There is a world somewhere between reality and fiction. Although ignored by many, it is very real and so are those living in it. This forum is about the natural world. Here, wild animals will be heard and respected. The forum offers a glimpse into an unknown world as well as a room with a view on the present and the future. Anyone able to speak on behalf of those living in the emerald forest and the deep blue sea is invited to join.
Dereck Joubert: " Leaky nostril? Don’t mind if I do. Oxpeckers are first-rate opportunists … and their supersized hosts offer all kinds of options for nourishment. "
Mark Dumbleton:" Concentrated around a waterhole in the height of the dry season, two massive male Buffalo attack one another, looking for dominance in a time when water is scarce. Huge plooms of dust rise into the air signalling the commencement of another battle."
Beverly Joubert: " A formidable stare. Buffalo herds rely on safety in numbers and typically graze in a huddled mass of bovine blackness accented with the curls of sharp, grey horns. Although the gently shuffling herd appears unthreatening, they remain vigilant, and will not tolerate any uninvited visitors. If attacked, they may turn and flee, but are famous for their tendency to come back for fallen comrades. While herds can be dangerous for those who overstep their boundaries, the real threat – as we know only too well – comes from lone bulls. These dagga boys as they are known, in reference to the caked mud often visible on their bodies, remain among the most unpredictable animals in the African bushveld. They command respect and have certainly earned it from us. "
" A massive herd of buffalo was seen on the reserve this morning – large bulls on the outer edges of the herd; with this leucistic buffalo calf making its presence known in a herd of hundreds. This is a recessive gene that causes a lack of melanin giving the calf a white appearance. "