World Image issue 30 March 2016_1

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Soon after our meeting with this small gathering of giraffe we met up with a larger group, this time they were not at a distance but all around the car. It was nice to see a young calf with its mother even if the calf was too small to reach the tree. This herd numbered 18 individuals and were on both sides of the road. In fact they surrounded the car so we turned off the engine. I am guessing that it was the same pair we saw running across the road the following day. Seeing them run with such grace is a beautiful sight. On our last day in Murchison we encountered another herd and stopped to watch them. Well not so much through choice as the bull was standing in the road. Having checked us out from both sides they were in no hurry to move away, so we stood outside to take pictures and video of the group. This giraffe stayed in the same spot and watched what we were doing until most of the herd had crossed the road. As in all families there are always those who refuse to obey the boss. Website = photosociety.net Page 10 email = magazine@photosociety.net

These two juveniles were so interested in their practice / display of neck fighting. This was just practice, the real thing is both brutal and dangerous and used in territorial fights. Although the warthog is often seen as an individual character, most of those in Murchison are in family groups. We remained here for some time before the herd started to move away. We remained under the watchful eye of the boss until all the animals passed us by before leaving himself. Of course all of the herds, like the other animals, eat grass, but when we consider that they eat tons of grass at one end, the mind boggles at what comes out the other. We have seen the hippo (Hippopotamus amphibius) in the lakes and ponds with its eyes peeping above the water, the treat is to see it on land. So enter one of natures recycling crews, the dung beetle (Scarabaeinea). The dung beetle is possibly natures most efficient waste disposal unit. It uses the dung balls as nursery pods and the residue serves to fertilize the soil. The Warthog (Phacochoreus africanus) is another of the most prolific animals in the park. It can be seen as individuals and as family groups, the largest groups I saw were two adults and two youngsters and one adult and three piglets. It is a wild pig and is so named because of the protuberances on its face. It is also noted that is is comparable in size to the elephant and when ever seen on land, is usually accompanied by a pair of opportunistic egrets. While the female can weigh up to 5,160lb (2344kg), the male can reach 7000lb (3,200kg), and their hide can be 4.5cm thick. It can also run at 19mph, which is about three times faster than most humans can sprint. Website = photosociety.net Page 11 email = magazine@photosociety.net

Soon after our meeting with this small gathering of<br />

giraffe we met up with a larger group, this time they<br />

were not at a distance but all around the car.<br />

It was nice to see a young calf with its mother even if<br />

the calf was too small to reach the tree.<br />

This herd numbered 18 individuals and were on both<br />

sides of the road. In fact they surrounded the car so<br />

we turned off the engine.<br />

I am guessing that it was the same pair we saw<br />

running across the road the following day. Seeing<br />

them run with such grace is a beautiful sight.<br />

On our last day in Murchison we encountered<br />

another herd and stopped to watch them. Well not so<br />

much through choice as the bull was standing in the<br />

road.<br />

Having checked us out from both sides they were in<br />

no hurry to move away, so we stood outside to take<br />

pictures and video of the group.<br />

This giraffe stayed in the same spot and watched<br />

what we were doing until most of the herd had<br />

crossed the road. As in all families there are always<br />

those who refuse to obey the boss.<br />

Website = photosociety.net Page 10 email = magazine@photosociety.net

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