.One
doesn'treallytakeabiteoutofthefruit
andchewit...itismoreacaseofpopping
thefruitoutofitsskin,andsuckingthe
flavoursomejuicesoffthestone.
Elephantsarefamousfortheirloveofthe
marulafruits,whichripenontheground
aftertheyhavefallenoffthetrees.
Itisnotunusualtoseeanelephantspend
overanhourunderneathamarulatreein
February,pickingupfruits,sometimes
singly,sometimesintwosandthrees,and
tossthemintoitsmouth.
Theyoftenpassthroughtheelephantalmostintact,withtheskinsjustslightlyruptured.Squirrelsfrequently
scratcharoundinpilesofelephantdungtofeedonthe"second-hand"marulafruits,whichtheypickupand
deftlymanipulatebetweentheirhand-likefrontpaws.
Manyothermammalspeciesrelishthemarulafruits,amongthembeingbaboons,monkeys,kudu,impala,
zebraandwarthog.Itisthislast-namedcreature,thewarthog,whichgivesmegreatpleasurewhenIwatch
themeatingthemarulas,becausetheydoitwithsuchobviousandgreatenjoyment,delightandgusto!
Liketheleadwoodandthejackalberry,themarulatreeisalsoaverypopularonewithleopards,anditisnot
unusualtofindaleopardrestinginamarulatree,withorwithoutakillhoistedupthesametree.
Marulatreesarealsofrequentlyfoundingroves,ratherthanjustsingly,andtheyfavourthesandycrests,
ratherthantheclaysoilsandlower-lyingareas.Manymarulatreeshavehadbigchunksofbarkandcambium
removedfromthembyelephants,asitisnotonlythefruitthattheyelephantsenjoy.Theylovethecambium,
theyalsofeedheavilyontheroots,youngbranchesandleavesofthemarulatree.Elephantshaveahuge
impactonthevegetationinanyareawhichtheyinhabit,but,althoughIamagreatloveroftrees,Idonot
viewthisimpactinanegativelight.Certainly,individualtreeswillbeseverelydamagedandevendestroyed
byelephants,butfortunatelythreearemanythousandsofmarulatrees,andinsomewaysthethinningoutof
woodyvegetationbyelephantsdoeshaveanoverallpositiveimpactonthebioticcommunity.
SothethreetreespeciesthatIhavementionedinthisarticlearejustsomeofmyfavouritesofthearea.Over
thenextfewmonths,wewillhavealookatafewmore.Ihopeandbelievethatmostreaderswillfindthe
articlesinteresting,andwillcontinuetoappreciatetreesforwhattheyare,fortheirgreatbeauty,fortheir
valueasfoodandfuel,andfortheshelterandsecuritythattheyoffer.
Bird list:
242 species recorded
(236 in December)
Specials of the month were the
Blue-cheeked bee-eater, the
carmine bee-eater and an African
Snipe.
GameViewingSummary
No.ofSightings
Lion
Leopard
Cheetah
Elephant
Buffalo
WildDog
Hyena
January2015
71
69
12
89
49
6
10
January2016
98
76
7
166
64
4
42
PredatorAnalysis
No.of
Sightings
Impala
Leopard
12
Kudu
Grey
Duiker
Buffalo
WaterBuck
2
1
Vervet
Warthog Monkey Warthog
2
1
Total
17
Lion
1
5
1
1
Cheetah
1
8
1
WildDog
1
Hyena
1
Total
14
4
1
5
1
2
1
1
1
1
28
Photographsonlocationby
RossCouper,GrantPengilly,
MichelleCampbelland
LeonvanWyk
SingitaEbonyandBouldersLodge
SabiSand
SouthAfrica
Thirty-firstofJanuary2016