10,000 Birds

NOVEMBER 25, 2015

Early starts are the rule when monitoring endagered species in Mkuze Game Reserve, in South Africa, but there’s a particular urgency to this morning’s start. And the morning before the Mkuze pack of Painted Wolves, or African Wild Dogs, had been very close to one of the park’s few Lions, as far as tracking collars had told.

Wolves 188

Wolves Lions Dogs Vet 188

10,000 Birds

MAY 31, 2015

We call it a “mouse gradation year” I was not able to find a catchy English term for “gradation year” – it’s what happens when a certain species showing population cycles reaches a peak year. In Germany, our most common large mammalian predator is the Red Fox Vulpes vulpes.

Fox 163

Fox Rodents Gophers Germany 163

10,000 Birds

JULY 15, 2015

It is a good place for South African birders, as several species are found here and nowhere else in South Africa, and it holds a small number of endemics that it shares with the Mozambique lowlands. The park did have a pack of African Wild Dogs, or Painted Wolves, the species I had gone to Africa to see.

South Africa 145

South Africa Elephants Africa Lions 145

4 The Love Of Animals

NOVEMBER 24, 2009

See TIME’s photo essay “ Puppies Behind Bars “ Henry the schnoodle just did a remarkable thing. Understanding a pointed finger may seem easy, but consider this: while humans and canines can do it naturally, no other known species in the animal kingdom can. Hare lifts it to reveal the biscuit reward. Evolving Gifts.

Wolves 100

Wolves Fox Dogs Puppies 100