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Third Largest Penguin in the World

Posted by Gary on August 20, 2017 in Birds

Standing 30 inches tall, the gentoo penguin lives in the southern circumpolar region on the perimeter of Antarctica and the outlying islands. This penguin prefers to stay close to shore where it dives into the icy water to eat krill, fish and squid. Its streamlined body and strong paddle feet enable the gentoo to swim around 20 m.p.h. to catch its meal.

These penguins can become a meal for leopard seals, sea lions and orcas when in the water. On land gentoo eggs and chicks are vulnerable to predation from birds including caracaras and skuas.

This penguin’s population is increasing in Antarctica, but plummeting of the outlying islands. (Photograph taken in the Antarctic Exhibit at Sea World, Orlando.)

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The “Forest Giraffe”

Posted by Gary on August 14, 2017 in Wildlife

This strange animal looks like it is related to the zebra due to its striped black and white legs, but the okapi is the only living relative of the giraffe. This species lives in one area of the Democratic Republic of Congo in Africa in a dense rain forest with trees, shrubs, ferns and herbaceous plants, its main food supply. Except for leopards, okapi have few enemies. These creatures are quite shy and elusive. Its striped legs help it blend in with the tropical forest. (The photographs here were taken at the Animal Kingdom, Walt Disney World, Orlando.) The okapi population has decrease by half in the last 15 years due to deforestation from logging and settlements. Hopefully, enough of the forest where these unique species live will be preserved to sustain a healthy okapi population.

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The Nimblest Antelope!

Posted by Gary on August 9, 2017 in Wildlife

The impala is a medium-sized antelope living on the savanna of east and south Africa. These animals are meals for lions, cheetahs, leopards, crocodiles and hyenas, but they often escape the grasp of these predators with their speed and agility. Impala are capable of leaping over 10 feet high for 30 or more feet making them a challenging prey. While some escape others do not. Poaching and trophy hunting also take their toll, but these animals are still abundant in Africa.

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Africa’s Most Common Gazelle

Posted by Gary on August 7, 2017 in Wildlife

Numbering over a half a million individuals, the Thompson’s gazelle is an abundant antelope of dry grasslands in east Africa. This spry small animal is hunted by lions, leopards and cheetahs. Its keen sense of hearing, sight and smell gives this gazelle an advantage in spotting danger. It often escapes predators with shorts sprints of up to 60 m.p.h. and high bouncing leaps that makes it difficult to catch. Though there are large populations of this animal in Africa, their population has declined by 60% in the last 30 years caused by habitat loss due to agriculture and development.

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World’s Largest Antelopes

Posted by Gary on August 6, 2017 in Wildlife

Two species of eland hold this record; the giant eland is the largest and the common eland is the second largest antelope. (An antelope is an even-toed hoofed animal of Africa and Eurasia where there are about 25 species.)  Eland prefer open forest and savanna habitats where they eat foliage and grasses. This antelope is not only hunted by lions, cheetah and hyenas, but also by humans, their biggest threat.

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