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Nyala, Southern Africa’s Stunning Antelope

10,000 Birds

By this I mean applying the term antelope to cover all of the family Bovidae, which would include the sheep, goats and ox. One of the spiral-horned antelope (the antelopes are a huge family and much sub-divided) it resembles an intermediate between a Lesser Kudu and a Bushbuck , albeit with much longer and more attractive hair on the males.

Africa 162
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Africa’s Big Five and Little Five

10,000 Birds

Originally a hunting term, the Big Five were the most dangerous and prized targets of the great white hunters on safari. Elephant The big – two species of elephant are now recognized as occuring in Africa, the smaller and more secretive Forest Elephant and the larger, more familiar African or Bush Elephant.

Buffalo 195
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#CeciltheLion is a dangerous direction for conservation

10,000 Birds

Shot an elephant. Is it fair her life was destroyed because hers was public and mine was among family a decade ago? The story with Cecil was something of an exception, but the universe didn’t disappoint and sure enough the latest hunter outrage story today is, predictably, about a woman hunter.

Hunters 167
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Birding the Kruger Park (5): Pafuri area part 1

10,000 Birds

One study found that birds living in Botswana had elevated levels of lead in their bloodstreams during hunting season, presumably coming from lead bullets used on animals killed by hunters. A slightly more surprising threat for the vultures comes from elephants. Elephants destroy the trees the vultures live and nest in.

Elephants 147
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Can we talk about Cecil the Lion?

10,000 Birds

I get that you’re really angry, I mean, he was a popular lion and yes, his cute widdle cubs will probably die to, but I can’t help feeling you’ve kind of missed the point a bit, and well, ending all hunting in Africa will not solve much and maybe make things worse and… No, no, I’m not a hunter.

Lions 201
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KwaZulu-Natal

10,000 Birds

The land was of course already occupied by San (Bushmen) hunter-gatherers for millennia and more recently Bantu tribes of the Nguni branch (most notably Zulus and Xhosas). The famous Verreaux family who made several expeditions into the province through the 1820’s and 1830’s procuring specimens for rich collectors.

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Most Wanted Birds in Brazil

10,000 Birds

Green-and-rufous Kingfisher is the only Cholorceryle species I haven’t seen, so observing one would complete a genus in this fascinating family. The wings on the male are remarkably shaped plus I’ve always had an peculiar interest in the nightjar family. See who won the contest here! Get yours today!

Brazil 197