Elephants, hippos, rhinos, buffalo etc etc

Bush Elephant

The Bush Elephant is the largest land mammal reaching sizes of 4 meters high and ten tonnes in weight this record was set by a juvenile bull. Bull Elephants are incredibly sociable with each other and use a complex range of body language. Their diet consists of a variety of things including: grass,leaves,shrubs and even bark in the dry season. Unlike most species of the leader of a herd is called a matriarch and it's usually the oldest and wisest of the herd. The matriarch is also a female unlike other mammals. These Elephants can be very dangerous at times and have serious rages from time to time. These particular rages happen when the the Elephant is upset or nervous so it sweats, when this happens the sweat will sometimes go into their mouths which annoys them. The average herd consists of about 10-20 Elephants, but when about to start a large journey a few join together to form a "super herd" which consists of up to 100 Elephants. The average Elephant will consume approximately 440-660 lbs. of plants, and 42 gallons of water a day.

Forest Elephants


 The forests of Central and Western Africa harbor the endangered African forest elephant. Smaller than its African savannah counterpart, this species has straighter, slimmer tusks, and smoother skin, allowing it to move more easily through dense forests. They rely far more on fruit than do savannah (or “bush”) elephants, though they also feed on bark and herbaceous material. Forest elephants’ requirement for mineral salts attracts them to specific, mineral-rich, open forest clearings that occur throughout the forest region, known as bais (pronounced: "buys"). Here the elephants dig in the soil, or extract the mineral substances from the beds of rivers and streams, sometimes by kneeling down to get as deep as possible with their trunks or even by diving underwater. Unfortunately, these sites are also hugely attractive to poachers, who can get a clear shot at whole groups of elephants, without the obstruction of heavy forest growth. The home range of an individual forest elephant can be more than 772 square miles, which is bigger than many of the national parks in central Africa. Most of the remaining African forest elephants are now primarily found in Gabon and the Republic of Congo, with significant populations also remaining in the southeastern corner of the Republic of Cameroon, and the adjoining southwestern tip of the Central African Republic.Scientists are studying the species’ habitat needs, ecology and behavior, as well as ways to best conserve this unique species.


Hippos

There are two species of hippopotamuses; the Pygmy Hippo and the river or common hippopotamus. The Pygmy Hippo is the smaller species, standing about waist-high to an adult human the common/river hippopotamus is world's third largest and heaviest land animals, weighing up to about 4,000 kg.Both species of hippos have barrel-shaped bodies, short stocky legs, and smooth almost hairless skin. Their heads appear outsized with unusually broad mouths and their facial features resemble those of a pig. Hippos have a short, tufted tail. Hippos have thin skin that dries out quickly - they secrete a pinkish coloured oil that helps them keep their skin moist in the hot African climate. Hippos spend most of their days in the water or wallowing in the mud, generally coming up on land to feed at night. River hippos are one of the most feared animals in southern Africa. It is claimed that every year more people are killed by them than by any other African animal. Out of water, hippos are surprisingly fast runners; a fully grown river hippo can run 30 km/h for a few hundred yards. Hippos are Herbivores, preferring short grasses of the African plains. Their muscular lips are almost 70 cms wide which makes them extremely efficient grazers. They generally feed during the night, grazing for up to 5 hours before returning to the water.The Pygmy hippo lives in West Africa's forest belt, primarily in Liberia and Côte d’Ivoire and spends more of its time near water rather than in it, and dives beneath the water surface only when in imminent danger of attack. The common hippopotamus is found in western, central, eastern and southern parts of Africa, living in lakes and rivers near grasslands, usually where the water is deep and slow-flowing. Male hippos are generally larger and heavier than females. Common Hippos range from 3.96 to 4.57 mtrs long, standing 1.52 mtrs at the shoulder height and weighing between 1,800 to 3,600 kgs. They live for up to anywhere between 20 to 40 years in the wild. Whilst Pygmy hippos grow to about 1.75 m long, and have a maximum weight of about 275 kg. Males reach sexual maturity at 7 years and females at 9 years. Mating always occurs in water during the dry season. Hippos have a gestation period of about 7 months and usually birth is given to a single calf during the start of the raining season. River hippos of the give birth usually in shallow water therefore calves are able to swim from birth. The average birthing interval is about 2 years. Pygmy Hippos are very rare in the wild, with hunting and deforestation having declined their numbers over recent years. Hippo calves are vulnerable to attack by lions and hyenas on land and by crocodiles in the water. People hunt hippos for their meat and hide and also for their tusks, which are sold as ivory. They are also hunted because they are potentially dangerous and destructive particularly in areas where crops are grown.



Rhinos