Nature & Wildlife

The Elephant: majestic, beautiful and precious

April 28, 2023 By Gaynor Marshall

The elephant is the largest land animal on Earth.

There are actually three distinct species of elephant. Two genetically different species of African elephants. The savanna elephant (Loxodonata Africana) and the African forest elephant (Loxodonata Cyclotis). And the Asian forest elephant (Elephas Maximus Indicus).

All elephants have trunks.

These trunks are used for lots of different things:

to greet other elephants; to make sounds
to breathe; to draw up water for drinking and bathing
and to pick up food.

Mastering the use of trunks takes practice.

It may surprise you to know that elephants have very sensitive skin. They take regular mud and dust baths to protect themselves from sunburn, insect bites and moisture loss.

Celebrating elephant differences

The African savanna elephant is the largest elephant species. Males can stand between 8 – 13 feet at shoulder height and weigh up to 7 tonnes.

The largest African elephant ever recorded was found in Angola. The impressive specimen weighed in at a mighty 24,000 pounds which is almost 11 tonnes and he had a shoulder height of 13 feet!

The African forest and the Asian forest elephant are somewhat smaller in size. They can stand between 6.6 – 11.5 feet at the shoulder, and can weigh up to 4 tonnes.

All elephants are herbivores and eat mainly grass, leaves, twigs, buds, fruit, roots and bark.

Asian elephants differ in a number of different ways from their African cousins.

Only male Asian elephants can have tusks.

Male and female African elephants can have them.

Asian elephants have smaller ears.

African elephants can live for around 70 years in the wild. Asian elephants have an average lifespan of around 48 years.

Family groups

Elephants live in family groups called herds. The herd is made up of females and calves.

Male elephants, tend to live solitary lives or stay together in small bachelor groups. Females give birth after a 22 month pregnancy, and usually have a single baby. Elephant calves are watched over by the entire herd of related females who relish the role of babysitter. Females may stay with their herd for their entire lives. Males usually leave as they reach puberty.

Forest elephant herds may simply comprise of a mother and her offspring. Sometimes they do gather in larger groups in forest clearings.

Tusks

African elephants can be right or left tusked. The favoured side is usually shorter.

Tusks are actually teeth. They serve lots of purposes:

to protect the elephant’s trunk
to gather food
as a rest for their trunk
to lift and move objects
and even strip bark from trees
for defence
and to dig holes to find water underground

The most important thing to remember is that only ELEPHANTS need tusks and that we should do everything we can to stop the illegal ivory trade.

The poaching of elephant tusks has far reaching consequences, way beyond the loss of the individual.

The killing of mothers leaves calves orphaned and exceptionally vulnerable. Without the experience and knowledge of older females herds may be unable to survive. That knowledge is lost and gone forever.

If older bulls with huge tusks are murdered, these animals can no longer pass on the genes necessary to produce large tusks in future generations.

Everything is connected.

Elephants as a keystone species

African elephant populations have decreased at an alarming rate. A hundred years ago, it is estimated that there were 12 million individuals. That figure today has been reduced to around 400,000.

Elephants are a keystone species, meaning they play a vital role in maintaining a healthy eco-system.

Did you know an elephant footprint, when filled with water, can provide a home for tadpoles and other organisms?

Elephants need large areas of land to be able to survive and meet their need for food, water and space.

They can feed for up to 18 hours a day. This requires access to large amounts of food which can bring them in to conflict with expanding human populations.

Agricultural development and the building of roads, canals, fences and houses means less space for elephants.

We need to:

consider the impact of our increasing global population on the natural world.

take steps to protect ancient migratory routes, to reduce human-wildlife conflict

educate people to make sure they understand how we humans affect wildlife

Banning the international commercial trade in elephant ivory is only one half of the story. Enforcement is key to its success.

Education, enforcement and protection.

How you can help

Please show your support in any way that you can. Spread the word to family and friends or donate directly to the organisations that are working hard to protect our wildlife.

We simply cannot lose them.

https://www.sheldrickwildlifetrust.org

Who Smells Like Popcorn? Fun facts about the Binturong

March 8, 2023 By Gaynor Marshall

The Binturong is a mammal.
One of the most unusual features of the binturong is its scent. It smells like a freshly made batch of popcorn!
It has a face like a cat and a body like a bear which is why they are also known as bearcats.
Their scientific name is: Arctictis Binturong.
Binturongs are classed as carnivores but will eat most things.
They are born after 84-92 days gestation, their eyes are still sealed and they remain hidden in their mothers’ thick fur for the first few days of life.
Binturongs live solitary lives apart from females with offspring who tend to live in family groups.
They have a lifespan of between 15.6 years for females and 18.8 years for males.
Binturongs are related to civets and fossas and spend most of their time in the trees. They do however tend to climb down to get from tree to tree as they are not very agile.
They can turn their ankles 180 degrees in order to grip the tree trunk when climbing down head first.
The end of the binturong’s tail is actually prehensile, meaning it can use it like an extra hand when climbing. A leathery patch at the tip also helps them to grip.
The binturong is the only mammal to be found in Africa, Asia and Europe and only one of two carnivores with a prehensile tail (the other is a kinkajou).
In some parts of their range they are listed as vulnerable, in other parts endangered.
Binturongs are at risk from: habitat destruction; poaching for use in traditional Asian medicine; the fur and pet trade; and in some areas they are considered a delicacy and hunted for food.

How you can help

Please show your support in any way that you can; spread the word to family and friends; donate directly to the wildlife organisations that are working every day to protect these majestic animals.

We simply cannot lose them.

The Western Lowland Gorilla – Save Them Now

September 23, 2022 By Gaynor Marshall

The Western lowland gorilla is a great ape and is the most numerous and widespread of all gorilla subspecies.

The Western lowland gorilla can be found in the rainforests and swamps of Cameroon, the Central African Republic, the Democratic Republic of Congo and Equatorial Guinea and large areas of Gabon and the Republic of Congo.

Their scientific name is: Gorilla gorilla gorilla.

Western and Eastern Lowland Gorilla

There are two main species of gorilla; Western and Eastern.

The Western species are divided into the Western Lowland Gorilla and the Cross River Gorilla, which can be found in Cameroon and Nigeria.

The Eastern gorillas are divided into two further subspecies – the Eastern Lowland Gorilla (Grauer’s gorilla) and Mountain Gorillas.

Size and weight of the Western Lowland gorilla

Western lowland gorillas are slightly smaller than other gorilla subspecies and they have brown-grey fur and auburn chests and heads. They have wider skulls, a more pronounced brow and smaller ears.

Weight: up to 440 pounds.

Height: 4-5.5 feet.

Gorilla family dynamics

Gorilla groups are led by a dominant silverback who will defend his family to the death from any threat including that from humans.

Western lowland gorillas have the smallest family family groups of all gorillas consisting, on average, between 4-8 members.

Lifespan in the wild can be up to 40 years.

Gorillas are primarily herbivorous and they spend most of the day eating. They do take a break at midday when the adults take the opportunity for a nap and the youngsters play amongst themselves.

Western lowland gorillas show more tolerance towards non-relatives and gorillas from other groups and this appears to be unique to this particular subspecies.

Threats to their survival

Humans are the greatest threat to the survival of the Western lowland gorilla.

Human diseases such as influenza and ebola decimate family groups. Poaching, taking individuals for zoos and circus entertainment, medicine men who use gorilla body parts for charms, poisoning, habitat loss from illegal logging and mining all take their toll on populations.

Gorillas do not stand a chance without our help.

Status: critically endangered.

How you can help

Please show your support in any way that you can. It can be as simple as spreading the word to family and friends, or by donating directly to the wildlife organisations that are working every day to protect these majestic animals.

We simply cannot lose them.

https://www.worldwildlife.org/species/western-lowland-gorilla