What do you Know of the ugly, spotted hyena?
In the traditional African society, the Hyena has been branded 'the coward one'.
This has been due to the way of feeding of the hyena. Known as a scavenger, the hyena is actually a great hunter and scavenging only makes 5%- 10% of their meals.
They rarely leave any evidence especially because they devour everything. For example they can make a kill in the night and the only sign will be light blood stains.
In the recent years the complexity of the hyenas has been revealed. Lots of time has been dedicated to studying them. This article is about hyenas and their survival tactics in the savannahs of Tanzania. They range throughout sub-Saharan Africa in savannah, arid areas, and open woodlands. So far they aren't present at the coast.
There exist three species of hyenas in Africa. Two species are found in Kenya.
The most common being the spotted hyena, crocuta crocuta.
They live in groups called clans and the clan is under the leadership of the oldest female, the alpha female. Interestingly, the females are dominant over the males and are heavier than them. The females genitalia are very masculinized which contributes to their being aggressive. Such sex dimorphism is not common with other wildlife. This is due to the presence of higher level of testosterone in the female's body than that of the males.
When on an African safari, a distinguishing feature you will see with the hyenas is the 'haunch-back' and short hind legs. They hold their head low when they walk. Usually the head has a rounded skull and long ears. They have extremely strong jaws and a complex acidic digestion system. This is one of the factors that give them a step ahead for survival. They are capable of ingesting bones, horns, hooves and the tough animal skins.
Only the hair is not digested and this usually comes out in the form of bolus or locally referred to 'hyena hair ball'. All this bone matter that they eat is what makes the hyena feces chalk-white.
They hunt in packs in a way that could be termed as ruthless as they do not have a killing bite. They lack in hunting technique and most cases they run down their victim to exhaustion. Usually they attack their prey and tear chunks before their victim dies.
It is interesting to know that lions steal lots of their kills. It is true that hyenas do the final cleaning by chewing the bones and the skins left by others. In some cases the hyenas have succeeded to steal from the lions but in most of occurrences the reverse is more common.
The reproduction and life cycle is not seasonal. The females do not however mate with their members of the clan. They can take any other wandering male for mating and discard him. Four months is the gestation period and usually give birth to up to four cubs. These are usually black in color with some others having small taint of black. A weird thing that happens with the cubs is competition over who nurses first.
This in most cases result in fighting for dominance. The looser usually starves to death and this is only with the female cubs. Hyenas, unlike other wildlife take very long to wean their cubs. It may take between 14-18 months. The female can lactate up to 12 months with milk that is very high in protein percentage.( 14%). The cubs start following the mother to the point of kill when they reach 1 year.
They do not bring back food to the den. They eat to their fill on the spot.
The female cubs stay in the clan of their birth but males are kicked out when they reach around 2 years. Apart from playing with the cubs the male has no role in upbringing of the cubs.
One clan can have between 20-100 members, all on the matriarchal system. All the members are related. Each clan digs its own den which comprises of deep and long tunnels to accommodate the clan. They mark their territory through anal sac secretions. This is a paste that they use to define their boundary and is deposited at the edge of their territory. That is their home-territory that they protect and intruders are not welcome. They have a greeting system of sniffing each others genitalia and also as a way of identification or recognition within members of the same clan.
To the untrained eye, it is difficult to differentiate between males and females. This is because of the physical resemblance of the female's genitalia to that of the male. But in any case they are female organs. The females are not hermaphrodite as some have claimed at first sight.
Hyenas have 'toilets' whereby all the members go to deposit their dung. This adds to the boundary markings of their territory.
They communicate in a number of ways: When about to attack the tail is held high, when it is held forward over the back, it is a sign of excitement. And when frightened they hold the tail tucked between the legs. When there is presence of food, this is the time you hear the famous 'hyena laughter' especially in the night. This laughter
is a call to other clan members and can be heard up to 3 kilometers away.
It is important to note that though hyenas portray cowardly behavior, they can be extremely dangerous. They should be left alone, least intimidated and their respect awarded to them.
Peter Philip, Natural Track Safaris, http://www.natural-track.com
Tuesday, February 19, 2008
Saturday, December 8, 2007
New spitting Cobra species discovered in Kenya
NAIROBI - A new species of giant spitting cobra, measuring nearly nine feet and possessing enough venom to kill at least 15 people, has been discovered in Kenya, a conservation group said on Friday.
Wildlife Director said the cobras were the world's largest and had been identified as unique. The species has been named Naja Ashei after James Ashe, who founded Bio-Ken snake farm on Kenya's tropical coast where the gigantic serpents are found.
"A new species of giant spitting cobra is exciting and reinforces the obvious -- that there have to be many other unreported species but hundreds are being lost as their habitats disappear under the continued mismanagement of our planet," said the group's chairman, Kenyan environmentalist Richard Leakey.
Ashe, now deceased, was the first to catch a larger-than-normal spitting cobra in the 1960s and suggest it belonged to a different species.
Bio-Ken director Royjan Taylor said the recognition of the new species was an opportunity to raise awareness about snake conservation as well as find remedies for the powerful bite.
"Naja Ashei is responsible for a very serious snake bite," he told Reuters by telephone from the farm. "People don't care about saving snakes. They talk of saving dolphins or cats, but never snakes!"
The conservationists' excitement has drawn scientific endorsement from a British-based biologist.
Research published by Wolfgang Wuster, of the University of Wales, said a field visit confirmed the Naja Ashei is a new species. "The new species is diagnosable from all other African spitting cobras by the possession of a unique DNA," he wrote in a review in July.
PKP- Kenia Safary desk
Wildlife Director said the cobras were the world's largest and had been identified as unique. The species has been named Naja Ashei after James Ashe, who founded Bio-Ken snake farm on Kenya's tropical coast where the gigantic serpents are found.
"A new species of giant spitting cobra is exciting and reinforces the obvious -- that there have to be many other unreported species but hundreds are being lost as their habitats disappear under the continued mismanagement of our planet," said the group's chairman, Kenyan environmentalist Richard Leakey.
Ashe, now deceased, was the first to catch a larger-than-normal spitting cobra in the 1960s and suggest it belonged to a different species.
Bio-Ken director Royjan Taylor said the recognition of the new species was an opportunity to raise awareness about snake conservation as well as find remedies for the powerful bite.
"Naja Ashei is responsible for a very serious snake bite," he told Reuters by telephone from the farm. "People don't care about saving snakes. They talk of saving dolphins or cats, but never snakes!"
The conservationists' excitement has drawn scientific endorsement from a British-based biologist.
Research published by Wolfgang Wuster, of the University of Wales, said a field visit confirmed the Naja Ashei is a new species. "The new species is diagnosable from all other African spitting cobras by the possession of a unique DNA," he wrote in a review in July.
PKP- Kenia Safary desk
Monday, December 3, 2007
Safari in Kenya: Animal facts
The silent Killer
By Peter Philip
The silent killer, the night stalker, the versatile hunter... and many other names have been used to describe this cat. Smallest of the four great cats (lion, Jaguar, Tiger) and at close range almost looks like a Jaguar. In the savannahs of Kenya, this cat has been confused with the cheetah by first time visitors. At a second glance you miss the tear marks of the cheetah.
The leopard has been associated with darkness and many myths exist in the traditional African society. This has been due to fact that the leopard makes about 90 % of their kills silently during the night. The kill is then dragged and hoisted on to a tree for later feeding. These minutes before raising the kill up the tree are extremely crucial for it is the time that most kills are lost to hyenas and lions attracted by the smell of blood. They have quite a varied diet ranging from animals double their size to smaller antelopes, birds and crawling beetles. Their diet also depends on what is available in their range.
Usually this will include wildebeest calves, zebra fawns, gazelles, impalas, rodents among others. They are known to hunt domestic animals including calves, sheep and goats in areas where they inhabit close to human settlements.
The silent killer is one of the animals that give the driver guides the hardest time during Kenya wildlife safaris.
The physical build up of the leopard is amazingly strong. It is said that their muscles are 7 times stronger than man's muscle, pound for pound. This explains their capability to lift carcasses more than twice their body up the trees. It an advantage that the leopard enjoys in that after the kill is up the tree it is safe from its enemies, usually the lions and hyenas. In a couple of times the lions have tried to get up the tree and get the kill. Unfortunately, lions in Kenya are not good tree climbers, unlike their partners in Lake Manyara, Tanzania. What's more, the kill can be eaten for the next few days depending on the size.
Spotting such caches during safaris is almost a guarantee that you can view the leopard at least one more time.
Their claws are retractable and extremely sharp. The scratching of the backs of trees cleans the outer keratin shell keeping them sharp all the time. This is how they are able to catch their prey before the killer bite. Usually the scratches inflicted this way are very deep and lethal.
This master of deception has body markings that aid in staying hidden, and no can explain this better than Kenya safari driver guides. The pattern of their body coat is in rosettes and each leopard has its own specific print that matches no other. The coat varies in color from light tawny to brown-yellowish. The black spots help them to stay hidden under thickets.
They can run up to 40 miles an hour for short distances. The leopard is a good swimmer and in addition to that can leap 20 feet high. The horizontal jump can be up to 10 feet. Despite this prowess, they primarily depend on outwitting the prey, hence the title 'master of deception'.
They can easily adapt to most environments as long as there is food availability. In Kenya and Tanzania, due to availability of huge thickets, their preference is in the bushes. These provide all the food supply and keep them hidden. In many occasions their presence is noticed through carcasses on tree tops but the leopard is nowhere to be seen. Their tail is often what gives them away. When they rest on the trees their bodies are usually camouflaged but the dangling tail sells them off. In the nights they are usually heard and recognized through their 'sawing-like' sound.
In addition to their being silent killers, they are generally solitary cats. The only relationships noticed are the short-lived mating period and a female with her cubs. They produce between 2-4 cubs after a gestation period of between 80-100 days. Most of the times, it is only 1-2 cubs that survive. Lions and hyenas kill many of their cubs and because of that the mother has to move them quite often to avoid attracting too much attention.
After 22-24 months the cubs leave their mother and start their solitary life.
In most parts of Kenya, early morning hours are best time for looking out for them and late afternoon hours. These are the hours when the temperatures are low as they are more active like most of the big cats.
There exists an-ever ending fight between the olive baboons in some parts of Kenya. The baboons are heard screaming during the nights and it has been proofed beyond doubt that one of the reasons is the presence of the leopard. The leopards in Kenya do attack the baboons and in turn the baboons attack them. In any case the baboons out number the leopard by far and relies on group protection. But the leopards have had their successes with having a baboon for a meal.
Coming up next from the Kenya safari desk: facts about the Croccodile. See you then.
Peter K. Philip
Adventure safaris in Kenya
By Peter Philip
The silent killer, the night stalker, the versatile hunter... and many other names have been used to describe this cat. Smallest of the four great cats (lion, Jaguar, Tiger) and at close range almost looks like a Jaguar. In the savannahs of Kenya, this cat has been confused with the cheetah by first time visitors. At a second glance you miss the tear marks of the cheetah.
The leopard has been associated with darkness and many myths exist in the traditional African society. This has been due to fact that the leopard makes about 90 % of their kills silently during the night. The kill is then dragged and hoisted on to a tree for later feeding. These minutes before raising the kill up the tree are extremely crucial for it is the time that most kills are lost to hyenas and lions attracted by the smell of blood. They have quite a varied diet ranging from animals double their size to smaller antelopes, birds and crawling beetles. Their diet also depends on what is available in their range.
Usually this will include wildebeest calves, zebra fawns, gazelles, impalas, rodents among others. They are known to hunt domestic animals including calves, sheep and goats in areas where they inhabit close to human settlements.
The silent killer is one of the animals that give the driver guides the hardest time during Kenya wildlife safaris.
The physical build up of the leopard is amazingly strong. It is said that their muscles are 7 times stronger than man's muscle, pound for pound. This explains their capability to lift carcasses more than twice their body up the trees. It an advantage that the leopard enjoys in that after the kill is up the tree it is safe from its enemies, usually the lions and hyenas. In a couple of times the lions have tried to get up the tree and get the kill. Unfortunately, lions in Kenya are not good tree climbers, unlike their partners in Lake Manyara, Tanzania. What's more, the kill can be eaten for the next few days depending on the size.
Spotting such caches during safaris is almost a guarantee that you can view the leopard at least one more time.
Their claws are retractable and extremely sharp. The scratching of the backs of trees cleans the outer keratin shell keeping them sharp all the time. This is how they are able to catch their prey before the killer bite. Usually the scratches inflicted this way are very deep and lethal.
This master of deception has body markings that aid in staying hidden, and no can explain this better than Kenya safari driver guides. The pattern of their body coat is in rosettes and each leopard has its own specific print that matches no other. The coat varies in color from light tawny to brown-yellowish. The black spots help them to stay hidden under thickets.
They can run up to 40 miles an hour for short distances. The leopard is a good swimmer and in addition to that can leap 20 feet high. The horizontal jump can be up to 10 feet. Despite this prowess, they primarily depend on outwitting the prey, hence the title 'master of deception'.
They can easily adapt to most environments as long as there is food availability. In Kenya and Tanzania, due to availability of huge thickets, their preference is in the bushes. These provide all the food supply and keep them hidden. In many occasions their presence is noticed through carcasses on tree tops but the leopard is nowhere to be seen. Their tail is often what gives them away. When they rest on the trees their bodies are usually camouflaged but the dangling tail sells them off. In the nights they are usually heard and recognized through their 'sawing-like' sound.
In addition to their being silent killers, they are generally solitary cats. The only relationships noticed are the short-lived mating period and a female with her cubs. They produce between 2-4 cubs after a gestation period of between 80-100 days. Most of the times, it is only 1-2 cubs that survive. Lions and hyenas kill many of their cubs and because of that the mother has to move them quite often to avoid attracting too much attention.
After 22-24 months the cubs leave their mother and start their solitary life.
In most parts of Kenya, early morning hours are best time for looking out for them and late afternoon hours. These are the hours when the temperatures are low as they are more active like most of the big cats.
There exists an-ever ending fight between the olive baboons in some parts of Kenya. The baboons are heard screaming during the nights and it has been proofed beyond doubt that one of the reasons is the presence of the leopard. The leopards in Kenya do attack the baboons and in turn the baboons attack them. In any case the baboons out number the leopard by far and relies on group protection. But the leopards have had their successes with having a baboon for a meal.
Coming up next from the Kenya safari desk: facts about the Croccodile. See you then.
Peter K. Philip
Adventure safaris in Kenya
Tuesday, August 7, 2007
Kenya tour: migration follow-up
Finally they are here….
The pioneers of the migration, the Zebras have now confirmed that the migration has really poured into the Mara. The Zebras are always the leaders while the wildebeests follow. They have already entered the Mara from Sand River and soon the huge mass of the migration will cover the grasslands of the Mara.
Masai Mara, icon of Kenyan safari, is located in the South-western of Kenya, 290 kilometers from Nairobi. The abundance of wildlife and the remoteness of the reserve implant memories that no money can buy. The migration has brought with it huge mass of tourists, some regular enthusiasts, others coming for the first time. Hundreds of wildlife photographers have not been left out as usual.
The park has started to fill with safari vans, every driver guide trying to show his clients the best that this park can afford.
The giant crocodiles of Mara River have started to stir, lying in wait for the forthcoming free abundant meals. Some of them had their proper last meal during the last migration.
Lions cubs will have all the meals they can afford to put in their bellies, while the hyena laughter will be heard everyday, early in the morning. They will be seen early in the morning by those who will wake up early before they go back to their dens after cleaning the leftovers from lion kills. They are capable of making their own kills, but why bother when the lions will do all the kills. A Kenya safari is such an adventure that everyone should have an opportunity to enjoy.
Kenia safari Adventure crew
The pioneers of the migration, the Zebras have now confirmed that the migration has really poured into the Mara. The Zebras are always the leaders while the wildebeests follow. They have already entered the Mara from Sand River and soon the huge mass of the migration will cover the grasslands of the Mara.
Masai Mara, icon of Kenyan safari, is located in the South-western of Kenya, 290 kilometers from Nairobi. The abundance of wildlife and the remoteness of the reserve implant memories that no money can buy. The migration has brought with it huge mass of tourists, some regular enthusiasts, others coming for the first time. Hundreds of wildlife photographers have not been left out as usual.
The park has started to fill with safari vans, every driver guide trying to show his clients the best that this park can afford.
The giant crocodiles of Mara River have started to stir, lying in wait for the forthcoming free abundant meals. Some of them had their proper last meal during the last migration.
Lions cubs will have all the meals they can afford to put in their bellies, while the hyena laughter will be heard everyday, early in the morning. They will be seen early in the morning by those who will wake up early before they go back to their dens after cleaning the leftovers from lion kills. They are capable of making their own kills, but why bother when the lions will do all the kills. A Kenya safari is such an adventure that everyone should have an opportunity to enjoy.
Kenia safari Adventure crew
Saturday, July 21, 2007
Kenya tour: Migration update
We can now confirm the first of the wildebeests are now entering the Mara, another Kenyan safari cycle kicks off. This has been reported by our guides. These first herds can now be seen along the sand river heading north from Serengeti though still in very small groups. However all indications shows this is the head of the 2007 migration into the Mara.
Four weeks ago, several herds of zebra went throught this area heading west. These were the loita herds that would normaly pass here on transit into nortern Serengeti or the Mara triangle. Many atimes these herds are confused with the main migration from the south, making some people raise unnecessary excitement.
The herds now entering the Mara are confirmed to be the onset of the migration. Most people residing in the Mara were expecting a late arrival this year based on the amount of grass on the way of the migrating herds. Reports from the Serengeti as well indicate there was extensive burning on the central plains, which, due to the recent rains made the place attractive to the herds because of the short lush grass growing. This was thought to delay the herds, but as nature has shown in the past, the instinct of these animals to move on is stronger than the dangers in their. No obstacle will stop them, making your Kenya wildlife safari complete.
The onset of the migration this year is also believed to be slow in that there is plenty of grass on the Mara plains and will make their movement gradual.
OTHER SIGHTINGS
From the last Big Cat update, we had reported that lion activities and presence had improved from the previous months. Currently most lion prides are coming together just as the season of plenty is around the corner. Lions are now seen daily.Cheetah sightings aslo improved in the past couple of weeks and we now get to see them regularly. Leopard sightings too has been fantastic and will definitely improve with the arrival of the wildebeests.
Four weeks ago, several herds of zebra went throught this area heading west. These were the loita herds that would normaly pass here on transit into nortern Serengeti or the Mara triangle. Many atimes these herds are confused with the main migration from the south, making some people raise unnecessary excitement.
The herds now entering the Mara are confirmed to be the onset of the migration. Most people residing in the Mara were expecting a late arrival this year based on the amount of grass on the way of the migrating herds. Reports from the Serengeti as well indicate there was extensive burning on the central plains, which, due to the recent rains made the place attractive to the herds because of the short lush grass growing. This was thought to delay the herds, but as nature has shown in the past, the instinct of these animals to move on is stronger than the dangers in their. No obstacle will stop them, making your Kenya wildlife safari complete.
The onset of the migration this year is also believed to be slow in that there is plenty of grass on the Mara plains and will make their movement gradual.
OTHER SIGHTINGS
From the last Big Cat update, we had reported that lion activities and presence had improved from the previous months. Currently most lion prides are coming together just as the season of plenty is around the corner. Lions are now seen daily.Cheetah sightings aslo improved in the past couple of weeks and we now get to see them regularly. Leopard sightings too has been fantastic and will definitely improve with the arrival of the wildebeests.
Friday, June 29, 2007
King of the Jungle
Famously referred to the King of the jungle, they actually do not inhabit jungles
It is partially true to refer to the lions as 'King of the beasts'. A Safari in Kenya reveals, It is a fact that they really are kings of the predatory beasts, but they can be easily backed down or killed by elephants and water buffalo. A pack of hyenas can also back down or even kill a solitary lion. Packed for the Kill,.....
It is partially true to refer to the lions as 'King of the beasts'. A Safari in Kenya reveals, It is a fact that they really are kings of the predatory beasts, but they can be easily backed down or killed by elephants and water buffalo. A pack of hyenas can also back down or even kill a solitary lion. Packed for the Kill,.....
Mount Kenya
Mount Kenya, a distinctly separate massif from the Aberdares, is part of the central highlands of Kenya. Africa’s second highest mountain at 5199m, with a gleaming and eroded snow-capped peaks can be seen for miles until the late-morning clouds obscure the view. Mount Kenya is one of the inclusions rarely left behind in Kenya safari package.Trekking Mt. Kenya is one of the great experiences. It is Locally deified by the local Kikuyu community as home of Ghai (God). Mt Kenya.....
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