|
Balule Nature Reserve
Balule Nature Reserve is a protected area in Limpopo, Limpopo Province, South Africa which forms part of the Greater Kruger National Park as a member of the Associated Private Nature Reserves (APNR). As part of a wildlife conservation initiative, all fences separating APNR reserves – Balule, Timbavati Game Reserve, Timbavati, Klaserie Game Reserve, Klaserie, Umbabat Nature Reserve, Umbabat, – and the Kruger National Park have been removed. The ecological benefits of this initiative have made the region a popular ecotourism destination and conservation efforts have ensured that the wildlife population includes all the Big Five game. History The Balule area of the Greater Kruger National Park initially consisted several separate fenced game farms. In the early 1990s, landowners decided to remove the fences separating their properties in aid of conservation in order to increase the grazing area for the local wildlife and to diversify the animal gene pool. By the end of th ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Bush Elephant
The African bush elephant (''Loxodonta africana''), also known as the African savanna elephant, is a species of elephant native to sub-Saharan Africa. It is one of three extant elephant species and, along with the African forest elephant, one of two extant species of African elephant. It is the largest living terrestrial animal, with fully grown bulls reaching an average shoulder height of and a body mass of ; the largest recorded specimen had a shoulder height of and an estimated body mass of . The African bush elephant is characterised by its long prehensile trunk with two finger-like processes; a convex back; large ears which help reduce body heat; and sturdy tusks that are noticeably curved. The skin is grey with scanty hairs, and bending cracks which support thermoregulation by retaining water. The African bush elephant inhabits a variety of habitats such as forests, grasslands, woodlands, wetlands and agricultural land. It is a mixed herbivore feeding mostly on grasse ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Olifants River (Limpopo)
The Olifants River, Lepelle, iBhalule or Obalule (; ) is a river in South Africa and Mozambique, a tributary of the Limpopo River. It falls into the Drainage Area B of the Drainage basins of South Africa. The historical area of the Pedi people, Sekhukhuneland, is located between the Olifants River and one of its largest tributaries, the Steelpoort River. Course The Olifants River has its origin between Breyten and Bethal, Mpumalanga Province. It flows north towards Limpopo Province through Witbank Dam and then the Loskop Dam and is forced east by the Transvaal Drakensberg, cutting through at the Abel Erasmus Pass and then flowing east further across the Lowveld to join with the Letaba River. It crosses into Gaza Province, Mozambique, after cutting through the Lebombo Mountains by way of the Olifants Gorge, becoming the ''Rio dos Elefantes'', and finally joining the Limpopo River after 40 km before it enters the Indian Ocean at Xai-Xai north of Maputo M ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Saddle-billed Stork
The saddle-billed stork or saddlebill (''Ephippiorhynchus senegalensis'') is a large wading bird in the stork family, Ciconiidae. It is a widespread species which is a resident breeder in sub-Saharan Africa from Sudan, Ethiopia and Kenya south to South Africa, and in The Gambia, Senegal, Côte d'Ivoire and Chad in west Africa. It is considered endangered in South Africa. It is a close relative of the widespread Asian and Australian black-necked stork, the only other member of the genus ''Ephippiorhynchus''. Description The saddle-billed stork is a huge bird that regularly attains a height of , a length of and a wingspan. While heights published have been in the aforementioned narrow range, reportedly adult saddle-billed storks in captivity can attain a height of up to . The male is larger and heavier than the female, with a range of , with a mean mass of . The female is usually between , with a mean mass of . Among the large storks, the saddle-billed broadly overlap in size ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Southern Ground Hornbill
The southern ground hornbill (''Bucorvus leadbeateri''; formerly known as ''Bucorvus cafer'') is one of two species of ground hornbill, both of which are found solely within Africa, and is the largest species in the hornbill order worldwide. It can be found in the southern regions of Africa, ranging from Kenya to South Africa. Within these regions, they inhabit both woodlands and savannas. The other species of the genus ''Bucorvus'' is the Abyssinian ground hornbill, ''B. abyssinicus''. Southern ground hornbills are carnivorous and hunt mostly on the ground. Their food ranges from insects to small vertebrates. Their nests are often found in high tree cavities or other shallow cavities, such as rock holes in cliff faces. These birds are a long-lived species, having lifespans in the range of 50–60 years, and up to 70 in captivity. In relation to their long lives, they do not reach sexual maturity until 4–6 years old, and begin breeding around 10 years old. Their sex can be ide ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Kori Bustard
The kori bustard (''Ardeotis kori'') is the largest flying bird native to Africa. It is a member of the bustard family (biology), family, which all belong to the order Otidiformes and are restricted in distribution to the Old World. It is one of the four species (ranging from Africa to India to Australia) in the large-bodied genus ''Ardeotis''. The male kori bustard may be the heaviest living animal capable of flight. This species, like most bustards, is a ground-dwelling bird and an opportunistic omnivore. Male kori bustards, which can be more than twice as heavy as the female, attempt to breed with as many females as possible and take no part in the raising of the young. The nest is a shallow hollow in the earth, often disguised by nearby obstructive objects such as trees. Taxonomy English naturalist William John Burchell described the kori bustard in 1822. The specific epithet ''kori'' is derived from the Tswana language, Tswana name for this bird – ''Kgori''. Two subspecie ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Martial Eagle
The martial eagle (''Polemaetus bellicosus'') is a large eagle native to sub-Saharan Africa.Ferguson-Lees & Christie, ''Raptors of the World''. Houghton Mifflin Company (2001), . It is the only member of the genus ''Polemaetus''. A species of the booted eagle subfamily ( Aquilinae), it has feathers over its tarsus. One of the largest and most powerful species of booted eagle, it is a fairly opportunistic predator that varies its prey selection between mammals, birds and reptiles. It is one of few eagle species known to hunt primarily from a high soar, by stooping on its quarry.Steyn, P. (1983). ''Birds of prey of southern Africa: Their identification and life histories''. Croom Helm, Beckenham (UK). 1983. This species, an inhabitant of wooded belts of otherwise open savanna, has shown a precipitous decline in the last few centuries due to a variety of factors. The martial eagle is one of the most persecuted bird species in the world. Due to its habit of taking livestock and re ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Pel's Fishing Owl
Pel's fishing owl (''Scotopelia peli'') is a large species of owl in the family Strigidae, found in Africa. It lives near rivers and lakes, and feeds nocturnal animal, nocturnally on fish and frogs snatched from the surface of lakes and rivers. The species prefers slow-moving rivers with large, overhanging trees to roost in and forage from. It nests in hollows and the forks of large trees. Though as many as two eggs are laid, often only one chick is raised. Taxonomy The species' common and specific name honours Hendrik Severinus Pel, who was governor of the Dutch Gold Coast (now Ghana) from 1840 till 1850. Description Pel's fishing owl is one of the largest owl species in the world. Among the world's owls, it ranks as the fifth-heaviest on average, the seventh-longest in length and measured Wing chord (biology), wing chord, and fourth-longest in mean wingspan, although not all large species have had measured wingspans.Weick, F. (2007). ''Owls (Strigiformes): annotated and illustr ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Lappet-faced Vulture
The lappet-faced vulture or Nubian vulture (''Torgos tracheliotos'') is an Old World vulture belonging to the bird order Accipitriformes, which also includes eagles, kites, buzzards and hawks. It is the only member of the genus ''Torgos''. It is not closely related to the superficially similar New World vultures, and does not share the good sense of smell of some members of that family of birds. The lappet-faced vulture was formerly considered monotypical, but now is separated into two subspecies. The nominate race lives throughout Africa. The subspecies '' T. t. negevensis'', differing considerably in appearance from African vultures (as described below) is endemic to the Arabian Peninsula. Name The scientific name is Greek, meaning "Cartilage-eared Vulture". Distribution This species is patchily distributed through much of Africa and the Arabian Peninsula, though it is absent from much of the central and western parts of the continent and declining elsewhere in its range. ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Lioness Balule
A lioness is a female lion. Lioness(es) may also refer to: Music * Lioness Records, a British record label * Lioness (band), a Canadian indie rock band ** ''Lioness'' (EP), their 2008 EP * ''Lioness'' (Sivert Høyem album), 2016 * ''Lioness'' (Beccy Cole album), 2018 * ''The Lioness'' (album), a 2000 album by Songs: Ohia, or its title song * '' Lioness: Hidden Treasures'', a 2011 posthumous compilation album by Amy Winehouse Other media * ''Lioness'' (2008 film), a documentary about American servicewomen in Iraq * ''Lioness'' (upcoming film), an upcoming film about suffragette Sophia Duleep Singh * ''Lioness'' (South African TV series) (2021– ), a crime drama * ''Lioness'' (American TV series) (2023– ), a spy thriller series * ''The Lioness'' (novel) (2002), a novel by Nancy Varian Berberick Sports teams National sports teams nicknamed ''Lionesses'' *Argentina women's national field hockey team *England women's national football team *England women's national rugby l ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Mopane
''Colophospermum mopane'', commonly called mopane, mopani, butterfly tree, turpentine tree, or balsam tree, is a tree in the legume family (Fabaceae), that grows in hot, dry, low-lying areas, in elevation, in parts of Southern Africa. The tree only occurs in Africa and is the only species in genus ''Colophospermum''. Its distinctive butterfly-shaped (bifoliate) leaf and thin kidney-shaped/nearly semi-circular legume, seed pod make it easy to identify. Though hard and dense and difficult to work with, it is valued timber in all sorts of construction due to its termite tolerance. Together with Acacia erioloba, camel thorn and Combretum imberbe, leadwood, one of the three regionally important firewood trees, due to the enduring heat, and these woods are also some of the preferred use culinarily for braai. Range and habitat The mopane is found on low-lying ground from (Mozambique) to (Zimbabwe). Mopane ecoregions Native to Southern Africa, its habitat is divided crudely into ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Sclerocarya Birrea
''Sclerocarya birrea'' ( , meaning "hard", and , "nut", in reference to the stone inside the fleshy fruit), commonly known as the marula, is a medium-sized deciduous fruit-bearing tree, indigenous to the miombo woodlands of Southern Africa, the Sudano-Sahelian range of West Africa, the savanna woodlands of East Africa and Madagascar. Description The tree is a single-stemmed species with a broad, spreading crown. It is distinguished by its grey mottled bark and can grow up to 18 meters tall, primarily in low altitudes and open woodlands. The distribution of this species throughout Africa and Madagascar has followed the Bantu in their migrations. There is some evidence of human domestication of marula trees, as trees found on farm lands tend to have larger fruit size. The fruits are oblong or ovate, about 3–4 cm, rarely attaining 5 cm, and ripen between February and March or somewhat later into April; they have a light yellow skin (exocarp), with white flesh (mesocarp). ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Senegalia Nigrescens
''Senegalia nigrescens'', the knobthorn, is a deciduous African tree, growing up to 18 m tall, that is found in savanna regions from West Africa to South Africa. The tree is resistant to drought, not resistant to frost and its hard wood is resistant to termites. Ecology Giraffes often browse on the flowers and foliage of this tree, while the seed pods and foliage are browsed on by a range of mammals, including elephants. Uses An ointment made from the roots has traditionally been used to treat convulsions. Gallery Acacia nigrescens, saamgestelde blare, Steenbokpan.jpg, Acacia nigrescens, bloeiwyse, Pretoria NBT.jpg, Acacia nigrescens, peule, Steenbokpan.jpg, Acacia nigrescens, knoppiesbas, Steenbokpan, a.jpg, References External links * * nigrescens Trees of Africa {{Mimosoideae-stub ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
