A large antelope, the Waterbuck, taking a rest in the Serengeti
One of the larger antelopes of Africa, the Waterbuck is also very widely spread. They’re found in West, Central, East and Southern Africa, across much of the entirely of Sub-Saharan Africa. Despite this, I only managed to see a couple of them during my time in East Africa.
As with many antelopes they prefer dry grass and scrub lands (not water, as their name implies). From a distance they have a similar profile to many of the deer commonly seen at home in North America – except of course the males which grow two piercing, long horns.
This male Defassa Waterbuck was photographed in the Serengeti, lying in the cool grass and taking a break from the afternoon heat.
Hey wildlife friends, it’s National Wildlife Week in Canada this week.
Every year, on whichever week April 10th falls, is National Wildlife Week. The Canadian Wildlife Federation runs events and contests during this time to help get everyone – in particular youngsters – interested in wildlife and the outdoors.
If you’re a fan of Canadian nature and the animals that make their homes in our lakes and forests, then enjoy this selection of Canadian creatures from Ontario and Quebec.
Hope you have time to get outdoors for a hike this week!
A Deer photographed in Sleeping Giant Provincial Park, Ontario
A Chipmunk photographed in Arrowhead Provincial Park, Ontario
A Painted Turtle photographed in Point Pelee National Park, Ontario
Moose photographed in Algonquin Provincial Park, Ontario
Groundhog photographed in Wakami Lake Provincial Park, Ontario
Red Squirrel photographed in Killarney Provincial Park, Ontario
Beaver photographed in Parc national d'Aiguebelle, Quebec
A Colourful Sally Lightfoot Crab on Santa Cruz Island, Galapagos
One of the most colourful creatures of the Galapagos Islands and Pacific Ocean coastlines of the Americas!
You see these red, orange, yellow and white crabs almost everywhere in the Galapagos. On remote coasts, clinging to lava rocks on beaches and walking along docks in the few villages of the islands.
Everyone in the Galapagos islands seems to call them Sally Lightfoot crabs, supposedly named after a beautiful dancer from a sailors legend. They are also known as Red Rock crabs…but their official name actually sounds the coolest: Grapsus grapsus.
Tawny Eagle photo from the Serengeti in Tanzania, Africa
An impressive eagle that can grow quite large, this Tawny Eagle posed nicely for a photo in the Serengeti. They mostly eat carrion and will steal food from other predatory birds.
This one was perched on a dead tree, taking a break from flying and scanning the Serengeti for its next meal.
There is one animal I came across in Africa that gave me nightmares.
No, it wasn’t a lion, hippo, cobra or scorpion. I came across all of those and didn’t flinch. This was more of a wolf in sheep clothing type of scary creature, except it was a Dassie in Devil fur.
The cutely named Dassie has many aliases, probably because of it’s secret scariness. Rock Rabbit and Rock Rat are a couple of alternative names. You get the idea – they are furry things that mostly hang out around rocky outcrops.
In reality their official name is a Hyrax and along with Sea Cows (real name Dugongs) they’re the closest relatives on Earth to Elephants.
The ones I came across in Tanzania are Bush Hyrax, or Yellow-spotted Rock Hyrax. Want to see one of these beasts? Are you sure? Ok, you’ve been warned…
A Yellow-spotted Rock Hyrax in the Serengeti
Ya, ok. They even look cute. But it is just a disguise. Watch these evil creatures long enough and you’ll see another side to them.
When a mature Hyrax gets excited, a bump on their back starts to form…called a dorsal gland. This gland opens up, pushing fur to the sides, as if giving birth to some mutant life form. They move around oddly too, it’s all so strange that you expect their eyes to start glowing red and shoot laser beams at you. Well, at least that’s what happened in my nightmares.
Supposedly they only secrete some weird liquid or something, no actual aliens and it’s only done when they’re wanting to mate or are feeling threatened.
A 'cute' Dassie or Yellow-spotted Rock Hyrax, getting ready to birth some aliens
Still, if you saw one of these things open up a crazy looking gland on it’s back you’d freak out too. I’ve saved you the horror of seeing the scariest photos…you can always use your friend Google if you dare.
