Safari Notes

United For Wildlife Prince William, Duke of Cambridge has formed a new wildlife conservation foundation: United For Wildlife . The foundation will collaborate with seven of the world’s most influential conservation organizations: Conservation International, Fauna & Flora International, International Union for Conservation of Nature, The Nature Conservancy, Wildlife Conservation Society, WWF UK and the Zoological Society of London - in a new partnership to combat illegal wildlife trafficking. “The threats to our natural heritage are extensive, but I believe that this collaboration of the best minds in conservation will provide the impetus for a renewed commitment and action to protect endangered species and habitats for future generations,” said the Prince, who is the president of United for Wildlife. Through his Foundation, His Royal Highness The Duke of Cambridge has brought together an unprecedented collaboration between seven of the world's most influential conservati...

Spectacular Selous Game Reserve As a child, I and my family spent some years in Iringa, Tanzania and areas around it - Iringa is a town with beautiful surroundings and an excellent climate. Not far - South East of Iringa, is one of the most breathtaking, wonderful and pristine wilderness and game reserves in the world: the Selous Game Reserve. Selous ( pronounced Seloo , is named after Englishman, Frederick Courtney Selous - conservationist, hunter, explorer and author)   is the largest g ame reserve in Tanzania and due to its uniqueness, it is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The reserve is approximately 55,000 square kilometers - about 21,236 square miles (that is four times the size of the Serengeti, more than three times the size of Swaziland and more than twice the size of Rwanda; almost five times the size of Qatar; larger than Costa Rica or Netherlands or Denmark or  Bhutan or Switzerland; and more than twice the sizes of  Massachusetts or Vermont or New Hamps...

I recall, as a young boy, when I first visited Mweya National Park with an uncle in late 1978 during Idi Amin's  rule, just when Amin was about to be ousted. The Park, was pristine but I was told that most of the animals had disappeared or had moved - due to poaching and the ongoing war to oust Amin. There was a war raging on around the Park. For the first time, there were whispers that Idi Amin's forces were loosing. That his forces were retreating  All the way, by road, on our way from Kampala to the then Zaire border and back to Kampala, we could see military trucks and personnel moving.

Elephants in South Sudan could soon be extinct due to unchecked and uncontrolled, increased poaching and trafficking, conservationists warn. For a country that has just gained independence and which has had about fifty years of civil war and much instability during that time, its wildlife is supposed to be better protected than before. And yet, paradoxically, during those many years of war and instability - its wildlife, although also poached and eaten, were safer than now. All its wildlife: plants, flora and small and large animals were safer. South Sudan's savanna was the largest in Eastern Africa. Today, South Sudan's awesome wildlife is in danger of being destroyed: its wild animals, elephants in particular, are relentlessly being cruelly hunted down by well armed, well organized poachers. Poachers and trafickers from within the country, and many from outside are attracted by abundant, poorly protected wild animals.

As it is, very few Africans blog and make their voices heard. For Africans who take up blogging, very, very few, if any, write about wildlife and the environment. Africa, with the largest, most diverse, most wonderful and most spectacular population of wildlife, has a people who are least interested in it. Be it in: its oceans, its islands, its plains, its jungles - Africa is abundant with wildlife. Plants and animals. Of many species, of many shapes and of many sizes. One can not talk of wildlife, without thinking of the environment. The environment that all wildlife lives in and depends on. And so do we mankind. All living creatures, all life forms are very dependent on the environment they live in. So why don't African bloggers write about these most important of issues: wildlife and the environment?

There is some thing about these massive creatures that has, from the instant I set eyes on them , captured my imagination and won my complete admiration. I have always felt without any doubt, that Elephants are supreme . They are huge, but whenever I get close to them and look at them attentively, I have always felt that Elephants are unique. Not because of their size or the way they are shaped, but there is some thing about them that simply awes and makes you love them. They are massive, but neither threatening nor menacing; compared to their size, they have these very small eyes that whenever they look at you, they seem to say: 'I know and understand '. The way they move, feed, breed, take care of their young and each other and sleep - is simply amazing: so organized and disciplined. They are more intelligent and superior than most animals. That superiority has now been confirmed: An experiment reveals that elephants not only cooperate, but that they understand the logi...

The Blobfish or Blob Sculpin Not many of us will ever set our eyes on this rather lazy, slow moving creature: the Blobfish, also known as the Australian Sculpin or Toadfish - scientific name: Psychrolutes marcidus . Except in pictures. Because they live in oceans, deep underwater. The problem is that the blobfish lives at depths of 600 to 1,200m (1,970-3,940 ft). Instead of using a swim bladder to maintain buoyancy, he has gelatinous flesh that is slightly less dense than water, allowing him to float just above the sea floor. It probably doesn't look so bad down there, but up here he looks a little melty and... splat.. Mainly off the cost of Australia and Tasmania. For most of us: few creatures come as ugly as the blobfish. Most likely, the few fishermen who get to catch them in their nests while fishing must think they must have caught some alien. But: stop hating the Toadfish. It is a product of its environment; it is due to its brilliant adaptation allowing this fish to be...

A recently discovered "psychedelic" fish (shown in a January 2008 picture) is bouncing into the books as a new species, a new study says ........ Read more from the National Geographic . Read more here ; or read more and see more pictures of the fish from Discovery and Nature blogs. Watch videos of the fish on Quick Time here . More videos here , here and here .

Very few people in sub-saharan Africa know of or have ever tasted the pomegranate. But, for ages it has  been used by Arabs, Persians and Indians. Around the Mediterranean region, it is one of the most common fruit and plant. Its juice is excellent and refreshing. Facts about the amazing pomegranate: it is one of the oldest fruits in existence, it can live for more than one hundred years, it is a rich source of a strong anti-oxidant known as punicalagins, which are thought to be responsible for the major health benefits of its juice which can keep platelets from clumping together to form dangerous blood clots; not to mention its cancer preventative effects. More on the pomegranate: crfg.org ,   National Geographic , Health Central , hort.purdue.edu , Health Castle , pomegranates.org , pomegranate-juice , CBS News , pomegranatehealth , Wikipedia , Knol Image: Treehugger

We know of snakes and fish being poisonous, but a poisonous bird? That is what the brightly colored pitohui is; it is a native of New Guinea. At least three of the bird's species have poison in their skin and feathers, which is used only as mechanism against predators such as snakes and hawks or even humans. The poison has served the bird well: humans, even the natives in New Guinea, very rare would think of eating it. More on the Pitohui: BBC , NPR , Species Wikimedia , Wikipedia , uga.edu , The New York Times , Bird Forum , interaktv , Menankatuck , Suite 101.com , itg.be , National Geographic , WWF , Scholar

The Wildlife Conservation Society, announced on Tuesday that they have discovered 125,000 of the reclusive, and shy Western lowland gorillas living deep in the jungles of the Republic of Congo. The newly discovered gorilla population, now doubles the number of the gorillas previously estimated. This is great news for Africa and all those who care for and love our Planet. All gorillas, like many primates, are on the endangered list . The lowland gorillas are found in tropical forests and swamps in Angola, Cameroon, the Central African Republic, Congo, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Equatorial Guinea and Gabon . Their numbers have been drastically reduced in the last few years, mainly due to their being hunted for meat. In some parts of Africa, gorilla meat is more expensive than any other meat. We celebrate this new discovery. At the same time, if the newly found gorillas have to survive and thrive - they need to be better protected. And those who eat gorilla meat, should be...

Leafless, spiny and succulent. Found deep in the Kalahari desert in southern Africa, where it thrives in the extreme heat. It is the hoodia plant. A plant that very few know of but is becoming very popular especially with obese people. Of the 20 or so species of the plant, one contains a natural appetite suppressant. Extracts from it, can also be used to maintain a high energy level. The Bushmen of the Kalahari who use it to quench thirst in the very hot desert, call it xhoba. Hoodia is said to also be a cure for severe abdominal cramps, haemorrhoids, tuberculosis, indigestion, hypertension and diabetes . More on the Hoodia plant: BBC , Wikipedia , Drugs.com , CBS News , Medicinenet , Thyroid-info , Cellhealthmakeover , rebirth.co.za , hoodia-advice , naturaingredients , health.propeller , MigFa , Doctor Weil , Books , Scholar Image: Google

They have have been called the grandest living flying machine on Earth . No wonder: the Albatross has a wing span of 3 meters and a body mass of up to 12 kilograms. They can live for up to as long as 60 years. But as they have one of the lowest reproductive rates of any birds and as they are being hunted and killed, they may become extinct. Biologists have discovered that swordfish, tuna and other fishing fleets, are catching these birds while fishing, and are killing more that tens of thousands of these birds every year. In a couple of decades many species may be wiped out unless urgent action is taken . More: British Antarctic Survey , Save The Albatross , Endangered , National Geographic , WWF , Facts , petcaretips , Earthlife , antarcticaconnection , coolantarctica , Wikipedia , Encarta , Ecuador Travel , Books

Have you watched the movie ' MARCH OF THE PENGUINS '? Watch it and you will understand why these animals are unlike no other creature on Earth. You will be left in awe and wonder at how any living thing can be so extraordinary, persistent and enduring as these heroic penguins. And you will never forget the amazing Emperor Penguin. A penguin and an animal that is undoubtedly one of the few greatest living wonders and miracle of our Planet. More on the Emperor: emperor-penguin.com , National Geographic , Enchanted Learning , Penguin World , Anatarcconnection , Animal Diversity , coolantarctica , BBC , Whale Times , Nature.ca , Books , Scholar Image: esf.edu

Ever heard of the argan tree (argania spinosa)? Outside morocco, it is not much known; but it is the perfect crop for hot deserts with extreme temperatures and little water or poor soil. Its oil which comes from the nuts of the tree, is said to: treat aging,  keep the skin fresh, treats cancer, treats cardiovascular diseases, treats arthritis, and treats measles in children. Its tree can live up to 200 hundred years. More on the Argan: The New York Times , Herbal Properties , IDRC , Mondeberebere , Aramcoworld , Tree.org , TeatroNaturale , Suite101 , ArganBeute , Maghrebia , Wildwoodgroves , BBC , Wikipedia Image: Google

The Goliath bird-eating tarantula of South America, got its name because it has been known to catch young birds and eat them; although that is very rare. They are huge, are the world's biggest spider - can grow to one foot long and have one inch fans; and many people mistakenly perceive them as very dangerous, but they are harmless and their venom causes only swelling and mild pain like a wasp sting. Some native tribes in South America, catch them for food; they eat them. Its scientific name is: Theraphosa blondi . More on the Spider: Here , National Geographic , Wikipedia , Big Hairy Spiders , Blue Planet Biomes , Tarantula Guide , Tarntulas Tropica , Picasa , YouTube Image: bugs.org

It seems there is still much left to be discovered about life on Earth. This, just in: An elephant among elephant shrews has been found in remote forests in East Africa, scientists announced today. The previously unknown, squirrel-size species is the world's largest known elephant shrew and the only new species from the group to be discovered in more than a century, wildlife researchers say. Weighing about 1.5 pounds (700 grams), the gray-faced sengi (Rhynchocyon udzungwensis) is up to 50 percent heavier than the next largest species of elephant shrew, according to the study team that named the long-snouted creature. The animal was first identified in 2005 by motion-sensing cameras set up in the Udzungwa Mountains of south-central Tanzania by Francesco Rovero of the Trento Museum of Natural Sciences in Italy. National Geographic Note: in 2005, researchers from the Wildlife Conservation Society, working in conjunction with other partners, discovered, in Tanzania too, Africa's fi...

Yew The Yew tree. The tree with magical medicinal wonders. From time immemorial, the tree has played very important roles in people's lives: it was so widely used in Europe for making weapons that they have almost been wiped out there. Presently the yew tree has become very significant due to the anticancer agent - Taxol - which can be isolated mostly from the bark of the yew tree. The common yew trees can be found in North and North-West Africa Yew For more on the Yew Tree go to these sites: The BBC , shee-erie , likinghub , Medicinal Uses Of Yews , The-Tree , Ancient Yew , Arbutusarts , Wikipedia , Answers , White Dragon , Japanese Yew , duidry , Scholar Pacific Yew For more on the Pacific Yew Tree: TopTenHealthProducts , Conifers.org , klemow , botgard , Wellness , herbs2000 , FindArticles , Prostate Cancer Treatment , na.fs.fed , The Healing Power of Plants , Nature's Pharmacy , Your Health Base , USDA , Near Atrica More on The Yew Tree (Taxux Baccata) on...

The Australian Inland Taipan looks graceful and in a way, beautiful; even though, it is generally agreed by most of those who know and understand snakes, that it is a snake with the most potent venom on Earth. But, because the snake lives in very sparsely populated areas; and being rather shy and reclusive they attack very few people; case in point - worldwide, more than 40,000 people die each year from venomous snakebite. But Australia only has 2 - 3 snakebite deaths each year . For more on the Inland Taipan go to these sites: users.esc.net.au , Reptile Park , Ezine , Manbir-online , Barefoot Bushman , ABC.net , Everthing2 , National Geographic , Toxinology , answers.yahoo , Reptile Knowledge , Echeat , Featherdale , kingsnake , Wikipedia , Books , Scholar , Images Image: Reptile Knowledge

When we see meerkats, even on pictures or films, who is not fascinated by them? The way they stand on their rear-legs and the way they 'keep watch' while their colleagues are busy looking for food, or playing or just resting is most fascinating. They live in groups. And are social and communal. They love living underground. Meerkats can be found in many parts of southern Africa: in Botswana, South Africa, Namibia and Angola. More on Meerkats: National Geographic , Animal Planet , WWF , Meerkats.com , Meerkats.net , depts.washington.edu , Kalahari Meerkats , Enchanted Learning , Wikipedia , Mongabay , Wonderclub , itech.pjc.edu , Books , Scholar , Meerkat Images , Video